The Christmas Story begins

Instead of going into things I miss about American normal Christmas, I decided I would narrate the excitement of a new Christmas experience.

I am getting in the Christmas spirit, slowly, as I realize it really is the end of December, even though my body still thinks it is August. The weather is always perfect. Yesterday it was a bit cold actually... which was strange.

We ended classes on Wednesday and had Thursday off, which was fantastic. I made some Christmas cards and worked on my very meager and small gifts for a few people.

Sr. Linda, a 60 something Californian nun who is serving here, and I were trying to figure out the schedule for today... but failed. So I went to breakfast in the dinning today and listened to work duties. I wasn't assigned anywhere (of course... sigh) So I decided to help out in the Church. Before I went over I sang a few Christmas carols with my guitar, just enjoying the season. I like that they don't decorate till Christmas Eve, just like my family at home.

When I arrived, it was just me and 3 Tanzanian DTS students. We started WORKING. In 1.5 hours we cleaned the church top to bottom, sweeping, scrubbing, washing everything. It was hard work! Then Moses, the decorator man, came and taught all of use to make cool ribbon flowers. It was a great learning experience and the guys jumped right in! I was impressed. We made a ton of them!

Then we began with the cloth. They use huge pieces of draped cloth to decorate any room for a celebration. It took a long time, and by lunch we weren't even 1/2 way done and I was exhausted. I went to eat and found the house priest's house alive with activity... they were decorating too!

They even had put up the most charley brownish Christmas tree I've seen since a tiny scrawny tree I had in my bed room when I was 12! It was fake, with 2 ball ordiments on it and a string of lights that didn't work. Sad. I made a bow to the top, and a few small ones for the body. It was fun to get caught up in the decorating with a few Africans, an American, and an Italian!

Sr. Linda and I talk a lot together. We ended up talking a while after lunch, then I was tired and had some work to do. I came home and restfully did my work. When I returned to the church they had finished! It really looks beautiful!

I got some christmas cards in the mail, which was fantastic! One was from my Best Friend, including an awesome cartoonish drawing which always makes me happy!

I spent the afternoon in the chapel and doing some work. There was a lot of confusion in the later afternoon about whether or not there was Christmas Eve mass. In the end I had bathed and prepped, then was told mass was happening right then. I rushed to finish getting ready.

I walked across the lawn to the church at the other end. As I approached the church there was a large group of DTS male students waiting outside the church. All of them started saying "Oh my gosh you are so smart" "Wow, where have you been hiding these things??" One of them gave me a hug... another grabbed my hand (totally normal) and started saying how incredible nice I look. I was a bit floored. I think it's because I was wearing a skirt that actually shows I have legs! They all commented. Later on another one greeted me and said "I didn't even think it was you when you walked up to us earlier. You are so beautiful"... honestly I didn't do anything that differently. A few people echoed the thoughts. It was a strange experience.

Apparently contacts, a shorter than normal skirt (still below knees) a nice fun flowery hair piece, and huge silver earrings does the trick! No make up even. Who knew?

We didn't have mass. It was a total miss understanding. So I finished my hair. Then it was time to hang out and wait for dinner. We feasted on goat and millet... and some veggies. That's at least what I had. I ate so much millet! It's great stuff. I sat next to John Ta and had a really fun time talking with him about Christmas.

Then we had gift exchange. Everyone has pieces someone in both the DTS and Community so it was like a secret santa. It was fun. Some of the gifts were perfect, some pretty terrible. I got a camel colored skirt which almost fits me. I'll wear it a few times so the person isn't hurt. :)

After dinner and gifts it was only 9. I was going into my house and Sr. Linda was walking behind me. She asked if she could see my house. So I gave her a grand tour. (haha) We agreed to meet at the priest's house and play some games (she brought a bunch of american games!)

3 games of Yahteez and a game of Cribbage, and a TON of talking later... we ended up eating crackers with nutella at 1 am!! I love life sometimes. How would have thought I would be doing these funny things with an older nun on Christmas morning!!

It was really fun! Now it's 2 am. I'm not very tired, but should probably sleep.

And TODAY is Christmas!!

Create-a-boyfriend and other stories

Yes. I have had to pull the old "imaginary boyfriend" move twice recently. You know, the one you pull out at McDonald's drive throughs in high school when the guy at the window is hitting on you. That one.

Today it was with our friend the taxi man, who is deeply hurt that I won't cheat on my (fake) significant other with him, and that I won't get him a white woman NOR give him advice on how to get a white woman. Yes, this is all happening by the side of the road as I am trying to get a taxi home. But he always manages to get me a small taxi for 2,000 shillings. The man is good at what he does.

I have NO moral qualms about lying about my single state. It is honestly for physical protection and I don't think there will be any implications for that. Of course it will be much easier when it isn't a lie. Until then, bring on the 6 ft 4 inch buff football player type. I think that'll do.

I went Christmas shopping today and can honestly say it was my first truly successful shopping trip in Mbarara. I am finally learning the place well. I bought myself a Christmas gift... an electric kettle. Water (drinking and non) has been an issue of late. And with the dry season fast approaching, I know it will just get worse. I needed to be able to make drinking water in my room. The added bonus is that now I will have hot water to bathe with!!! :D Merry Christmas to me. Water!

We're having a party for the DTS tomorrow. I am excited. The whole point is to have a heck of a lot of fun. We spent a bunch of time decorating the room today, and the guys went fishing in the ponds for our meal! I hope to get a camera to borrow for the occasion. It's a nice way to create some good memories and get some time just with the students. Christmas will be very busy with the whole community!

I met a peace corps volunteer today. A nice girl from Texas.

Christmas is coming... I just can't fathom it. I have an amazing tan, and it is late December!

