Tuesday, July 28, 2009

work? yes indeed...

I have gotten a few comments from people reading my blog that they think all I am doing is having fun here and wonder what I actually do for work! I just smile and laugh and say that basically my job is making sure that all the volunteers are healthy, happy and safe. In order to do that, mainly what my job entails are these kind of things...

picking up new volunteers from the Entebbe Airport (approx. 5 hour drive from Jinja), bringing them to Kampala to the Adrift office (the rafting company that GIVE is linked with) so they can meet Dennis, our main emergency contact in Uganda, pick up their mobile phones and continue driving to Jinja.

Once in Jinja my first responsibilities entail orientating them around town (show where to eat, where the internet cafes are, where you buy phone credit, exchange money, where to take out money), settling them into their houses/hotels/guesthouses (I am in charge of making and confirming bookings), giving them boda and mutatu transport education (always get on and off the boda on the left hand side as to not burn your leg from the exhaust pipe on the right hand side- how to argue with boda men for prices and not getting ripped off)

The first few days I get a car and driver to take me and the new volunteers around to our different placements. The volunteers visit each of the placements according to the interest they have requested (Ie. babies homes, schools, health clinics). Usually we can visit about 3 placements per day, as it takes time to go to them, meet the people in charge, make the contact and confirm the relationship, and make plans for volunteering which days they would like.

In the first few evenings especially I take them round to a few of the places we 'usually' go for dinners and drinks out, according to their prefernce of western vs indian vs african cuisine and entertainment. I am in charge of getting them to and from places safely for at least the first few days WITH me, and usually for the first week I am with them most evenings.

After the first week, most people are quite settled into a routine, know their way around and have met some people to hang out with and go to their houses, out for meals etc. From then on my position is to check in on them usually in the mornings and fix any issues/problems they are having with accomodation, travelling, transport, phones, money, etc (those are the usuals!) and generally be available when they want someone to hang out with, go shopping with, need advice about something or need to sort out and arrange a safari, rafting, or other touristy things. I have all the contacts with tourist companies,safaris and rafting (ADRIFT), so I get to make the phone calls and arrange everything- unless they want to do it themselves (some have a preference).

And it's been a pretty fast turnover for most of the summer so far- so usually I've had new people coming all the time so once I have some people settled, more arrive and the process begins again. right now I have a bit of a lull- I have 6 girls, one leaving tomorrow and one leaving thursday, and then more people coming August 5, 6 and 14th for the rest of the summer. the girls right now are quite settled into routine and I can see them off in the mornings, meet up with them at some point during the day or evening to debrief on how things are going, what they are thinking, or just to sit at the Adrift bar and have a drink at 3pm overlooking the nile (which is what I did yesterdy with Shelly- hey, if I'm with a volunteer doing what they want, it's work!)

Basically, I need to be able to be comfortable making friends with all types of people and personalities and be sensitive to what people want to do, think about Africa, etc and help them have the best experience possible. What I want to accomplish is for people to see the Uganda that I personally know and love...So they can spread the word of the wonderful place it is and raise some awareness back in Canada of things that are happening/need to happen over here.

So yes, I do have lots of fun. Sometimes too much fun. But I also work hard. :)
"Work hard, play hard"
which I believe is just as important to experience the local culture here, making memories by living the local life, and ways of having fun here in Uganda. Believe it or not- fun happens whereever you are in the world! imagine that. :) and to me, the fun HERE is quite often more fun than fun at home in Canada...hahahaha.

Love you all, hope that gave a decent briefing on the work I am doing here!

xxx vicks

a skin infection?

