My plans for Christmas weren’t much like the plans I usually make, as to be expected. The plans were: go out Christmas Eve until daylight, then church, then eat and relax all day. We ended up not going out (which is OK--I was feeling grandma lazy), went to church for three hours, ate with the pastor (duck, YUM!) and drank for the rest of the afternoon. The plans were to also go out Christmas night, but Immy and I were feeling the effects of the coffee-flavored Waragi packets that we had been sucking down all day, so we called it a night. Her sisters, however, did go out and we didn’t see them again until six the next morning. Bravo! As a Christmas gift to the family, I bought a chicken (whom I named, dressed up with a ribbon and bonded with during the ride to Immaculate’s home. I’m sure she’s been slotted for New Years Day dinner...I’ll miss you Henrietta...) PICTURES:
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| Henrietta, flaunting her fabulous feathers one last time... |
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| Immy and her Mama getting down |
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| Immaculate and I--I was clearly ready for this photo.... |
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| Immaculates father (in chair) and one of Immy's aunties |
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| Me, enjoying chapatti and duck, while Irene, the eldest daughter, looks on |
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| Immy DJed while Irene led the neighbor kids in a dance |
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| I came home to this one day and just thought it was too adorable; Shamila, hanging out in the laundry, while her Mama looks on |
Since I’ve been back, I’ve been sprucing up my place and re-arranging. I made room for my sofa (so now my guests have a cushier place to sit than my blue garden chairs) and a bookcase that is on the way. After visiting Liz’s place in Lira, and realizing that her two rooms are the same as mine, I decided that I wasn’t utilizing my room properly. (Webele oku-inspriation, Liz!)
I’ve been meaning to dive right back into work and start lesson planning, but I tend to find other things that fill my days before I get down to it. In other words, I’m procrastinating. That said, as I was weeding my walkway and trimming my bushes, I noticed my neighbors were running to see what was happening at the trading center. A lot of excited words in Lusoga were exchanged, and there was some laughter. I had to ask what was going on. Turns out some guys dressed up like people from the electric company and were somehow stealing wires. Well, the Wanyange folk put the kibosh on that--luckily police were called before anyone was
burned alive. One suspected thief was caught, and the other two escaped.
And lastly, it’s the dry season. I think. It hasn’t rained in like, a week so I’m assuming this is really it. It’s hot. It’s not hot like Wisconsin in the summer (especially this past one, 112? Sorry guys,) but it’s just hot. All. The. Time. There’s no air conditioning in buildings or taxis (or my house) so it’s like there’s no escape. I think the heat is giving me weird dreams. But, as we say sometimes, TIWA (This is what? Africa). So I’ve switched from using my blanket to sleeping near naked and waking in a pool of my own sweat. And yes, I could buy a fan (and surprisingly power has been stable for a week, so it would be a worthwhile purchase) but because I splurged on the sofa and the bookcase in progress, I think I have to wait until next month for another big purchase.
Post Script--for all of you who are sending me super exciting gifts, they have not yet arrived. But no worries! Things are just going mpola mpola and I’m sure that Kampala was hit hard by Christmas gifts from everywhere in the world to the expats serving here. They’re coming, and I’ll tell you when I get them! (Thanks in advance!)
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