Last weeks course went really well. We all learned a lot about our selves and each other. Next week we will do even more personality stuff and look at how different personalities interact on teams. This helps leaders know how to make teams and work with different people. Good stuff.

A month away from Normal

Life is back to Normal.  And I am grateful for that.  The last month has held unexpected adventures, challenges, joys, pains, insights and people.  I have been physically healthier, due to the change in diet.  I am still trying to figure out the balance I need.  I’ve been especially tired recently, but I am working on that with sleep and exercise.  It is hard to learn to take care of yourself properly in a new place.  I am still losing weight.

About a month ago the Irish team came for 2 weeks.  They were two people who were here to run a specific course.  It was at times challenging and other times very good to work with them.  I wasn’t feeling very well at the end of the course and had to get a malaria test.  I finally met someone I have been in touch with for a while, and then a week later found myself in Kigali with a place to stay because of his connections.

I went to Kampala for a week, after the Irish people were here.  It was a good week.  Lots of wonderful friends, a great wedding, and some frustrating immigration issues.   And of course, I got to eat hummus and watch Toy Story 3.  It’s the small things in life that will keep you sane!  I was blessed to have a ride (in a car) to and from Kampala!  Though on the way home there was some GI distress.

Over the last month my garden has taken off.  Just yesterday I gave away about 10 cucumbers and ate one myself.  They are delicious.  The carrots and tomatoes aren’t doing as well, but the cucumbers rock.  I came home for 2 days between Kampala and Kigali and during that time took care of my garden which was growing a bit wild.

Kigali (and all of Rwanda) was incredible.  I am so grateful for the amazing time I spent there.  I met wonderful people, saw a beautiful country, visited the city, and saw the country side.  Rwanda is incredibly developed.  Some people call it a police state.  But people are genuinely happy with the government.  Why shouldn’t they be?  There is no corruption, cleanliness, roads that are perfect, and it is safe for a woman to go out at night!!  I want to move there…  people are listened to and if there is any issue it is taken care of.  Now how it is taken care of, I don’t know.  I think I will research Rwanda more.  I'll be going there whenever I need rest/ vacation/ time away.

I went to the Genocide Memorial.  And yes, I cried.  It was horrific.  Not as bad as Aushwitz, but still pretty terrible.  I think the part which was the worst for me was how incredibly recent this atrocity was, and the power of the mob mentality. 

Why do I love Kigali so much?  I bought a rain coat (unable to find in Uganda), I ate incredible pizza with feta cheese, and I had PEANUT BUTTER Ice cream!!  I mean, is this place even Africa??  Oh, and all for a total of less than 20 USD!  In Rwanda, instead of OVER charging you for things, they UNDER charge you!!!!  This miracle happened 4 times for me.  Amazing.  (and they are actually friendly to white people... incredible!)

The border crossing on the way home went fine, miraculously.  I got my 3 month extension which is what I needed!  Hooray! 

So now, back to normal.  It has been a long time since things were normal and I am grateful for the quietness again.  A friend from Masaka is teaching this week, and I’ve already had the chance to chat with him.  He’s a great guy and I hope to work more with him. One of my best friends in very ill, so I've been visiting her at least 2 times a day with flowers and movies. 

We are covering life passion and vision this week.  Good, and needed, stuff. 

Photos from Dennis and Agnes' wedding

I am sorry about the quality.  I don't have a camera right now.  Also, that means no photos from Kigali.  Maybe one or two will show up but I am sorry for the lack of photos.  There are a few more coming soon.

Rwanda, land of a thousand hills... land of my heart

I love Rwanda. I arrived in Rwanda for my first visit on Tuesday afternoon. I took public transportation which was quite an adventure, and included french lessons in a taxi and nice women to show me which car to take. Over all it was uneventful and mildly enjoyable.

Why am I in Rwanda? I needed to leave Uganda for visa reasons. It is the week when the students are working in a church far out in the village... I couldn't go because of food. Also, I have always wanted to go to Rwanda and it is actually very close to Mbarara, where I live. I made a friend, Antony, a few weeks ago (actually we'd been in touch, but never met) and he lives here in Kigali. So it worked out.

I am currently sitting in the computer room of the Rwanda YWAM base (Youth with a mission). Yesterday we (me and a bunch of the YWAM people) went to a museum 2 hours from here in the next major city. It was fantastic to drive through this tiny country.

Rwanda is ravishingly beautiful. The hills roll over the entire country. Every turn on the winding roads provide yet another breath taking view! I am staying with an amazing family, the husband and wife are called Method and Mary. They run the YWAM work here... and are trying to recruit me. It's cute. I have been incredibly inspired by all the people I am meeting. This trip has been really good for me.

But truly, Rwanda is amazing. It is different than Uganda in so many ways. Antony said it well "(Africa) is all the same, but different". This place is incredibly clean and comfortable. Kigali is beautiful!!

I would not mind at all if one day my path lead me to work in Rwanda.

Today: go around this local area, go to the market, and get pizza!! (YES!Pizza, hopefully!)
Tomorrow: Do Kigali properly. Genocide Museum, churches, do some shopping/eating and looking around the city. :)
Saturday: Early morning return to Uganda.

Kampala: Love Hate relationship... mostly love

There are things about Kampala which I really love. There are things about Kampala I cannot stand. But overall, at this moment, even with the million annoying things that happened today, I am happy to be here. I have realized that there are some things which I, at this point, need in my life. Those are people and travel, in no specific order.

When I come to Kampala I have been staying with my friends Susanna and Peter. They have a 10 month old son, who is the joy of my heart… so beautiful and fun. I am his only white aunty, and he is well use to me now. Peter and Susanna are a great couple who laugh a lot and have a comfortable home. I generally watch a lot of tv and spend some quality hang out time on their couch. It’s great to chill in a more familiar feeling environment… they have comfortable couches! A novel concept.

