Another week in Uganda
Monday 30 August 2010
The last two days have been very good. Sundays are pretty chill here in Wakiso. In the afternoon, I began reviewing my Runkanyore notes. Surprisingly relaxed, I left for Dan’s birthday party and enjoyed cake and soda, a welcome change from the night before. Conversations with Dan and J late into the evening were fruitful. Positivity continued throughout the day today as I relished my last language lessons with Richard. After classes, I found the laundromat and dropped off a couple of pairs of pants and three shirts. It’ll be nice to have some freshly pressed clothes for class on Wednesday. The five-year-old has become more talkative. I leave my bedroom door open when studying so that he can come in and interrupt. Family dynamics are still strange. I joke about the fact that my food magically appears twice a day but it is strange to me that I’m not quite sure where or how it is made.
Saturday 4 September 2010
This week has flown by. Yesterday the health and the econ folks went to two different NGOs to get a first-hand look at how the organizations are implementing policy on the ground. I visited a women’s group who built an oven last year to bake bread twice a week. We talked for hours and visited the nearby farmyard where they have implemented a urine diversion system in the cow paddock and are practicing permagardening techniques by grazing pigs and chickens together in the ebitooke grove. Earlier in the week I visited a failing restaurant to begin a consulting project. I’m convinced that what we need here is Dunkin’ Donuts.
Sunday 5 September 2010
On Saturday a group of us journeyed up to the rec center. It is situated on a hill about three kilometers from my house. I brought my host brother with me. He grabbed two of my fingers halfway to the rec center and held on until we reached the pool. We had a really great time poolside in the sun — drinking beer (me), water (him), and a plate of barbecued chicken and chips (each). What an incredible feeling of freedom to jump into a pool full of water! On the way home my host bro grabbed and latched onto my hand again. Then, this morning, as I was washing my sheets and towel, he talked nonstop. Finishing my laundry, I left for a walk to Gombe hill where I read aloud to the birds. Stopped by Dan Pop’s house to chat on the porch and — in Wakiso town — joined Gary and Nick in their search for a brewed cup of coffee. My host bro greeted me with a running bear hug when I arrived home. I think I may have just made my first Ugandan friend.