What a name means to me

Ellen, Lupiya, Sarah, Kimena, Ben, Mangesha. We all have names and usually we don't have just one but 2 or 3 or 4 or more. Names give us a sense of identity. We associate them with who we are. We are given names or nicknames out of affection. This is why when a teacher with the organization I am a fellow at, Nyaka AIDS Foundation, gave me a name I felt honored and that I needed to live up to my name.

I have been given many names in my life. The one I was given at birth, Ellen, means light or sun. I was named after my aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. This is the name that I first came to know myself by. It is my first and primary identity. It is the way my parents helped me enter into the world and guided me into becoming the person that I am now. I aspire to be light to people. I want to bring joy, happiness and ah-ha! moments to people. I hope to bring sunshine and warmth to people.

When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in a rural village in Zambia the children jokingly named me Luatazho, trouble or problem. I enjoyed this name, partly because when the children called me it at first the adults would look shocked and didn't know how to respond. Partly, because the adults eventually began calling me that name, but mostly because it meant that I WAS being troublesome. I was forcing people to think about their health and make changes. I caused good trouble in the community. In a way, it was a badge of honor.

In the first few weeks that I was at Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project the oldest teacher decided take the role of giving me a name with great seriousness. A few days later when she approached me telling me she had the name for me, you could only imagine the anticipation that I felt. She decided on the name Kiconco meaning a gift. She explained to me that it was a gift for the Nyaka organization to have someone coming to help and staying for a year. I explained to her that it was also a gift for me to be in Uganda and being selected to work with the amazing staff and community at Nyaka. It was a sign that she and the community were welcoming with open arms. 

No one wants to go their whole lives being referred to as “person”. This is why we are giving names, as identifiers. The names given to me mean something. I think that this is the reason why when the children and adults first began calling me Lukatazho I got excited. I was accepted into their family. When the community at Nyaka began referring to me as Kiconco it was a sign that I was truly present in the community and important to them. As the name spreads from just one person to the whole community it is a reminder how many people my life can touch. The power of a name is also why I look up in expectation when someone says “Ellen”. It reminds me of home and my family and the kind of person that I would like to be. Names are important they give us identity. People like to hear their name, its a proven scientific fact. 

Ellen is something I hope to live up to. I hope I can be half as amazing as the women that I am named after. I hope that I spread positive light where ever I go. I hope that I can continue to be a Lukatazho (trouble) and challenge individuals to move past the norms. I want to be a Kiconco, gift, to Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project. I hope that when I leave the community they feel like I was a gift. I want to always remember what a gift my life has been and continue to be grateful for the opportunities that I have had. Each name that I have been given defines a piece of me. Ellen, Lukatazho and Kiconco are all something that I aspire to be.

Carrots, Beets, Spinach, Watermelon.

Who knew that carrots, beets, spinach and watermelon could make you feel so good? Well I suppose I did. I knew that creating your own garden, tending to it and then reaping the fruits of it feels amazing. In Zambia and in Uganda it turned into way to see that yes, I am doing something even if it is just growing vegetables. It is a way to fill up the times when I have nothing to do. It is a reminder every time I can go to my garden and pick something to eat how the small things can give you so much joy.

But there are two reasons that gardening is even more rewarding. One is proving that yes, I know how to dig and plant and weed and water and harvest. It is something that people in the West and women can do. I will admit that I do feel a twinge of pride when they are surprised that american, especially a girl, can garden. It gives me and the community members something to connect on. I am also able to show them that although I may do things a little differently, like not sprinkling seeds everywhere but putting them in a row, or not digging the same way they do that we are able to get the same results. I also enjoy proving people wrong, which doesn't always happen. “Ellen you are wasting your time carrots don't grow here.” Unfortunately, or fortunately they do proven by the2 dozen carrots that I have already eaten or the beets and watermelon that are currently growing in my garden.

I think my most favorite part is when I am able to share the fruits of my garden with my friends here. Their astonishment that I have grown so much that I have extra being someone who “doesn’t know how to garden”. I am also able to provide the families with something different from what they are able to grow because I am able to take the risks and grow something that may not grow well. My diet does not depend on my garden.

However, gardening is dirty and I have the ability to get myself really dirty...and hand washing those clothes are no fun!