I came to Kampala for 3 reasons: 1. Immigration 2. An introduction and wedding and 3. To meet with my friends from Sudan, most specifically Father Herald.

I am glad that all of those things converged in one time because I needed to get out of Mbarara for a bit. As much as things about Kampala can bug me: Taxi men who say they are going somewhere, then leave you in the middle of the city with no clue where you are, extortion all the time because of your skin, and other annoyances… I do love this city. And I am learning it, which makes me happy.

Today I went to the US Embassy in Kampala for the first time. Apparently you have to have an appointment, which I was never informed of via that embassy emails . So I was there for over an hour just trying to get a stamp on a piece of paper for notarization. No go. (In the waiting room I did meet the son of a random contact in the states, whos family my best friend’s family is very close to. Small world…)

I was late for my meeting with my friend fr. Henry, who ended up picking me up because it was raining. I had tea and chatted with him, helped him with a project we’ve been working on, then jumped a boda over to Garden City… white people land. At first I really didn’t like Garden City. It’s where white people gather because you can actually find food and things that you want and need.

Then I discovered a Lebanese restaurant which makes amazing humus. I now go every time I am in Kampala and pay far too much for a vat of my favorite food! So today I met with Eric from cornerstone in the food court. We chatted about Eastern University’s Masters in International Development Course, which I am very interested in… it’s for working professionals. Then we chatted about living in Uganda as a white person. He has some very very well thought out things to say, which really encouraged and inspired me. It gave me a new perspective which I really appreciate. …Basically he said that we are bridges… we shouldn’t strive to be another African, because that is not what the world needs from us. His insights were wonderfully simple but also needed. That man is going to go far.

Finally I made my last stop for the day… and got ripped off totally going there. Grr. Immigration. I thankfully have a friend inside who is a great lady. We actually found out that we were at the same conference in Rome in 2006!! Crazy. The world is sooo small… again.

However the news was not so good. I have to get a letter from a larger organization then I had, and there were other complications as well. Long story short, I’ll start the work permit process in a few months time, then officially get it when I return from Europe in July. This means, however, that I must leave the country within 30 days. And I will have to get a multi entry visa when I am coming back in…for $100… I think that will work, hopefully. I had been on the fence about whether to go to Rwanda next week or not… but now it is for sure. I actually HAVE to go. Hooray! I’ve always wanted to go to Rwanda. I hear Kigali is amazing.

It was an annoying meeting at immigration for sure, the people were very nice, but the situation is confusing and time consuming. I was saying to my friend Henry today that I just wish there was a global passport/citizenship... free movement. I do want to have 2 passports before I die. (I have strange life goals)

Tomorrow, hopefully, holds my first introduction! This is the traditional cultural wedding in Uganda. I hope that it is fun. It’ll all be in Luganda, but I am hoping someone from Emmaus will be there to keep me company. We shall see. Friday… maybe Harry Potter, for sure a meeting with Father Herald. Saturday, Dennis and Agnes’ wedding! Sunday, sleep at Emmaus, home to Mbarara. Monday or Tuesday… to Rwanda!

I took this week off the school because otherwise I would have been illegally in the country. Then next week the students are going to spend the week outside of the community doing different services in a local area. So I was told I shouldn’t go for health reasons, which is why I can go to Rwanda and not be at school.

So I am breathing this week, and enjoying in Kigali next. It’s a nice break. The last few weeks have been a bit rocky. For now, I’ll enjoy the big city. The good and the bad.

The strangest things happen in Africa

Last night I attended a feast. We renamed it "Noelle's thanks giving dinner" with a toast from an English man.

There were 7 of us, from all over the world.

2 Irish people (one man, one woman), An English/Irish man who lives and works all over Eastern Africa, an Italian who is a electrician/carpenter, an older nun from California, Father Emmanuel and myself.

Sr. Linda, the californian nun, had just returned after having been away from some months. She'll be here for 2 years. The others are all here for different lengths of time. I looked around the table in awe of the random people you find in Africa!

Last night was strange. It was overnight, so an all night event right outside my bed room. I actually rolled over in my bed several times because it sounded like someone was physically in my room. They were actually just outside my window. So sleep did not happen. At 5 am, Antony (the english/irish man) came to my house to collect his computer. I went with him to the junction to bid him bon voyage back to Kigali, Rwanda.

I started sleeping at 6:30. I slept until 1 pm, and am still tired. I'll go back to bed soon I think.

I haven't been feeling well again, and went to town to get my first ever malaria test yesterday. I don't have malaria, but something isn't right.

In VERY exciting news I picked my first 2 cucumbers yesterday! As I was putting up a fence to protect my garden I found them and decided to pick them. I think I'll eat them tomorrow. I hope they are tasty!

Life is never dull around here. It is enormously ... random.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am so thankful for many, many things this year.  I love thanksgiving, it is my favorite time of year!  

Top Ten Things I am thankful for:

1.  My family (including extended!), friends, support network, and loving God

2.  Books which have inspired and challenged me:  The Irresistible Revolution, The Bible,  Charity in Truth

3.  For the fact that I am living in Africa.  I am thankful that even crazy dreams come true.

4.  I am thankful for this past summer, all the things that happened which taught me so many priceless lessons

5.  I am grateful for the year of work I had before coming to Africa, for the family I nannied for and for the Hughes family who I lived with.

6. I am thankful that even the most bitter disappointments in life end up turning into something more beautiful than you ever could have imagined

7.  I'm grateful that I have an education and that I was able to grow up somewhere where I wasn't abused, used, or suffered, somewhere I was safe and loved.

8.  I am thankful for the many challenges that are making me a much stronger and kinder person. 

9.  I am grateful for all the Africans I work with, who daily inspire and remind me of the incredible potential for greatness within this continent.

