The Pursuit Progresses

Do you remember my serious marriage proposal? I thought things were over but a few weeks after I thought it was over Tony (that's his name) came over to my house. He brought me a wall hanging painting he made for me titled: Work in a changing society. We had an awkward conversation where I tried to refuse but ended up taking it. Then he disappeared for a few weeks. When he surfaced again he brought me a vase he decoupage with my favorite colors. Again, an awkward conversation that resulted in me taking the gift.

I had a herb and few vegetables garden on the side of my house. However, I let it get overgrown and weedy and hadn't made the time to fix it. I was away for the last 2 weeks and upon my return I found the area hoed and beautiful flowers were planted. Tony planted a flower garden for me.

I asked my friends Jen and Annet what I was supposed to do. Jen told me to just appreciate and not worry about anything. I've made myself clear and now I cannot be held responsible for his actions. I never thought I'd be pursued so intently by a man in Uganda. My expectations are always changing in this country.

My little friend Maggie

My good friend Gertrude is the secretary of the school I live at. She has 4 wonderful children and I am close with their family. The youngest is 7 month old *(Lugandan name I forget) Margret Amanda. Maggie, as they call her, and I have been friends since birth where I visited her in the hospital.

Most babies and young children in Uganda are terrified of white people and usually scream bloody murder when you look at them. This may partly be due to the fact that their parents scare them by telling them we are ghosts with our white skin or by saying, "If you don't behave the mzungu (white person) is going to eat you." Because I have known Maggie since she was a day old and I see her on a daily basis, she has never been afraid of me. She is even at the point where she recognizes me and her gladdness shows on her face when I come near.

We are now on school break and Gertrude has not been around with Maggie. Last week she stopped by for the first time in several weeks and I was so excited to see Maggie. Maggie, on the other hand, was terrified of me and began to cry when I came near. I was heartbroken. This week Gertrude came by once again with Maggie and this time Maggie began kicking her legs, smiling, and holding her arms out for me to hold her. Gertrude says she had just woken up from a nap the time before and she was too groggy. Now, she knows and wants me once again. Life is good.

Auntie Nalu

In Buganda everyone has a name and that name is attached to a clan. My Kigandan name is Nalubega. I am part of the Ngabi (antelope) clan which means I can't eat antilope. You also cannot marry within your own clan. Ugandans love when you have a traditional name and when you know the history of your name. Knowing your clan, who the head of your clan is and the names of others in your clan is essential for connecting with other Bugandans or many Africans.

Several people in my community call me by my Kigandan name only. They don't even know my name is Amanda. The other morning I got in a taxi very early to go to a meeting in Kampala. Usually the taxi's fill up before they leave but this time the conductor got in and shut the door and we took off. I was the only one in the taxi besides the driver and the conductor. At first I got really nervous. We've been advised to never get in an empty taxi because it can lead to danger. I was about to ask to be let out when the conductor turned to me and said, "Aunti Nalu (short for Nalubega), wasuze otya?" Meaning: Aunti Nalu, good morning how are you? We then continued through the long morning greeting process and I knew I was safe. We continued to pick up other passengers along the way until we were full and then headed into the city.

There is safety when people know who you are. There is also safety is identifying with others using their native language. This driver and conductor loved that I could greet them. They knew me and were going to get me safely to my destination.

PICTURE OF A TAXI GOING AROUND LOOKING FOR PASSENGERS

World Malaria Day 2010

We marked World Malaria Day 2010 last week on Sunday the 25th of April. Leading up to the event we encountered many problems: corruption with the police, saving face (lying) of members within out own organization, and cancellation of organizations who were supposed to work with us. We were all a little nervous for the day as it looked like it was going to be a disaster.

Sunday came and we met at the hospital to begin our march. We'd announced this event for the past week over the public address systems (Voice of Gayaza, Voice of Kasangati), radio announcements announced in mosques and churches and talked it up all over the community. When we got there the only people there was our staff and 2 PCV friends of mine. Our march was small and pitiful. We tried to stay optimistic but when we arrived at the field we also found it empty of anyone besides our staff. Slowly people started to trickle in and we started.

