September 25, 2007

It's so much easier to remember all the bad things that have happened, rather than the good. (I'm trying to remember if it was the same in the States or not. I'm thinking yes.) Maybe it's the nature of the event, bad vs. good. And we tend to focus on the bad. Or maybe it's just me. But it's not something I want to get into the habit of. I want to walk away from this experience and be able to recall all the good things. That's not to say that shitty days aren't going to happen. Life doesn't work that way. I know. But there is a lot of good in it, too. Hopefully more good than bad. And a lot of days that just are.


Things I Don't Understand
people who lie/cheat/steal
people who don't believe in modern day medicine
Runyankore/Rukiga

Illnesses
There are many lovely illnesses that a person can experience while here in Uganda. Many of which you wouldn't get to experience in the States unless you tried really hard to. Our training group has suffered more than any of the other recent groups have, according to Anni and Liz. Either way, we're not fairing very well. Between the 21 of us, there have been at least 5 cases of Giardia, 3 cases of food poisoning, 1 case of amoebic dysentery, several jiggers, odd unidentifiable rashes, bites, and bumps, and "upset stomachs". That being said…

Being sick sucks. Being sick in a place where there is no running water sucks big time. You're already feeling miserable. The added stress of not being able to eat the food you want when you want it, or simply sit/kneel by a toilet when you need to does NOT help. I came down with something recently. No clue what it was, though. All I know is that I LOVE modern-day medicine. Cipro, you rock. You are my hero. I don't know who makes you, but they're a great drug company! I don't even care what I had, as long as it's gone.

Unfortunately, some symptoms have remained. And I might have Giardia. I got to send in a stool sample today. Peeing in a cup is easy. I could do it with my eyes closed, using a pit latrine. Poo-ing in a cup, however, is a pain. It takes a long time, for several reasons. I'm sure you can figure them out on your own. Just know that it's not a pleasant experience.

Jinja
Thanks to the miracle that is Cipro, I was able to make it to Jinja last Saturday (22/09) and enjoy myself. And eat pizza! But I'm getting ahead of myself. I woke up before the roosters on Saturday. I was not happy about it, but I did it. And we headed to Jinja and the source of the Nile at the butt crack of dawn (awesome phrase, btw). On our way to the Nile, we stopped to see Sazibwa Falls and Mabira Rainforest. I also managed to witness the slaughtering of a goat from the bus on the ride to the Falls. Apparently Mabira Rainforest is the only rainforest within Uganda. The Falls were pretty. Very waterfall like. But the most important thing is that we got pizza after the hike!!! (Don't judge until you've been in my shoes.) My stomach was very angry with me afterwards, but it was totally worth it. I ate two slices of spicy, chicken pizza and loved every bite of it. The best part of the day trip was definitely the source of the Nile. GORGEOUS. Absolutely breathtaking. And not as crowded as I thought it would be. There were definitely a lot of other mzungus there. And a really cute senior citizen group tour was there at the same time as us.

September 28, 2007

I leave for my "Future Site Visit" next Tuesday!!! I'm super-excited and super-nervous at the same time. We get back Saturday night, have one more week of full-on training, take our final LPI Monday, the 15th, and then head off for K'la for our swearing in on the 18th. Everything is happening really fast right now, but at the same time, couldn't happen fast enough. I'm SO ready to be out in the field working and living life like a "normal" person.

I woke up this morning not feeling like a real human being. I think it's a combination of constantly being stared at like a freak of nature (which I am, but that's not the point), told when to eat, sleep, and go to class, and called mzungu/mchina/Japan/India/etc on a daily basis. Yes, I am referred to as entire countries on occasion. It's actually kind of amusing. Sometimes.

I Could've Been a Ballerina
I am so graceful, it pains me. Every morning I rinse out my bucket with water, either from a jerry-can (sp?) or the large tin drum out front. On this particular morning, I used a jerry-can. It always amazes me how little children and women, people in general, can carry more than one jerry-can at a time. They are HEAVY. To clean out my bucket, I simply had to carry the jerry-can a whole 3 ft. outside. I, being the graceful person that I am, managed to trip on my own feet, and then over a piece of wood, while trying to carry the water. I managed to spill water all over the floor (luckily the floor's concrete). I think there were a couple of people outside who witnessed this wonderful display of grace and poise. I rock.

September 30, 2007

Ode to the Pup
My puppy died last night. Well, technically, she died this past Tuesday. But I only found out last night. And she also wasn't really a puppy anymore. My pup, Camile, died at the ripe old age of 15. She would have been 16 November 22nd. Or maybe she was 14 turning 15. Either way, she lived a really good, long, happy life. At least, as far as I know she did. She didn't seem to have too many complaints while I was around. And if she did, she didn't say anything to me. I'm sure she would have appreciated more walks and human food. Man could she beg! Cutest face EVER when she begged. Well, she was the bestest dog ever, and I'll really miss her. Just not her stinky, stealthy farts (which she herself walked away from without warning any of us) and sleeping next to her after having been attacked by a skunk.

Things That I Miss
bathing without having to smell the pit latrine
sitting on a toilet while reading a book, or is it reading a book while sitting on a toilet?
a nice, big bowl of cereal with ice cold fat free milk
shorts and a tee/tank top; pants
not being noticed whenever I walk down the street
not being sick
lying around in a park, doing nothing/reading/listening to music
my dog