10.  I am thankful for this adventure, this opportunity, to try to make a tiny difference in a world in desperate need.  

11...  I am overwhelmingly grateful for the love, support, friendship, and encouragement of my partners... YoU!   

Bed of Roses

I guess I've never understood the expression "a bed of roses", as though somehow that would be comfortable??

Well, in my imagination a bed of roses would not be all the comfortable, when you roll you get stuck by the thorns.

Things are tough right now. I'm getting stuck by the thorns, I am going through a lot. The adjustment has, honestly, been difficult. I never thought of Africa as a bed of roses. But I also wasn't 100% prepared for the incredibly large number of mis adventures, frustrations and ( disappointments.

Culture shock, or cultural adjustment, is hard.

I love my work, my people, my life... yet there are days it is very challenging.

There is some honesty. Africa is beautiful, but there is always a flip side. Africa can be terrible sometimes.

In other news there are some beautiful cucumbers growing in my garden. :)

Forgotten events

I'm tired and want to go to bed early so this post will be short.

I forgot to write about my hospital visit a few weeks back.  NO I wasn't IN the hospital, thank God.  We went to visit the patients, to love them and encourage them. 

I went with Jude and Evas, two wonderful Ugandans.  It was a terrible and amazing and wonderful experience.  The first ward we randomly ended up in was the wounds ward for women I think.  I won't go into any detail about what we saw, let's just say it was pretty bad.  But amazingly enough I found something well up in me.  I was able to hug and hold and caress the women as they cried or talked or just were in pain.  They were incredible moments, sacred and precious.

We ended up also going to the men's ward where people had broken limbs.  Some of the cases were just heart breaking.  But as we went through both the wards something changed.  It was like we left a wake of peace.  We brought love and left a smile instead of agony.  We acknowledged the dignity in every single person.  It was magnificent.  "Namaste"- I see God in you. 


The patients aren't dying from their wounds, they are dying from starvation.

God, where is justice for the poor?

I do Work!

I finished it!  :)  15 page Sustainable Ahuriire Project proposal.  Phew.  I have no idea how I actually pulled off completing it because things have been crazy.  But it is done.  It is also very pretty.  I made sure it looked really nice and professional.  Even if they don't like the contense at least they can enjoy the look.

It's been a nice day off our regular schedule, though I had a lot of work to do.  I bought myself  "Focus on Africa" magazine by the BBC on my birthday.  It's great brain food.  I am off to read a few articles now.  I have to keep my brain alive and in touch.

I feel like I am in my senior year of college again.  These big projects were the sort of things I was handing in right and left.  It feels good to have completed something!! 

Paula (my house mate) and I are watching a movie tonight, just to chill.

"Sustainable Ahuriire"  A proposal for sustainable development to the Leadership of Yesu Ahuriire Community

For more photos, click here.

Thankfully facebook lets you view my photos even if you aren't on Facebook!

I just put up a few random ones... I will try to keep adding as I get time.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=297196&id=508588012&l=a8d571277d

Flowers and photo editing

and again!

ENJOY!  This is my life.  :) 

My FAVORITE flower, if I get married here this is what I am carrying down the aisle!

All dressed up form my birthday... they said I was an African queen.  :)

I love my students!  :)

 

more photo love!

MC for review, we evaluated their performances so that when they do these things after the school they can do them well!

Moses... his shirt reads "You're the reason God made Oklahoma"... It took me 20 minutes to explain why it is funny!

Me and Paula, my WONDERFUL house mate!

The staff did a rap/dance/song to show the students how is is done! It was fantastic!

Lawrence and Emma, rappin' away!

The students LOVED our performance and got very excited as we sang!

Happy birthday to me... to you!

Yesterday was my birthday.  It wasn't fantastic for a very large number of semi complex reasons.  But we are properly celebrating me and 2 others tonight so it should be fun. 

But I DID get some time was a CAMERA!!  HOooray!  Some of these photos are from yesterday, some from the creativity evenings we've been having.  We have had a lot of teaching over the last 2 weeks and the evenings were meant to bring out all the different things the students were learning about in a creative way.  There are some other random photos too.  I've tried to post 3 times now.. so hopefully this one will work!

There will be several posts to ensure that at least some make it!  

Emma.. I love this photo.

Cucumbers and watermelon growing together.  This one is for Nico.

My house!  Good Shepard Round house

November 11th, daisies are growing outside my door.  This is for Jessica.

trust exercise a few weeks ago.

Creative dance!  They did great.

Just for laughs...

 

This is my deep and profound question.  I am so grateful for my dreadlocks.  You don't want to know low long I go between hair washings.

I regularly have dreams about over head showers. 

Bugs.

I got up yesterday morning to discover that the "white ants" had come.  They have large wings, which for some reason fall off of them at some point in the flying process.  So the wings are everywhere.  And so are the wingless bugs.

I had seen a few of these bugs before.  But my first introduction to the meaning of them was when I left my house yesterday morning to go to the staff meeting.  The school children where running around the compound with bags, collecting the, now wingless, 1 inch long, brown, bugs.  

I saw two of my good friends not far from my house, so I went to them and just said "Please tell me that they aren't going to eat those."  They just looked at me and said "Of course they are!  They are very sweet!"  (Sweet here means good, not sweet like sugar).  I was grossed out.

Throughout the days I began to hear more and more about the bugs.  Apparently half the community had been up at 4 AM collecting containers full of the creatures.  To eat.

That evening we, the people who usually eat in the priest's house, ate in the dinner.  There was some extra entertainment from the students which was funny.  And then they came.  The plates upon plates of fried "white ants" ... which is what they call them.  It is a funny name because they are neither white nor do they look anything like your 3 segmented ant.

The Italian man who is volunteering in the carpentry shop jumped right in.  I was appalled.  Then with some light peer pressure from those around me, I gave in.  I had to take 3 bits to prove to people that I had eaten them.  I just didn't look too closely.