The last few days I’ve noticed almost like a cigarette burn on my right arm. I thought it was some kind of bite, until it was there for a few days in this pretty little circle. Yesterday I told India that I thought I had a tropical disease and I was dying… She sarcastically told me that someone probably burned a cigarette into my arm while I was sleeping (the only person in the house that smoked was alex, and he left like, two weeks ago. because that would really happen anyways...). We were out at Damali’s in the afternoon and I asked her what she thought, she automatically said RINGWORM! Ewwwwwwwwwwww!! Okay, in all fairness ringworm is not ACTUALLY a worm but just a skin infection that most kids in the village have and is quite contagious, and as I’m around village children all the time it made sense. Not a big deal and you just need an antibiotic topical cream for it. India and I left to go to the Lordsmeade clinic to pick up some meds for one of the babies and asked about my “ringworm”.
The ladies at the front immediately said
“That’s not ringworm!”
“What is it then?”, I ask.
“It’s some kind of skin infection…”
Wow, that’s helpful, I think. Someone else comes out to see.
“It’s because you are white. see, if that happened on my skin you wouldn’t even see it, and I wouldn’t have even come to the clinic!”
Awesome. So because I’m white, you can SEE the infection..no wonder none of the kids ever get treatment from the clinic, because apparently if you can’t see it, it’s not there…
Everyone by now it talking and arguing over my skin and India and I are keeled over laughing, me wishing I had filmed this ridiculousness.
In the end, one of the ladies gave me a prescription for an antibiotic cream (a prescription being she wrote something down on a ripped piece of paper) saying if it doesn’t go away in three days, then go buy it.
Hilarious.

xxx
vicks

Sunday, July 26, 2009

a flat tire on the landy at campsite!




I think I blogged about this a little while ago- this was last weekend, when we went to leave campsite to go home one night in Mike's Landcruiser, we realized the tire was blown...we also quickly realized that we didn't have a jack big enough to sort the situation out, so about an hour and half and 5 Ugandans plus our 3 guys later...somehow they rigged something up and we got home... T I A, as we say...

xx vicks.
ps, i can only post one photo at a time becuase the internet will freak out if i try more than one. Appologies all around, but it is a feat just to get some up here!

James and Miko's last night- group photo.






I happen to look riiiiiidiculous in photos taken at night. Why do I have a lazy eye when I get tired??

a photo of me with my eyes closed, with Nulu Gladys, from Sonrise

a fair, a gig, missing tentpoles and another goodbye

My friend Mike here at the guesthouse went on my blog the other day at work and told me that I need to update more frequently. So I'm going to work on that- especially becuase Mike has a wireless internet thing I can plug into my laptop now in the evenings and actually go online more often! HI MIIIIKKKKKEEEE GO BACK TO WORK AND STOP READING MY BLOG! hahahaha.

ok so recent happenings in Uganda!

There has been this massive "Agricultural Show/Fair" in town for the past week. apparently it's the 17th annual, but two years ago I had left town by the time it happened. This year I got to go..twice. The first time was a typical adventure- Lindsey, Laura, Kara and I went with Baby Justine to pick up oh, about 45 school children from her school in a nearby village, fit them ALL plus about 4 teachers into a 14 passenger local transport bus. let's just say that on it's own was a sight to behold! Of course, as we drove down the road one of the back tires blew, so we had to pull over, get everyone out of the van while a couple of Ugandan guys repaired it.. at last we pulled into the fair grounds in Jinja- into THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND SCHOOL CHILDREN and I'm just sitting there going "oh my..oh my..oh my....". Somehow we had to keep track of 45 kids in this insanity??? The day was sweltering, yet the kids were beside themselves with excitement to be there and filled with gratitude to be given one chapat and a baggie of juice for lunch. Laura was overwhelmed, as we talked about it over a beer at the end of the day back at Zamo. Laura is a teacher in Canada and just couldn't believe how well behaved the children here are/were during that madness, and was thinking of how her own students would have acted- gone in ten different directions as soon as we entered, whined about the heat, not enough lunch, not being allowed to go on rides..etc etc etc.

Take two on the fair was last evening, with a few friends Charlie and Claire and a schoolteacher Charlie works with. We went just as it was starting to get dark which Claire and I weren't too keen on- honestly there are thousands, we are the only white people, and I am clutching Claire's hand with one hand and my bag to my cheast with the other and making Charlie promise we will go after one drink with his collegue.. MADNESS! I will never complain about crowds at home again!

