tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24987119214961851322024-03-12T15:59:22.878-07:00Small Things with Big LoveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-26321497243258749202016-03-28T08:40:00.001-07:002016-11-07T10:10:43.586-08:00So you say you want a revolution, wellllll ya knowwww<br />
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So it's been awhile.
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Since my last post things were going
pretty well. In the past few months, the Malaria Club (A.K.A my
saving grace) distributed 100 nets to neighboring villages in our
area. They began the session with the drama that they've done before
(MARPs or Most At Risk Populations) showing that because one man
decided to choose not to sleep under a bed net, he spread malaria to
many different people whose immune systems could not handle it. They
also did the percussion ensemble that we've discussed before. Most
of these nets went to pregnant women or mothers with young children.
The distribution consisted of 4 stations: </div>
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Repair: The participants were
taught by the secondary students how to properly repair their nets
using a needle and thread for small holes and a patch for large
holes. Nets were built to last for 3 years so repairs are vital</div>
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2. Washing: The participants were
taught by secondary students the proper way to wash a net (bar soap
only, nothing caustic), how often (once every 3-4 months), and where
to dry the net (in the shade, sunlight damages nets)
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3. Hanging: Participants were taught
by secondary students how to properly hang a net when in us and when
not in use. They were also taught how to turn a square net into a
circle net. This is important for people who sleep on grass mats or
mattresses on the floor.
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Distribution and Quiz: Each
participant was asked 3 questions about the material they learned.
If they answered all 3 correctly, they received their net. If they
didn't, the student would send them back to the station that taught
the information they didn't understand.
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This coming weekend ( April 2) the
Malaria Club and I will visit the homes of 25% of the people who
received nets to see if the information they were given is correctly
used. We are also planning 10 performances over the next two terms
(ambitious of them, huh?) and getting them club tshirts to showcase
their pride. We've also moved on to a more involved discussion on
antibiotic resistance. That means I get to give to lessons on
evolution and natural selection and I'm loving it. Most of them
haven't heard of it before so no one interjects that God put us here
and all that shit. It's refreshing. They even want to put together a
performance showcasing that part of the curriculum.
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<u>Our Lady of Fatima and St. Jude</u></div>
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Still teaching
complementary feeding at the health center. I'm getting some repeat
customers so there's hope they're actually using what I teach them.
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<u>Diapers</u></div>
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The Nappy
Project is going well, for the most part. Every time a nappy leaks I
die a little inside. But from my research it seems like it's a never
ending battle with cloth diapers, so at least it's not going directly
on the floor so that's cool. Behavior change is a bitch, and the
caregivers are still tying the towels around the waist like they have
forever and then that leaks and goes right around the whole apparatus
like it's not even there. So we're working on it. So there's 120
completed, with 80 in the works. If we can get at least 400-600 we'll
be good. A few of the 120 are trash now, different mistakes with the
sewing and wear and tear (because of mistakes with the sewing). But
things are moving along.
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<u>Chicken Farm</u></div>
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This is probably
the most exciting news so far. We've partnered with 2 rotary clubs.
One in Uganda, and one abroad. The Rotary club abroad has agreed to
match funds for the poultry farm if we can raise the other half. It
is extremely important that the this project is Ugandans working
towards better Uganda. That they take ownership of this project and
have a sense of pride in their work. They are more than capable of
fundraising just as much as any western country. I am so sick of
hearing “well, someone should support us”. No, there are plenty
educated, resourceful people right here in Uganda and they can do
this. Why would wolf hunt if someone is already feeding it? It is
unrealistic to think that they can raise the full amount, but half of
the amount is more than doable. I hate the word “empowered”. It
sounds like me, the westerner, has some power like fucking Galadriel
and I can just give it to others. Every human is born with their own
power and Peace Corps Volunteers need to be better at showing their
community the power they already have. How arrogant and conceited of
volunteers or voluntourists to think that they have the ability to
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St. Kizito is also working to send staff to Komonkali to learn to make homemade feeds for the chicken which cuts the costs almost in half. So now we're cooking with gas. It's still up in the air if I'll be here to see it's completion, but at least we're on the right track now.
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Here's what
we're doing to raise funds:
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Appeal
letters</div>
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Ugandan
crowdfunding site Akabbo</div>
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Marathon</div>
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Benefit
event at a local restaurant</div>
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House Keeping:
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Water is back!
10 months later lol. It's nice to finally feel clean again, if only
for a moment. And I thought it would make me better at being a better house keeper but, like, not really.
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Our COS
conference is next month so we're in the home stretch. I'm terrified.
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Also, Goose has a cat harness that is hysterical. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-75290079216709802342015-10-13T11:35:00.000-07:002015-10-13T11:35:31.773-07:00It's not that kinda movie honey. My life's not for you to make a name for yourself. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So remember that time I thought I was a
blogger? Yeah, sorry. I know some of you liked it? I don't really
know. But I figured that writing about being over here would be
better than watching Shawshank and Good Will Hunting on repeat and
oogling Harvey Specter. Don't get me wrong, that's not all I do over
here (as you'll see if I keep going or if I ever post this) but at
night there's down time.
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Forgive me readers, for I have delayed,
it have been 8 months since my last blog post. I haven't been writing
because it just turned into a “complain” space and I didn't want
to be the whiny, cynical, tired, PCV. My struggles are my struggles
and while sharing them is helpful for everyone I guess, it's
poisonous if that's all I have to stay. A few months ago I decided to
actively change the way I think. I'm really not a pessimist by
nature, but the blog and the freedom to say whatever I wanted really
started to bring that out of me.
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I also started to actively think about
how I viewed this experience. Why am I here? As I've complained about
before, we get a lot of short term volunteers who think that the 2
hours a week they spend with our kids is going to change the world. I
mean, ever small thing counts but I can't stand the selfies that say
“look at me with the poor little orphan, tell me what a good person
I am”. A line from Rent sticks out in my head, especially when I
think about applying to Med School-- “My life is not for you to
make a name for yourself.” So I felt guilty about that for a long
time.
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So that's why I haven't been writing,
but here's what I've been doing!
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Goose, the kitten 8 months ago is now a
big ol' Tomcat (fixed, thank god). He survived an attack by 3 dogs
and against her better judgment, one of my neighbors saved his life.
She acts like she can't stand Goose (culturally, Ugandans don't keep
pets) but she knew how said I'd be if he went missing. Against MY
better judgment I got attached to this cat. He could be beaten to
death, killed by dogs, or poisoned any day and I need to be ok with
it. This is not America. But one night he went missing and two of the
guards saw me looking for him and decided to help me out. My
neighbors love me enough to watch out for my cat. So that makes me
very very happy.
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Work stuff!
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Overarching Goals:
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Create standard operating
procedures that are used throughout the home to include:
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discipline</div>
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child development</div>
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hygiene (Nappy Project)</div>
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nutrition standards</div>
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Establish a successful Income
Generating Activity</div>
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Reform resettlement practices</div>
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– Nappy Project
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– Chicken or Fish
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– Quilting?