They were.... crunchy.  They have an fine flavor.  The smell is what I didn't like very much.  It stays on everything so you are constantly reminded that you ate fried bugs. 

Sometimes I can forget I am in Africa.  We have electricity a good amount of the time (not right now though), and we have water whenever it strikes peoples fancy to give it to us (like right now, there is water and it is amazing). 

People are fairly normal, they don't do strange tribal dances or witch craft.  So sometimes ... I forget.

But no, I am defiantly in Africa.  The eating of the bugs fully reminded me of this!

What do I DO with my life?

I'm improving a bit. Basically eating is a total battle. Tomorrow I am going into town and am going to buy my self a large meal at my favorite coffee shop.

The next two weeks are looking to be pretty insane. We are running an intensive course called Course Paul which has a lot of different activities and such involved. I have never done this course before, and am helping to facilitate, so it will be a steep learning curve.

I need to learn the noun classes for Runyankore. I haven't written about it here, but I am taking runyankore lessons, which are not very enjoyable. But I need to study so that they actually have some value to me. But time... doesn't exist.

I wanted to take a moment to explain some of the other work I do, and what I will be doing full time after the school is over.

Basically I am getting involved with development consultation for a number of different groups. Mostly this is helping people understand the important of self sustainability, especially when it come to starting new projects. It is more than just self sustainability as well, I am trying to help people see how we can work together and assist those who live in deep poverty.

Also, I am working on a "course" (a set of teachings which can be used in different settings), some training which brings together different elements of basic international development with personal success training. It's hard to explain exactly. Basically I am taking the 7 habits of Highly effective people, along with some other personal management materials, infusing some sustainable development training, all on the back drop of the need for a transformed society.

The hope is to be able to expand this into a program for elementary schools as well, so that the students can grow up with the character development that is not naturally found in Ugandan society. (there are ideals like timeliness, money management, respect and responsibility {a real understanding of why it is needed, instead of it being abused}, etc.)

I've already been invited to give these courses in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and in different parts of Uganda! We'll see what all happens with this!

I'll be giving my first set of training on the community retreat in the end of January. The outlines at due by Nov 12th. Yikes! But I am getting there. I am also working with a man from Zimbabwe a bit this week, he is here to visit and wants to start a youth center. We are going to look at how to begin the work so that it is self sustainable from the start.

In other news, Shalom Center is done! I've included a photo from Luigi's camera, which was taken about 3 weeks ago. The building is beautiful and they are moving in on Nov 15th. They will start with 3 staff and 10 people (who we already know, not straight off the streets) who are in need of some restoration, love and care to help them over come their mental illness.  There will be a few children as well, who need some special care.  It is incredibly exciting! My hope is to spend time helping at Shalom as often as I can when the school is over. Just to clean, love the women and children, and lend a helping hand.   To love those in desperate need.

I am will be working with the community after the retreats to increase the size of some of their projects. The projects are self sustaining but are bringing in no revenue for the community. This HAS to change.

So, that, and more, is what I do with my life!  Oh, and I also write... a lot.

Luigi and Noelle, saying "a little" in spanish... a long standing inside joke

.  I miss this small Italian!

The wages of Matoke is...

I ate a small piece of Matoke today. It was about 2 inches wide and an inch tall. I hadn't eaten Matoke in several weeks. It is mashed, yellow bananas. Matoke is the staple food of Western Uganda. You look around and all you see is Matoke trees. It grows most of the year and is pretty much all they eat.

I ate it. I enjoy the taste of matoke. It's pretty good.

I don't remember when it hit me hard... I think I was just sitting in class, minding my own business. Suddenly I started feeling super sick. My stomach was burning, shooting pain, and cramping. It was terrible. At one point I had to run out of the class room. I ran outside and broke down crying. I am not a big "weeper" but the pain was soooooo intense!

So apparently I am severely allergic to the staple food of the region in which I live. This is terrible. There is a tiny tiny chance that the 2 small piece of meat I ate hadn't been passed over fire (meaning get all the nasty germs away). But I don't think that was the case. I don't know what I am going to do!

This is bad. Very bad.

In other news, we have been without water in our houses for almost the whole 2 months I have been here. This is annoying generally... but when you are really sick like I have been it is not just annoying... it is downright awful. Tonight we didn't have any water, yet I had to use the facilities. I was far too weak to fetch... now what do you do? Not having water has made me much physically stronger.

But I can't take it anymore. I talked to the man in charge of the water and asked him flat out what the heck is going on. He said that the pumps aren't working. I asked a few exploratory questions and discovered the pumps are about 7 years old and still working. They just need some new parts.

I asked how much it will cost... he said 100,000 UShs... which is 50 USD.

I don't have a lot of my own money, but I think that 50 USD is worth ALL of the students and staff members having water in their facilities. A lot of time and energy is wasted fetching water. Also, it is worth my sanity... so that as I am sick, I don't have to worry about it. I can just be sick and flush it all away!

I told the man that I will only give the money to repair it if we are assured that we will have water whenever there is water in the tank (which means when it isn't the dry season... so now there is water) So. 50 dollars, (mostly) constant water... bring it on. Also, I told him I want the job done well. No botch job... I refuse to give money to things unless they are done to the best way possible.

So hopefully there will be water by next week.

Then I can have them fix my shower and have a REAL (though cold) shower for the first time in 2.5 months.

The taxi man.

I know I just posted earlier today, but I had to put up this hilarious event.

I take taxis to and from town, it is a necessary exercise which I never look forward to. You will understand why shortly.

Coming home from town today I went to the normal spot to get a taxi. Of course, half the men on the street come up to me and ask me where I am going, all wanting me in their taxis or to help me get one. Today the first man who came up wanted me in his big taxi, it was going to my destination, but I firmly refuse to go in large taxis because they take over an hour to fill. I get really stubborn.