We had speeches, prayers, national and tribal anthems sung, more speeches, a drama, an education seminar and many more speeches. By the end, we had around 400 people present and sold 690 treated mosquito nets. It was a big success. The Distric Health Office, a female Member of Parliment and a Bugandan princess all came to our event.

African time gets me every time. I honestly thought people would be there from the beginning but that's just not how it works here. Give them time and they'll come but never expect anyone on time.

DESCRIBING THE MALARIA PROCESS


A VISUAL-AIDS USED TO TEACH ABOUT MALARIA


STANDING IN LINE TO BUY A TREATED MOSQUITO NET

Rain Proofing My House

I live in a house with tin sheets for a roof. These tin sheets make day time insufferably hot with the sun blazing down on them. They also make the nights loud and unsleepable during rain. For the most part it is the loud factor that keeps me awake. However, there is also the dripping factor. My tin sheets have holes in them. I have patched them, or had others patch them, several times over the last year. The birds continue to pick at these holes making them holes again and the elements, rain, wind, and sun also contribute to the resurfacing of these holes.

I have now changed tactics and simple rain proof the inside. As you see in the picture that follows, I leave an umbrella upside down on top of my mosquito net. In the mornings I simple dump the water it catches outside and thus, I have solved the problem of being awoken by rain drops.

Only in Peace Corps. Only in Peace Corps...

Corruption

I've been busy planning World Malaria Day over the last several weeks. World Malaria Day in this Sunday the 25th of April. I'm working with a local CBO (Community Based Organization) and we've invited other organziations to partner with us in making a health fair focused on malaria at the local football field. We're going to have an awareness march from the local hospital to the football field and then a program and fair.

There has been a lot of busy work taking invitations out, finding organizations who have resources we need and covering all our bases as far as protocol is concerned. Since we are having a march the police need to be informed and traffice officers must come with us. Great! When we went to the police to tell them of our event they had no problems and as we were leaving, mentioned how we'd have to be sure to provide lunch and a little "something" for the officers who would be working with us that day. Now, in the States you are paid for your job and you do it. In Uganda you are paid for your job, you don't always do it and if you do you still expect some bribary. We really have to bribe the police to do their job? I told our group we should just not have them. Everyone was horrified and informed me that if we didn't they would then arrest us for having an illegal event and we'd pay a much bigger fine then simply giving them, "a little something."

If you want to get anything done, you have to accept corruption. At least to some degree. And so, the cycle of corruption continues.

Sickness

I've been really sick for the last few weeks. I've had incredibly intense stomach pains. I haven't had any other symptoms which made a diagnosis hard. I went to PC medical and they sent me to the "western" hospital where I saw a Ugandan doctor. He diagnosed me originally with ulcers and then secondly with an excess acid problem in the stomach. This didn't seem right to me. Ulcers seem like the typical diagnosis for Ugandans when dealing with stomach pain. So I went on the no acidic, no oils/fats diet and took medication just in case. Nothing happened. I was still in pain. I wasn't sleeping because the pain was so great especially in the night. Annet told me I looked like a 90 year old woman - dark circles under my eyes, stooped over in pain all the time and ashen skin.

I went back to the doctor on Friday. This time I saw the British tropical disease specialist and it was discovered that I have an acute case of amoebas! I never thought I'd be so happy to have amoebas. I'm just relieved to have a tangible diagnosis and something so clear that can be treated.

This morning when I got up Annet told me my face was beautiful again and I must be getting better. In truth I felt great. I thought for sure I'd had an overnight miracle with the one night of treatment. However, a little bit later, I was doubled over in pain again. It's hard core medication and then a slow recovery. Only these days of medicine and time will heal. But again, I'm just so happy to know I have amoebas!