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Enhance staff morale
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– Village Savings and Loan Program
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The diaper project is off to a very
slow start but it's going. I thought it'd be finished by now, shows
how naive I was as an early PCV. The staff isn't nearly as excited
about it as they were in February when I submitted the grant. That's
really discouraging. In February, you couldn't get anyone to do
anything BUT sew. But it took so long to get the grant money and then
the fabric that everyone lost interest.
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They're continuing with the project,
but I've started exploring other options. I remember in high school
how everyone got addicted to quilting. We made these “Trip Around
the World” quilts and you couldn't get kids to leave the sewing
room (God Bless Mrs. Haskell). So I gathered old sheets from the
thrift store and some scraps of kyitengue from my dresses and I'm
working a demonstration quilt. The quilts are really simple and
perfect for beginners. I'll get this one finished, and show it to
them in a few months when the diaper project is wrapping up. See
where it goes. These photos were taken by the grant committee from Washington and our grant coordinator from Peace Corps. Apparently the project caused quite the stir in the capital. Who knew?
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The chicken project has been a bit of a
nightmare, so I decided to explore fish farming since the turn over
is so high. I toured farms, contacted peace corps, met with fish
experts and water engineers and it's all very possible. However, it's
new and different and that's scary to the Kizito Staff. But in my
fish exploration I found a farm in Komonkali with the most delightful
family. I've met them about 3 times and we're already family. That's
what I LOVE about Uganda. Genuine hospitality. Every time I show up,
they make up a bed for me so I can stay the night. I never do because
in true American fashion, I always have about a million things to do,
but it's just so nice that the offer is there. I want to recommend
the site for PCV because there's a lot of opportunity and the family
is so driven for change. That is most frustrating thing is that we
come here, all full of that JFK can do spirit, and no one wants to do
a damn thing. Can you blame them? Do you want to do more after you
work a full day? After you carry water and cook for your family of
100? I get it, but it's still frustrating. The lady of the house is
constantly asking me to come to her health center to teach. She asked
me what I was working and I told her about the diaper project. She
wants her daughters (who are tailors) to learn how to make them too!
So that's pretty cool. She's invited me to come to her health center
to give a demonstration of the cost effectiveness of reusable diapers
and the dangers of diarrhea in young children...yay! The family has
this giant successful farm as well. And get this...chickens! So the
son is helping come up with an accurate cost of production for me and
we came up with a MUCH cheaper way to expand the poultry farm. I've
also looked into fundraisng locally instead of writing a grant
through peace corps. The schilling sucks and outside money is just
going to make it worse. And I want to help foster this idea that
ugandans are capable of saving themselves. They don't need the big
western man to come down and give them anything. So we'll see!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
I'm still teaching once a week and on
the job. We also started making our own washing towels to make sure
we're washing bottoms between diaper changes. There's a new bottle
room made from old plywood and a bookcase so that's nice. Sanitary.
Professional.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
We've also spent the past few months
working a list of demands from the Uganda Ministry of Health. So I've
been writing training manuals and care manuals and all sorts of
things. I'm still pushing for them to do more work with the
resettlement program...but not budging yet. Funds, ya know?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
I'm also trying to implement a better
record keeping system to monitor the malnutrition. A lot of the time,
children become malnourished and no one notices until it's really
bad. So we're trying to implement the WHO growth standards. We've
already identified children who are nearing danger zones and to look
at them you really wouldn't know.
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u82cXs6vDN5j1J8gJ7V6Xa3Gx04Ez2Ogr1HB9jER518pC1B5JlkyMq7Q9v4Gvg9sWrzhT8Stb_URYb8uP9yRxUtTOKuCQwDpPo3gVJ0AxrBNbs_o-C-pVKx71r2Oezp6eokidTihI-Y/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u82cXs6vDN5j1J8gJ7V6Xa3Gx04Ez2Ogr1HB9jER518pC1B5JlkyMq7Q9v4Gvg9sWrzhT8Stb_URYb8uP9yRxUtTOKuCQwDpPo3gVJ0AxrBNbs_o-C-pVKx71r2Oezp6eokidTihI-Y/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Alright, so that's what I've got for
Kizito.
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</div>
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</div>
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Secondary work:
</div>
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</div>
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Still giving lessons at the nearby
health center. I teach a lot about complementary feeding and
nutrition. I do make shift cooking demonstrations. The In-Charge at
the Health Center also approached me to get more involved in the
Health Center to get more foot traffic through there. So we are
organizing a net distribution that will include education on cleaning
the net, repairing the net, and hanging the net properly. He also
wants to start a Youth Health Club. So that's about to take up a ton
of my time...but it's exciting!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My malaria club is the light of my
life. They demand that I meet with them 3 times a week and they call
me, come to my house and ask me to teach them more. I promise, I'm
not lying, lol! They're even on vacation for the next two weeks and
yesterday they came to my house to tell me that two weeks was too
long to go without doing work. So we have lessons tomorrow. We've
done 3 performances of the STOMP malaria skit and they've really
enjoyed it. The next few performances will include the students
teaching a lesson on malaria. Woo!
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzb12xNrNx4Sri3ao3tAXXWYbLZIYQA8HZv0H1EK5BNjukQYeFNGT6VREcCtTDrUhFSVHMwkfE8k-FE1NL0msby7u0yPuhjU7RKc1yFdggyOvSrFUt1oNQgpVuHEN8XHdxEeKQWu5-hI/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzb12xNrNx4Sri3ao3tAXXWYbLZIYQA8HZv0H1EK5BNjukQYeFNGT6VREcCtTDrUhFSVHMwkfE8k-FE1NL0msby7u0yPuhjU7RKc1yFdggyOvSrFUt1oNQgpVuHEN8XHdxEeKQWu5-hI/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X8_jhcDd9JeOwyCeUE-9Z4GNIiE-CCQeArl-LMEYS63g1o-4t_jmDKL5MAqN5HzR7MXMRBUbwExVpYLmLWS2-CxCvetBFi5rkfZVYh1nme3n8Jrm2BJrNzfM5L4o_cZkNU_1jV0wjuk/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X8_jhcDd9JeOwyCeUE-9Z4GNIiE-CCQeArl-LMEYS63g1o-4t_jmDKL5MAqN5HzR7MXMRBUbwExVpYLmLWS2-CxCvetBFi5rkfZVYh1nme3n8Jrm2BJrNzfM5L4o_cZkNU_1jV0wjuk/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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This is the happiest kid to ever slam a bucket lid. </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I also did a week long Reusable
menstrual pad session. It was a nightmare. So incredibly stressful
375 kids. They were stealing towels and buttons and I was screaming
like a maniac to get their attention. However, there were some
shining moments. I once they all got going, I really didn't have to
do anything. I taught a small group first, and that small group
became leaders and they went around to their own small groups and
taught them. Some of them really enjoyed it and asked to be leaders
the rest of the week. We did the session as a part of gender equality
too. We had boys and girls making the pads and male teachers. So even
though it was a HUGE CHALLENGE, it was still very very worth it. The
boys took the pads home to their mothers and they were very excited
to give them to them. Also, I brought a new pair of granny pannies and demonstrated how to properly use this RUMP, don't worry. </div>
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Peace Corps work:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
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I co-taught Gender and Sexual
Reproductive Health for the new group of trainees.