Then the taxi man came. He is a tall man, about 6 feet. He is thin with broad shoulders and gangly arms. His face is long with a well defined jaw line, on which grows some poorly maintained stubble. He is not ugly, and not incredibly hansom.
He has a big mouth to match the length of his face and eyes which generally look a bit sad or slightly desirous.

I met this man the first time I needed a taxi. I think in my mind we got off to a bad start. He likes muzungus, very obviously. I don’t do well with pushy men, as a rule, and all the men around the taxis are pushy. I think I probably got in his face at some point. But over the last few weeks our “relationship” has improved. The man is good at getting taxis for me, and I try to be polite when I can be.

So today, I stood there waiting for my small taxi for 2000 to munana, as usual. The men flocked around wanting the attention of the white woman. And in came the taxi man. His job is to work that area, which is actually nice because I know he doesn’t have an agenda in terms of getting me in his taxi.

I also know that he DOES in fact have an agenda. And that was made very evident today. I was at the stand for about 5 minutes when the taxi man came walking up. He said “Ah! My friend, you want a small taxi to munana, yes?” I said yes I did and I’d be grateful for his help because the other man wanted me in his matatu, not an option.

He said “Ok I will help you, but you come over here I want to chat for a moment away from this man.” I said No I didn’t want to go chat chat with him, but he said “we just go right here” (about 3 feet away). So I let him tug me over to the car 3 feet from the other man.

And he began. “You see, I use to have a muzungu and then she went back to her place.” He looked at me with sad, pathetic eyes. I burst out laughing. I said out right “No, I won’t be your muzungu” and walked back to the other men.. he was disappointed, I turned and said I’m not available.” (Note: The first guy I wander Mbarara with is going to have to become my boy friend for a few hours to get the men away!)

The taxi man found me a taxi, as usual, (that is really the problem… the man is incredibly useful! Hence I cannot totally ignore him) after talking to me for a while and trying to discover my name. He like the current president. Strike one million.

So finally I got in a small taxi, it didn’t take too long to find 6 other passengers. That is right… there are usually 5 people JAMMED into the back seat of a small car. This time it was me and 4 men. When I got out of the car I felt like my spin was in a knot, the long walk up the road to the community is helpful for spinal readjustment!

I sat and read Dante.

ah, the adventure.

(Note: The other day I was in a taxi that put 17 people into a small van! There are two seats in the back… on which they jammed, like contortionists, 6 people, then the middle 3 seats, where they wedged 6 of us, and then 5, including the driver and kid, in the front 2 seats! I generally take the time in the taxis to pray that I get my own transportation someday!)

Dirt.

It is Monday, which means it is a day off to do personal work, like washing and such. It is also just a day to prepare yourself for the week. It is a nice feature because it means that Sunday can actually be a day of rest.

I had a lot to do today. I am under a bit of pressure to have some proposals written soon and also get a newsletter out to all of you!  I don’t mind that work, there is just a lot to do. But I also knew that my garden needed some attention. I made a rough schedule in my mind and began the day.

After a later than normal rise (8:15 instead of 6:15) I had breakfast, prayed, and got ready for the day. I decided to go to work in my garden. I began with a stick, there are no trowels here, just large hoes which would damage the delicate plants. It was the perfect day for me to garden. One of the coolest days I’ve ever seen here, and also overcast. This means no sun, which means I can stay outside! It was actually cool enough for me to wear my black hoodie while working.

I dug and dug and dug, up rooting all the weeds, cutting back some of the flower plants. I started with my cucumbers, and unexpected watermelons. I didn’t plant the watermelons, but they have showed up! I translated a few, they are struggling now… I hope they make it! I cleared all the weeds and looked at some very nice cucumber plants! Very gratifying.

I planted my garden for a reason. It took us no time at all to plant, about 15 minutes! I knew I would need it. Gardening is therapeutic. Today as I uprooted and pulled, cut and cleared, tilled… it was needed.

My garden is a controlled space. Somewhere that what lives and what dies is dictated by me. Somewhere where I can, on some level, control the outcome… the product. Unlike the rest of my life. A garden; cucumbers, carrots, melons and tomatoes, are familiar. Something I have known before, something I understand how to take care of. I am glad I created this controlled space… it gives me time to think, to be, to enjoy the dirt, and of course to shock the Africans.

I thought a lot as I worked. Around the cucumbers I could be a bit rough with the weeds. I knew exactly where the cucumber plants are, because they are big and obvious. I tilled the soil with the hope of getting up all the little weeds as well as the big.

But when I got to the carrots, I had to be very careful. The carrots are just coming up, tender and small. The weeds around them are trying to choke them, taking all the water and sunlight. I had to work very slowly and carefully around there. It is very possible a good number of carrots came up in the process, but that is why we planted a ton of them!

The tomatoes I had to just stand and look. I couldn’t find them. Finally after studying the weeds for a while I found one plant, doing well. I weeded around it. I left the rest of the weeds because I think that the tomato plants are taking a bit to germinate. I was excited in the carrot section to find a very large tomato plant, right next to one of the flowers. I hadn’t planted it… but it was there none the less. It is doing well.

I think that Gardens are like people. Some people you can be rough with, others you have to be super careful, still others there is just no way of telling what is going on.

I listened to a talk once about reading the bible in "the global south". I thought about that too. Stories and parables about weeds make sense when you live somewhere where you eat straight out of your garden!

