Week 8 (10 - 16 September 2006)
On Sunday we joined John and Kezzi, our hosts for the 11am service at St Philips church, the second of three they have each week. It’s basically Anglican but with definite Ugandan influences! Afterwards we met some other missionaries briefly. The rest of the day was spent starting to prepare Bible studies. In the evening we had a lively and amusing about marriage prompted by a Muslim wedding in the village which John and Kezzi attended, but on separate days! The celebrations on Saturday were at the home of the bride from 10am. John was one of the first guests to arrive at 12.30pm but did not stay for the full time as they celebrations continued throughout the night. Kezzi went to the Sunday celebrations at the home of the groom which were due to start at 10.30am. By 5pm they still had not started!
We ventured into town again on Monday, by ourselves, and managed to explore some different areas and get a few essential items for our stay in Ushindi before the vehicle arrives. After visiting a shop I realised that I wasn’t carrying my hat. In a slight panic I turned to ask Andrea if she had it. She smiled and said “It’s on your head!” Ops.
In the evening we explored some of the issues behind Ugandan politics, reactions to the Presidential election earlier this year and the peace talks currently in progress. We don’t really understand the detail and implications but it’s interesting to hear local people being open about their views as they have lived through the changes during the last 40 years.
On Tuesday our discussions continued over breakfast with Hope, John & Kezzi’s daughter who will be starting her post-graduate law studies at the end of the month. Isaac, the Principal of Ushindi Secondary School visited later in the morning – our first meeting. We discussed both general issues and specific details. We seem to share many educational views and look forward to working together. As the afternoon was very hot, we only visited one shop in the town and rested the rest of the time. It’s a bit frustrating waiting around not knowing what’s happening or when we will move to the school but we must learn from our time in Kampala, that it’s for the best and we will look back and recognise the progress we made without realizing it.
Wednesday was one of those memorable days. We were taken to the airfield to meet the Archbishop, Henry Orombi, who we first met in 2003 just after we arrived in Goli. It was great to see him again and discover that he and John (our host) are old school friends and that he used to live in Vurra, the nearest village to Ushindi Secondary School. Later we tried out the Internet Café in town with limited success, but at least we learnt that it’s possible to access e-mails at a very reasonable price. We discovered that the work on the house is not complete, but might be done by Saturday (i.e. Monday) although we’re not sure which week!!! The pit latrine is 17 feet deep so far. But we only asked for a seat and don’t know how far down they go. Anyway, what’s a ‘foot’?
On Thursday the rain delayed our intended early departure to town but had the advantage that we went with Alice, John’s niece, who is also staying at the house. She was at Ushindi but now attends the sixth form in a nearby girls boarding school. We went with her to the market and watched how she bought food. So, it’s not a big deal in the UK but being the only muzungu’s (white people) in the market is a little intimidating! It gave us enough confidence to return later on our own and make a few purchases.
We found out this evening that we might be able to move to the school on Saturday afternoon, but Monday was also a possibility. Shopping is now a priority.
Two trips shopping today, Friday – what fun! But it was to get food items that we couldn’t buy too soon. But we also explored other market areas – electrical , bicycles and clothing. It’s hard to get away from the bicycles – they seem to be breeding here! The evening was spent packing.
Well, the big day arrived at last. It’s Saturday. Our final move – for now. And the chance to unpack our suitcases. The pick-up truck arrived as planned, with two helpers in addition to the driver. We collected some the larger items on our way but the gas station wouldn’t sell us a gas cylinder, only the gas. As we had nothing to carry the gas in we went to another dealer. We collected our bed from the hospital. That doesn’t sound right. It’s not a hospital bed but the one that was made for us was being stored in the staff room of the nursing school. In pieces of course. They didn’t have a fully made 4’6” double bed in the staff room. Which is a shame as the one we collected was 4’ wide and our mattress is, you guessed it, 4’6” wide. We’ve discovered that numbers to Ugandans are as much of a mystery as Lugbara is to me! Molly and Isobel (AIM nursing trainers) also provided us with a pre-cooked meal which later proved to more important than the bed. Well, almost. The rest of our belongings which we had last seen in Kampala three weeks ago also arrived, exactly on time courtesy of the German mission agency.
The paint was still wet on the walls (inside), the window screens are not finished and those that are done still have large gaps around them. So, just like camping. The carpenters were around but doing very little as their supervisor had gone to town and no-one new when he would be back.
