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!

New adventure...new fun

Well I guess it is about time for a little update. For those of you who don't know I was lucky enough to be selected as a Global Health Corps Fellow. This means that I am off on another adventure.  Its an opportunity that I am so grateful to have been given.

Global Health Corps (GHC) is an organization that trains young leaders in public health. The goal is health equity for all. I am lucky enough to be part of the 128 fellows selected from all over the world. The way GHC works is that it pairs a national and an international fellow together at a variety of organizations in six different countries around the world (If you really want to learn more about it you can check out ghcorps.org). The fellows are placed at large organizations such as Clinton Health Access Initiative and Partners in Health, as well as small organizations, like mine, Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project.

First GHC brings all of the fellows to Yale for a 2 week training. It is a great opportunity to meet fellows that won't be in your country placement. It is a bit intimidating because people have such impressive resumes. There are amazing speakers that come to speak and wellness information on how to keep yourself from getting burned out. There is so much to learn from your colleagues it is amazing. However, I think my favorite part was getting to know the international folk and introduce them to our culture whether that be the food or the funny sayings we have. One of the activities we did was have a scavenger hunt in New York City. Some pictures below.

Charles and Joan in NYC (both are with me in Uganda)

My group in New York City

A group of us who are going to Uganda

 

Now, however, I have reached Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project in Kambuaga, Kanungu (their website is nyakaschool.org). It is a small village in the south western part of Uganda. It is in a beautiful hilly location, full of pastures for cow grazing and lots of banana plantations. There is no market, there are a few shops, and electricity and running water is far and few between. The challenges that I face here are similar to the ones that I faced in Peace Corps. Where do I buy my vegetables from? How quickly can I learn the local language so that I can communicate with everyone? Will people ever stop calling me mzungu? (mzungu is the word for white person and comes with all sorts of connotations such as being rich, maybe not being as culturally sensitive etc..) Will I ever blend in? What exactly am I doing here? What is my job? How do I fill my free time? To name a few.

Esther my co-fellow and I at the Nyaka School sign

 

But Kambuga just like Nyansonso has so many bright spots and so much to offer. As I get used to my neighbors and the people here they get used to me I can see the joy and happiness that is here. I am so excited to be making these relationships. I was given a local name meaning gift, just a small affirmation of the beginning of my integration into the community. The pineapples are amazing! The food is not bad at all. Children are children and always bring me joy. There is so much that I am going to learn here and I can't wait to discover more.

 

The view from our front porch.  The red roof is the clinic.

So I suppose a little bit about what I am supposed to potentially be doing. My official title is Health Programs Associate. So briefly, what I will be doing, as I understand so far, is working with the clinic staff and doing capacity building, such as teaching them basic computer skills and more information about different health topics and ways to best educate about these. I will also be trying to improve the procedures and reporting at the clinic. I also have the privilege of working with the grandmother project, assisting with health education and in any other way that I can be useful. I think i will have to spend a bit of time trying to figure out how my skills will best fit into the organization so that I can make the greatest impact.

Today I had the privilege of meeting with a group of grandmothers who came thinking that just a lecture was happening. I introduced my self and asked them if they had questions we ended up talking about eye health and cervical and uterine cancer. There was the normal business of meetings...little did they know that they were going to get a big 120 liter water collecting barrel. The wells and places to collect water is far from where they stay so now they will be able to collect rain water.

The joy and happiness when they realized that everyone was going to go home with this barrel was infectious! I feel so privileged to be a part of it. There was dancing and singing and hugs and handshakes. I was even given some groundnuts (like peanuts) from one of the grandmothers. Something so simple as a barrel can make a huge difference in the life of these grannies. This joy is why I am here and doing what I am doing. I know it is natural to question why I chose to move to a place that is completely foregin and having to go through some of the uncomfortableness that comes along with that. Believe me, I definitely question, but moments like this remind me how lucky I am for this experience. I hope that I can give those grannies a fraction of the joy that they have given me today!

The joy and happiness when they realized that everyone was going to go home with this barrel was infectious! I feel so privileged to be a part of it. There was dancing and singing and hugs and handshakes. I was even given some groundnuts (like peanuts) from one of the grandmothers. Something so simple as a barrel can make a huge difference in the life of these grannies. This joy is why I am here and doing what I am doing. I know it is natural to question why I chose to do what I do, and believe me that definitely happens, but moments like this remind me how lucky I am for this experience. I hope that I can give those grannies a fraction of the joy that they have given me today!

Boston Strong

Its times like these that make me appreciate being a New Englander.  It is also times like these that make it difficult being away.