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</div>
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I was elected to the Volunteer Advocacy
Committee
</div>
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</div>
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Joined another volunteer support group</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And was selected as Malaria Think Tank
Grant Coordinator</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Housekeeping:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My water has been out since May. It
doesn't bother me, but my bucket bath game is weak so I'm real dirty.
And you definitely notice how much water you use when you have to
carry it all.
Washing long hair in a bucket is just the worst and I almost drown all the time. So for safety reasons I only wash my hair once a week. </div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Still cooking on a sigiri-- currently
making brownies dutch oven style to give to my sewing group!
</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgGwdn4Qt8cTM7q2nEwGC3BKJ7PXVn_ZDy9RrQ6XxANLdFj5CtmWjDcES7XgBbWRZj0j0N8EdEqchoUTrAlMDzdCrT8L9bzgiEv-maOB56GjcWkKk3cjtgHKhThi3VAD5xpb5zQDOjh4/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgGwdn4Qt8cTM7q2nEwGC3BKJ7PXVn_ZDy9RrQ6XxANLdFj5CtmWjDcES7XgBbWRZj0j0N8EdEqchoUTrAlMDzdCrT8L9bzgiEv-maOB56GjcWkKk3cjtgHKhThi3VAD5xpb5zQDOjh4/s320/IMG_0125.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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</div>
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I killed a snake in my bedroom with a
hammer.
</div>
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</div>
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Oh, and I saw gorillas!
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds6UzvmiT154zm5eSbl2TnQkr7ctSHWe01pzSyA-MqzzMYnG6HqHVFpllyKlbQmc-a6LWtVF-yrV9lUWL6PEbxWuEDA1Vrfo3O_qNLtZU2o98-YkLbOx_SdQ6g7YZrhwj0JvSLDL1kIQ/s1600/IMG_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds6UzvmiT154zm5eSbl2TnQkr7ctSHWe01pzSyA-MqzzMYnG6HqHVFpllyKlbQmc-a6LWtVF-yrV9lUWL6PEbxWuEDA1Vrfo3O_qNLtZU2o98-YkLbOx_SdQ6g7YZrhwj0JvSLDL1kIQ/s320/IMG_0788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wishlist update: </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Things for my little brothers and the kids that come over to my house to destroy my things. Coloring books, matchbox cars, soccer balls. Glow sticks. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
BOOKS! Paperbacks. I loose power and then the tablet/computer is useless. Anything that as a human being you should have read by now. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Always hair conditioner. Always. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Flea collar for the cat. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Instant food anything. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Measuring cups/spoons.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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That is all. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans"<br />
</div>
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</div>
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<br />
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-2035747773339166572015-03-06T04:32:00.001-08:002015-03-06T04:32:40.817-08:00Times they are a'changin'
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, I have been slacking about writing. Partially because
I’ve been in a negative mood and haven’t had anything good to say and I didn’t
want to whine. So let me first start by listing all the good things that have
happened since I last posted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christmas—We went to Rwanda. I can’t believe I didn’t post a
blog post about that. It was incredible. The food was fantastic (Mexican!
Almost…) and the history was unbelievable. You know that burning sensation
behind your eyes right before you cry? Well, I had that the entire time we were
there. First we went to the <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hôtel des Mille Collines, the site made famous by
the movie Hotel Rwanda. Walking through there you’d never be able to guess what
happened there. It’s beautiful. I had tequila on ice by pool and flipped
through facebook. We also toured through all the memorial sites. The bullet
holes and blood are all still there. I’ve been to site of evil before. We went
to Aushwitz when we were in Poland. I think it’s important that everyone visit
these places. We all need to be aware of what human beings are capable of.
Desperate people do horrible things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the past few months I have been working steadily to teach hygiene in
the babies home. Daily, it’s one on one interactions and scenarios. We’re
having a little issue where if they see me do the work, they leave and let me
do it all. When really, I’m only trying to lead by example and be there to show
them the safest way to deal with feces and urine. However, it’s like a never
ending flood of feces and urine because the diapers just aren’t effective at
all. We have submitted the grant for the Cloth Nappy Project with a *drum roll
please* 49% community contribution! Peace Corps requires a 25% community
contribution. Most grant funders require some community contribution to ensure
that the community receiving the funds is actually invested in the project.
Unlike most AID agencies that toss money at people and then take off. So once
the diapers are finished and used regularly it will really help. But right now,
it’s just exhausting trying to keep up with it and I totally get why the
mothers just ignore it half the time. I’ve been keeping a journal of all the
cases of diarrhea in the house and it’s constant. There isn’t a week goes by
that someone isn’t sick. And a lot of that can’t be helped with so many people
living together. But we can work on it. I guess that’s where most of my
frustration comes from. I feel that the administration isn’t backing what I do
100% so the mothers don’t care to either. (There it is, the whining). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">World AIDS DAY—So gangama has a primary school, the babies home, a nursery
school and a health center all within sight of my house. There are A LOT of
opportunities to do work here. Peace Corps has many think tanks (HIV, WASH,
Malaria, etc). Each think tank periodically sends out small grants ($300-500$)
to complete small projects. The released an HIV grant in December that lasted
until February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw this as a great
opportunity to get my foot in the door at the health center. Charles, the nurse
there, was very excited. He had been looking for something more to do. We
planned to invited TASO (The AIDS Support Organization) to come and play live
music to help draw the community to us. We ordered biscuits and sodas and
prepared a lunch for the TASO employees. We expected to test 300 people for
HIV. We met some challenges throughout the event. TASO only came with
prerecorded music, their testers, and their counselors. The testers and
counselors were great! However, it really would have benefited our event if
they had brought their drama group as we had discussed. Since the drama group
did not come, we had an abundance of food! I quickly ran around the village
getting people to come and enjoy what was left. Nothing worse than wasted rice
and matooke. TASO also demonstrated female and male condom use. I was thrilled!
But since it is a Catholic health center, it wasn’t received well by some of
the staff. When I first met with the health center, they informed me that
demonstrations were allowed, but distributions were not. TASO also distributed.
I knew it didn’t make the health center was not happy, but from a health worker’s
standpoint I love condoms. Bring on the condoms. Give em to everyone by the
hundreds. Anyway, at the end of the day, we had only tested 82 people. Not even
a third of our projected testing. I think it would have benefited us to go
outside of our catchment area just a dite, but maybe for next time. We plan on
inviting the same people to test again on May 20<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. The WHO
recommends that countries with a high incidence of HIV encourage their people
to test every three months. So we’re trying to see how many of those 82 people
that were tested come back in May. So that will be the real measure of success.
