5:45 rang the alarm and Nelson led me swiftly down the path to the 7 am Kampala bus, to the capital city. No prolonged goodbyes, which is probably best.
Big love for Bwera. I am sure to return.
Should have saved those souvenir purchases for the end of the trip... too much in the bags!
8 hours in one bus seat (no water), and once in a while I would wonder why the bus was stopped... Then I'd look out to see a majority of the men easing themselves - "a short call", as it's known in Uganda. Women are so good at planning for themselves. We all made it without one stop. Most men needed three!
Civilization is activity, water, lights, a sealed room, and a sense of traveller's freedom, now that my work is done. Rodgers is a trusted man in the transport industry who picked me up from the crazy busy LINK terminal and brought me to the Namirembe Guest House connected, through a Protestant mission, to Mengo Hospital, in the same-named neighborhood, just south of the city centre.
E-bola has apparently erupted. I shall avoid shaking hands as I head for a cappucino in the morning.
with love and clean feet, from Jen.
Tuesday 31 July 2012
The Sabbath Day
A day of rest is needed today, after a celebration last night and a fair bit of everything local (or from Congo). The rats kept at it longer than we did, so today must leave time for rest.
Nelson took me vie motorbike to Lake Edward, where we saw the fish mongers and their three part netting system: water bottles for flotation, the nets themselves, and rocks to take down the bottom edge.
This is a very prickly tree, eaten only by elephants.
These are skeletal clippings of the tree above.
At the school for wildlife conservation where Nelson studied, there were some stuffed and brined local specimens that were worth a shot. See here some chicken-like birds, a large lizard, some horns and various preserved worms/snakes.
Oh, yeah - here are the poisonous python (black) and the cobra that squeezes its prey.
Best of all was the triumphant arrival of Robert at about 4:00 this afternoon. I thought he had a day off, as he was up and out early this morning. It turns out that Robert had set off on a 43 km trip to fetch a chicken for our dinner. He brought home the beautiful, black feathered bird, plucked and butchered it (with the help of Ruth), and then brought the jerry can to me and waited for me to pour for him washing hands. Pouring his water was an honour. He was so dedicated and so tired.
Tonight's chicken was the most delicious, rich, juicy, tasteful and blessed meal of my life. Every bit of the bird got cooked, and with light by one flame, I was not sure what exactly I ate, but with the tapioc, I ate and ate and ate. It moved me to tears, in gratitude for Robert's efforts and that I will leave this beautiful family in the morning. God bless them all.
with chicken juice and love from Auntie
Nelson took me vie motorbike to Lake Edward, where we saw the fish mongers and their three part netting system: water bottles for flotation, the nets themselves, and rocks to take down the bottom edge.
This is a very prickly tree, eaten only by elephants.
These are skeletal clippings of the tree above.
At the school for wildlife conservation where Nelson studied, there were some stuffed and brined local specimens that were worth a shot. See here some chicken-like birds, a large lizard, some horns and various preserved worms/snakes.
Oh, yeah - here are the poisonous python (black) and the cobra that squeezes its prey.
Best of all was the triumphant arrival of Robert at about 4:00 this afternoon. I thought he had a day off, as he was up and out early this morning. It turns out that Robert had set off on a 43 km trip to fetch a chicken for our dinner. He brought home the beautiful, black feathered bird, plucked and butchered it (with the help of Ruth), and then brought the jerry can to me and waited for me to pour for him washing hands. Pouring his water was an honour. He was so dedicated and so tired.
Tonight's chicken was the most delicious, rich, juicy, tasteful and blessed meal of my life. Every bit of the bird got cooked, and with light by one flame, I was not sure what exactly I ate, but with the tapioc, I ate and ate and ate. It moved me to tears, in gratitude for Robert's efforts and that I will leave this beautiful family in the morning. God bless them all.
with chicken juice and love from Auntie
A red letter day
Our neighborhood trail from the hills of Bwera emerges on a main road into town.
Today, we are shopping at the Bwera town market for two suitcases, two pairs of school shoes, two radios, two paraffin lamps, two sets of bed sheets, a backpack, plywood, wood glue, and 3kg of cassava flour.
Robson is a great help, carrying our items and staying back with me while Robina and Headmaster negotiate without the merchants seeing a muzungu. My absence during negotiations kept prices more realistic. Thank goodness for my local directors!
These students are the ones who will remain at the school for the entire holiday. They really don't have anywhere else to go, even with the system of extended family so inclusive in Africa.
I felt like Mom and Dad on Christmas morning.
Head master, Baluku Robert, is now following Mr. Burnett on Twitter. You remember Nelson's partner - Robina - and sneaking in is Jochanus - so fun, all the time.
This is what life is all about.
with love, from Jen
Today, we are shopping at the Bwera town market for two suitcases, two pairs of school shoes, two radios, two paraffin lamps, two sets of bed sheets, a backpack, plywood, wood glue, and 3kg of cassava flour.
Robson is a great help, carrying our items and staying back with me while Robina and Headmaster negotiate without the merchants seeing a muzungu. My absence during negotiations kept prices more realistic. Thank goodness for my local directors!
These students are the ones who will remain at the school for the entire holiday. They really don't have anywhere else to go, even with the system of extended family so inclusive in Africa.
I felt like Mom and Dad on Christmas morning.
Head master, Baluku Robert, is now following Mr. Burnett on Twitter. You remember Nelson's partner - Robina - and sneaking in is Jochanus - so fun, all the time.
This is what life is all about.
with love, from Jen
Ingenious kids in the hood
This is our kitchen.
Here is Robert making the magic happen.
Poking and running, sucking, squealing, and grunting are Nellie and his little bud.
