7/8/11—2 days in.
We are staying at a place called “Banana Village” where we are bunking up in rooms for a week of orientation. Luckily, I missed the 20 bed dorm of all FEMALES and have been bunking with 5 other ladies, 4 of whom are all above the age of 55. Our group is the most diverse, so we are told, as we have a broad age group ranging from 22 to 69, 5 married couples, multiple ethnicities, home states…the list went on. We start our days at about 7am with some typical East Afrikan breakfast of bread, pb&j, bananas, chai, coffee, tea, hard boiled/fried egg. We’ve met most of our trainers and in-country directors/coordinators and have been lectured on all the protocols and safety measures set in place for us. Dad, you will be happy to know we are in good hands and have tons of people looking out for us. The head hancho is a dude who worked in Rwanda during the genocide, so, he knows his shit. We’ve also been learning Ugandan culture as well as the Lugandan language which is very similar to Kiswahili and makes me happy every time we have class (although its really only been like 2 days). But still, it makes sense and I am following it so far.
Today we went into Kampala, the capital city, to try and learn our new turf. It was just like Nairobi, but a little … not better, but, kinda better-lol. I haven’t been to Nairobi since January of 2009, but I don’t remember the roads being as nicely paved or organized, or the standardization of public transport. It is still extremely chaotic and insane and no one follows the rules of the road such as stop lights, stop signs or even direction of roads. Its still hard to believe people are able to make it alive walking on the sidewalk let alone driving on the roads. The still have matatus aka 14 passenger vans that cram 20-30 peeps at a time, and boda bodas that carry multiple people at a time, even little baybays.
Our group ate at an amazing Ethiopian restaurant that was, just like Kenya, in the living room of a woman’s house—where only the best ones are. While “familiarizing” ourselves with the taxi/bus parks, it decided to rain. Member how I said the roads were paved earlier? Ya, of course not these ones. So, as we were finding our way through the taxi park mazes of shops and matatu bumpers, we were shuffling through mudd and getting wet. But, luckily we were taken to a bar that over looked the taxi parks and I got to have what I’ve been craving ever since I left the continent: TUSKER. And it was delicious. We stopped at a local bar with more PCV (peace corps volunteers) and drank some more beers and talked to the kids that crowded around us. I also got to try a rolex, at the recommendation of my friend Andrew, which is pretty effing delicious. It is a chapatti (delicious fried dough that is similar to naan but kinda better) rolled up with a fried egg, cabbage and tomatoes with some salt. MmmMmm good. Overall, Kampala was beautiful with many similarities to Kenya.
28/8/11
pet fish for dinner is not the bizz.
The second day I was at my homestay, my dad brought home pet fish in a big jar. The kids got a kick out of it started feeding the fish their food, aka egg shells. Anyway, my dad always tells me I don’t put enough soup on my potatoes and he doesn’t get why I like them “dry”. Well, the reason I can eat the potatoes dry is because they are sweet potatoes, and the most delish sweet potatoes ever. They don’t need anything else but to be boiled. So, I naturally enjoy eating them plain (and this fool obviously doesn’t know the family I come from and how we grub potatoes). But anyway, I could tell it was concerning him that I did not eat enough soup, and so finally the other night I just scooped a big spoon full of the soup on my matoke (boiled bananas). Usually the soup is like a meat broth or g-nut (ground nut) sauce. Ya, not this night. This night, I took the biggest spoonful ever to impress my dad, and guess what it was? An entire school of my pet fish’s family…everywhere. The power usually goes out at night so we have a small solar lamp that doesn’t really light much up, but it managed to reflect the silver skin and bulging eye balls of the itty bitty fish, just staring at me. I don’t get that grossed out with food and can usually eat whatever is put in front of me. But shhhhhhhhhh, I was immediately sick. I was like, ok maybe its kinda appetizing don’t be so white. But, no. sh*t was not appetizing. Sh*t was actually kinda disgusting. I couldn’t even chew it, it grossed me out so badly. I was trying to just swallow huge gulps so I couldn’t taste it, but even that didn’t help. I could still feel them and I thought I was going to yak. I resolved with myself that since I have been doing good eating everything else they gave me it was ok if I didn’t finish this one. So, I slowly by slowly started covering the fish with my matoke to try to hide my hatred. I hope the got the picture, because I don’t think I can fake that one. If I get it again, I will definitely say something to them.
On a more delicious note, pork here is absolutely fabulous. And, im pretty sure im eating the Afrikan equivalent of Mexican buche or chi charon…Gets, you’d love it. It has quickly become my favorite meal, and my brother Ben knows it.
2/9/11
Anyhoo, training seems to be dragging of late as we are all anxious to break out and get our hands dirty. We have been doing a lot of mock field work type deals to help us see the different areas we will be working and try to get in as much info as possible. We’ve visited the country’s leading HIV-AIDS organization, TASO, which performed songs for us and told us their stories. It was a very moving, emotional and touching experience…it reminded me of the morning prayers at Matibabu. We recently visited the children’s malnutrition unit at the main hospital…reality check. Crazy to see just how much we take for granted in our lives, just in terms of common knowledge. We were shown the demonstrations of how the doctors teach mothers proper nutrition to feed their children, and things like knowing children need protein to grow and veggies for minerals/vitamins…its just crazy. All I kept thinking of was my babies at home, and how grateful I was for their circumstance. Crazy and yet amazing to see and hear about all the good work being done and extremely daunting to see how much more work is needed.
On a lighter note, I finally got internet yesterday. I saw my lovely friend aubtree mooch aka Aubrey at our all volunteer conference on Wednesday. Man oh man, let me tell you. I was SO excited to see her. We were meeting our freaking ambassador from America, the head hancho, and I saw Aubrey, squealed and ran and jumped into her arms. It was embarrassing but well worth it. Seeing my aubTree made my so happy. I still cannot believe I’m placed in Uganda for Peace Corps for the next two years with one of my best friends. It was so comforting to see her again and know I have her here. And also, she hooked it up with the internet modem as we have been unable to go into town to get connected. And therefore, I can now talk to you beezys. BOOYA. But ya, Aub and I are planning our return to Kenya and all the delicious food we will scarf. CANNOT WAIT!