And, the VHT (village health team) worker came up to me afterwards to tell me
how happy I made people in the village that day. So we’re putting it in the W
column anyway! </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And here we are now: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we’ve been denied for the first grant that we applied to from Combined
Services Third World Fund for the expansion of the poultry farm. I’ve been scowering
around the internet for another grant and I have a few feelers out, but not
bites yet. If any of you (those brave few that have made it all the way down
here lol) know of any grants that would fit our project I’d be much obliged. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And here we are at the whining I’ve been telling you was coming. I still
feel stuck. Working at the babies home is a different beast. While my job
description says that we do outreaches to the health center and the primary
school, that’s not actually the case. I do outreaches. The staff at the babies
home has their own work to do and they’re not really community minded. I can’t
ask my counterpart to do every project with me since it’s not really her job
and she has a family and a life to contend with. It's a little frustrating because they should be more interested in what happens to the children after resettlement and all. Health centers want to do
these projects because it’s what they were built for---bettering the community.
So once I came to that realization, I decided to go off and plan projects on my
own. However, I still need my counterpart from Kizito to interpret and if you
don’t have a ugandan to work with the project won’t be sustainable. Charles
would make a great counterpart, but he doesn’t speak Lugisu. So, my
counterpart has agreed to work with me anyway on these extra outreach
programs but I don't know how excited about it she is. The primary school was her idea anyway, so that’s fine. We have
actually been conducting outreaches to the primary school but have had to stop
so the new head mistress could find a better time for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pending Outreaches<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Primary school—I’ve
started a curriculum on Gender Equality, Life Skills, and Sexual Health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Women’s group—At
one point in these months I started to think I needed to site change because I
didn’t believe there was a role for a Peace Corps Volunteer at this site. At
some point during all that misery, I took a walk to the market to buy tomatoes.
On the way there, a group of women called me over. I had never met them, but I
know their children very well. They all shout Nagudi when I walk by and hold my
hand on the way to the market. One day, I was walking home with a bunch of big
books on malaria. They demanded that I read them to them. So in the middle of
the street, we had a short malaria session with 30 children. You bet I’m
reporting that to washington. Anyway, I decided that even if there isn’t clear
full time Peace Corps role at St. Kizito, there is one in Gangama. So I decided
to form a women’s group from all the women whose children follow me every day.
I interviewed 8 women and we have decided to meet on Tuesdays at 2pm to discuss
Maternal Child Health. It will kinda be like the parenting classes I wanted to do with the families of the children in the home. I also want to introduce a Village Savings and Loan to
them. This will provide a spring board for future projects like the creation of
a borehole or latrines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maternal Child Health Sessions at the Health
Center during immunization days. We have taken the MCH curriculum and wittled
it down to 4 sessions. Since the mothers come every 4 weeks, they will
hopefully be able to get a new session every time they come. The session lasts
a half hour and covers either Nutrition, Malaria, Hygiene, and Family Planning. Family
planning includes spacing, birth plans, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Malaria percussion group—today I met with the
head mistress at Mbale Townside High School. I showed her videos of the
percussion group STOMP and a hand percussion group from New Jersey. She was
very excited! Which made me excited! The goal is to create a STOMP like
percussion group that creates their own instruments from malaria prevention
tools. I want to meet with them weekly to create a percussion routine and to
teach them more about Malaria. Eventually, these students will travel to other
areas, health centers, schools, to perform and give malaria health talks. If
all goes well, they will be youth leaders in their communities. Maybe other
schools who see the performances will be excited to get involved and want to
start their own Malaria Percussion clubs at their schools. I got the idea because
the malaria initiative in peace corps is STOMP out Malaria and then there’s
STOMP the music group. Obviously due to copy rights we’ll have to name it
something different, but I’m excited that it’s actually going to happen! I meet
with the potential students next Thursday! I also decided not to include my
counterpart in this project. She is very busy in her own life and I think it
might be good for me to find other Ugandans who would be interested. So right
now I don’t have a counterpart for this project but I’m hoping the students
will be able to identify a teacher at the school who would be interested. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So good things are in the works and on their way. I just
wish they were already here. But I’ve decided that if I want make a change, I
just have to do it. And hope that people follow. If nobody follows, I’ll
abandon the project because if the host country nationals don’t see a point to
the project, nothing will ever last. But I got to get something going and show
some energy to get people excited to have healthy lives! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S in honor of LetGirlsLearn, I’m trying to put together a
book of stories of successful Ugandan women to motivate my primary school
kiddos. If it works out, I'll post some here! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-27512320210463865972015-01-05T07:54:00.000-08:002015-01-05T07:54:22.731-08:00My feet is my only carriage, so I gotta push on through
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So for the past few days I’ve been feeling like a total
failure. I have to keep constantly reminding myself that I have 19 more months
to go and I’ll figure it out soon and things will all fall into place. I feel
like the hardest thing about Peace Corps is turning the visions we have for our
communities into realities. Your community comes to you with a problem. You
think of a solution. Then you need to figure out how to make it into a reality.
Find the money. Find the time. Find the people who will carry it on after you
leave. It’s all very daunting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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And sometimes I feel like I haven’t intergrated well. That I
haven’t made an impact on my community and I’ll just be like another volunteer
who’s come and went. Which in most regards is a normal thing. I think of peace
corps volunteers like a random breeze on a sail. No one notices them, but they
turn the ship to a different, better direction and then they are gone. And
there is no record of them there. But a big part of peace corps is making
connections with host country nationals so that they trust you and will go with
you with these crazy ideas you have. And I’ve been worried that everythings moving
so slowly partly because I’ve been super crappy at integrating. Which I’m not
sure I’ve actually been bad at integrating….I could just be over thinking like
I’m wont to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Anyway….I’m telling you all of these because of an experience
I had just now walking to the market. My path to the market takes me through my
neighbor’s backyard, past her pit latrine, through a field, through another
backyard, through a football pitch, down the road, and then across the street.
So I get to see a fair amount of my community when I go through. This time, as
I went through the first back yard, one neighbor called out to me, “May I
escort you?” Of course I said yes, and I was delighted to walk with someone
new. We walked through the field and into the first backyard. As usual, around
a dozen children came out of the wood work shrieking “Nagudi! How are you?!”
They grabbed my hands and welcomed me through their yard and escorted us
through the football field. Totally normal walk to the market. They shout “Nagudi”
because I was annoyed at being called Muzungu in my own neighborhood, so I
introduced myself to them. Nagudi is my African name. Anyway, the woman that I
was walking with turned to me and said “The children like you. You know all of
them. You are a good person with a good heart. You have good manners. You are
good to the children and the adults that you meet. You have a good heart.” It
was like the universe knew I needed a confidence boost today. It felt great! And
about two seconds later, you know, just so I don’t get too cocky, the woman
says to me, “ Ah Nagudi, but what are you eating? You are becoming fat!” Fat is
actually a good thing here. And for the record, I’ve lost 18 lbs since I’ve
been here. BOOM! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-838090986939566162015-01-05T07:36:00.003-08:002015-01-05T07:36:30.920-08:00I wanna see ya be brave!