The missing tentpoles come in with Laura, Lindsey and Kara being on Safari this weekend and calling me distressed yesterday saying that the guide brought the wrong tentpoles for their tent........ I'm not even going to go into that, except that it's "So African" that it's worth mentioning briefly... (All being sorted out of course, as it does, but just one of those things....)

The band at Campsite was our friend Jared's last night, Campsite being the Nile River Explorers rafting start base, and known for a good fun evening..especially when there are lots of people and a good band playing music that everyone knows and can sing and dance to under the stars, and that's just what we did. It's really great seeing the volunteers make new friends and become comfortable here, as all the girls I have left are settling into routine and really starting to "LIVE" here...already saying the "I don't want to go home!!!" 's.

Another leaving party tonight at Reflections, as Charlie departs at 4am. He is sitting at the kitchen table right now making a guest list.. "who else do we even KNOW?!" he yells from the table to me in the living room as I type this. Today is one of those "last everything" days...last African meal at Highways, last boda ride,last night with a mosquito net... though I myself have 6 more weeks to go, I don't look forward to my own "last everything" day

Friday, July 24, 2009

a grand ugandan evening

I thought would tell you about last night. As James and Miko are leaving today, last night we decided to have somewhat of a goodbye party for them out at Damali’s. I told Damali not to cook as I would bring out dinner for everyone- a normal thing to do in Canada, but in Uganda is an interesting situation. Take out? For over 20 people? What on earth are you going to bring? Rice and beans?

And that’s exactly what I brought!

During the afternoon my friends Mike, Charlie and I went to an African restaurant called highways that we frequent and ordered enough rice, beans, samosas, goat stew and chapatti for like 30 people. Then Mike and I went to the market and bought a ton of mangos, bananas, tomatoes and avocados and I spent a few hours making a few different salads to bring out. At 6:30pm we grabbed a crate of sodas from Zamo, piled people into a van and drove out to Damali’s. loads of people there- friends and staff at Sonrise, all our volunteers, GIVE staff, plus a few friends from my guesthouse- Jem and Mike, who’s it was there first time out at Sonrise. I’m always excited to bring new people out there as I think it’s such a wonderful place that is so full of life.

Honestly it couldn’t have gone any smoother. I feel like it made up for the dinner I tried to have with everyone at Zamo that just turned into such a nightmare! There was an obscene amount of food- everyone ate loads and there was enough leftovers that the staff don’t have to cook lunch today! We had a massive dance party, the babies stayed up with us eating sweets and prancing around to Rhianna and then some classic Ugandan tunes. We played games like copying each others dance moves around the circle and passing a cup around with things ‘to do’ in it, regarding dancing….so funny. So Ugandan. I made James give a speech, then Damali..and we all went around the circle saying something of encouragement to them. I believe my statement was, “thank you for being my easiest volunteers….” Hahahaha. Which they were, such a help to me in every way and I really will miss having them around. It’s always amazing to hear what other people think and feel and I couldn’t help but be proud of them, proud of working for GIVE international and excited for the future of this organization as I try to head up an expansion for the future…

We finally left around 10:30pm so they could maybe put the babies to sleep… sweaty and full from dancing and eating and laughing far too hard, we collapsed at home…Jem, Mike and I drinking tea on the porch marveling at what an amazing evening it was.

Bye James and Miko, you will be greatly missed!

Xxx vicks.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

the city lights


So have you been to a place like this?
To see your breath as it paints against the sky
The fever is near
I wish you were here

I'm thinking ambitious
I've got this feeling things will be alright
So go break a leg, right
Been given the green light
So go entertain them
They're waiting for you
They're waiting for you

So have you been to a place like this?
To see your breath as it paints against the sky
Feeling so right when things went wrong
The fever is near
I wish you were here

the latest.


