Today I woke up at 3:55 AM and cooked eggs for me and Barbara, as well as packed my bag and got some Gatorade mixed up for the trip. When we hit the road it was still pitch black out and we needed flashlights at some points to see. We began walking with one of the local boys (Dan) who we agreed to let come and told him we would pay his fees in Mbale and on the matattoo back. When we told him this, he was absolutely ecstatic. Despite Mbale being the only major city around, Dan has never been and would never be able to afford this small trip himself. It would be like some one living in New Jersey and never having gone to the beach. Then we met Abraham (an older student at the program) because we agreed to take him as well. Then we met Moses, our guide for the day and set off. The views were unbelievable as we went through the road that had about a million hills. We walked for what seemed like forever (actually 3 and a half hours) until we reached Pasano. We had tea and biscuits there and then set back off. After passing by about a million kids on the back roads (all of which yelled Mzunga at me), and adults who all called me Rooney because apparently I look like the English soccer player because we are both white with buzz cuts. After 2 and a half more hours we finally reached Mbale. My legs were throbbing but I was happy I did it. Then we went to lunch, ran a couple errands, and Abraham, Dan, and myself took a matattoo home. Dan had never been on a matattoo either and although I think they’re terrible, he had a blast. When we got back Dan sang I went to Mbaleeee for about an hour and then I ate dinner and went to bed. It was a tiring but rewarding day.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Andrew's Journal Day 19
Today was Sunday and pretty relaxed for the most part. When we woke up we ate breakfast and I played Bobby in chess for most of the morning (I went 5-0 against him.) After chess we put fertilizer in the fields to help our struggling tomatoes and cabbage. Then Elena came over and we worked on the math problems together for about an hour and a half. Then we ate dinner and I decided I wanted to go to bed early because I am walking to Mbale with Barbara.
Andrew's Journal Day 18
Today was Saturday so the Children of Peace come on the truck, loaded full of kids. We woke up early to eat breakfast and make it down there before they arrived so we could take pictures of all of them coming in. Once everyone was in they had their assembly where they sing the Uganda and school anthem and Bobby and I sang our anthem. I went and taught soccer with Max and we organized a game against the local kids. We were up 2-0 but ended in a 2-2 tie. I was able to get a lot of good pictures and all the kids loved to just look at the pictures on my screen. It’s unbelievable to see how easily excited they are. One little boy came up to me when I was taking pictures and tried to talk to me but didn’t speak any English. After he realized I didn’t know what he was saying he still just stared. I don’t think he’d ever seen a white person before because after staring for a good 10 minutes he touched my arm then his then my leg then his and then he rubbed my boots. I was just laughing the whole time as he stared in awe at my white skin. When Children of Peace was ending Mrs. Wybar told me that one of the orphans that she sponsors (Elena) was doing very poorly in her math. In fact she had gotten a 3/100 on her national exam. Mrs. Wybar knew that I was pretty good with math and asked if I wouldn’t mind tutoring her. I know and like Elena a lot so of course I said yes. I left on the truck, squeezed in with about 100 other kids and got off near Elena’s house with her. I went to her house and had her give me all of her math tests and her math notes from this year. After she gave me all of the materials I took a piki piki back to the house and began making practice problems for tomorrow. Then we ate dinner, watched a movie, and went to bed.
Andrew's Journal Day 17
Today I woke up early and helped plant cabbage in the garden then had breakfast before heading down to the computer class. We worked more with the cameras and helped all of the kids upload their pictures onto the computers. They all thought it was funny to take pictures of us and upload those onto the computer. Then we typed up two estimates for both a new cookhouse and classroom addition to the school. It was interesting to see all of the things that go into the building. Especially over here because everything is hand made and all of the construction and moving is manual. After that I decided I wanted to do another house visit even though Barbara and Bobby would not be joining. I walked about a half hour with the computer teacher (Richard) to Helen’s house to meet with her so she could lead me to the house we would be visiting. After I met up with her we went to Titus’ house. Titus is an older boy who goes to the school and both his mother and father have died so he is left with his stepmother. In Bududa if you are left with a stepparent it is very tough and they very rarely treat their stepchildren with any respect. Helen informed me that before they last visited and made the family change the situation if they wanted the school to support them at all, that Titus lived in a shed with the goats. He developed a terrible rash from the conditions but thankfully Mrs. Wybar was able to make them remove the goats. Helen told me that Titus couldn’t stand living there anymore though and is now living with his uncle, which isn’t a great deal better. We talked with him for a little and it is clear that he is completely defeated. He is not one of those children, like Rebecca, who always has a smile instead he looks and acts as if he’s given up on living. He has no emotion and I have yet to see him smile. He is a truly heartbreaking case and I could not feel worse for him. The school could not afford to buy more food for this visit so I told Helen I would like to buy it myself. She said that was wonderful but rather than go with Titus we should go with his brother who has left the uncle and moved into his own tiny shed right next to it. We did this because if we gave it to Titus the uncle would make him give it up and Titus wouldn’t see the food. This way the food went directly to Titus and his brother. The brother was extremely grateful and so happy to have some one invested in his little brother. When I got back I was very tired from the eventful day and after telling Mrs. Wybar about Titus I had dinner and went to bed.