Irene is also part of the neighborhood gang. She earned money from me as a plastic washer.
Remember the up-cycled bottle cap box? Shop class at BVSS was a blast today, as we figured out how to construct the lid.
With a modest cap collection,
some wire, cutters, a hammer and one small nail,
(left to right) musicians, head master, and students worked together for about three hours straight, until the job was done.
Good fun, teamwork, and human ingenuity are the keys to success.
Opening the lid and imagining it as flat, we pictured this:
And Paul did it, cutting a finger and carrying on.
with bottle caps and love from Jen
Here is Robert making the magic happen.
Poking and running, sucking, squealing, and grunting are Nellie and his little bud.
Irene is also part of the neighborhood gang. She earned money from me as a plastic washer.
Remember the up-cycled bottle cap box? Shop class at BVSS was a blast today, as we figured out how to construct the lid.
With a modest cap collection,
some wire, cutters, a hammer and one small nail,
(left to right) musicians, head master, and students worked together for about three hours straight, until the job was done.
Good fun, teamwork, and human ingenuity are the keys to success.
Opening the lid and imagining it as flat, we pictured this:
And Paul did it, cutting a finger and carrying on.
with bottle caps and love from Jen
Digging, music and plarn
Digging,
with a great gang, including Nelson's wife/BVSS teacher, Robina, and Health Prefect, Jochiam.
music,
and plarn.
with a great game of football, and love from Jen
with a great gang, including Nelson's wife/BVSS teacher, Robina, and Health Prefect, Jochiam.
music,
and plarn.
with a great game of football, and love from Jen
School projects
All is well here in Bwera. This morning I went to school with Robina and saw brick making in real time. Joachim (in orange) and Jochanus (below) were pumping them out with vigor!
These guys were caked in mud and quite happy working in it. In fact I really wanted to join in the fun, but instead I got to dig, preparing the gardens with a large hoe, for cabbage and eggplant.
Rodgers and Sharon cleaned plastic and Lazarus, the teacher, did some mat-making. Head master and I tried to get Internet connection with a modem on a hilltop, but to no avail. Will try with some help from an engineer soon, to make a Skype connection before I leave on Sunday.
See this knife?
It is called a panga, and Robert helped me to find one on our shopping date this afternoon. The knife turns out, for $2, to be made in China, but we had it sharpened locally for another 75 cents. Look out, KLM airlines!
Tire-made shoes were made to fit me in the center of town.
I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer!
with love from Jen
These guys were caked in mud and quite happy working in it. In fact I really wanted to join in the fun, but instead I got to dig, preparing the gardens with a large hoe, for cabbage and eggplant.
Rodgers and Sharon cleaned plastic and Lazarus, the teacher, did some mat-making. Head master and I tried to get Internet connection with a modem on a hilltop, but to no avail. Will try with some help from an engineer soon, to make a Skype connection before I leave on Sunday.
See this knife?
It is called a panga, and Robert helped me to find one on our shopping date this afternoon. The knife turns out, for $2, to be made in China, but we had it sharpened locally for another 75 cents. Look out, KLM airlines!
Tire-made shoes were made to fit me in the center of town.
I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer!
with love from Jen
Congo
Bosco warmed us up with his moves this morning!
Tuesdays and Fridays are market days at Uganda's border with Congo. I was especially after the fabrics that come from Congo.
The bridge in the middle of this photo links the two countries over the river they share. People move across the border quite smoothly, aside from the heavy loads they carry.
Yes they have wooden bicycles in Uganda. I have waited weeks to spot one.
This is a wheelchair for a man who is lame. We saw a few of these.
Mahogany timbers:
So many people were moving, carrying, buying, and bargaining. We picked up three big cooking pans for BVSS. They will minimize wood fuel needed for preparing meals at the school. Speaking of fuel, these are jerrycans, used for gas.
This vehicle is a wheelbarrow, so it needs only human muscle for fuel.
Bikes are the best vehicles. Expect to see a seat on the back of mine this fall. All proceeds will come here.
Did you know how much they can carry? (returning to Bwera from Kabale)
Speaking of fuel, an up-cycling project introduced to Head Teacher, Robert was making briquettes from biodegradable waste. This is the first attempt made solely of mulched paper, with help from the kids and a senior student called Sharon.
Nelson's group is COBRA and is aimed at supporting and empowering people who are HIV positive. They keep bees and provide goats for those in greatest need. Tonight was their second of four rehearsals before Friday's concert.
with love from Jen
Tuesdays and Fridays are market days at Uganda's border with Congo. I was especially after the fabrics that come from Congo.
The bridge in the middle of this photo links the two countries over the river they share. People move across the border quite smoothly, aside from the heavy loads they carry.
Yes they have wooden bicycles in Uganda. I have waited weeks to spot one.
This is a wheelchair for a man who is lame. We saw a few of these.
Mahogany timbers:
So many people were moving, carrying, buying, and bargaining. We picked up three big cooking pans for BVSS. They will minimize wood fuel needed for preparing meals at the school. Speaking of fuel, these are jerrycans, used for gas.
This vehicle is a wheelbarrow, so it needs only human muscle for fuel.
Bikes are the best vehicles. Expect to see a seat on the back of mine this fall. All proceeds will come here.
Did you know how much they can carry? (returning to Bwera from Kabale)
Speaking of fuel, an up-cycling project introduced to Head Teacher, Robert was making briquettes from biodegradable waste. This is the first attempt made solely of mulched paper, with help from the kids and a senior student called Sharon.
Nelson's group is COBRA and is aimed at supporting and empowering people who are HIV positive. They keep bees and provide goats for those in greatest need. Tonight was their second of four rehearsals before Friday's concert.
with love from Jen
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