Africa

Monday, August 29, 2011

America

Well I guess I should probably finish this blog. I really slacked off the last month because I realized how soon I was leaving and got super blog lazy. I said goodbye to all of my friends in Mbale on my birthday and came home the next day. It was so hard to say goodbye. When the plane landed in Salt Lake I realized what was happening and almost stayed on the plane. I felt like I was in a dream. I couldn't believe how nice everything was.

I came home to carpet, took my first warm shower, and washed my clothes in a washing machine all while the power was still on. I still feel super awkward around white people and want to hug every black person I see on campus. Its a problem and I'm lucky to have friends to restrain me. I hope that I never forget the things that I saw in Mbale and the friendships that I made. We have so much but often don't take the time to appreciate the important things in life. We don't need a lot to make us happy. I have been so blessed in my life and have a lot of responsibility to give back. I hope that I can go back soon.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Soccer Camp, Dental Camp and Womens Health Camp

This week was packed with camps. On Sunday we had a soccer camp for the boys of summer set soccer academy. The main event? A game of Mzungus vs the academy. They killed us, but that's a given. We had people tripping over each other, others screaming when the ball came towards them and we even kicked the ball the wrong direction. We were one hot mess.

After the camp we taught classes on leadership. I was teaching a lesson on prioritization and started it out with a demonstration filling a bottle with rocks and sand and related it to getting important things done first. Afterwards I asked them what they thought we would be learning about and almost every time they said, "the weathering of sand and rocks!" Ha Ugandans are all about thinking outside the box.

Tuesday we held a dental camp at an elementary school. We examined over 300 students and extracted 50 or more infected teeth. Don't worry we had a dentist and anesthesia. We gave each of the kids free toothbrushes that had teeth removed too so that they wouldn't hate us too much the next time we came back. We taught about dental hygiene and entertained all 300 kids during the camp. We had to change a lot of our games though to things like goat goat pig instead of duck duck goose.

Wednesday was the big day. The women's health training I have been planning for over a month. It went better then I could have imagined. The women were so eager to learn and listened attentively for all 4 hours we taught and asked some great questions. We made family planning bracelets that were a huge hit. The women loved them. The highlight of my day though was holding a 3 year old on my lap that would mimic every word I said. I'm sneaking her home next time we are at the village.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sipi Falls

I saw a seat belt for the first time in 5 weeks Saturday. WE were driving to sipi falls and Andy and I got first class treatment... the front seat. I almost would have rather been stuck with a million Africans in the back though than watch my life flash before my eyes as we weave in and out of cars. Even if I did have a seat belt on. It wasn't just my life I was worried about either. We almost hit 23 children, our driver wasn't stopping for anyone.

Hiking Sipi falls was hilarious. We had a crowd of 15 African kids following us. On the first falls we were hiking down to the base and had to go down a steep mud hill. We each had Ugandans on both sides of us helping us down but were still sliding everywhere. On the way back I literally had 2 boys pushing me up the hill. It actually was causing more problems though since they were pushing my bum and I was keeled over laughing. We gave quite the show at Sipi Falls.

The Runner

W went up to the mountain village again this week to solidify our plans for the women's health classes we are teaching. The village didn't like my name so they gave me a new one... Khalai, meaning beautiful. I know, exactly what my parents should have named me in the states.

On our way home from the village the kids were just getting out of school. The village is a couple hour hike from the closest road so most of the kids have never seen white people. They were terrified of us. We got some good entertainment from running at the mob of black faces and watching them scatter. The best reaction I had was when I walked behind one of the kids and turned him around. The moment he saw my face he screamed, B lined it towards the side of the mountain and started sprinting down the mountain through the jungle. I watched him for a couple minutes to see if he would ever stop but he didn't. Just kept running and running. He is probably still out in the jungle running as we speak.

Recap

This past weekend we went to Jinja to visit the source of the Nile. We got there expecting to be able to walk right to the source but found a sign charging Ugandans 2000 shillings and non Ugandans 1000. Yep, racism still exists. Luckily we had Suzanne the expert bargainer with us though and we got them to lower the price for us.

We payed a guide to take us on a canoe to see the exact source and expected him to tell us about Lake Victoria and the Nile. Unfortunately it was dinner time and our guide was starving. When we asked him the difference he said, "This water is stagnant, this water isn't, can we go back now" I'm now very educated on Lake Victoria and the Nile feel free to ask me any questions.

Monday was the forth of July and as 23 Americans in Uganda we felt we should celebrate. We made hamburgers and french fries and sang the national anthem. The meat was sketchy but we made it work. If you want to see the excitement check our our you tube channel, Help International Mbale.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ugandans Say The Darndest Things

Lately we have gotten some great comments from our Ugandan friends...

While chasing two little kids one turned to the other and said, "Did you know mzungus eat people?"

From the workers outside our house, while Whitney and I walked with Devin, "Fantastic chicks man, they're majestic!" Obviously he's been watching too many American movies.

