It has been a busy couple of weeks. We are in the middle of our sixth week of training. The previous week we all traveled to various places in Uganda to visit current Peace Corp volunteers (PCV). I traveled with another trainee, Courtney, to a small village outside of Masaka. We both ventured into the sea of taxis in Kampala's taxi park. At first sight it appears as one big chaotic mess. There are hundreds of taxis bumper to bumper, so close one can hardly squeeze between the vehicles. There are hundreds of people coming up selling and shouting things, and the drivers themselves believe that the more they shout their destination the more likely you are to go with them. Amidst all of this are tiny obscure sign posts which are impossible to see above the beeping taxis. It is definitely a high stimulus area. Our two hour trip to Masaka was nice along with meeting our PCV hosts both economic developers around my age. We grabbed some matooke and then proceeded to load into a small, run down old Corola. The two PCVs, a rather large Ugandan lady, and I in the back. Courtney, the driver, and another rather large Ugandan lady in the front. We picked our way down a pot hole ridden rode, and were soon flagged down by a local police. The driver proceed to get out shake hands and on we went. I found out the during the shake the driver handed the police officer the customary bribe to pass. No wonder the ride cost us 5000 Ush.A few minutes later out of sight from the police officer we pulled over yet again to add another lady in the back, and a pastor in the front. I was on the floor, which the kind Ugandan lady next to me kept trying to change by cupping my behind and attempting to pull me upon the seat. Courtney was straddling the gear shift as the driver gingerly shifted. I am still clueless as to how the driver could even drive, especially considering the state of the road. We bottomed out numerous times which generated a great deal of heat on the floor upon which I was seated. The most uncomfortable part about the trip was the fact that they keep the windows closed to prevent dust from entering. But this is what the taxi drivers are forced to do because the tax imposed upon them by the police costs them a pretty penny. That was our first taste into the corruption in Kiwangala.
Both PCVs are economic developers. One of the PCVs lives in the middle of an orphanage compound of children who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and are themselves infected. His boss is also extremely corrupt and has been embezzling the money that Mark gained from sponsors. He also beats the children so badly that even the corrupt police officers have to come and put a stop to it. The people in the community are afraid to go up against his supervisor whom is quite powerful within the community. On a brighter note the other PCV works in a computer lab (with one working computer) at the local school which teaches the orphaned children. He also started a coop farm which is now doing so well that they hope to harvest the crops for the children at the school so they can eat during the day. Currently, only on Fridays, do they receive a meal of porridge. The rest of the week they live off of sugarcane. Such are the realities I too may face. I have yet to find out my specific site but within the next few weeks I should know. Corruption here is blatant and rampant, and the effects are seen immediately. Although caning is illegal it is a common practice. I do not know how I shall handle that yet either at my site. I learned a great deal. I am not discouraged by any of this. There are cruel, corrupt people everywhere in the world. The challenge is how to help and fix the problems they create. How to combat the damage that has been done without playing into their games. I suppose Obama must do the same thing each day except on a much larger scale.
Our ride back was also very eventful! Our bus overheated and generated a small fire. The driver calmly pulled over opened the hatch, allowed the heat and smoke to escape, closed the hatch and on we went. We pulled over every 10 minutes to repeat the process and attempted to gain as much momentum as possible down the hills in order to make it up over the next one. Thats a normal travel experience I gather. And yet all the people on the bus were laughing at the predicament. I can only imagine what the bus would have been like had they all been Americans.
On Monday I taught Chemistry in another local private school. This school had a great deal more funding then the one I had previously visited, and had about 600 students. The students were wonderful. They are so curious and happy. Tomorrow we visit our first government funded school. It will be interesting to compare the two with one another.
My rat has become a much more quiet roommate and now no longer runs atop my mosquito net to peer at me at night. I think him and I have come to a mutual understanding. I do however think I may have bed bugs. I try to keep their population in check by ironing my sheets every night, but I may have to soon spray the bed frame. We shall see. Other than that I am healthy. Some other PCV's have been quite sick, one got a parasite already so I feel very fortunate. One odd thing though. I went to pop this blister that appeared on the bottom of my big toe. Much to my surprise this was no typical blister fluid, instead small white eggs I suppose, leaked out from the bubble. It was pretty cool, although it would have been much cooler on another foot beside my own. I'm not so sure what exactly laid their prescious offspring but I believe I got rid of them all.
This past weekend we visited the Kusombi tombs, the national museum, and went to the close of service party in Kampala for the other PCVs. There are some remarkable people over here. I have so much to learn.
My host family is still trying to fatten me up. I have grown very close to my host sister Lillian who is about my age. I feel so fortunate to have her to talk to. I will miss here when I leave for my site. The father has recovered from his stroke and has returned back to work. He leaves for two week intervals comes back for a day and is off again. The mother has since take up the bottle. I learned today that Uganda has the highest per capita of alcohol consumption that any other country in the world. 17.6 Liters per person are consumed each year. They are a very indirect culture so much of this is not discussed and ignored. So far upon me being here one of their aunts has died from rabies, an uncle from a heart attack and two friends from unknown causes. Death is apart of life as it is everywhere but so much more pronounced and unexpected here.
Thank you all for the packages. It was probably the best Christmas ever! Thank you all for your support and encouragement! I feel so very fortunate to have you all in my life. I miss you all and hope everything is going well back in the States. Keep me updated with your lives, and the current economic and political status in the US. Much is lost in translation here in Uganda. Mostly all that is broad casted are a lot of really terrible Spanish soap operas.
I will write as soon as I get another chance. We are however in rainy season right now and the electricity goes out as soon as it begins to rain, adding to the Internet challenge.
Tomorrow we were invited to the US ambassador of Uganda's house in Kampala to go swimming. A nice change from the pit latrines!
Lots of love and missin you all:)
Love always
Amy
i know i don't really know you, but i feel like i know you in this post.
ReplyDeletewill be calling soon!