The Year Without Christmas or New Years

This holiday season as you all were enjoying turkey, eggnog, hot chocolate, presents under the tree, family, balls dropping on new years and everything else that goes along with that season, I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Ethiopia. Ethiopia the land of delicious food and drink, beautiful environment, ancient churches and castles, wonderful music, vibrant culture and the place where, at least Ethiopians believe, great religious leaders and artifacts are or came from and of course 13 months of sunshine (Ethiopia follows a different calendar so I technically wasn't even there for Christmas).

I cant say that I didn't have a little twinge of homesickness throughout the trip but luckily I was surrounded by GHC friends and friends met along the way. I could just look around and see how lucky I am. Who else gets the chance to look at rock hewn churches built in the 12^th and 13^th centuries where in the 16^th century a pillar inscribed with the ten commandments glowed the entire century, on Christmas day.

Juice Spritz (mix of juices).

The first thing, and perhaps the most important thing, is that this was always going to be a good holiday. I planned on eating my fair share of injeera. Little did I know how many other wonderful things there were to eat. I had fruit juices layered on top of each other, peanut chai, essentially peanut butter heated with sugar, delicious breads, beets, a million kinds of sauces for the injeera that I had never heard of before. Don't worry, I remembered to bring some of the spices back to Uganda with me. I thought that after eating all this delicious food I would be ready, and possibly even excited, to go back to Uganda and accept that matooke (mashed plantains) posho (thick grits) and beans. Boy, was I wrong. I haven't been back for a week and I still crave the smell of burbery, the sour taste of injeera, the variety. Ordering food wasn't always smooth. We asked for 1 plate of injeera and ended up with 3. You definitely need to share these plates. The last few days were especially difficult, when unfortunately the group that I had been traveling with split up and I was with 2 other non Amharic speakers, English is not as widely spoken as you may think. We tried to order injeera with vegetables thinking that it was safe. For some reason the waitress decided that we had ordered spaghetti noodles covered in butter with some vegetables, it wasn’t exactly what we were looking for the last few meals in country. Or when we tried to order some boneless meat in a pot and instead got butter soup with a piece of a goat leg we think. I suppose that is just part of the adventure.  

Injeera and tegabeano

Home made grape wine

 

I could keep talking about the food but that just makes me hungry and sad that I can't be eating it everyday. Perhaps I should talk about the 3 day trek in the Siemien mountains where the views were spectacular and the altitude did a number on my endurance. We definitely were glamping. We slept in small dorm style buildings along the way, where I may have picked up a few flea bites, donkeys carried our bags, every which way you turned was another amazing view.

A tribute to Mary at one of the 2 Christian Churches in the Ciy

Or maybe Harar would be better to tell you about. A walled city that was founded between the 7^th and 11^th century and where many different religions have lived peacefully. You get the chance to meander through small alleys that all the sudden open up to courtyard where someone is setting up for a wedding or a small market. The women are dressed so beautifully in colorful outfits that match the colorful doors, houses and alleyways. If the city isn’t what you are looking for why not head to the camel market where you can get extremely close to camels, sometimes in my opinion frighteningly close to a heard moving your direction.

An alley way within the old city

one of the gates to enter the old city

Camels EVERYWHERE!  Watch out for the drool!

Then there is Lalibela, as I mentioned earlier with the rockhewn churches. These ancient churches were literally carved from the ground. There is 11 of them all together all pretty close together. Just to imagine how these were built in the ancient times without machinery is inspiring. The best part, I think, is that you can still see Ethiopians coming to these churches to practice their religion.

 

Then there is Gondar where there are ancient castles both restored and in ruins. You cant help but think of knights and princess and yes even dragons. Their are old baths that are only filled for a festival called Timkat, Jan 19^th. There also happens to be a Peace Corps volunteer that shares all of her american food with you. What a great surprise!

Then there is Bahar Dar a city right on Lake Tana. The boat cruise takes you to old monasteries on the church...the one that I went into was unimpressive but apparently some of the books the monks were touching were from the 9^th century. The hippos are also right where the lake turns into the Blue Nile. The sunsets were amazing. It is also the place that you need to buy your bus ticket more than 15 hours before you want to leave the next day. But if you weren't aware of that fact it is an extra day meandering the market eating at a local joint where you pay 50 cents for a meal and of course drinking more juice.

And of course there is Addis Ababa, a capital city with way less traffic then I expected, delicious ice cream and cookies and much more I am sure.

