Adjustments aren't always easy...

Customs and culture are etched and engraved into a person’s personality to the extent that when someone sees another acting or speaking differently one can believe the other is crazy or mad. That is the beauty of travel it opens ones eyes to the variation that different lands can possess.
I have traveled to many places and experienced many cultures very different from my own, but those cultures have always, in one way or another, been in line with my morals and values. Uganda is teaching me that far off lands and lifestyles are very habitable even if they are not in line with “my morals” and lately I am finding that I am awe of what I am learning outside the classroom.
Class discussions have taught me some very interesting and drastically different lifestyles compared to North America. I am intrigued to listen, but as well trying to train myself NOT to shake my head in discontentment.
While discussing the meaning “GENDER” the class was separated into groups, the guys and the girls, and we were given the task “To write down as many roles that we believed the opposite sex should be responsible for”.

The women (Ugandan, Canadian, and Pilipino) talked about; equality, love, respect, security…

The men, who were all Ugandan, wrote:
 Collect firewood
 Bear children and I am not talking 2 or 3.
 Comfort
 Sexually please their partner
 Remain beautiful
 Collect water
 Hide the husband if police sought him
 Cook
 Clean/laundry (all done by hand)
 Make extra money by making crafts
 Churn Butter
 Educate and teach children morals

I couldn’t help it, but I interrupted and said the teacher asked us to describe a wife not a workhorse.
In the capital people are more “institutionally educated”, but, there is still that level of engraved cultural ideology, however, people are more modern that those still living in the villages. There is a this lady in my class that comes from a clan far north and was explaining to me that in her clan, by the time women reach 35 years old they are worn out from a life of hard-labor and multiple childbirths that she begs her husband to take another wife to sexually satisfy him because she cant “take care” of him anymore. The women will even work hard and use all her saving to pay the dowry for the new wife.
Lately, I am quite aggravated by the quality of life and the respect that local people show towards others (and not only me as a foreigner, but locals) and I am unsure of how to process these “scenarios” or situations, but I need to realize that everyday is a learning experience and that is the whole reason I am here. As I struggle to remain positive in negative situations I grow in ways I never imagined and learn patience of a whole new light.

Josh...

I wasn't going to post anything today because I wanted to make sure that everyone had read last weeks post, however, I received a phone call last night that changed my mind.

I have received some e-mails asking about Josh, so I wanted to blog about him today.

I received my first phone call of 2 weeks last night at 3:30 a.m. I was so excited to hear that phone ring!
Josh is in Wainwright, Alberta training with very limited access to outside communication. Two weeks ago he was transferred to a new platoon, a platoon that is deploying to Afghanistan at the end of January 2008.

Last night he told me that he has filled out all the necessary documents and has been given his travel dates for his R & R (Rest from Afghanistan)...this is getting all too real. He seems in good spirits and happy with situation, thus far. He will be coming to Uganda for the second time from May 13th to June 5th. I hope to use 10 days to that to go somewhere A-M-A-Z-I-N-G...somewhere that has NO sand.

I asked him if he was "at peace" in his heart and I thought he was going to choke...I guess an army wife should know better...I worry so much about his situation, if he is eating, if he is healthy, if he is sleeping enough.

January is a while away...but all too close for my fragile heart. Please send all your positive thoughts and prayers.

I often hear people tell me that I am brave to go all the places that I go, but this is absolutely nothing. I have a husband that has enough strength and courage to last someone 50 lifetimes...and I hope he realizes how honored, proud, and supportive I am to him and his career.

I love you sweetheart.