Getting my bag scanned before entering a hotel, while the metal detector is beeping frantically, "No bomb?" He didn't even pause to open my bag...made me feel real safe.

While out on a run in the morning with Whitney a Ugandan friend passed and said, "Whitney you are running but still getting fat."

Friday, July 1, 2011

Winnie Abby

Yesterday was incredible. I volunteered at the Maternity Ward again and witnessed 3 births. African woman are unbelievable. My personal responsibility was to take the placenta after it was delivered and dump it in a metal bucket with the rest. Such an honor I know. We also got to wrap the baby up and help the mother breastfeed for the first time. It was such a neat experience, words can't even describe it. To top it all off there is now a baby in Africa named after me and my partner at the hospital. Winnie Abby and you better believe she is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Ha just like the two Mzungus she saw as she entered this world.

Really??

Why was Tuesday so great? To explain lets take a trip back to sunday night when I scalded my entire calf on a boda exhaust pipe. Second degree burn mixed with African dirt = not a fun combination. Add in a sick orphan and projectile vomit, I was the bullseye, and finish the day with 6 more hours of meetings covered in rotting vomit. Gotta love Africa

"Don't Panic, Its Organic!"

This weekend was INSANE. Friday we hiked up to a village clear at the top of a mountain to evaluate what we could help tem with. The kids of the village met us and led us to their school singing a bunch of variations of songs welcoming the visitors. Halfway through one of the songs we realized they were saying they met aunt abby because of jesus and proceeded to insert all of our names into the song.

Halfway through the day it started down pouring. We sat inside a tin shed with the whole village crammed inside waiting for it to stop. We were in a hurry to meet our bus when it ended so we had to run down the muddy hill. African children were following us just so they could watch the mzungus make fools of themselves. Not one of our finest moments. WE were sliding EVERYWHERE.

Saturday we rafted the nile. Yep... the nile. There were 8 rapids all class IV or V, V being the highest class you can do on a raft. To say it was an adrenaline rush would be a huge understatement. The fact that our boat consisted of all girls only added to the excitement. Don't ask me who put all the guys in a different boat... worst idea ever.

I literally had my life flash before my eyes all day long. Luckily nothing happened to us. I think it was due to the fact that our boats team name was jesus, suggested by the three born again christians with us. AFter our first casualty though we decided god didn't like our name and changed it to Moses because he to rafted the nile, in a basket.

For lunch we ate pineapple on our rafts while floating along the nile. We were all falling into a deep meditation and had almost discovered the cure for cancer when we heard white waters ahead and our guide yelled , 'Dont panic its organic' and chucked our pinapples into the river.

The last rapid is named The Death Pit and its name defiitely fits it well. Our raft tiped over .5 seconds in and we all rode through the class V rapid raftless. It was nuts. I had no idea which way was up or down but the moment my head popped up I would take a huge gulp of air before being spun under water again and again. It was insane, nothing beats drowning. I'll definitely be back for more.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

You Know Your In Africa When...

You shower and the water turns black

Traffic stops because a heard of cows is crossing the street

A boda ride is your morning blow dryer

Cock roaches are your roommates

Your guard is terrified of dogs and carries a bow and arrow

You get grazed by a car mirror walking down the street

Your bathroom is a hole in the ground

You eat dinner in the dark because the power goes out everynight

30 in a car is normal

You wait 30 hours for someone to show up to a meeting

You pass around a tomato with flour on it to show how germs are spread in sanitation class and it gets eaten.

African Life

African life is starting to feel normal to me. Its hard for me to remember if things that happen are unusual or not. Something that will never get old is being treated like a celebrity. We went to a school on Friday and we each had at least 10 kids holding onto our arms and stroking them. They couldn't believe we were real, they looked at us like they finally met Santa. The kids know very little English but all scream "mzungu, mzungu how are you?!" perfectly.

We went and explored a slum called Mooni after work last week and all the kids were running out to follow us on the street and hold our hands. Not everyone is a fan of mzungus thought, the baby's usually start bawling because we are so scary. Ha Its going to be a major adjustment when I get home and don't get the same response.

I had some crazy experiences this week. I volunteered in the maternity ward at the hospital and watched two live births. The room we were working in had 8 women lying on tables in labor. They were all dead silent not even a grunt from any of them. I was cleaning a wall next to one of the them and i look over not even 2 minutes later and she has a baby on her chest. She delivered right in front of me and I hadn't even noticed. I was stunned. African women are tough.

I have also started working at an orphanage where children go after their mother dies and their father leaves them. The kids are 2 weeks old to 2 years old. It is so hard to be there but I have fallen in love with some of the kids and somehow end up going back again and again.

Godfrey is a 6 month old who looks as if he is 2 months old. They have very little staff at the orphanage so he sits on a mat most of the day and sucks his thumb while shaking his head side to side to comfort himself. The are so starved of love and I wish so badly they could find good homes. The babies are not as responsive as other children and many are very sick. They don't have diapers so they sit most of the day in a soiled towel. It is a devastating situation but makes me want to do all i can to help prevent this problem.

