Working in Uganda...Sort Of

            I wish I could write that I started teaching, the students loved me, and I changed the world.  This is Uganda, however, and things don’t tend to go as planned.  For instance, if you have a staff meeting at 10am, it won’t start until 3pm (this is not an exaggeration).  On Monday, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t really start to work.  I called my counterpart about ten times and he did not pick up.  I had no idea how to get to my school that I am supposed to be working at, so I just hung out at the school where I live.  I would say only 1/8 of the students actually arrived, but I was told they would all be there by next week.  Tuesday I finally got a hold of my counterpart, who said his phone was broken and he has “some” malaria.  We planned to meet on Thursday, but that fell through because he is still sick.  I spent the past week introducing myself to the few students that did arrive to school.  We played soccer (I’m awful), volleyball, and I went running with some of the older students (they killed me!). 

            I know that all the people I studied abroad are thinking, “Oh TIA.”  They all know what it’s like to work in Africa where time means nothing and there is no structure.  For everyone else, you are probably wondering how I can possibly handle working here.  I won’t lie; it’s frustrating at times, especially when I know I could be doing something productive.  I have learned to just roll with it and I always bring a book to a meeting because I know it won’t start on time.  I am starting to create my own work too while I wait to get my teaching schedule sorted.  I am teaching PE in the afternoons even though it’s not technically on the schedule, but hey, anything goes here!  I also have started to work on the resource room for the school where I am assigned to work.  I remember my counterpart telling me that it is used as a staff room and there are no resources.  I have started making a math bingo and researching other learning aids.  If any of you have any ideas, then email me!  Hopefully, I will start teaching next week, but we will see.  I think all of the students will have arrived, so that’s a plus.

Gas Stoves and New Photos

            After my mom heard this story, all she said was, “I knew that would happen.”  So maybe you won’t be surprised with my stupidity.  I have a gas stove that hooks up to a propane tank – like a big camping stove.  I usually turn off the propane first when I am finished because I have a fear that I will forget, and then I turn off the knob on the stove that regulates the flame.  The other day I was cooking on a different burner than I usually do.  After about 15 seconds of cooking, I heard a huge pop and a fireball erupted on my stove.  Guess who forgot to turn the knob to “off” on the other burner.  Yup…that was me.  I jumped about five feet backwards and screamed.  The funniest part, however, was that there were little kids watching me cook through the window.  (I’m white, so I’m automatically interesting.  Kids are constantly watching my every move).  As soon as it exploded they all screamed and ran away.  I actually think one of the little ones started to cry.  They haven’t been peeking through my kitchen window lately, which is actually quite nice.  Regardless, I will try to be more careful.

            I don’t have much else to tell you – I just wanted to post so I could upload a few pictures.  I have spent the last week lounging around and playing basketball at Ryan’s school.  School starts again next week, so my three-week vacation is coming to an end.  I was enjoying being lazy, but I guess it’s time to get to work now.  I’ll try to update you after my first week as a teacher in Uganda…eek!

           Also, I updated my contact information.  I have a new address now - I know you are all dying to send me some awesome care packages :)

A typical Ugandan meal

Loading all of our luggage to move to site

Josh and me

Ryan and me - super photogenic

Swearing In Ceremony

Nikki and me

We're PCVs!!

A giant spider that I found right by my door

CRAB

The Nile River

Great sunset in Soroti

The gross beetles in Soroti

A great way to transport chickens

Meat on a stick

Humongous jack fruit

           

 

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!