A lot of people walked by as I worked, my house is in a very central location. Many of them commented, shocked to see a Muzungu working in the dirt (I was covered with it). One of my best friends walked by and said “My goodness, I have NEVER seen a muzungu touching dirt!” …and she is 48 years old. Most people are surprised that I know how to work in a garden. Another good friend came by as I was carefully working in the carrots. Her final comment was “You should get married here.” I laughed. That is a complement for sure. As I carried a HUGE load of weeds to the burn pile, one of the guys said “Ah, now there is a real African woman.” I was totally covered with dirt at that moment from the weeds.

I found myself incredibly grateful for my mother as I worked away. Grateful for the incredible environment in which I was raised, where the land made sense and I was part of it. A beautiful place which helped me fall in love with nature instead of fear it. I have many good memories of the garden mom and I would grow together in the front yard. As I took rocks out of my garden here I thought of the many rocks in that mound of soil. Things still grew and grew well. Thanks Mom, for being such a good teacher.

So my schedule went out the window as I worked. It was worth it. I will do my shopping after my language lesson instead of before.

In other news I am in love with Dante. He is amazing. The Inferno was one of the best things I have bought in a loooong time!

Part of me wants to go back to the states for a short visit, just to say proper goodbyes and get things settled a bit.

The whole community is incredible grateful for the assistance which we gave them for the renovation of the house hit during the storm. THANK YOU!!

Tomato Sauce and Big Bugs

I went to Kampala last weekend. There, I went to a lot of places which would be much more like what you would find in the west than in the rest of Uganda. I had told my adopted Italian grandpa, Luigi, who has been here for 3 months, that I would see if I could buy him Ragu (or real tomato sauce). The women who cook at the priest’s house have been making their own version of “spaghetti”. It is nothing like Italian or American spaghetti.

So, I spent a rather large amount of shillings on 2 bottles of American Garden tomato sauce! Luigi got really excited when I gave them to him! He even has been sharing them with me. Elizabeth, one of the women who works at the Priest’s house, was eating with us when I gave it to him. She had never seen tomato sauce before. She had been told to make spaghetti, and had never in her whole life, seen what the sauce was suppose to look like. I promised to teach her to make it. Whatever we make won’t be as good because they only sell tomato paste here in Mbarara, I’ve looked. But I think we can come up with something closer to proper tomato sauce!

It is the rainy season. It rains just about every afternoon. Sometimes it rains hard, sometimes not. I thought there were a lot of types of rain in Ireland… but there are even more here. The ground becomes a mud pit. African mud is different than in other places. It sucks you in and won’t let go. My feet are constantly dirty.

Due to the rain, the bugs have started showing up. People here say that the rainy season “brings everything up”… meaning both bugs and plants. (Side note: My garden has been a major let down. It looks more like I sewed grass than carrots! I have a few watermelon plants… which I did not plant! I am hoping it will make a turn for the better soon!) So recently I have been noticing some really big bugs. I saw them first on the screen over our door. Thank God for that screen. The ones there were large and round. You could easily name all their parts without a microscope. When I say big, think big as in the continent of Africa is big! There was one flying around the class room the other night… probably one of the biggest bugs I’ve ever seen. (Second only to the spiders and cockroaches of Sudan, it’s hotter there)

Then there are the millapeds. They are about 4 inches long and snake along the ground as though they have nowhere to go. Their jointed bodies and millions of legs create quite a creature!

The ants have come again. Our bathroom is, each morning, invaded by flying ants which are gross and annoying. The small ants then come to eat the big ants. It’s a lovely combination. The smaller ants have also found my room. I am waging war. I do not cohabitat with ants! Nature is just so much closer here. Even in Kampala… I killed a cockroach in Susanna’s living room, and left my shoe on it for good measure. When I lifted my shoe there was the dead cockroach, covered in ants. Now where did they come from? Let’s just say I’ve started tucking in my mosquito net around the edge of my bed at night. Stay away bugs! Thankfully mosquitos aren't too bad here. Nothing like Masaka and Eldoret (Kenya)!! I am grateful for that, but Malaria is still a stalker.

The other night I came home from Kampala in the dark. Trudging up the long drive in the rain, navigating through the puddles by the reflection they let off from the lights of the compound, I found myself surrounded by cows. They didn’t mind me and I didn’t mind them. All I could think was that the US government is never going to allow me back into the country! I’ve lived on a farm.

My health is sort of improving. We’ll get there eventually.

101

This is blog post 101. Wow.

I am in Kampala. Seated comfortably in the silent living room of Susanna and Peter's lovely abode. The baby and the nanny are both asleep and there is no sound except the small voices of children outside and the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard.

I just finished watching 2 episodes of House.

I am still in Kampala. I broke down and went to the doctor yesterday and got the news I would rather have not received. Everything is PERFECTLY fine, I am totally, 100% healthy.

Basically all of this is food related. My body uses more water to processes the food, and basically over the weeks my whole system has gotten totally thrown out of normalcy, hence the brutal stomach pain. The doctor said that it might even be possible that I am allergic to something I am eating. He gave me some tablets to help my stomach.

I called Betty, my boss, today and we agreed that I'll go home tomorrow. I am trying to give my body a chance to readjust before starting the process of trying to discover what food I am having issue with. I would have much preferred a parasite.

So, I have been able to see Michael Rossi, a friend from England who is here visiting. I am off soon to have lunch with them.

Perhaps I'll buy one more book before heading home to Mbarara. :) Yah birthday presents!

Thank you to all of you who donated towards the repairs after the storms!!

Chocolate and other stories

Yesterday was one of the most intense days I have had in a very long time.  It was an incredible mix of great joys and deep frustration and sadness.

The best thing to happen was the arrival of the foreknown package from the Buckley family in Ireland.  It included a bunch of wonderful things, all of which I was in need of... randomly enough.  And of course, it included chocolate, real chocolate.  And tangfastics, my favorite candy ever.  I had some of the chocolate last night, as I tried to process the incredibly large amount of things pounding through my brain. 