Rose, Moses, Alex, and Baby Madrik

Entering this small village only 40km from Kampala the church choir could be heard from the makeshift parking lot. As I scanned the premises I saw all the fixings of a wedding; a tent, tables for food, and families all dressed up. My purpose to visit this village on Ugandan Independence day was to describe the details for the Rotary Community Corps, but as I assessed the surroundings I was uncertain if this was the best place for Rotary to focus its energy.
A few hours of singing and praying later I stood gazing at the crowd. I noticed two little babies laying together on a sweater and small child sitting beside them. I went to them because they seemed temporarily alone and appeared that the two were twins. The older sibling didn’t like my presence and gave a strong glare. I brushed away the flies around the children and then walked away. I stood idly by as the mother came back from getting food at the buffet. She picked one of the infants and sat him down beside the plate of food and along side his sibling. The all began to eat. As I watched them my focus shifted to the child that I thought was a twin. The child’s skin was hanging off the bones and his hair was very sparse and very light in color, a sure sign of malnutrition. I just stood there wondering what could be done to help them. I asked President David about them and he told me she was destitute and he proceeded to talk to her for me. I found out that the three children were all brothers, but not twins. They aged 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The three month old and the one year old were nearly the same size. Her husband had died in July of a heart condition and had left them with no means of survival and she was living in someone’s kitchen. Later the young mother informed me that she is called Rose and is only 18 years old.
I talked to a few people and explained Rose’s situation and everyone said not to worry that the RCC and the church would help her. I asked them to also get some of the leftovers to give to Rose and the children for later that night and at least one meal for the next day. This was not a solution rather a Band-Aid fix, but in my opinion a much needed one when health is concerned. I continued telling Rotarians and went to talk to a few ladies, one of whom is my namesake, and informed them of Rose’s situation. A young woman appeared and took a seat next to Rose, Esther by name, tugged on my shorts a short while later and asked me to fetch the tissues from her jacket pocket and I noticed the tears rolling down her face. Within 15 minutes from those tears we were sitting in the car with Angel Esther headed back to Kampala with Rose and her babies. Esther is the niece of a very active Ugandan Rotarian, but now resides in California. Rose was overwhelmed with emotion and rested her head on the seatback and fought back tears herself.
The 1.5 hour car ride was comforting to me as I held baby Moses in my arms, but I contemplated Rose’s future. Back in Kampala, Esther stopped at a grocery store to pick up some needed items to bathe and feed the babies and I talked to David. I expressed my concern for Roses future and I asked him to translate for me. Rose, however, understood everything I said. I wanted to let Rose know that I thought her children were beautiful and that I believed that she has done a remarkable job at caring for them all alone. I didn’t want her to think that I had any ill or negative thoughts about her. That I can see that she needed help and that we are here to help her provide for her children. I admire that she has been able to do this much, as a young widow, with three children. My heart is with Rose and her babies. I hope that my next visit to her finds her healthy with three energetic bouncing boys. President David and I are going to see her on the weekend and perhaps offer the help of the Rotary if she is still in need

Today affected me deeply. Seeing this children in such a condition struck a chord in my heart and perhaps you all at home reading this will go on with your day unaffected because maybe you think there is nothing you can do, but for the cost of your dvd player or a tank of gas people in developing countries who are in need could feed their families, immunize their children, and house their family for MONTHS.

Be aware that there are people in the world that need a little extra help sometimes and that their lives could never be compared to one in Canada or U.S.A.

I see the need in these villages and I believe you would to if you visited her. Local rotary clubs are doing all they can do with the resources available to them. If this story has touched your heart or any story that I have or will post affects you please take a stance and email me. Together I believe American and Canadian clubs can team with Ugandan clubs and begin stable, life altering projects that are sustainable. Quick fixes are not something I am at all interested in. If you are not a Rotarian you can still get involved. Money is not all the is needed…students can have a toothbrush drive at school and collect toothbrushes or pencils, pens, notebooks, soap, seeds, etc…

Rotarians….lets work together to create projects that give Uganda villagers their basic human needs…food, shelter, and medicine.

WORK....WORK...WORK....

As you all know I have been complaining that I am not busy enough…well as the old saying goes “ask and you shall receive”. I am now extremely busy…just the way I like it!
I have been taken on as an intern in the commissioner’s office at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). It is very interesting, so far and when I applied the chairperson asked me what exactly I wanted to do. I explained to her that I was new to Uganda, my program of study, and that I just wanted to learn about what they do and how they do it. On my first day they informed me that I would be on rotation every month. They have 6 departments for divisions, so to speak, and I will spend one month in every one. This month I am under the chairperson preparing for, none other than, CHOGM and I heard a rumor that next month I will be with the investigations team! How exciting!! That means when a human rights violation is reported I will go with the team to investigate!!
I started last week and I am now working on a packet about public demonstrations and riots. In Uganda the culture of peaceful demonstration is not common and all kinds of rallies usually turn into or start off as violent. My job is to gather information, improve the documents they have already, internationalize the Uganda documents so the Ugandan police and civilians can be taught how to peacefully express themselves in demonstration.
I love that I am able to get an internship here and get experience, so I can finally get working knowledge and put this education of mine into practice; recognized practice.

A few Pictures

A view of Kampala

My alternatives to Violence training group

And...Matoke still wrapped in the banana leaves it was steamed in.

CHOGM

I’m so impressed with those of you who are reading and posting notes on my blog! I guess I wont allow a whole week (or more) to post a blog!!

I am not sure if it has hit the media in Canada or the U.S.A yet, but in November there is a “HUGE” meeting here in Kampala. They are calling it CHOGM-short for Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting and just as it states all the government heads including the Queen will be in Kampala.

You can just imagine…there is a radio announcer that calls Kampala the “Pothole capital of the world” and there are literally potholes that could swallow a small car and I don’t even mean that there is a pothole here and there…NO WAY…you can get a full body workout just from riding in a car.

Now…Uganda is a developing country…one of the main reasons I chose to come here, so the main word is “DEVELOPING” therefore there are things that the government is improving on, but because of the Queen and the heads of governments (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc…) Kampala is getting cleaned up, tourist sites refurbished, potholes filled up (ONLY WHERE CHOGM will pass!), airport made over!!
One could actually trace the route of the Queen by examining the road!