Latest happenings around Jinja with GIVE international that I have been slow to post about…

-I have had my first volunteers come and go! The Onotsky family from Kitchner, Ontario were here for just two weeks so they are back in Canada. Mike, Janice, Joseph and Jacob were a blessing to the GIVE placements, supporting Damali’s Sonrise Babys home, Home of Hope, St Florence, and God’s Gift Primary.

-My next volunteers to leave are James and Miko, who depart this Thursday. I will miss their friendship very much, and the fact that they were my first volunteers who arrived even before I did

- The rest of the volunteers I have right now are Sarah, Kelly and Shelly- whom arrived nearly two weeks ago now, and then three new girls I picked up last Wednesday from Entebbe- Lindsey, Kara and Laura. (What’s with all the girls??!) All are wonderful and adjusting to life in Uganda- most of them it is their first time abroad, so I’m understanding that it’s a big culture shock to get used to life here- something I’m unfamiliar with, but I am learning!

-I was extremely blessed to be able to go on Safari last weekend (thanks BOSS!!) to Murchisen Falls National Park with 5 of my volunteers (James, Miko, Shelly, Sarah and Kelly) as well as Alex and his volunteers (Jess, Sian, Caitlin) and a few friends of James and Miko’s., Jess and Amy. Alex and James were our token guys, so we split them up in the two vans! The trip was amazing, busy, and I’ve not slept more than 3 hours a night probably since the Safari… “work hard, play hard” is my motto here!

-An update on happenings at Sonrise Baby’s home- The Onosky Family bought a gas burner for the kitchen which will be a major help when heating up milk for the babies at night so they don’t have to wait around for the charcoal stove to heat up. They are taking in a new baby- Miko is generously supplying the funds for the bed and net for the new baby to come. Jesse and Amy have bought a few more beds for the guest room, so now they are equipped to have volunteers and more staff sleep over. I have brought over some clothes and books, and volunteers from other organizations- spreading the word of Sonrise!! Probably the biggest news is that Alex, through Bujigali Trust and him and his dad’s charity for supporting education- has decided and promised Damali that all of her children are going to be sponsored to go to school!! He pulled her aside the other day to tell her, and then she came inside and grabbed me to tell me. Alex had already told me he wanted to, but hearing it from her and the amazement and appreciation in her voice was almost more than I could handle.. I choked back tears and looked inside at Alex playing with Gladys, his favourite girl...and realized that Life and this job are all about the connections and relationships you make with people you meet, and the wonders that are happening and have happened already continue to blow my mind.

-The next few weeks I will have to say goodbye to some amazing friends I live with at Busoga Trust, as they are nearing the end of their stay. This morning as I stood in the kitchen eating a bowl of fresh pineapple and watching the ridiculousness of the morning routine with instant coffee and toast and people in pj’s re-enacting shenanigans of the night before when the landrover got a flat tire and there was no jack in sight big enough to change the tire…I realized how sad it is going to be when I am quite alone in this big house. Alex was the first to leave, Thursday morning at 5am. So, of course, we decided that sleep was unnecessary and had an amazing pig roast goodbye party for him at Lordsemeade, the Secondary School he works at, then played pool at 2 friends for hours before taking over the dance floor at casino club and then throwing his things in a duffel bag at 4am.

And for all these reasons and things I have mentioned, I will return again and again to this place until I own the beautiful house on the river by Damali’s that I eye up each time I walk by and live here for good.

(remember Brenda? here she is.....)

Xxxx vicks.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

A Rabid Dog and my encounter with him.

On Saturday night last weekend a group of us had been out for drinks and playing pool at Reflections (one of our regular hang-outs) and were back at Busoga sitting on the porch being ridiculous when I decided I'd had enough and went to walk home (As I was still living at Zamo hotel at the time). Usually someone walks me home, even though it's like 20 steps away but tonight I didn't care and said I'd go by myself.

