Recent headline in Ugandan newspaper:
“Ugandan accused of conning American lover out of sh200m” Interesting... in a completely unrelated note...
Based on facebook updates and pictures, I gather it’s getting a bit chilly there in Wisconsin. Bundle up! Meanwhile, in Uganda, it’s blazing hot. I’ve permanently removed my blanket from my bed, since I realized that even having it at the foot of my bed makes me so uncomfortable I can’t sleep. As I write this, the backs of my knees are sweating, and it’s almost 7 PM. I did the unspeakable last night and slept with my window cracked. Gasp! I won’t have trouble sleeping much longer, as it’s supervision month! WOOT! My days start promptly at eight and end at about five-ish, and by the time I get home, I’m wiped.
For the past two weeks, our students have been “scheming,” which means they’ve been writing “schemes of work,” which are rough lesson plans for the next four weeks. My job has been to be in the library, which was nice but strangely boring all at the same time. During this library time all to myself, I sang many songs out of the music book (the students must think I’m nuts, I really like the acoustics in the library--it makes me think I sound good), started studying the GRE, finished a sample learning aid (that I’ve sadly been working on for like, two and a half terms), and putzing around on the internet. I have been helpful, here and there, when students would pop in and request things.
It’s been a tradition that during school practice, I fall and sprain my ankle. I’m two for two--my first at Bugembe Blue and my second one at MM Wanyange. I’m really hoping it doesn’t happen this term, but I won’t be surprised when it does happen. I think I’ll carry my ankle wrap with me just in case. Perhaps a full med kit.
When I wasn’t working on that, I’ve been working with Maggie on our Little Libraries project. Have I mentioned this project? Maggie, a Peace Corps volunteer in Iganga (who is ALSO from Wisconsin) and I are putting in Little Libraries at three schools, each. Over term two, we’ve been collecting books. Again, a BIG thank you to Ashley Ludowissi, Siobhan and Kay McAlpin (LOVE YOU GUYS!) for collecting and shipping books. Maggie and I spent a very sunny Wednesday last week running around to the hardware store, carpenter, and stamp-maker. We’re nervously waiting our test-library to see how it turned out. We get to see the prototype on Wednesday of this week...cross your fingers!
The weekend before that, it was an East-side welcome weekend for the new group of volunteers. I was so excited to go swimming, and finally let my thighs out to get some sun. After the seemingly never-ending taxi trip from Iganga to Mbale, we arrive to the beginnings of a storm. :( I was so bummed. We did manage to get into some mischief that evening, as usual, but nothing could cheer me up over missing swimming. Luckily, the sun has returned to Uganda all out, and I got my sun yesterday. Miscalculating how affected I would be by the equatorial sun, I foolishly sunbathed without sunscreen on my legs or tummy. I did cover my face and arms, because they get enough sun, as they aren’t always hiding under my clothes. I came away from that day in the sun with a wicked burn on my belly and thighs, but not evenly over. I have what looks almost like body paint pink on the front and back, but the sides are peculiarly white. It reminded me of the Friends episode where Ross just can’t figure out the spray-tan machine. If I try to even this out, I’ll come out freakier than how I look now. Oh well, I’ll be the only one seeing my sun-burnt belly for the foreseeable future.
There’s no way to segue into this next story, but it’s silly and I have to share it. I was at Maggie’s, in Iganga, before heading to the East-side meet-up. Maggie has a good little plot of grass at her place, and her neighbors bring their cows to graze there. It’s nice for her, because then she doesn’t have to slash as often. Or rather, she doesn’t have to find someone to slash, as often. On this particular Saturday, a brown cow with nearly foot-long horns was tied up near her bushes. I met her on the journey from Maggie’s back door to the bathing area. The rope on this cow was long enough for her to stand right in front of the door. I was wearing nothing but Maggie’s pink and black leisu (piece of fabric to wrap oneself in) and carrying a big basin of water, feeling very vulnerable. As I approached the door, the cow trotted as far as she could go to block the door. What the hell. I just stood there for a minute, gauging the cow’s temper. I can’t really read animal behavior, so I had no idea if the cow was mad or curious or just being random as to where she was standing. I tried to get closer, but the cow looked perturbed, and took interest in the basin of water. Oh, I thought, the cow is just thirsty. Of course, this is Africa. Hell, I’m thirsty. I went inside and got the cow her own basin of water. I brought it out, and placed in in the shade within the reach of the cow. She trotted over to it with curiosity, and I went back to fetch my own basin. As I went back to the bathing area, so did the cow. “What do you WANT?!” I whined, impatient, a thin fabric keeping my nakedness from the world and still very aware of the weapons on the cow’s head. Immy had told me a story once about someone who was gored by an annoyed cow. I did not want to disturb this cow. I crept closer, closer, and then tip-toed my way around the cow, but I did not escape the cow’s tongue. She sniffed my arm and then took three laps of my bathwater, even though I had given her her own. Maybe she prefers to drink warm water. Whatever, I thought, I’m still bathing with this! I finally got in the bathing area and washed myself. When I had finished, I still had a good amount of water left. “Here!” I said, putting the basin down for the cow to finish. She took two more laps of water, and then sniffed my arm. And then licked my arm. Then she trotted back over the the shade. I don’t think I understand cows.
For tonight, that’s all folks! I’ll update as life happens. And I’ll leave you with something that made me think about my Peace Corps experience:
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” - Robert Brault