I realized I hadn’t eaten chocolate in 2 months.  How am I alive?  (I think the women reading this understand what I mean by that sentiment!)

As intense as yesterday was, I see something different.  The stress was enormous, but it didn’t get to me as much as it may have in other times in my life.  This is encouraging.  Stress has been something which has caused me a lot of trouble.  But yesterday I just said “I can’t control these situations, I will do what I can and I will pray.  But there is nothing more that I can do.” 

One of the great moments was checking the paypal account yesterday.  Thank you SO much to those who have responded to the request of assistance from the storm!  We are still a ways away from the goal, but I was really encouraged and excited to see some responses.  Thank you for your generosity.

In other, totally unrelated news, we are now totally transcontinental!  This blog has FINALLY been successfully read in South America, meaning that it is being read/has been viewed on all the continents except Antarctica.  Ok, I am a bit of a continent nerd, so this makes me really excited.

Also in other news, I am going to Kampala this weekend.  I need to get a bunch of things, pick up a package, and get away from work for a little while.  It also is a 3 days chance to see what is wrong with my body and how I can fix it.  I might go to immigration on Monday in Kampala, there are some tricky situations here in Mbarara with immigration these days.  It’ll be really good to see some dear dear friends.  J  The network keeps expanding.  It brings me great joy!

Physically I am still struggling, with no answers.  I am a bit concerned because I am really feeling bad this week, in a similar way that I felt when I ended up in the hospital.  I hope I don’t have the same infection again!  That would make Kampala a non option.

This week is a bit less intense for the school.  We are doing a course called “Course John”.  It’s a bit different from anything we’ve done so far, and it has a lot of “dynamics”… skits, experiential stuff.  It’s sort of fun.  It mixes up the classroom setting a bit which is good. 

We have now set things up so that the students are taking on more responsibility and leadership.  The staff is breaking a sigh of relief, and also laughing.  The students are defiantly learning to do a lot of things, and it can be very amusing at times.  Our staff meetings generally find us all laughing pretty hard!  It’s beautiful to see the students growing and learning.

Some of the students are suffering from malaria.  A constant reality in Africa!  A few of them don’t have mosquito nets, so I’ve gone on a mission to get them for them.  I think the community has some extras around, if they don’t I will probably buy a few and lend them for the rest of the school.  Malaria really knocks people out, one of my “daughters” had it two weeks ago and was in bed for over 4 days!

I will fill you all in on Kampala and how that goes!  I can’t wait to get a camera… soon enough I hope!

Storm recovery

Hello Friends!
  I am trying to help with the repairs from the storm.  If you would like to help, I'd really appreciate it!  If everyone who reads this blog donated 6 dollars, we'd get the goal of $500! 

Please consider donating.  The button is just on the left!

All donation are tax deductible and go directly to my work here! 

Storm!

I have never seen rain like it that caused this damage!

The roof hit, and then flew over the house into the vegetable garden beyond.

Community leader, Mattias with the wreckage

One of the beams punctured the roof of the building and put a hole in the wall of the infirmary

The wind and rain ripped the roof off of this semi permanent structure which is used for non-formal education and other meetings.

The building hit is the infirmary, staff meeting room, and community leaders home.  The roof was damaged by the impact.

Life marches on....

Sometimes I don’t know where to start. 

This week has been good.  “Building healthy relationships and self acceptance” …we also talked about sexuality and gender.  I gave a lot of talks, they all went well.

Father Emmanuel has been away for over a week now.  Strangely enough it has been a good thing.  I think I am finding my feet as an individual right now, which is good.  It will be nice when he comes home, but I am doing fine with learning to just be part of life here. 

I’ve made some good friends.  There is one guy, Faustine, who has struck up a wonderful friendship with me.  He has the most intensely kind eyes I have ever seen, and he always looks me square in the eyes.  His smile is pretty radiant too.  Today was great… I was all dressed up today for teaching.  In the morning I greeted him only briefly on the way to class.  But in the afternoon I say him and he signaled for me to come over to where he was.  I went, and he stood up and just said “You are SO smart today, you are really beautiful!” (something along those lines.)  It was a very nice moment. 

It’s the same with many of the other guys around… Frank, John, Baruk, Emmanuel, Lawrence, Mattias, Vincent and the others… they are very affirming, loving, fun and brotherly.  I feel safe as I relate to them. 

The girls are great as well.  My daughters on the DTS bring me great joy every day.  “Mama Noelle” is my name.  My housemate Paula is a really wonderful Kenyan woman, who is just FULL of joy and spunk.  The head of the DTS, Betty, is incredibly wise and a really good laugh.  We laugh so much as a team. 

There are so many others.  Today as I walked to the staff room, Monica, one of the other staff, started yelling “Hey, who is that pretty woman?  Who is that mozungu I see, she is so smart.  Who is this one?”  And she started doing the cute walk they do. 

Angel, Jane, Dorothy, Maris, Auntie Clare, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Jovia, Jovita, Monica…and so many others.  I’m not really white any more.  They will make a comment about “muzungus” and then say “but not Noelle” (or Noellina)…I like staying here because I don’t get yelled at or starred at any more.  Sometimes I forget and then I go out and the barrage comes again!

In closing, I am grateful for my busyness.  I have been VERY busy, but it has been a blessing to finally have real work.  I know that the work I am doing is effective, good and helpful.  I’ve been doing some writing, fund raising work for the DTS, a lot of teaching, mentoring, studying runyankore and other random things which come up. 

My body is still not doing very well.  It is struggling.  But I am just trying to figure out how to balance everything.  It will just take time and humility.  I noticed recently I have lost even more weight. 

The students are really growing.  It’s like being a gardener… watching these students become brighter, and grow in character is beautiful.

There are some Italians I am becoming friends with.  It’s fun.

This muzungu is going to SLEEP now!