I am so proud to say "wicked", to sometimes forget to pronounce my R's, to say "frappe" and not "milk shake", to have been candle pin bowling, to eat real maple syrup just to name a few. 

This past week I was at a boys empowerment camp where cell phone network was spotty, and internet on your cell phone was a rarety.  Hearing about the boston marathon bombings was one of the most difficult things to process.  It was Marathon Monday, Patriots day for gods sake.  I was in disbeleif.  What was even more difficult is I knew friends that were running in the marathon, and I assumed that many people I know would go and watch.  Only hearing tidbits of information was difficult, not being in New England to go through this difficult time was even worse.  I wanted to be able to stay updated on what was happening,  I wanted to know who did this, but most of all, I wanted to know how my friends were.  I was really thankful for Dan Rowe and Amy doing their best to inform me of what was going on.  Feeling connected to the events helped me to feel apart of the effort and sense of community happening in Boston and New England. One of the hardest things about Peace Corps is being so far away both in location and from people you love.  Events like that which happened on April 15th, 2013 make these distances feel even greater.

I am glad that things are settling down and at least the events the day of the marathon have been figured out a bit.  I am proud at the way we have responded to these events.  Boston is a great city, New England is full of amazing people its unfortunate that this is the way that the world had to be reminded of this.

Hate doesnt solve anything, and type casting wont improve secutiry.  We must remember that the few dont represent the whole.  Lets set an example and not fight hate with hate.  Remeber love more than hate.

Boston I am thinking of you and wishing I could be there.


BOSTON STRONG!

When it rains, it pours?

Recently, I have been super busy in my village with my women's club, my girls club (for girls in grade 7,8 and 9) my boys club (grades 7,8 and 9), checking in on the soya farmers, getting my rabbit program up and running, and starting the nutrition rehabilitation program.  It seems as though when I have alot of things to do there is no time to even wash my clothes.

It has been nice to be busy, now that farming season is over people have a bit of free time.  I also feel like the village is slowly beginning to realize what a Peace Corps Volunteer does and how to use them.  Its exciting, but a bit disappointing that I have less than 6 months living with these people...which is a whole different can of worms.  I am excited for the next volunteer to come, I think that the success there will begin pretty much off the bat.

With my girls and boys clubs I had them think about their future and what they wanted to be doing in 10 years, something that isn't done enough here.  With that we then came up with obstacles that may get in the way of reaching their goals such as HIV, money, witch craft, drought, boyfriends/girlfriends, babies and more.  From there we discuss different topics every week to help combat these barriers.  It is really interesting the different topics that each group wants to talk about and the different knowledge level on these topics.  HIV, the boys had a much better grasp of, but business the girls had a better grasp. 

For some other things going on in the village...i think i will let the pictures do the talking.

Stickers!  Who knew they could be so fun.

More and more children came for stickers

This is kapofu, its a root that can be used to wash your clothes

First you have to smash it then you swirl it around in the water.

Then you wash your clothes like normal

We had indoor residual spraying to help prevent malaria, most villagers didn't have their house sprayed but mine was..thought I could set an example

 I got 4 rabbits (3 females 1 male) to try to help increase the protein intake within the community.  The plan is to breed these rabbits then give a male and a female to anyone who builds their own hutch.  When the villagers breed theirs taking one of the babies to give to someone who is waiting.  I think that I might have a pregnant female right now....we will see at the beginning of April!

Mr. Kibese and Mr. Lupiyah checking out the rabbits

The kids like to come and watch the rabbits

 I started a water fight with plastic bags...it turned into a big village event, resulting in many people soaking wet, including me!

Bamaama helping me make peanut butter for the nutrition program

 While pounding the ground nuts they like to sing songs so that they can keep a steady rhythm



Lukatazho showing how wet he is and making sure I know he has water ready for me



Joseph thought that he escaped the ordeal, but as you can see we got him!

 I have been working with the women's club to teach them sewing and nutrition.  It is great that they call their own meetings and invite me to them.  They are the most successful group that I have helped to start.  They also decided to grow soya beans.  I did a farm visit to their farm.

Precious 7 months pregnant and still walking an hour to the field and farming

Soya bean weeding

We have started a nutrition rehabilitation program called PS Ishiko, that runs for 12 days and uses locally available foods that the mothers bring to teach women how to better feed and care for their children.  Each day the women prepare a healthy meal for their child, play games with their children and hear a health talk from my counter part.

A mother preparing the food

Sarah eating her porridge

Minata giving a health talk to the women

Exildah washing her hands before eating. A must!

Playing games with the children

A game the children like to play

They set up a high jump in my yard and practiced jumping!



It is difficult thinking about saying goodbye to this place in a few months.  I cant believe how comfortable and like a home it has become for me!