Construction in Uganda

The few trips outside of the training facility that we have been able to go on, have left me wondering why there are so many half constructed buildings. I’ve seen these types of buildings in Kampala, the country capital, and also in Mokono, our closest town. I was told it was because Ugandan dream big. They get some money and want to build a large, beautiful structure, but nearly always run out of funds before they have finished. Then they just leave it as is, and tenants move into the lower floors. I asked why they didn’t build something they can afford and was told that nobody wants to construct a small building. Seems strange to me. I would rather have a competed one or two story structure rather than a third floor that was open to the sky. 

Here is our closest grocery store. They seem to have everything you need. I bought peanut butter, saltines, a Sprite, and nail polish remover; while I’m in training I really don’t need anything, just went to see what I could see. Took me an hour to walk there, but when you are operating on Ugandan time, that’s pretty good! Also note in the picture, this is a two lane road, but most time they drive three and four across. There is no regard for staying in one's own lane and the motorcycles will drive anywhere! 

This Saturday we leave for a month of home-stay/language immersion training. I can’t wait to get out to the west! I’m told it is very beautiful. On a clear day you can see the snow topped mountains. I am also told it is cold. Of course, I packed thinking I was going to a country that straddled the equator. No way was I going to be cold, but I have to admit, even here in Mokono, at night, I am cold. 

We have started language training. In the west, they speak Runyoro-Rotooro. They roll their r’s like the Spanish, which I am not very good at. Hopefully, I will be able to pronounce a few phrases properly, but I am off to a shaky start!

Siiba kurungi!  (stay well)

Site Assignments

We received our permanent site assignments last Friday. The Peace Corps staff and a few current volunteers made quite a show of the announcements. All of the trainees in my cohort seemed very pleased with their future locations. I will be working out of clinic that serves a community of tea farmers in the west. I’m told the area is beautiful, but very rural. We’ll see how I am able to cope living among the tea fields! I suspect there will be no running water and no electricity at my home and I will need to rely on the clinic to charge my laptop. We still have about two months of training until we move to our permanent sites so I can only speculate for now.  

After our site announcements we were treated to a show by some local musicians and dancers, which was amazing. Lovely afternoon. What I really wanted to highlight in this picture, besides the cool drummers, is how the gardeners turned a bougainvillea vine into a shade tree. They built a hexagon shaped support system around the trunk and trained the vines to grow up then outward to form the tree shape. There are a few of these on the property. I just love the idea and want to try to duplicate it when I get back to the states.  

Ugandan drummers under a bougainvillea "shade tree".

Ugandan clothes line.
It is a little strange to see clothes draped all over the trees and shrubs, and even laid out on the lawn, but I guess it does the trick if you don't have a line. We are washing our cloths by hand too, in a bucket, but our dorms have proper clothes lines out back. Hopefully my future site will as well. This building houses some of the workers here at the training center.

Welcome to Uganda!

It has been quite a first week and I have tons of thoughts and impressions. Maybe too many to get together into one post. 

My first impression is just how helpful and kind the Peace Corps staff is. I was a little surprised, at first, that all but three of the staff members are Ugandans. I guess I thought they would be Americans since the Peace Corps is an American organization. Now that I think about it though, it makes much more sense that our support staff is comprised of both Americans and Ugandans. I was also surprised at how much the climate and the vegetation reminds me of St Petersburg. Many of the plants look familiar which is comforting. However, the birds are very  different, and I can’t wait until I am able to do some birding.

The entry road to our training center. We have beautiful palms and other tropical vegetation.

The food is a bit different. We seem to be served lots of carbs. And multiple variations of carbs. It is typical to have four or five different starches with a small amount of meat or chicken, then pineapple or watermelon for dessert. You are not expected to select which carb either (rice, potatoes, pasta, chapata, matooke, posho), you pile them all on your plate together, then cover the whole things with sauce and beans. (I’ll get more into the local foods, what they are, how they’re made, and how they are actually spelt when I have time to do some research) The food is good, but it never changes. What you had for lunch will be there again for dinner and what you had yesterday will be there again today. 

A custom I love is the tea time! Twice a day, once around 10am and again around 4pm, we stop class for tea and a snack. Sometimes the snack is just popcorn, or it could be bananas or samosas (veggie filled, fried dough). I will definitely be gaining weight! 

I also love the fact that the weather here is beautiful. Tea times and many of our classes are held outside under the shade of a tent or a tree. The mornings are cool and foggy, then the sun comes up and the clouds start fluffy white, gradually darkening as the time approaches noon. It seems to rain once a day; a down pour for 30 minutes, then the sun comes back out and all is wonderful.

We have had very little time outside of the training compound so I only have a few pictures to share with you.

Veg stand right outside of the training center. 

Ugandan Bike Shop... Not sure about the selection but the roads are so poor, I'm now hoping I will not be required to ride a bike to work. The traffic is ridiculous too, no fancy bike lanes or trails like the States and no one observes any kind of  right-of-way rules.

