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.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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