I am not an expert, but I see a common theme and have actually heard Uganda’s commenting, so many share my next observation. When they fix things here its NOT a long term fix…I guess it’s cheaper to “patch” things up and then have it ruined after one big rain. When they fix the potholes or use tarmac (blacktop) they don’t use enough and then the problem resurfaces within a month. Do they not realize they are really spending more money in the long run?

Here is a better example. Makerere University had built a HUGE fence (I think it was made of cement bricks), so they hire a company that spends 2 billion shillings (I think that is 1 million USD) and after a month guess what happened after the rainstorm?
Yes! Humpty Dumpy had a great fall! But the people who were contracted probably got their money.

I even went to a school that Rotary is considering helping to fix up and the classroom floors were full of holes…they just don’t put enough cement on the floor…if they could stop skimming then they wouldn’t have to fix it or beg for help every 6 months…

Now, it’s easy for me to comment, but I can understand that the school can’t afford it, but the government? Come on…and to spend all this money on CHOGM…for who? some of the richest people in the world? Damn…let the government heads see how bad it really is and then maybe governments like Canada could team up with local organization and teach them how to fix things…the right way.

And one more little chestnut! They have spent, god only knows how much, on spraying for Malaria mosquitoes…. WHY? So the rich, anti-malaria affording government officials wont get bitten? What about the little children in the villages who do not even have SHELTER or EDUCATION? Government does NOT spray for them-the ones who need it the most.

One of the most comical and famous saying in Uganda right now is

“ ARE YOU READY FOR CHOGM?”


I am curious to see the commotion of this whole ordeal, but I think I will have to stay away from the city center…I am sure I will be shocked at the amount of security around Kampala at that time…and now, who knows I might just feel like I’m at home on base!!!
Maybe I can get out a picked sign and protest….or even better be one of those annoying people standing behind the reporters waving to you all at home!!

I'm getting busier....

Now…I’m finally getting busy☺

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes…this was a pretty nice birthday. I received messages from multi-countries, packages, e-mails, a whole wack of facebook greetings, and even a long distance birthday cake (from my honey). Thank-you ALL, you really made my day.

I don’t want to pick favorites…BUT….Josh’s present was the BEST! He purchased his air ticket and is coming to see me from Dec 17th till January 2nd…can you imagine having never travelled abroad and you go half way around the globe to the developing world…wow I am impressed, excited, and counting the days!

My teacher asked me in class the other day if I could explain to the class what a blog is, so I did and gave my classmates this site. I am proud to welcome them and enjoy their comments about my stay here in Uganda.

This week is Makerere University graduation and my Ugandan sister, Brenda, is graduating from medical school! That means we have no school Thursday and Friday. Leaving a little time for me to go Kampala exploring. (Monday’s blog will be full)

Tuesday night I went out to dinner with my new friend Kate. Kate is also in my class and she is from Kansas. We went to a restaurant called Pavement Tandori (Indian) and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Kampala has a large Indian population and there are several Indian restaurants all over the city. For those of us Canadians I think we get the wrong impression of my types of food. I remember before I went to China, I kept thinking about the food and when I got there the food was NOTHING like it was in Canada. Therefore, all of you who THINK you don’t like a certain kind of “ethnic” food-if you ever travel to country TRY and TRY and TRY again the different restaurants because I can bet you will not be disappointed.

Then last night (Wednesday) class finished early and a bunch of girls went out; Kate, myself, Marleen from Holland, Elle –another ambassadorial scholar from U.S.A., and Kerry from California (she is interning in Kampala and also Kate’s roommate). We went to an Ethiopian restaurant and I was extremely impressed. As many of you know I love food, but Josh can vouch for me that I only justify spending money for going out if the food is interesting enough that I CAN”T cook myself.
Anyway, it was an absolute blast. We laughed and acted completely silly and talked about everything. I think the evening was a dose of medicine that we all needed. I wont divulge too much, but I think our waitress thought we were NUTS!
For those of you who have never eaten Ethiopian food you should give it a try. I am sure it varies from restaurant to restaurant, but you eat with your hands!! (RIGHT HAND ONLY…because the left hand is reserved for “dirty” things) You will get a large piece of bread that looks similar to a crepe (injera) and it is comes on what looks like a large pizza pan. On the bread will be 3-4or 5 piles of sauces or veggies dishes. For mine I believe one pile was shredded potatoes, a bean dish, and a beef curry or beef in a mild sauce, and then you can order other dishes that you spoon onto the bread. You then pick off pieces of the bread and dip it into the sauces and enjoy!
It was so incredibly tasty and fun to eat. As it got later it got darker and because we were sitting outside near the end I could hardly see what I was eating. We all shared all the dishes and there was not one thing that tasted “funny or weird” to me.

I highly recommend you all to get out the yellow pages and go for Ethiopian food!