Andrew's Journal Day 16
Today we woke up and headed down to the computer class. After teaching as well as typing up various things for the school we went to do a house visit. We visited a very cute little girl named Rebecca. She always has a smile on her face and was very happy to see us. After talking with her for a little we went to go get her some food because her father is unable to provide for her very large family. Before we even told her that we were going to buy her food though, she had given us a bag full of avocados. It is amazing how generous these people are, despite having so little. Once we bought her some food we headed back to the house on piki pikis (motorcycles) because we were so tired from the long walk there. When we got home, Mary made dinner and we watched a movie before bed.
Andrew's Journal Day 15
Today we woke up, ate breakfast, and headed down to the school. All of the Children of Peace were already down there and I was so tired from our long trip. I decided I just wanted to teach and play with the little kids so they came up to the house. We played with balloons that I blew up for literally an hour then sat on the porch as I read them a children’s story. I gave them some snacks after and we worked on puzzles together. The little kids loved it and I had so much fun with them. After Children of Peace was done I went up to start getting dinner prepared. First I wanted a chicken though and we had a local man (Robert) walk to the nearest town to buy us one. When I get to the house I chopped lettuce out of the garden for a salad (no one in Africa ever eats salad.) Then I chopped up carrots, onions, peppers, and roasted pine nuts for the salad. I had purchased Thousand Island dressing in Kampala and was able to make an actual American salad. Then Robert came back with the live chicken. I had no idea how to kill and prepare the chicken but I had invited Robert for dinner and he offered to show me how. I wanted to be the one who killed the chicken for my dinner and Robert showed me how to hold his neck as I cut its throat with our kitchen knife. After I had completely cut its head off Robert held down the body and we were asking if it would still flop around (I had always heard it happens but was unsure if it was true.) He explained that it would indeed and we told him to let it go to prove it. The second he let it go it began fluttering all over the place and was going crazy for what seemed like a minute until it finally stopped. It was amazing how calm Robert was about the whole situation and it shows how casual people in Bududa and other parts of Africa are with these things. This is how they grew up and it’s all they know, so it makes sense that he would be so nonchalant about it. Then we boiled water and plucked the feathers. After the bird was plucked, I let Robert take over the preparing, seeing as every chicken I’ve ever cooked has been sliced and ready to go. It was amazing how much of the chicken he put into boil. They use every edible part and let nothing go to waste. Then I boiled water for some pasta and made garlic bread. After I finished making both of those, my dinner was complete and we sat down to eat. I had invited three local boys who always come to hangout with us to join us for dinner. I was very happy with how it turned out and I really liked the chicken, despite how tough it was. Chicken over here is nothing like in America and has a very rough texture. After dinner we all played card games and everyone had a great time before it was time for bed.
Andrew's Journal Day 14
Today we woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel so we could get back to Bududa before it was dark. In Kampala we got an Elgon Flyer to Mbale, which is a much nicer bus than going on a matattoo. After sleeping most of the 4 hours we arrived to Mbale and realized we were carrying way too much stuff to hop in an already overcrowded matattoo so we hired a taxi to drive us home. As soon as we stepped foot outside the taxi, there was 10 kids waiting to grab our bags. They were so excited that we were back and everyone just wanted to come hangout with us. Allan, a local boy about my age, explained how boring it was without us and was so happy to see us back. These kids have so little to look forward to, so when they see us it is the best part of their day. We had been traveling almost nonstop though, so I had to tell them I would play tomorrow and I went to bed.