Untethered cows walking down the road. They just seem to know where they're going because honestly, they are not held, their ropes are dragging freely behind them! This dirt road leads to the entry way to our training center.

Staging Complete!!!

My group of new and wonderful Peace Corps Trainees (we won't be actual volunteers until after swearing in upon completion of the three-month in-country training). 

Can you spot me? I'm far left, front row. 

Now off to our flight... Uganda, here we come!!!

Flying to Philly

I've made it to the first step in my journey... staging. There are 48 other volunteers here that will be traveling with me to Uganda. Of those, 24 are in the health sector as I am, and the other 24 are in a new program called agribusiness. We all seem super excited with no reservations of traveling into the great unknown. Well, not the unknown for some... I am actually quite surprised at how many people have already been overseas on volunteer assignments, either through their college, a church, or a non-profit. Four people have already been to Uganda!

We are learning loads and I am on information overload so this post will be very short. I am actually just posting to let everyone know that I am, in fact, on my way. Also, that I was told to not expect internet access for the first three to four weeks. That means I am perfectly fine, I'm safe and happy, just not able to post (though I do plan to keep a hand-writen journal of my first impressions of the country that I can reflect back on in future posts).

Love to all my friends and family. Thanks for your tremendous encouragement and support.

Crunch Time

Brown Pelicans on the inner waterway at Pass-a-Grill Beach. No crunch time for them. Just hanging out on the docks with their friends, watching the fishing boats come and go, swimming in the cool gulf coast waters, and basking in the warm Florida sunshine. 

Ahhh… the life of a pelican.

I am now down to the final five days in St Petersburg and I am frantically packing, repacking, and seriously reassessing all that I originally planned to take on my trip. I am also rereading the dozens of documents the Peace Corps has sent over the last couple of months, hoping I don't miss any important elements that could stop my adventure before it even begins. 

Most important element not to be overlooked; shots! I thought I had all of my shots and my medical papers in order, but I was wrong. Somehow I missed the part about needing a World Health Organization Yellow Card. I also realized that I missed the part about needing a Yellow Fever shot that was less than seven years old (typically the yellow fever shot is good for ten years but because you are out of the country for over two years, the Peace Corps needs your shot to be within the last seven years. Mine was given in 2007, just a little too long ago).

Luckily, the Florida Department of Health has several clinics in the St Petersburg area and I was able to find one with a travel nurse. I got the yellow fever shot and the Yellow Card, and a few extra shots for good measure. The travel nurse reviewed my immunization record and told me I also needed Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Even though I did not see a requirement for these shots in my Peace Corps paperwork, I got them. Well, lesson learned that I want to pass on to any future volunteers, go to a travel nurse for your shots, do not rely on your general practitioner to know what you will need. Better to be over-immunized than under.

Latest PC Packing List

The baggage allowance is two checked bags, weighing no more than 50 pounds each, one carry on, and a personal item such as a purse. I have my two suitcases stuffed to bursting and one weights 28 pounds, the other 38 pounds. I obviously don’t have large enough bags to max out the luggage allotment. I could buy mega size cases, but I am going to try to make due. I have heard many current volunteers say that they wished they hadn’t brought so much stuff. Mainly because you need to be able to travel around with your bags unassisted. The exact wording as stated in the travel advisory is “Bring what you are comfortable with and can manage in areas with non-paved roads and crowded places.” I know my two suitcases will cause me trouble enough, I don’t need larger, heavier ones. I also plan to take a backpack as my carry-on and a purse. 

In another email attachment, the Bridge to Pre-Service Training, we are told that one of those two suitcases will stay with us during the three month training period, and the other one will be locked in a secure location, not to be accessed until completion of our training. This makes things I little more difficult because I now must to get everything I may need for three months into one suitcase. I’m not sure what will be left to put into the other suitcase. I think you kind of need everything initially.

Well, in light of the packing requirements and the previous suggested packing lists, here is what I have come up with. I’ll let you know after I get to my permanent assignment how I did with the items I selected to pack.

Purse

• ID, Yellow card, 12 passport pictures (they say our passport will be given to us at the staging event in Philadelphia. I should probably confirm that because I mailed my passport to the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington DC nearly a year ago!)
• VISA card, money (they say we don’t need much, but if we want to exchange some when we get to Uganda, it is best to have $50 bills dated 2009 or newer)
• cosmetics, comb, brush, typical purse items

Carry-on

• laptop with cord and disc drive
• camera with charger
• cell phone with cord, ear buds
• solar charger
• journal, pens, colored pencils, pen-light, headlamp, deck of card
• headrest
• compact/camping clothesline
• tissues, three month supply of medication, feminine products, mirror
• overnight toiletry bag, liquids in a ziplock baggie for the airport
• small photo album with my family pictures, stationary
• folder with my medical papers, address book, notebook
• slacks and a matching sweater, skirt and a matching top, 2 bras, 2 panties, and a slip
• gray heels to match slacks and skirt, 2 pairs nylons, 2 pairs knee-high (just in case, though I really have no intention of wearing pantyhose during my trip)

