PCV Visit summed up

Hello!

Well, I'm back in Kampala after an exciting four days of traveling and visiting in western Uganda. We (me and two other Trainees) left early Monday morning, meeting up with the volunteers we were going to visit after 6 hrs of travel - 1 hr to Kampala by taxi, 1 hr waiting to leave, and another 4 hr by bus. Another trainee continued on - another 5 hrs, but as some of that was due to being stuck behind a herd of elephants, we didn't feel too bad for her. We had a delicious lunch in town - authentic Indian food: naan with vegetable curry and mango juice, mmmm.... before continuing on to their town - about an hour away by 'small car'. This means a Camry-sized vehicle with, usually, 9 people crammed inside. They tend to wait around until they are full, but for a 6,000 instead of 5,000 Ush ($3 vs. $2.5) they were willing to leave with only 7 people. It was a beautiful drive up to their site: beautiful views at the top of each hill, windows rolled down, and good conversation. We stopped in a small town along the way to pick up bananas and passion fruit. They just told the driver what we wanted, he gave a holler when we got into town, and soon swarms of people were offering bananas and passion fruit. We picked what we wanted, payed (it's so nice to be with people who know what things should cost), and were on our way.

They live in a small town, a little ways up the hill. They share a 'compound' with two houses and a small yard. We were introduced to everyone around - they're near a non-profit organization that places orphans with families, and a church. We went and greeted at the organization, where they were having a meeting. The meeting was basically over, but they were giving speeches. We walked in right at the beginning of a relatively long one. Something I've noticed here is that it's very easy to sit through long speeches when you can't understand a word of it. My mind just wanders and I can think about other things, and not worry about focusing on what is being said. We also got to watch all the food arrive. I mentioned that they eat a lot of food here, and this was no exception. There were 12 people at the meeting, and 2 people bringing in food, who I assume were going to eat as well. They brought in one 10L pot, another, a 8L pot, a covered plate....in the end there were 10 pots, two plates, and 4 small baskets with millet bread in them. oh, and two cases of soda. Quite the feast. Having basically just eaten lunch, and having traveled all day, we begged off dinner, and went back to a delicious fruit salad: pineapple, passion fruit, and bananas with some almonds. So good. Then we crashed :).

The next day I went with one PCV to a life skills lesson at a local secondary school, the S.6 class, so seniors. The class was about HIV and AIDs, and was really interesting to listen to, especially the questions from students, which were much more direct and insightful than I had expected. After that, we went with the other PCV to help on a bakery she is starting with a local women's group. She has just gotten the funding okayed and so we went and bought paint in town. It was great fun to be hanging out with other Muzungus, listening to an ipod, and being busy with my hands. Not surprisingly, I ended up with paint-covered hands and paint on my feet, arms, face, and hair. It was a good time.

Then, dinner prep, and some quality reading time on a mat under a tree. Dinner: beans, rice, guacamole, salsa (both made fresh), cheese, and tortillas! oh, and skittles for dessert. We were quite spoiled with food during our visit, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A British couple working at a nearby secondary school joined us, and since neither of the PCVs we were visiting work in education, they said they were more than happy to show me their school.

So, Wednesday morning I met up with them around 10 (after a lovely morning run and yogurt with oats, wheat bran, bananas, raisins, and cinnamon for breakfast. it was wonderful). The school is in mid-term exams, but they were happy to show me around and discuss their impressions on their school and the Ugandan secondary education in general. I ended up spending most of the day with them, picking their brains for what they've learned, as teachers in general, and teaching/living in Uganda. A lot of it centered around lack of money to pay full-time teachers, as well as the lack of qualified teachers to hire (this of course being a never-ending cycle...). Also, the use and role of libraries in the school. It's challenging to teach proper use of a textbook, dictionary, or any other reference when you only have 5-15 copies for 50-100+ students. And without the knowledge of how to really use a text or do research, learning out of the classroom is much more challenging. We also discussed differences between US and British education systems, which is especially interesting as the Ugandan system is based of the British system.

What else....oh, we made banana bread! (and, yes, this puts me at loaf 4 since arriving, I really need to find some new recipes... I did find some yeast, so hopefully I can make some yeast bread soon!). I learned a much more efficient baking technique: take a large pot, place a brick, rock, etc. on the bottom, cover it (with another pot or a lid if the pot is deep enough), and heat it up. Lower the heat underneath (remove coals, add sand/ashes, or turn down the gas :) and put the item to be backed on the brick. Wait. Remove yumminess. Eat.

We had a wonderful evening kyaai (pronounced Chi, aka tea) at a family's house across the way. They're good friends of the PCVs we were visiting and wanted to meet us, or at least we were a good excuse for kyaai. Kyaai consisted of tea, hot cocoa, hot water or milk, which ever you preferred as well as g-nuts (peanuts), boiled eggs, and bread, and banana bread :). Quite yummy. Though the best part were the three adorable kids. One was 7 months, and just loved the banana bread. The young boy had so much energy and was running around, giving high fives, sitting/climbing on laps, handing out g-nuts, etc. The young girl was much more shy, but quite enjoyed braiding our hair.

After late, a late night stroll into town for Rolexes: Chapat's (fried tortillas) rolled with a fried egg and tomatoes. Stopped at a restaurant for a table, cold sodas, and an avocado to put in our rolexes. delicious. oh, and I've discovered a new soda: Stoney's. It's by cola-cola and is similar to ginger ale, but with 10X the ginger. Beats me why they don't sell it in the US.

So, I'm realizing how long this post is turning out to be. Apologies. Also, I wish I could be sending pictures, but the internet is so slow, I haven't even tried up loading any yet. Someday. Also, sorry about the typos, spelling errors, and many grammar errors.

That's about the end of the trip. We were up early today, took a nine-person small car into town, hopped a bus, and now are hanging out in Kampala eating junk food, checking emails, and soon heading back to homestay and training tomorrow.

I hope you guys are all doing well. I'm sorry for any emails I haven't responded to, or letters. Which, by the way, don't seem to be coming. The mail is VERY slow. My mom sent a letter 6ish weeks ago, and I still haven't got it. I'm trying to respond to everyone via letters, which only take ~11 days to get home (at least, the one I know of..). That gives me the chance to not be so hurried about writing them. I've figured out the mail system, so hopefully I'll get better about sending them off. If you want, send an email, and I'll write back (seems to be the most efficient at the moment).

All the best,

Becky