Africa is amazing, I have moments where I look around and realize where I am and can't help but say a prayer of gratitude that everything worked together to put me here this summer.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Cats, Cow Intestine and Face Paint

I survived my first week in Africa! This week has been an adventure to say the least.

For a house full of Muzungus in Africa, a guard is a must. Our guard David is a Ugandan who is 5'6'', is terrified of dogs, and uses a bow and arrow and sling shot instead of a gun. I sleep by the window and no joke it sounds like i'm playing one of those "sounds of Africa" CD's. The other night I woke up because an animal was right outside my window making the most horrendous noise. It sounded like a baby was choking. After about 30 seconds I heard a BOING noise like a bow and arrow and the noise was gone. So don't worry i'm safe because our guard is a ninja and has no compassion towards cats.

I also have not been disappointed by the reputation of African food. Already I have eaten fried ants, chicken that I watched them butcher, a fish head and the big kicker cow intestine and stomach. Luckily I was sitting next to a boy when the intestine was served and put it on his plate when he was looking the other way. He still doesn't know...

This week we did a sanitation outreach at what we thought was a local village. All 24 of us and 3 Africans piled in our "Muzungu bus" and headed out to Pallisa. We had no air conditioning, at the hottest time of day and were down wind (or lack of it) from our African friends. The ride ended up being 3 hours through the jungle. There were times I literally thought our bus was going to tip over. It was quite the adventure, I was in tears I was laughing so hard by the end.

The village welcomed us with drums and dancing. We All danced together. Including the 90 year old women who was definitely shaking what her momma gave her. We painted the kids faces while the parents were being taught and I think some of the kids will have nightmares for weeks of a muzungu coming at them with a foreign object. Even if its was just a paint brush.

The people here are so generous. I have so much to learn from them. After our outreach we went to a hut in the village where they gave us a feast (of cow intestines) and sodas. I couldn't believe they were going so far out of their way to thank us. It was so hard for us to sit in that hut being treated like kings when some of their children weren't wearing clothes and we knew they probably wouldn't be eating tonight. They will happily do anything for you. We ask for directions a lot and not only will they tell you where to go they will escort you there. Ugandan's are wonderful people and I'm loving my time here.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Is This Real Life??

I am seriously living in a dream right now. I made it to Africa after almost 48 hours of traveling, and much to my surprise so did my luggage.

On the way to Mbale we drove 6 hours on a bus through the African country side. Just to give you a picture of us. 12 Americans and all our luggage smashed in a tiny car driving through Uganda where there are no traffic laws.

As we drove through the villages the kids would all point and yell Muzungu!! Which means white person and would giggle. Some even started chasing our car. To say the least I had a permagrin the entire drive.

The highlight of my week was playing soccer with a Ugandan boys soccer team. The boys ranged from age five to sixteen and to say they were amazing would be a huge understatement. The boys kept laughing at me and would say, "muzungu, whenever you get the ball just pass it to me ok?" Just picture it one white girl who has never played soccer before and isn't naturally coordinated with 30 Ugandan boys who basically walked out of the womb playing soccer. I'm sure it was quite the show.

We also went to a school and I tried to teach a boy how to play tag.... FAIL. He chased me forever before I realized he didn't know he was supposed to touch me. So I turned around and explained it to him and said, "Ok now your turn to chase me". BAD IDEA. He was a blur... so fast. All the kids just burst out laughing at me trying to run away from a ten year old. Definitely not one of my finest moments.

Everything hasn't been easy though. We went and had an orientation at a hospital yesterday and I saw things I thought only happened in movies. I wish I had more qualifications and could help out more because they are so understaffed and lack supplies. I was at an orphanage today and a boy fell and had a huge cut on his foot. I started to dress it with the little supplies I have in my first aid kit and immediately I had at least 20 people lined up to show me their ulcer, cut or bed sore. It was very hard, especially when I ran out of supplies. I wish there was more I could do but I know that any little thing helps make a difference. I love Uganda and can't believe I am here.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

sleep tonight?... Yeah right

I leave tomorrow! I'm so excited there is no way that I will get any sleep tonight. I feel like I'm 5 again and it's Christmas Eve.

Who knows why I'm so excited considering these are my travel plans:

flight to chicago
2.5 hour layover
overnight flight to london
12 hr layover
overnight flight to kenya
1.5 hour layover
flight to uganda

and after all that... a 7 hour drive to Mbale

Bring on the Jet Lag

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Time Machine

I leave for Africa in 3 days and I have a feeling they are going to be the longest days of my life. If someone could invent a time machine for me it would be much appreciated. I think I have repacked my bags 10 times trying to stay busy.

It doesn't help that my team keeps posting pictures of all their shenanigans on facebook. I mean come on people this is torture!

In 4 Days...

This is where I will be staying (I know its basically a mansion all thats missing is a ferrari for the garage)


This is what I will be riding:






And last but not least meet our team puppy Simba. Yes, our team took in a puppy off the streets, brightest idea? Probably not. He is cute though so that means he doesn't have rabies right??