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Hey Folks,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I haven't been writing because I haven't had anything
interesting to tell you. It's either horribly depressing or comes off as “I am
warm and you are cold<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*sung to the tune
of the eskimo from boy meet world* And even now I'm considering stopping
because my new kitten won't stop sitting on the keyboard. Her name's Arwen and
she's super cute. Except when she LICKS my face all night and I can't sleep.
Cat kisses sound cute in theory but the scratchy tongue is just the worst. Also
fish breath. Gross. I've been a little lonely lately, and Arwen is nice to come
home to. *** edit Arwen is actually a dude and I thinking of naming him Lucic.
LOOOOOOCH. *******edit decided to name cat, Goose. He’s so SO WERID. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Anyway, development—true development-- is so slow it's
painful. Any project I want to start has to go through the planning stages, the
convincing stages, the money stages, and the building stages. I'm almost
positive I'll have to extend my service to accomplish anything I want to do.
Sorry mom and dad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Here's a break down of what I'm working on:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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My first project that I'm super excited about and my
organization is too is a cloth diaper project for the home. It'd be easy to
just call up a good intentioned organization to do a diaper drop, but what
happens when those run out? What happens when the company will no longer donate
diapers? This babies' home has been around since 1968 so it's safe to say that
it will continue one for years and years to come. It'll outlive any goodnatured
individual's new year's resolution, any resume building mission trip, any
mid-life crisis, or what ever else posses people to volunteer for a few weeks.
So donating nappies is at best a temporary fix. I chose to help the mothers
create a cloth diaper project because they already have a room full of sewing
machines and caregivers who want to know how to sew. However, pricing out the
materials and writing the start-up grant has proven to be a time suck. And with
the holidays coming it's even more difficult to get everyone to together to
plan. I was searching for a way to get a major company to donate material, but
I realized that that is not sustainable either. Will the company donate
forever? Will the suit with a heart that I've found always be working for the
fabric company? What happens if they decide not to give us the free fabric? So
now I'm on the hunt for a cheap fabric supplier in Uganda. But when you say
fabric, they steer you towards the indian fabric markets in Mbale. The places
with the silks for gomes and cotton kyitengue for dresses. I'm looking for
nylon. Tough, umbrella quality, nylon. And I'm looking for it in rolls. For my
prototype I just destroyed an umbrella. That's not cost effective in the long
run. Also, Uganda in the world of estimation. To budget out this project I need
exact numbers of yardage or meters of elastics and fabric. Exact numbers of
what goes into making one diaper. Every time I try to get these numbers, the
word “somehow” comes into the mix and I want to tear my hair out. Just keep
swimming.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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My next project is something the home has been asking for.
It's sort of a “prove myself” project. I need to prove to the people working
here that I'm not like the short term volunteers who come through, cuddle
babies, and leave. I need to show them that I listen to their wants and needs
and I'm working with them not for them and not telling them what to do. This
project is the chicken coop that many of you have seen me chat about on
facebook. The chicken coop is going to be a real game changer for this
community. The babies home relies on donations from parents of the children and
from goodnatrued souls through uganda and the rest of the world. Now, if you
come here, they seem to be doing well. However, what if people can't donate one
year? Living off the generosity of other, as any waitress will tell you, is
always a gamble. And you cannot afford to gamble with the lives of children at
stake. The chicken coop will allow the babies home to become completely self
sustainable. To have money to provide for children for always.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Now, you might say that between the nappies and the chickens,
how are these people going to have time to do all this work and watch the
children. Well, that's what i've beeen thinking too. I've researched and found
a babies home in Tanzania that invites relatives (older sisters, aunts,
grandmothers, etc) to come and stay at the home. These women (because lets face
it, women are the only ones who do anything in the developing world) come and
learn how to properly take care of these children. I've gone on several
resettlement visits and seen that some families can really take care of the
their children once they come home. And some cannot. There's this one little
girl who's face still haunts me, as cliché as that sounds. I can't pronounce
her name, but I see her whenever we talk about children who have falling
through the cracks. My counterpart says that one thing that we could really do
to help these families is to give them an income generating activity. Eureka!
Viola! It all comes together like a play or an after school special. The
families send a representative to live at St. Kizito for one month. During that
month they bond with their specific child, learn to cook nutritious meals,
garden, prevent malaria, and keep hygienic conditions. They can also work in
the chicken coop to learn chicken farming and work in the diaper IGA to learn
to sew. A short term group also came and built an oven. They can learn to bake
as well. And if I can swing it, we can make clay beads and they can learn to
make and sell those. It's also a great opportunity for a village savings and
loan. I've also had to go even slower to convince the people I work with that
it's a good idea. Normally, after the host country nationals veto a project,
it's dead. If they don't like it, they won't continue on with it after you
leave so it's just a waste of time. However, I can't think of a better way that
accomplishes all the problems they keep coming to me with. So baby steps. We'll
do a dry run of this in August 2015 and if it works out we'll do another one in
November 2015.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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And the start up money for all of this can start with Peace
Corps grants, but I'll need to find another institution to fund the health
classes and the IGA classes after I leave. The Peace Corps grants leave when I
do. I'm thinking Bill Gates but that might be thinking too big. We'll find it
though, where there's a will, there's a way!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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So that's what I've been doing—-as boring as it is!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #70ad47; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-12825534267033617662014-10-07T00:39:00.001-07:002014-10-07T00:39:14.555-07:00Keep ya sunny side up, up!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">* sorry in advance for the grammar and the just the stream of consciousness that this is*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday September 30, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Birthday Dad! So I’ve been at site about two months
now. And in that time two babies have died. The second one died last night and
no one knows why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unsettling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m drowning my feelings in a cheeseburger
and I don’t care. ( “ I wish they would die before I could love them”, one of
the caregivers had said)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’ve noticed I’ve been chatting a lot on here about my
thoughts and feelings and that’s all great. But I really want to use this blog
to catch a snap shot of Uganda, for me and for you. So I’m going to try to tell
more stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’ve started taking porridge. Millet porridge to be
exact. It’s really just a cup of bread and sugar but I like it. My neighbors
think it’s funny that I just make a cup for myself. The babies eat a version of
it that’s fortified with sim sim and other things to give it a boost. I don’t
understand the aversion to vegetables here. They’re ok with the legumes and the
carbs but tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and other things are just unheard of. I
suggest them at our nutrition meetings and get shot down every time. It’s
weird. We beg kids to eat broccoli and here it’s not even around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A girl from another organization just arrived in Uganda a
few days ago and had the misfortune of having dinner with all of us. We were in
a little bit of “here’s what’s wrong with Uganda” chat and when you’re here for
2 days it’s really not what you need to here. Yeah PCVs get really bitter at
times, but that’s just because it’s everyday. It’s not just a month, it’s not
just a few weeks, and it’s not ever going to drastically change while we’re
here. So yeah, people get bitter. But we really should have reigned it in a tad
for the poor kid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things we struggle with (from that conversation at least) : <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">the Muzungu price--people always expect that you have more
money because you are a muzungu. Which is very true. Middle class Ugandans v.