So I've walked like, ten steps past the gate when I see a dog crossing the road in front of me. (Now, dogs in Uganda are not pets. They are either trained to kill security dogs, or they are rabid strays). So I freeze in my place. The dog notices and stops as well. My heart starts pounding and I start to back up slowly to the guesthouse to get someone to walk with me, when the dog growls, then snarls with his big teeth and then another dog appears and THEN THEY START BARKING AND RUNNING TOWARDS ME!! This is when I let out an ear-shattering scream, turn around and run like the wind back to the guesthouse gate, screaming the whole way (let's remember It's like, 2am) and banging on the gate for someone to open it.

Of course, everyone on the porch had heard me screaming, as well as Gideon (our gatekeeper) and were there yelling and freaking out, Alex and Mark yelling "WHERE'S THE GUY!? WHERE IS HE??! WHAT HAPPENED??!" as from my screams they assumed I had been attacked by someone and I slowed down enough to say that it was a dog.

Now yes, of course, they are scary around here, but according to the guys... I was a little ridiculous. Nevertheless I made them all walk me home. It's been 4 days and I'm pretty sure it's going to be the butt of all jokes for the rest of the summer.

"Hey Vicki..how's your doggie friend?" "Been chased yet today?"

funny funny, everyone. laugh it up. lets see what YOU would have done.

just another typical evening meal

I thought I would tell a little story to show you how things run (or don't run) in Uganda.

Last night I decided to get a bunch of people together for dinner at Zamo, the hotel that our volunteers stay at ( I have now moved into Busoga Guesthouse,for those who know). For volunteers right now I have a family of four (Mike, Janice and their two boys Jacob-10 and Joseph-15), Shelly (31), Kelly (20), Sarah (22), James (23) and Miko (26). The family as well as the girls were there, and then I invited to pay for dinner for one of our Ugandan staff; Baby Justine and her two kids Zepohra and Gift. She also brought along two ladies that work with her. Wonderful right? Everyone together, happy times.

Now Zamo is famous for being slow service, but this night just topped it off. We all ordered and it was fine and lovely and then about an hour and half later I asked if our food was coming, "yes, just now, of course" is always their response. Another half hour passes as some food comes out, pretty much every order is wrong in some way (wrong sandwich, chips instead of rice, etc etc etc) and the boys and Mike's food didn't come at all, some mistake apparently...so another like hour passes before the boys get their food, after many trips by me to the kitchen pestering them, the boys getting tired and cranky (as it's now like 9:30pm), baby Justine's children falling asleep, me trying to keep everyone talking and visiting to pass the time..

finally everyone eats and I'm calling taxi to come and get the family and bring them home as well as some boda's to bring Justine and crew home, another 45 minutes passes... (what, are they driving from Kenya!??) as I'm on the phone to 2 other taxi's getting SOMEONE to come... finally one van comes and takes them all home..as the waiter comes up to me and says there is a problem with my bill (I had already paid for everyone) and I owe him more money... by this time I'm starting to loose it and pull him inside and demand to see the bill and the money I paid him, and another staff comes over to go over it and we are all arguing and adding and I have tears starting up when I finally gave in to paying half of what he wanted me to and I am furiously angry with them as ALL I WANTED WAS TO DO SOMETHING NICE FOR EVERYONE AND IT TURNED INTO SUCH AN AFRICAN GONG SHOW!!

I walked out of the restaurant and started bawling when my friend James (one of my volunteers) saw me and then saw these other taxi's start to show up that we had called like, 2 hours ago.... I guess James saw my face and he went and dealt with the drivers and then started to walk me home as I'm crying when Mike calls (the dad) saying the boys lost their room key, can I look for it at Zamo... James and I go back to the hotel and go on our hands and knees with our cell phone flashlights looking for this key which isn't there so I call the driver who brought them home and he found it in the car, so I told him to go back to their guesthouse...and then one last call from Baby Justine saying she left her purse in the taxi and was freaking out but luckily Mike had assured me that they found it and had it for her.

this is now, like, 11pm.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

James and I walked up to the porch of Busoga where all our friends were visiting and I collapsed on the couch next to Alex, wiping my face and laughing and remembering why T.I.A (This Is Africa) and that I love it....most of the time.

the end.