So, although Christmas in Ethiopia isn’t until January 7^th and new years happens in September. And even though, there were no real Christmas trees there were plenty of fake ones, even some with strawberry lights. And there was no turkey, meat stuffing, or pies there was injeera, peanut chai and fruit juices. And I may have not been surrounded by my family at least I had a group of friends to travel with (and even one who would sleep in the airport with me!). This year without a Christmas will still be a memorable one.

Extend

The dreaded words “extend mzungu”. I roll my eyes and shoot a dirty look at the conductor who said this. He wants me to move even closer to the person that I am already snuggled up more tightly than lovers would be. We have to try to squeeze one more person into this mini bus (live a mini van with seats for 19 people). Children are sitting on strangers laps, bags are piled high on top of the mini bus and shoved in all free space, people are standing hunched over using up literally any free space possible. I am already sitting in the most awkward position and have been for the past 2 hours. Sure I will try and move closer to my neighbors, I would love to have more parts of a strangers sweaty body on my sweaty body. Why not?

Transport is always an adventure. My absolute favorite form of transport in Uganda is my own legs. No one else can dictate my speed, no one can get to close to me. I do from time to time have to deal with the occasional harassment but that is well worth it for the fresh air, beautiful views that I can actually see and the comfort of having a fairly big “American” sized personal space bubble where most of the time only my friends cross. The exercise as well is awesome, my legs are going to be so strong just from walking to work and back home (you can ask my mom, sometimes we catch each other on the phone while I am walking up the big hill and am panting out of breath).

Then there is the boda boda or boda for short. Its a motorcycle that you can hop on the back of and pay to drive you where ever. This can be wonderful on a hot day. Its a great way to air out your armpits...let that wind blow. But if the weather is to change, which it does often, it isn't such a pleasant ride. As my co-worker calls it the “open roof” doesn't offer much protection during a rain storm. Not to mention, when you are carrying a heavy backpack and on a boda for an hour your back starts to get sore. I also have the tendency to squeeze my legs together the whole way. Like I think this will save me from falling off. Who am I kidding? But it is a great inner thigh workout. The sensation of going quickly over these dirt roads and feeling the wind in your hair (and armpits) is something that I will miss, maybe I will just get my own scooter or motorcycle when I get home. Boda rides, I would say, are much more enjoyable out in the villages. When you get on one in Kampala, the capital city, I fear for my life. Although, I should probably have a similar amount of fear in the village with the sharp turns and quick drop offs and not great roads. Kampala is filled with buses, cars, mini buses, bodas and people everywhere. Bodas are constantly weaving in and out of traffic, disobeying traffic laws, squeezing through spaces I swear aren't big enough to fit the bike, and narrowly escaping accidents. However, you do reach your destination much quicker than when you are stuck in traffic and obeying the stop lights, and in Kampala you can sit in traffic for hours.

Then there are the buses. Think Greyhound buses just the really old buses that we no longer want in America sent to Uganda. The prices to different destinations are “negotiable”. You have to know what it is supposed to cost and refuse to pay more. The conductor always tries to get more out of you, especially when you are a foreigner. Some buses in Uganda are really nice, they run smoothly, they only stop at the major bus stops, they are clean and the conductors are honest, but that would just be too easy. The buses that come all the way out to where I stay only run on certain days of the week, the are old, the conductors just want to get as much money as possible out of the trip. This can come in the form of taking advantage of people who don't know what the price should be. Perhaps, they try to charge insane amounts for putting your luggage under the bus, or they stop for every person standing on the side of the road even when the bus is full and the aisle is filled with bags and standing people. Sometimes, even, they tell you the bus is going all the way to your stop, when in fact it is stopping in the nearest town (1.5 hours away) and not proceeding further and its 8:00pm at night when it is dark when we arrive at there final destination not mine. Not that I am a little bitter about that or anything. Buses do have their advantages. Sometimes they are playing really awesome music that you can get into, other times it is blasting the same 6 gospel songs on repeat for 10 hours. If you get on the bus super early and are one of the first few people to board then you can get the front seat where there is only one seat and no neighbor and you have the whole front window to see out of and don't need to be prepared for territory wars, but that means that you have to wait for the entire bus to fill up before leaving the bus park. If you do get a seat where you control the window then that means that well, you have control of the window which is priceless. Also seats in buses tend to be your seats and although sometimes you have to play territory wars over your space, the amount of space that you get does tend to be much larger than the dreaded MINI BUS.