Middle class americans are not the same. So stop trying to act like you are.
Generally we don’t mind paying a bit more than the locals but not 10x more like
some vendors/carpenters/taxi drivers try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sexism: A raging feminist in Uganda is going to have a hell
of an adjustment period. Don’t kneel if you don’t want to. But sometimes it’s
very awkward not to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Catcalling: It’s funny, it’s annoying, it’s flattering, it’s
gross, all at once. Much like America. I had a Ugandan woman stand up for me
when I walked by a construction site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Leave
the Muzungu alone. Why are you disturbing her?” You go, nneabo, you go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We did
tell the newbie what all the common things men throw at women when they walk
by. <br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My size!” and the
“scratch the palm” thing. UGH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s always dust everywhere. Even in the wet season. I
wore lip stick the other day cause I missed it and then immediately regretted
it when a thin layer of dust covered my month. Gross. My feet will also never
be clean again. Ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I could redo that conversation all over again, I’d have
added this section as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things we love about Uganda: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone wants to help you get where you are going. Even if
you turn down the boda men ( instead of having taxis all over town, Uganda and
much of Africa have motorcycles that will take you wherever. Peace Corps
Headquarters does not allow us to take them.) will tell you where to go. It
might be “just there” which isn’t extremely helpful but if you’re really
confused usually you can get someone to walk you there. Sometimes they ask for
money, sometimes they don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Local Food. Local food can be awesome or awful depending on
the occasion or the creativeness of the cook. I hate matoke with a passion but
it’s there at every meal. Matoke, rice, posho (like mashed rice somehow) irish,
that is considered food. Anything else (beans, peas, what) is called the soup.
So if they ask me what I had for dinner and I tell them I made cow peas with
tomato and onion they will immediately say “Eh! But where is the food?”
Highlights of local food is the pillow (fried rice), street chicken (so good,
usually at home they roast and then boil but if it’s on the street it’s roasted
and salted), samosa ( I stand by my statement that uchumi vegetable samosa is
phenomenal, come at me PCVs), cabbage ( I don’t know what they do to this but
it’s awesome and I can never recreate it), pork (hell yes to pork), fried
Kasava ( another potato like vegetable with salt), ROLEX ( The PCV go to, chiapatti
with fried egg, cabbage onion tomato. It’s like a breakfast burrito and if you
put mustard on it it’s fantastic). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are always invited everywhere. Sometimes it’s weird when
you’re at a wedding for someone you don’t know or whatever but how many times
in America have you been like “Oh, is it ok that I go? Will it be weird? Did I
know them well enough?” In uganda you just go. It’s fun and no one questions
why you’re there. Like one of the women’s father died and we drove all over
god’s green earth looking for the funeral to support her. We stopped at 3
different funerals and none of them was the right one but that’s beside the
point. (Side note: if you are planning on using the “my mother died” excuse to
get out of work in Uganda, don’t. Your boss will find you.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People take care of each other. I never worry about my
laundry when I go to town and it’s still on the line. If it rains, my neighbors
take it and vice versa. I make too much food, I give some to Irene. She makes
too much, I get food. If they don’t see me cook, someone passes me a plate.
Food is love, people. Food is love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jury is still out about how we generally feel about the
cleaniness. Some things they over clean and some things they underclean by
American standards. Like we mop the floor 35 times a day and have to sit on a
mat and not directly on the concrete. Then there’s garbage all over the
streets. Handwashing is not really a thing and babies pee everywhere but you
have to bathe at least twice a day. I’m just confused most of the time and have
come to the conclusion that I will never know. It’s fine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-48928563580258507922014-08-24T02:28:00.000-07:002014-08-24T02:29:07.522-07:00My teeth and ambitions are bared....be prepared! <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So sorry that’s been a month, but things have been crazy
town and then we lost power for a week and then I was tired and preoccupied.
But whatever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So when we last left our traveler she was going to Lira for
tech week. I loved it! We lived with a current volunteer in her living room and
it was great. We built a mosquito forest there, took turns cooking dinner, and
watched Fargo. Fargo forced us all to speak in Minnesotan Uganglish and we
couldn’t turn it off. We later went to Gulu to visit a WASH project and have a
little nightlife. That was also really fun! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went back to Kampala for swearing in and supervisor’s
workshop. It’s nice to be a real volunteer! This trainee business was nuts…it
felt like the freshmen orientation that never ended. I’ll never say that PST
isn’t necessary, because it totally is. It’s long, it’s tiring, it’s
repetitive, but it’s all important. You want the degree, you need to go to
class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I’m at site and have been here about two weeks. It’s
strange. I’m in this weird limbo area where I’m not supposed to be doing
anything really hardcore, just observing. But it’s hard to find a place for me
in the mix of things. So I’ve really just been following my counterpart (Irene)
around, meeting important people in the area, and working in the home. I cause
a little bit of a stir when I go into the toddler area though. They get a lot
of white visitors to tour the home, and they tend to give the kids a lot of
attention. So when I walk in they all rush over to me, crying and demanding to
be picked up. So I avoid that area a little, introducing myself mapola-mapola
(slowly by slowly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t have
anyone to meet or things to see, I’m usually in the babies’ part of the house,
changing diapers, feeding them, and refereeing the various squabbles. It’s hard
doing things there. Like really hard not to go full American. Never go full
American. I don’t think the caregivers like it when I change diapers. I make
too much laundry for them because I wash the bottoms and dry them. It’s hard to
not just do things the way I’ve been raised and trained to do. Much of what I
do is leading by example, but I can’t be the freight train undoing and redoing
everything that they do, especially during the first three months I’m there. I
also hate how much I say “but in America”, “Oh well, in America…” It’s word
vomit. I can’t stop. I don’t even realize I’ve done it until it’s too late. It
usually happens when I’ve done something that the HCNs think is completely
nuts, and it’s how I excuse myself. I still hate it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So with the power outage I’ve been reading a lot by candle
light. Pathologies of Power by Paul Farmer is exactly what I should be reading
but it’s kind of a depressing read when you’re in a depressing situation. The
water is also out right now so I’m rationing water, living in the dark, and
reading about how big government in many countries has furthered its own agenda
at the expense of the poor (specifically healthcare). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the babies in the home recently passed
away from malaria and that just fuels the dismay. But I’m still in good
spirits… haven’t been beaten down just yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a happier note, there is this one baby that is just a
star. She chirps and screeches (happy screeches). She hasn’t figured out
crawling yet, so if she wants to get somewhere she rolls herself sideways. She
never cries (unless she’s hungry) and loves holding other babies’ hands. It’s
adorable. I tell the nuns and the caregivers that she is going to be president.
Presidents love to hear the sound of their own voices and so does this little
girl. The Ugandans laugh, and reply “Presidents can’t be ladies”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My response is just, “She’ll be president.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of president, we were in Mutoto for the festival to
mark the opening day for circumcision season and Musevini was there. I’ve been
closer to the Ugandan president than Obama….is that funny? That was trip btw.
