Dinosaurs, tap water, and other travel mishaps

            I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write another post, but I haven’t been able to access Internet lately.  I just got back from a four-day workshop on the new P5 curriculum in Soroti, but I had to cut it short to two days…for several reasons.  While I did meet a lot of people at the workshop – it turned out to be a series of bad events.  Bethany and I have the same supervisor, so thankfully she had to go to the same workshop.  It definitely made the situations more bearable and we were able to find some humor in all of it.  So let’s go through my delightful trip to Soroti… shall we?

            As soon as we walk into the dorm room we are staying in, Bethany asks, “So Aubrey, you’re over that fear of lizards, right?”  (For those who do not know this, I have an irrational fear of lizards.  I have gotten over it though since I have a lot of geckos in my house).  So I replied, “Ya, why?”  She points under my bed and there is a huge lizard.  Actually, no, this qualified as a dinosaur.  In fact, the more I think about it, I’m certain it was a descendant of a stegosaurus.  I jumped to the other side of the room and shrieked, “OH MY GOD!!  No, that has to leave.”  Bethany got a stick, and she tried to chase it out of the room.  It ended up running into the closet, so she shut the door.  After five minutes of hearing it to try to get out, she tried once again to chase it away.  Eventually she was successful, and I breathed a sigh of relief. 

            At this PTC there were also gigantic beetles; they were bigger than ping-pong balls.  When they walked on the floor, they sounded like wind up toys.  Seriously, they were the grossest things and they were everywhere.  The first night, while we were waiting for dinner to be served, Bethany and I tried to play some games to take our mind off of how hungry we were.  During the game, I realize Bethany was no longer looking at me and was staring at something and trying not to laugh.  I looked at her weirdly and asked, “What?”  She kind of shook her head and said, “Mmm…”  So I followed her eyes and looked down at my dress where there was an enormous bug just chillin’.  My immediate reaction was to jump up and yell “OH MY GOD!”  Of course the Ugandans found this hilarious and all started laughing.  Great first impression on my part!

            Later that night, I took a shower and I had some money in my bra for safekeeping.  I left it on the ledge and told Bethany not to let me forget about it.  Of course I left it – 150,000 shillings, which is the equivalent to $65.  I remembered an hour or two later, but it was no longer there.  I was a little annoyed with myself, but I figure that is about a month’s salary for teachers, so someone got really lucky.  
            During the workshop, I was kind of cranky because they would feed us late and they always ran out of bottled water.  As a result, Bethany got super sick (which is why we had to leave early).  The last night we were there I woke up so thirsty, and I did not know what to do.  I went over to the bathroom (that smelled like an outhouse even though there was actual plumbing).  I looked at the tap, and in desperation, I drank out of it.  I know what you’re all thinking – that’s a one-way ticket to diarrhea-ville.  (I’m not sick …. yet!). 

            We left the next day because Bethany was really sick and they wanted me to take her to get treatment.  We boarded the bus and had to wait two hours for it to fill up, which was frustrating because we just wanted to get out of there.  Some guy came on the bus selling samosas in a plastic bags and I immediately wanted one.  I asked Bethany if she thought that was a “poop attack in a bag,” but she told me to go for it since I already drank tap water.  They were delicious, and definitely put me in a better mood.  (Again, still not sick!). 

            Site has been really good so far, and I’m really enjoying my time.  School doesn’t start for another week – so I have spent my time with my neighbors and riding my bike to hang out with Caroline and Ryan.  I wish my life here could be filmed like the Truman Show because most of the time I am sure I look ridiculous.  Let’s take me bathing for example: I no longer use my bathing room because I don’t like having to go outside to get to it.  Also, chickens tend to get in there and poop and it smells like pee no matter how much bleach I use.  So I bucket bathe in an extra room in my house.  I stand in a basin with my bucket of water in front of me, and then a bucket behind me to catch any excess water that I splash.  I make a mess and usually have to mop up all the water when I am done.  I am sure my neighbors are talking about how I walk to the latrine – I stomp loudly and slowly survey the area for snakes.  I’m sure I look silly to the Ugandans, but come on…SPITTING COBRAS?!  I think I’m being just plain reasonable.  Everything I do takes about an hour, from bathing to cooking.  Hence, my diet now consists of a spoonful of peanut butter and mangos.  (Or I mooch off of my neighbors for dinner).  I usually have to chase a chicken or wild turkey out of my house once a day.  Caroline and I usually find ourselves calling each other laughing and saying, “Is this really our life?”  The answer is yes. 

            I went running the other day, which was awesome being able to see more of the countryside.  At one point I had seventeen kids following me – all barefoot!  Amazingly, they all kept up and they were giggling to each other the whole way.  Either I’m really slow and out of shape or I totally see why Africans are always winning marathons.  I also did a workout from Krav Maga one day outside.  Pushups, sit-ups, jump sprawls – etc.  My neighbors came outside to see what I was doing, and then some kids joined in.  It was pretty cute, but the teenagers were better than me.  I was dying and they kept cheering me on, “Come on Nekessa, let’s keep going!”  Now the teachers want me to teach PE, which I am excited about. 

            Well, that’s all I have for now.  I will try to post more frequently!  My next post will probably be about how I have a parasite from tap water and the samosas.  Get excited for that one!