Mini buses are quite pleasant in Kampala. There is a seat for everyone, you are not packed so tightly, the prices are cheap and they go just about every where. You just need to figure out how the mini bus system works, but each time I go to Kampala I get better and better at it. However, mini buses in Kanungu and I am sure other rural areas where police are easily bribed and traffic rules are more like guidelines aren't quite as nice. Each row is supposed to have seats for 4 people, except in the front with the driver which only has 3 because there needs to be room for the stick shift...So how many people do you think can you fit into a vehicle? That is a question I cannot answer. I am always impressed at the ability to find space for just a few more people. I am also impressed at Ugandans lack of anger for paying for a ride on this mini bus and then being squished in uncomfortable positions for 5 hours while the vehicle stops every 10 minutes to pick people up or drop someone off. As this occurs and the more and more intimate I become with my neighbor and the more times the conductor asks me to 'extend' the more and more the anger and frustration builds up inside of me and the dirtier the looks I give get and the shorter I get with people calling me 'mzungu' or just trying to talk to me. I am pretty sure you could gauge how long I have been traveling for based on these characteristics. Clearly, if you haven't figured it out yet, mini buses in the rural areas are my least favorite form of transport unfortunately, sometimes it is the only means to get from the nearest town to my bus stop.

Although transportation can be a pain in well you know what, I wouldn't change my commute for anything. A 2km walk each way full of beautiful views, fresh air and if I see more than 3 motorcycles along the way I am curious as to what is going on in the village. Luckily this is my commute and I don't have to deal with close quarters, crazy music on repeat, and traffic (what is that again?)

Holistic Health

Global Health Corps is an organization that promotes health equity for all. What does it mean to be well? How does one not contract a disease? Is health just the absence of disease or does it mean more than that? The World Health Organization goes a step further and defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The WHO definition includes many aspects of one's well being in order to be a healthy person, and rightfully so.

Take the example of Tukahirwa Alice. She is a 54 year old widow. She lives in a small village called Nyakageyzi in southwestern Uganda. In her village, there are few people with access to power or running water. She is a subsistence farmer growing bananas, beans, sweet potatoes and a few other crops to feed her family. She lives in a mud hut and uses a pit latrine. Many of her children have died and she is left caring for 4 of her grandchildren. On top of that she is HIV positive and needs to take ARV's (antiretroviral) treatment to slow the progression of HIV.

This story is not uncommon for this area of Uganda and other parts of the world. So how do we provide grandmothers like Alice with the tools and ability to create a more healthy life? That is where Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project comes in.

Nyaka, believes that it is important to provide a holistic approach to development. The organization believes that in order to create a healthier, thriving community we can't just focus on education or health care or sanitation or any one aspect alone. The approach must be integrated. Fixing one problem won't raise a community up out of poverty we need to continue to address all factors that challenge people from living a healthy and fulfilling life.

Since I am a fellow at Global Health Corps, I am particularly interested in making sure that ones health does not stop someone from living the life they want to live. In order to improve someone's health that person needs access to health care; but not just any health care, quality health care. The individual must be able to access health services and also receive drugs. These basic services must be affordable and available to every person regardless of their income and where they live. Access to doctors, nurses, dentists and medicine though, does not ensure that a person is healthy.

In order to be healthy we all need a safe places to stay. Some place where we don't fear the roof or walls of the house collapsing. We also need a clean place where the surroundings are free from tall grass, garbage and feces. We need a place to go to the bathroom and a place to bathe. We need a place where there is room for all family members to sleep inside. We need to have a house within a sanitary environment to live, in order to prevent diseases in the first place.

We also need water. But not just any water, we need water free from parasites and bacteria. We need water that does not cause diarrhea when drunk. We need safe and clean drinking water. The same goes for food. We need food that is cooked properly so that we don't get sick from eating it. We all need to eat. We can't just eat boiled plantains everyday with a spoonful of beans. We need a variety of foods like mangoes, green vegetables, chicken, milk, nuts, tomatoes, milk, onions. We need to eat foods that will help boost our immune system and keep our bodies healthy and strong. We all need this, whether we are 2 months old or a 102 years old.

We need education. We need to provide children with the ability to attend school. To learn, to gain a better understanding of the world and a chance to succeed. We need to teach guardians how to keep there children healthy and how to keep themselves healthy. We need to teach pregnant women how to take care of themselves before, during and after birth. We need to teach farmers how to produce food more efficiently. Knowledge truly is power.