It helped if I thought of it more as a graduation ceremony. Seeing the
traditional dances and garb was really cool. And we got on national Ugandan TV.
Cool, huh? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’ve mostly been getting my house together, visiting
babies, going to church, and trying to figure this whole African thing out. My
house is coming together. Still looks like a homeless person is squatting in
there but eventually I’ll get some decorations going. On a good day I have
power and running water, which I wasn’t so stoked about initially. I really
wanted to live deep in the village with a pit latrine and whatever. But I’ve
come to realize that the biggest part of Peace Corps is going where you are
called to serve. That’s the very beginning of being flexible because things are
never going to go the way you wanted, planned or envisioned in that big
wonderful full of liberty American brain of yours. That’s why I’m a little
skeptical of the new Peace Corps application. People can apply to the region
and the job that they want. Which sounds cool, you get to have some input on
what you do, great. But what kind of volunteer are they attracting now? The
kind that will go with the flow? Or the kind that when she buys a box of
chocolates googles the exact flavor map so there’s never a surprise? The one
that is confident in her ability to adapt or the one that freaks when things
get hairy? I get that it’s been rough with people site changing all over the
world because it just wasn’t a good fit. And that sucks too. And if you really
hate your site you should change because two years is a long time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But part of Peace Corps is accepting what you
have and working within it anyway. "Here are my skills, where do you need me?" I think this new process is going to attract the wrong kind of volunteer.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Alright
off my soap box and getting in a taxi to Jinja and then Kampala for an all
volunteer conference tomorrow! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S sorry back on the soap box for a hot second….theres a
missionary giving a dissertation to a poor Ugandan waitress on how to cook over
medium eggs. They don’t do those here…order rice and beans and shut up like a
normal person. I don’t care that you used to be a short order cook or that you're here in the name of Jesus. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-20010447986343327562014-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:002014-07-21T11:43:07.810-07:00You've got a friend in me <div class="MsoNormal">
So I’ve been back from my future site visit and have had a
few days of training at the group training site in Entebbe. The future site
visit or FSV was great. I finally had some down time to do important things
like scrub all the red dust off my feet, organize my stuff, and watch a movie.
I was up every morning early, had breakfast with the convent, toured the
facility, had meetings, more food at the convent, then into bed by 8pm. It was
magical. Now we're back in the giant group which is nice-- I missed everyone! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
St. Kizito has a ton going on and I’m so excited. It is
located on Gangama Parish in Mbale district, about a 25 min walk from the city.
In addition to the babies’ home there is a toddler home, an older child home (mostly
elementary aged children), a school, a health center, a garden, a piggery, and
a poultry farm. There are a ton of opportunities here. I’m very excited to work
with the agriculture volunteers to improve the garden so that the children will
have access to fresh vegetables year round. We’re focusing on increasing their
vitamin A and iron intake. I really want to focus on the orphanage at first and
then take the practices that I’ve worked on with the orphanage and branch into
the village. Sack gardening sounds really interesting and it’s a direct overlap
between the health sector and the Ag sector so that’s cool. It’d be really
interesting to have a “Mommy and Me” type group and work on sack gardening/nutrition,
hygiene/pressure sores, and malaria outreaches with them. It’s incredible how
everything really is everyone’s problem. Like I can talk to the caregiviers at
the home or the mothers in the village about proper nutrition until I’m blue
but if they can’t afford it or don’t have access to it then it really doesn’t
matter. I foresee a lot of gardening in my future and that’s totally cool. I feel like I have all these projects that
NEED to get done and I can’t wait to start. I’m overwhelmed, but in a good way,
if that makes any sense. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s nuts how short my time seems here. The more people talk
about the future and what’s going on in the coming months I feel like my
service is almost over and it’s barely started. Like by the time I start to
make real progress they’ll be chirping about my COS (close of service). Most of
you probably think I’m crazy but it’s true. It might be because I’ve met a
bunch of PCVs who are getting ready to COS. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love love love the group I’m stationed with in Mbale. We
all get along really well and all have something completely different to offer.
We’re in a good spot too. Not so close that we’ll be up in each other’s grills
all the time, but not too far away that we can’t sneak into town for a cup of
coffee and a support session. The current PCVs in the area are pretty awesome
too, but we’re losing a bunch of them in December. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we still don’t know where we will be for our tech week,
but rumor has it that it’s somewhere in the North. Hopefully Arua where the
cool kyetengue is! Obv I should blow as much money on dresses and fabric as I
can. Who needs to eat? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I miss cold milk. And real coffee. And pens that work. And
the dog. But I love it here! Couldn't imagine being anywhere else!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-75011499203719754692014-07-14T05:35:00.000-07:002014-07-14T05:35:20.589-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-42549719091074978302014-07-11T06:13:00.001-07:002014-07-11T06:13:33.124-07:00running on sunshine<div class="MsoNormal">
So I just shoo’d four boys under ten out of my room so I
could write this, so enjoy. There's probably tears because they have to wait 10 min to watch Sleeping Beauty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m currently with my homestay family but I guess I haven’t
written in awhile…ooops. The days are really long and by the time I get in a
place where I could write something, I’m either sleeping or my mind is too full
to really write a good entry. And I’d rather not just scribble something down
just to scribble, that’s not how I want to remember these 27 months! Overall
I’m just super excited to have my house and my space to really get a chance to
digest it all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when we left off we were still in Kulika, our little
American bubble. It was far enough away from the city that really just felt
like we were in some college dorm somewhere in California or something. It’s
weird, I keep calling it “home”, but I lived there less than I will live with
my home stay family. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On June 13<sup>th</sup> (?) we all got “sorted” into our
sites Harry Potter style. It was hilarious and fun. I actually was given my top
choice which I was very very surprised about. I mean, I wanted to work in the
Health Sector and in Africa and I thought it’d be too much to ask the universe
to be allowed to work with my top choice site, but there you go. My site is St.
Kizito Babies Home, but I’ll do a whole page of overview on that when it gets
closer. I’m working with Nuns and there is a church right next to my house. I’m
super pumped! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the other girls in my group met another PCV who is
heading up a lacrosse league as her secondary project and she gave her my
number! I’d love to be involved in that. I want to settle down first but once I
get in the groove of things it would be great! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we moved to our
homestay families on June 18<sup>th</sup>. I’m stationed in Mbale with a
wonderful (huge) family! There are 7 boys and 1 girl, the parents, and various
nieces and nephews who stay with them. They’re taking the “train the American”
assignment very seriously which is great! I’m watching them cook, they speak
Lugisu to me and expect me to answer back, so I’m really listening and trying
to learn the language. It’s hard, I’m studying lumasaaba and they speak lugisu.