Later that evening we realised how dark it gets here. There’re aren’t any street lights here – well no streets either; or town lights. Just a few lights from the electricians houses as they get power from the hospital hydroelectric system. So it’s difficult sometimes to know if your eyes are open or shut – there’s no difference in the light level. Makes it easier to sleep though!
We ventured into town again on Monday, by ourselves, and managed to explore some different areas and get a few essential items for our stay in Ushindi before the vehicle arrives. After visiting a shop I realised that I wasn’t carrying my hat. In a slight panic I turned to ask Andrea if she had it. She smiled and said “It’s on your head!” Ops.
In the evening we explored some of the issues behind Ugandan politics, reactions to the Presidential election earlier this year and the peace talks currently in progress. We don’t really understand the detail and implications but it’s interesting to hear local people being open about their views as they have lived through the changes during the last 40 years.
On Tuesday our discussions continued over breakfast with Hope, John & Kezzi’s daughter who will be starting her post-graduate law studies at the end of the month. Isaac, the Principal of Ushindi Secondary School visited later in the morning – our first meeting. We discussed both general issues and specific details. We seem to share many educational views and look forward to working together. As the afternoon was very hot, we only visited one shop in the town and rested the rest of the time. It’s a bit frustrating waiting around not knowing what’s happening or when we will move to the school but we must learn from our time in Kampala, that it’s for the best and we will look back and recognise the progress we made without realizing it.
Wednesday was one of those memorable days. We were taken to the airfield to meet the Archbishop, Henry Orombi, who we first met in 2003 just after we arrived in Goli. It was great to see him again and discover that he and John (our host) are old school friends and that he used to live in Vurra, the nearest village to Ushindi Secondary School. Later we tried out the Internet Café in town with limited success, but at least we learnt that it’s possible to access e-mails at a very reasonable price. We discovered that the work on the house is not complete, but might be done by Saturday (i.e. Monday) although we’re not sure which week!!! The pit latrine is 17 feet deep so far. But we only asked for a seat and don’t know how far down they go. Anyway, what’s a ‘foot’?
On Thursday the rain delayed our intended early departure to town but had the advantage that we went with Alice, John’s niece, who is also staying at the house. She was at Ushindi but now attends the sixth form in a nearby girls boarding school. We went with her to the market and watched how she bought food. So, it’s not a big deal in the UK but being the only muzungu’s (white people) in the market is a little intimidating! It gave us enough confidence to return later on our own and make a few purchases.
We found out this evening that we might be able to move to the school on Saturday afternoon, but Monday was also a possibility. Shopping is now a priority.
Two trips shopping today, Friday – what fun! But it was to get food items that we couldn’t buy too soon. But we also explored other market areas – electrical , bicycles and clothing. It’s hard to get away from the bicycles – they seem to be breeding here! The evening was spent packing.
Well, the big day arrived at last. It’s Saturday. Our final move – for now. And the chance to unpack our suitcases. The pick-up truck arrived as planned, with two helpers in addition to the driver. We collected some the larger items on our way but the gas station wouldn’t sell us a gas cylinder, only the gas. As we had nothing to carry the gas in we went to another dealer. We collected our bed from the hospital. That doesn’t sound right. It’s not a hospital bed but the one that was made for us was being stored in the staff room of the nursing school. In pieces of course. They didn’t have a fully made 4’6” double bed in the staff room. Which is a shame as the one we collected was 4’ wide and our mattress is, you guessed it, 4’6” wide. We’ve discovered that numbers to Ugandans are as much of a mystery as Lugbara is to me! Molly and Isobel (AIM nursing trainers) also provided us with a pre-cooked meal which later proved to more important than the bed. Well, almost. The rest of our belongings which we had last seen in Kampala three weeks ago also arrived, exactly on time courtesy of the German mission agency.
The paint was still wet on the walls (inside), the window screens are not finished and those that are done still have large gaps around them. So, just like camping. The carpenters were around but doing very little as their supervisor had gone to town and no-one new when he would be back.
Later that evening we realised how dark it gets here. There’re aren’t any street lights here – well no streets either; or town lights. Just a few lights from the electricians houses as they get power from the hospital hydroelectric system. So it’s difficult sometimes to know if your eyes are open or shut – there’s no difference in the light level. Makes it easier to sleep though!
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