 

Perhaps, the most important thing that we need is each other. We need friends and family. We need support and the feeling that we belong somewhere. We need someone to help us take care of our children, cook and clean when we are too sick to get out of bed. We sometimes just need someone to complain to. We need someone to celebrate with us during happy times and someone to lean on when the going gets tough. These interactions can influence our physical, mental and social health. We all need human interaction.

There are many things that we need to be healthy which brings me back to Alice and the work that the Nyaka AIDS Foundation does. Before Alice joined a grandmother group affiliated with Nyaka, Alice was struggling. She could not afford the services and drugs offered at the nearest government hospital, her pit latrine and kitchen were in rough shape. She struggled to pay the school fees for the children she was caring for, her HIV was affecting her life.

Alice became involved with the Granny group, where grandmothers take advantage of micro-finance loans and are able to discuss challenges they are having in their life and provide each other with solutions. This support from other grandmothers with experience with similar problems caring for orphans is a great way to spread knowledge and make that one another know that they are not alone. Nyaka also provides new houses, kitchens and pit latrines to grandmothers. Within these groups grandmothers determine who is in the greatest need of one of these structures. Alice was chosen due to the dilapidated state of her own facilities. The knowledge that she now doesn't have to worry about these structures falling down thus reducing some of the stress she feels.

Alice also utilizes the Nyaka clinic for free healthcare and medications. She no longer has to worry about having enough money to pay for health services and drugs. She also attends health talks to learn how to better care for her family. Her use of the clinic has reduced her burden of living with HIV, in fact she now looks strong and healthy while talking her ARVs and accessing the services at the clinic.

Alice's daughter and granddaughter receive sponsorships from Nyaka to attend secondary and primary school, respectively. The students receive two balanced meals a day. The knowledge that she has given her family a chance for a better future is one that she says is keeping her alive.

Nyaka enables individuals to provide a better life for themselves, while securing a better future for their children by providing a holistic approach to health. Imagine if this success could be replicated for all of those women who were living like Alice. By providing individuals and communities with programs and services addressing not one challenges but many that affect their health we could transform communities. After all, many different things effect health.

Remembering How Lucky We Are

I know this may come to a surprise, but sometimes I need to remind myself that not everyone gets to do what I have been able to do and just how lucky I have been in my life. I've grown up with enough food on the table and clothes to wear. I've had access to good schools and have my Masters degree. I have had the opportunity to travel the United States and different parts of the world. I have a family in both Zambia and America. I am a female in a place where gender inequality is slight compared to others. I am white, and with that comes certain privileges whether we like it or not. I have 2 of the best and most supportive parents and 2 of the kind of siblings that I am proud to call my brother and sister. They make me want to be a better person because they have accomplished so much and are so compassionate. I also have an awesome dog, which is pretty great. My family not only puts up with but also encourages all of my crazy dreams. I have the kind of friends that don't mind when I disappear for a few months and welcome me back with open arms (I am so grateful for this because everyone knows how bad I am with long distance friendships). Basically, I am so fortunate. What a life.

In Uganda, you can get bogged down on the difficult things. Oh no we only have tomatoes..what are we going to eat? Yikes that water is cold, this is the most uncomfortable shower ever! My best friend in country is an hour motorcycle ride and four hour squished bus or mini-bus ride away. But hold on look out the window that view is beautiful! I get to walk to work, where if I see more than 7 motorcycles go past me I wonder what the heck is going on. I am surrounded by joyous children and I am in a place where I can learn so much. Lucky, right?

Anyway, this was not at all what I wanted to write this blog about. My inspiration came from something much more superficial, I hate to say. It came from going on 2 safaris. I had the privilege to tag along with Jenny and Grace, 2 amazing girls that came to volunteer at Nyaka for a few days, and go to Queen Elizabeth National Park. We went on a 2 morning game drives and an afternoon boat safari. We saw tons of animals; warthogs, elephants, antelope, birds, crocodiles, hippos, more birds and a tree climbing lion. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the few places in the world with tree climbing lions.

A few weeks later I had the opportunity to go on a vacation with 3 of my friends here to Murchison Falls National Park and the Ziwa Rhino Reserve. We got to see these beautiful waterfalls, sleep and have a hippo wake us up at night and warthogs roam the camp. We also got to go on safaris both boat and in a car. We saw antelope, giraffes, elephants, hippos, warthogs, birds etc.