Lugisu is similar to Lumasaaba but not the same, so some of the words get lost
in the mix. I’m working at it though. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU HIT A LOW WEIRD POINT*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I know things aren’t always going to rock, I get it, so
when I’m sick of being called Mzungu, harassed, and sweaty, I need to remember
last Saturday. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had class in the morning and then spent the whole day
roaming Mbale. We tried all different foods, had dresses made for swearing in,
and really just socialized with the people. Every time someone screamed
“Mzungu!” at us, we laughed and shouted back “Sndi muzungu ta!” Which means,
“I’m not a mzungu!” Like, mzungu is not my name. Sometimes we’d introduce
ourselves and chat with them, other times they just laughed and shoo’d us on
our way. It was great exploring the city for the first time and learning what
is expected of us at each stop along the way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m convinced that Ugandan women were born at a 90 degree
angle. They are constantly bent over, washing pots and pans, cooking, dressing
children, washing laundry. It’s nuts. Nobody works harder than these women or
these young girls. The girls are insane. They go to school all day, come home
and clean, cook dinner, wash the babies, sleep, get up, wash dishes, dress the
babies, go to school. So busy! So far Africa does not believe in sleep,
mirrors, or hair conditioner. I have no idea about my hair situation ever, or
my eyebrows, or weird chin hair. But neither does anybody else so that’s fine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been letting the boys watch cartoons on my laptop and
now they’re checking on me every twelve seconds to see if I’ve finished. I
started doing it because the little boys kept sneaking in to watch action
movies with their older brothers. They love the princesses which is awesome. I
started handing out princess stickers to the girls and soon everyone had to
have one. I’ve converted them to Disney Princess Mania and it’s hilarious. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The littlest child is about a year old. And I’ve never seen
anyone so loved by so many people. The family adopted him, as if they didn’t
already have enough to do! The younger boys call me “Sis-stah!” and the
littlest one has adopted that, which is nice <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the
4<sup>th</sup> of July we spent all day cooking with our Ugandan families. They
cooked a Ugandan style meal while we cooked an American style meal. We called
the kitchen “little America” and made roasted chicken, fruit salad, veggie
salad, and potato salad. The Ugandans were just as skeptical of the American
food as we were of the Ugandan food at first. It was really funny to see people
afraid of potato salad. Which reminds me of our walks home from school. Every
day we walk with armies of children and try speaking lugisu/lumasaaba with
them. They tease us about our accidents and word choice. It’s very funny/
different to be in the minority here. Every child in America has teased an
immigrant or a foreigner about their voice or pronunciation. It’s very new and
weird to be on the other side of this. Very interesting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
following day we went on a hike to a nearby mountain. Elevation and dehydration really kicked my
butt. Sea dwelling beach bums do not do well in the mountains, but I’ll get
used to it. We went with some of our homestay family members. I took my
brother, Chris. I don’t think anyone really knew what they were getting
ourselves into. It was quite the day. At one point there was this huge ladder made
of bundles of sticks that we all had to use both hands and feet to climb.
However, right behind us came two Ugandan women who scaled the thing barefoot,
one handed, while balancing humongous bundles of firewood and rice on their
heads. We couldn’t believe it. We took pictures at the top then jumped over a
river and headed down the mountain. More like fell all the way down the
mountain. We were so muddy by the end of it I was convinced my host mother
wouldn’t let me in the house. It was a blast. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grey’s quote to sum up our climb and probably most of Peace
Corps: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"They take pictures of the mountain climbers at the top
of the mountain. They are smiling, ecstatic, triumphant. They don’t take
pictures along the way, cause who wants to remember the rest of it? We push
ourselves because we have to, not because we like it. The relentless climb, the
pain and anguish of taking it to the next level – nobody takes pictures of
that, nobody wants to remember, we just want to remember the view from the top,
the breathtaking moment at the edge of the world. That’s what keeps us
climbing, and it’s worth the pain, that’s the crazy part. It’s worth anything”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now
we’re nearing the end of homestay. I really love my family, and I’ll be sad to
leave them. On Monday morning I’ll be traveling to St. Kizito Babies Home on my
“Future Site Visit” to make sure everything is in order. My house should be
finished by then so I’ll take a look at that, make sure it has all the Peace
Corps requirements. You can google St. Kizito Babies Home Mbale, Uganda if
you’re interested. Then I make my way to Entebbe for a week of technical
training, then I live with a current PCV for a week, then I swear in! PST
sometimes feels like it’s dragging, but I still didn’t think swearing in was
this close! I’ll try to post some pictures when I have down time during my
future site visit. I’m really excited to have some time to myself to breath and
get organized. Haha, whenever my host brothers are all over the place my host
mother yells “ Organize yourselves!” which is exactly how I feel. I’m in 20
different places, my belongings are strewn all around Uganda, I’m nervous about
my LPI (language proficiency interview) which we took today, and I hope my site
likes me. It’s nuts! But I’m happy. I love it here and couldn’t imagine being
anywhere else! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02560258904644322691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498711921496185132.post-6755255315810753222014-07-11T06:09:00.003-07:002014-07-11T06:09:40.593-07:00The greatest adventure is what lies ahead....<div class="MsoNormal">
6/9/14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step by step, day by day….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry this is so late, I know I promised most of you that
you’d hear from me. So I have been in country for a week already. 6 days,
actually. I’ve noticed that I’m very Mzungu. I am lost and dizzy all the time,
as many of you knew I would be. I’m surprised at the curiosity and the
outgoingness that many of the Ugandans display. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 3 full days of travel, we made it to Kulika at about
10 o’clock on June 5<sup>th</sup>. After we stepped off the plane (feeling a
little like the Beatles because in Africa you get on and off the airplane on
the tarmat), we went through customs. The customs agent was almost appalled
that we all would be staying for 27 months. 40 Muzugus all staying for 27 months
must sound pretty absurd. Once we got outside, a crowd of Peace Corps Luganda
staff was there to greet us. I felt exhilarated and excited. I could not stop
smiling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then next few day was spent at Kulika, where we got
accustomed to food (you can get Irish potatoes here, I think I’ll be ok), sat through
session upon session (the chairs are awful), and got to know each other. Then,
on Sunday, we went to Kampala. Holy moly it was nuts. I get lost in Boston and
Portland and I’ve been there a hundred times, but the chaos in Kampala is just
out of this world. I focused on being very aware of myself (no one wants to get
hit by a Matatu or a Boda Boda) and my group as we created quite the stir in
the city. This weekend we are being sent into the city without a guide, which
I’m very excited for. I learn much better if I have to find my way myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ve all been stressing about our site placement as well.
We all had two interviews, one with the Health Team and one with the Country
Director (all truly strong, lovely women role models). The process is called an
advertise and bid system, which is pretty cool. It gives you a chance to plead
your case, which most countries don’t get, so that’s nice. However, the stress
of not getting a site you’ve fallen in love with is just gross. And the health
sector has so many sites and so many possibilities. I’m hoping for a site that
deals directly with women and OVC’s (orphaned and vulnerable children). <o:p></o:p></div>
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3 Fears I have: Will I make friends in country and in Peace
Corps? Will I be effective at my site? Will I love my site? <o:p></o:p></div>
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3 Joys: Surrounded by good people doing good work. There are
Irish potatoes. Independence! <o:p></o:p></div>
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