Life-Uganda Style!

Hi everyone,

Just a few updates…
Update 1:
I am still staying with Tusu and his family and it is very lovely, but as of Saturday I will be staying in my new flat (a.k.a. apartment). It is very open and comfortable. It has two small bedrooms, one of which I will use as an office/closet/storage/research room! There is a big living room, a kitchen with a nice size walk in pantry and of course a bathroom. NOW…I am very appreciative of my scholarship; however, those of us who chose developing countries to study in are faced with a bit of a disadvantage. My apartment comes with absolutely nothing. I have to buy a small fridge, things to cook with (but because electricity is expensive, I should stick with a small toaster over or cook with gas), a hot water heater (that special little chestnut that heats the water as it comes out of the tap-and please do not think because I am in Africa it is HOT…NO…it is not hot. It is warm during the day, from 11-4, and then it gets cool again. At night, when I go to bed, I sleep with a comforter! Then I have to buy a bed, a mattress, sheets, utensils, a desk, light bulbs, curtains, (so every little child in the area who sees that there is a Muzungu living in the area is not watching me sleep and study). Just a lot of things to purchase, it is costly and time consuming.
Anyway, my apartment is on the second floor and I have a nice view out of the front door. I guess we could call it an open-air apartment, because at home when you walk out of the apartment you would be in the hallway. Here when I open my front door I am outside on a balcony of sorts. (I will take pictures later when I actually have furniture). AND, the outside is painted a bright orange color! It is actually brand new and has just been built. It is located near a tourist site, Kasubi Tombs; it is the burial site of the ancient kings. The area seems quiet and hopefully I won’t be woken at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 am by the neighbor’s lovely roosters!

Update 2:
I have the joy of announcing that I have received my first African hospital visit-including blood test. WOW…I’ve only been here 2 weeks! I will let you know my predicament…when you visit someone’s home they will cook for you. It is very generous and kind, but not everyone realizes that my little system is not used to everything here YET. Water has to be boiled and food has to be carefully prepared…at least for a little while, so I can adapt. Anyway, I went to the countryside to view a potential Rotary project and afterwards we go to a local families home where they have prepared a feast for us. I ask myself…SHOULD I BE RUDE AND NOT ACCEPT THE FOOD…FOREVER BEING THE RUDE CANADIAN THAT WOULDN’T ACCEPT THE ACT OF KINDNESS OR DO I GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT, ENJOY, AND RISK GETTING VERY ILL FOR –I ESTIMATE A GOOD 5-7 DAYS???

Well as an ambassador of goodwill and just plain “JENNY” style…I accepted-gratefully. It is now Thursday and I am still hurting…the doctor ruled out Malaria and Typhoid and told me it was a simple bacterial infection, gave me 4 kinds of medicine, and sent me on my way! I love it!! Love it…

Update 3:

Classes have begun! I guess I have been spoiled by western ways because in Canada and the U.S.A. when one is in a classroom there is silence…presumably, so the students can focus and I guess HEAR THE TEACHER!
Here in Uganda you see, it’s a TAD different…the teacher has to compete with roosters, car alarms, torrential downpours, car horns, taxi horns, motorcycles, screaming students, birds, birds, birds, and how about a few more birds.

Lets turn this into a math equation…

NOISE X 50 (sources) + Ugandan accent = Muzungu without a CLUE

I have WIRELESS @ school!

If anyone wants to chat online we can do so from 10 am to 2pm your time... that is 5-9 my time...On M-Tues-Wed and Fridays.

I ask you...how fresh is your meat?

Look closely...they are still alive:)

A few pictures...

FINALLY! I can upload pictures!

Hello:) I found out that the size of the pictures are too large..I will shrink up many pictures this weekend and show you more.

MISS YOU ALL VERY MUCH:'(

There is a first for everything!

I have never seen it with my eyes, nor have I ever heard of it, but I have found culture that refrains from polluting its lungs with cancer causing tars! Ugandans do not smoke! I have not seen one cigarette butt on the ground, an ashtray, cigarette vendors, or one single Ugandan smoking. I have seen TWO individuals puffing, but guess what? THEY were MUZUNGU’S! (Foreign).

I actually talked to Tusu about it this evening and he told me that it is now illegial to smoke in public places. He said years ago it was more common for people to smoke, but it has faded out. I am not one that enjoys going to bars, but apparently it is more common to see people smoking at night.

No Smokey smell, no disgusting cigarette pollution, no hacking, no coughing when walking through a crowd…hummm could I get used to this?

Could North American learn a thing or two from Uganda?

Uganda and Marriage!

In the morning when I leave Tusu’s home I take a short cut to the main road. Along this short cut I seem to have acquired a group of, perhaps I could call them followers! These little children range from the ages of 3 to 10. They have huge smiles on there face and loud, carrying little voices. They scream “Hello! Muzungu! How are you? Where are you going? See you, Muzungu!” Now, heaven forbid I forget to say hi to one of them or not see another off in the distance, they say hello over and over again!

This morning, someone even asked me “Hello Muzungu, where is your mother?”


I have begun to notice some similarities among Ugandan life and married life! (I think my Ugandan friends will find this comical!)

Life in Uganda, so far, seems quite relaxed…things happen on African time. (As I mentioned earlier…that means tomorrow, the next day, something like that, maybe!)
As you all know by now, I have been anxiously awaiting to move into my Ugandan home…and I keep asking people if they know of any self contained flats, apartments or houses. Many people eagerly respond and tell me that they will call me tomorrow with news…I am still waiting...this is not only with the apartment hunting, its with school too…but I am completely fine with it because when I miss a “deadline” I am going to say oh, I promise, it will come tomorrow!!

NOW---how is this like marriage? Laundry, dishes, dinner, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, getting the mail, groceries, etc…The answer is the same “later”…but guess what? It never happens!!!!!