Bag 1 (to be kept with me during pre-service training)

• 1 flat sheet, 2 pillow cases, beach towel, quick-dry towel, wash cloth
• cards, uno deck, frisbee, candy, seashells (gifts for the host family)
• alarm clock with extra batteries
• hair stuff, shampoo/conditioner, face lotion, toothpaste
• first aid kit, insect repellant, sunscreen
• rain jacket
• bathing suit, coverup sun dress, shorts, matching dry-fit shirt
• 1 dress (casual), 1 dress with matching sweater (nice)
• 2 skirt with 5 matching tops
• 1 pair black, slip-on dress shoes, shower shoes, flip flops
• 1 pair of athletic pants 
• 1 pair of leggings (to wear under skirts for bike riding)
• 1 pair PJs (long pants and T-shirt), 1 light-weight nightie
• 2 bras, 6 panties, 4 camisoles
• laundry bag for dirty cloths

Bag 2 (to be locked until after pre-service training)

• 1 flat sheet, 1 bath towel
• coffee press, fan and flashlight with extra batteries, binoculars, birding book
• feminine products, extra medications
• stationary, extra journal books
• fleece jacket
• 2 light dresses with a matching sweater each
• 4 skirts with 5 matching tops
• 1 pair of athletic pants 
• 2 pairs of leggings (to wear under skirts for bike riding) 
• 1 pair PJs (long pants and T-shirt), 1 light-weight nightie
• 12 panties, 3 bras
• sneakers with 6 pairs of athletic socks
• casual slip-on shoes, sandals
• laundry bag for dirty cloths, 2 waterproof bags
• reusable water bottle

Peace Corps Packing List

Royal Terns and Brown Pelicans on Little St Simons Island, GA. 

These last few weeks have flown by and I now find myself in the month of May; the month in which I will be departing!!! I've just returned from a fabulous vacation on the Georgia coast, birding with a friend from Cincinnati. I highly recommend Little St Simons Island. It is a privately owned island with a resort that accommodates 32 guests, accessible only by boat. There are only dirt roads and bicycles for you to get around. Bird walks, kayak outings, bike rides, and  fishing were planned during our stay. All meals, plus beer and wine, were included. You ate family style with the other guests which was wonderful, I really enjoyed talking with the other folks, so many different personalities from around the country.

Peace Corps Packing List 

In an attempt to keep myself organized and as a reference for any future volunteers who may stumble across this blog, here is the packing list for my adventure.   

• 2-3 skirts below the knee, not see through/with a slip (I’ve bought a few but am having a terrible time finding shirts and shoes to match)
• 4-8 tops, dressy/business casual, not spaghetti straps (I have tons of tops but nothing that really matches my skirts, I may be experiencing a mind block trying to put together proper outfits)
• 1 dressy outfit for official functions; a dress (I have a few dresses but they are casual, maybe a skirt and sweater will do)
• 2 casual T-shirts for hanging out (no problem there, all my tops fall into this category)
• Good bras/sports bras, good underwear (they say quality in-country will be hard to find)
• Culottes/shorts/leggings to go under skirts for bike riding (I’m told this is because you cannot show your thighs and your skirt my ride up while biking. Sounds like I will be seriously hot wearing all these clothes considering what I am used to riding in here in Florida.)
• Nice clothes you would wear out with your friends in the U.S. (what does this mean, exactly? outings with my friends usually involves outdoor activities in which "nice" clothes are not worn)
• Something casual you enjoy wearing; jeans, gauchos, etc. (ok, jeans, I can do)
• 1 sweater, light jacket, fleece, sweatshirt, or long sleeve shirt (I think I'll take a sweater, a jacket, and a long sleeve shirt)
• Exercise clothes (I'll pack one pair of shorts, just in case)
• Rain coat
• PJs
• Bathing suit (plus a cover-up of some sort)
• Nice comfortable shoes (I have Clark sandals and flip flops but I don’t think that qualifies as “nice”)
• Comfortable flat dress shoes for work and official events (I have a pair of slip-ons but I doubt they will last more than a month or two, I don’t think they are very sturdy)
• Running shoes (really… to wear with the skirts???)
• Toiletries to last a month, prescription medication to last three months
• Sunscreen and insect repellant to last a month (they say they will provide more but I may be asking for care packages with the strongest stuff available on the drug store shelves)
• Glasses/sunglasses
• Towel
• Headlamp/flashlight and spear batteries
• 2 flat bead sheets for home-stay
• Medium book/messenger bag for 3-4 day trips
• Power adapter (I just bought a universal one that says will convert to any country you happen to find yourself in)

The list provided by the PC goes on with a few "not necessary but useful" items. I'm sure my bags with be bursting with "not necessary" items, and if I'm lucky, a few of them may actually be useful. I'll will definitely be taking my camera and laptop. We'll see what else makes the cut.

My favorite Little St Simons Island activity was biking on the beach. I loved peddling on the hard-packed sand, scaring up the birds, and looking for sea shells.