Now, I know this may seem crazy but by the end of the safari I found myself thinking things like “oh great, another hippo” or “how much longer do you think this is going to be we've seem all of these animals”. When did seeing these animals become common place. How silly is it that this is what I felt. People in Uganda haven't seen the places that I just have seen within their own country (I suppose the same thing goes for tourists who come to the US). How many people would do just about anything to experience what I just got to experience? Sometimes I can forget just how lucky I am. One thing that I am going to try and work on this year is to be more present and appreciate everything around me. Realize how lucky I am. I think it is something that everyone should do.

The Rain is Coming!

Now that we are nearing the end of August rainy season is beginning in this wonderful land of Kambuga. Apparently, I have no idea what is in store for me. I am just waiting to find out.

With rainy season there comes different sorts of challenges which you may expect. But before I get into this let me tell you a bit about how I think rainy season works. There is no rhyme or reason. It is sunny for 5 days then rains for 3 then partially rains for 1 then sunny, then rainy then sunny then a little rain etc... There are a few different types of rains. The sky being like “look at me. It sounds like I am going to rain and it looks like I will rain as well but...tricked ya not today dude.” The “light” rain that never ends or the wicked hard pouring buckets wind gusting rain coming through the open windows kind of rain. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I think the last one has been the most common so far.

Esther and I decided to start a garden, we dug our beds planted out seeds. A few days later there was a huge down pour, I am pretty sure that the seeds were washed away. This was over a week ago and there is still no signs of little seedlings. Bummer dude. I should have used my Zambian garden knowledge and protected it with grass until they took root. Oh well we will have to try again with the seeds we have left and buy a few more. I want my garden! The rains won't defeat me at that.

come on garden i want veggies

 

Walking. Yes something as simple as walking is a challenge. As I mentioned in the last post, it is hilly here. 

you can sort of see the road in the top of the picture

Going to the library (I usually go during the work week as it has internet and electricity) I must walk down a few very steep hills and up one steep hill. Roads here are made of mud, when mud gets wet it gets slick. Walking down slick mud can be treacherous. For most of the road it is a decision of whether you want to risk going down the slick piece or put your feet in the muddy area covering your feet with mud but knowing that the chances of slipping are much smaller if your foot is surrounded by that much mud (I usually choose the later option). There is also the trouble with the mud getting caked in the soles of your shoes so any traction that was there is gone. However, on another part of the road a different option presents itself. Here rocks are abundant.

 

 By rocks I mean sharp, jagged protrusions that are a nice place to butt your foot up against because falling backwards is not really an option but one misstep and believe me you can feel the rock through the sole of your shoe. I can only imagine what the damage that my shoes will take after the 2 rainy seasons (yes there are 2 per year). Also, so far, I have remained standing and clean after a few close calls.

For me the most frustrating part of rainy season for me, is being trapped somewhere, be that at work, on someone's verandah, under a tree or in a vehicle (although when the vehicle you are in has no windshield wipers I dont seem to mind it so much) waiting for the rain to pass. Sometimes after work all I want to do is go home relax and cook dinner. However, I think that this is the time the skies decide to open and encourage me to enjoy the company I am with. Sometimes this is easier said than done.

 

Waiting for the rain to end while in a vehicle.  Making friends.

its pouring out!

I also feel the urges whenever I hear thunder to get up and start walking home when it is close to leaving time but my co-workers just sit and wait to see if it rains, if it does its no big deal they will just sit and sit until it ends. They are so patient. On the other hand I get all antsy just wanting to leave. I blame the Americaness in me.

Oh and it doesn't help when you're electricity is solar and it begins raining all day. You all can figure out why.

However, the smell, the life that the rain brings, the bonding you get to do while all huddled into a small space not getting wet. The comforting sound when you are safe in your home of the rain hitting your roof while you are all cuddled up. The excuse to do nothing and be in your pajamas on a weekend day is almost irresistible. The candle lit dinners without power and the early bed times because you can. The nice security guard who sees my clothes drying on the line, takes them down, folds them and puts them in a bucket protected from the rain on my verandah. The rain is good.

As much as we all complain about the weather (its to hot, to humid, to cold, where is the sun?, too much rain, not enough rain) I realize that weather like all things in life just needs to be appreciated for what it is. Nothing more or nothing less.

Rain is good.

Some pictures for your enjoyment:

What I see while walking to work.

mmmm i want to eat you

Fresh lettuce and cilantro while visiting a friend in Mbarara.  You have no idea how exciting this is!