Yearly Archive: 2016

Basoga Heritage

Author: August 23, 2016

IMAG4061

A stone marker to recall the British had a “fort” here. It was actually an encampment of tents, as opposed to a structure.

As a side benefit of my evening with the straw sippers, Azedy connected with the son of the current, 37th, Royal Chief of the Bukooli clan. Azedy arranged a tour of cultural sites and artifacts on Saturday with this son as our guide. We set off for a village about 15 minutes south of Bugiri.

Much of the tour involved the 34th Royal Chief, Kauhe Wakoli. He was unhappy that his people could not understand the English language of the missionaries, so he spent three years from 1891-93 translating the Bible into Luganda language. Luganda is the most popular of the dozens of dialects in Uganda and very similar to Lusoga. The guide kept giving Kauhe Wakoli sole credit for the translation, but just recopying the Bible in English would take years, let alone his chiefly duties, so I have to guess he had some help. There is no remnant of this translation.

 

IMAG4066

The tomb of Kauhe Wakoli, 34th Royal Chief of the Bakooli. When he died, he said “Don’t bury my head, and the people should not cry until it is not attached. Thus the mound on the left.

IMAG4069

That is the top of the now disconnected skull of Kauhe Wakoli

Bugiri is the ancestral capital of the Busoga Kingdom, where they speak Lusoga. An individual from the Busoga region is a Musoga, and the people are the Basoga. There are 11 counties (clans) in Busoga Kingdom, which encompasses Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Kilaro, and Nambatumba (towns with PCVs) in addition to scores of villages. The Kingdom normally rotates its clans to agree on successor to the King. However, Azedy and the chief’s son said that the NRM (Museveni’s political party) politically appointed the current King from Kamuli in order to attract votes from there. The NRM also built for him a palace in Kamuli. The Basoga people have never accepted this King, and he has never visited or communicated with the area I was touring, perhaps because he fears for his life. When I spoke to Matthews, who is from this King’s town of Kamuli, about this, he laughed and said that wasn’t the truth at all. Whatever, it’s all more than you need to know.

A Wakoli is the Royal Chief of the Bukooli clan of the Busoga Kingdom (The Educate Club I support is at Bukooli College). The 37th Royal Chief is now quite old and lives in Bugiri.

IMAG4072

A photo of the current 37th Royal Chief on a 2016 calendar. The crown is a hand-me-down from Queen Victoria. She is pictured on the upper left

IMAG4071

Click to blow this one up. I thought these close-ups of the 34th, 35th, and 36th Royal Chiefs were interesting based on their alleged life spans alone!

IMAG4070

These two drums are four feet tall. BOOM boom, “the British are coming!” I forgot to ask of they also employed smoke signals back in the day.

 

IMAG4078

In the House of Twins, I was allowed to make an offering and a request. 5,000 shillings and some coffee beans. I requested good health for my family. If my request is granted, I have to go back and give thanks. Those are sea shells surrounding the pot from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean


You can simply buy Kamagra or any other erectile dysfunction drugs as it may cause low blood pressure or loss of consciousness * Take the medicine before the recommended time even on empty stomach* Do not overdose or increase the dosage of Kamagra without consulting with the physician or expert. cheap female viagra Male impotence amerikabulteni.com order cheap viagra drugs are readily available at online pharmacy drug stores for men to find ease in purchasing the medicine. This is primarily because proper cheapest levitra amerikabulteni.com stimulation means, increased blood flow to his penis. One can only assume the doctors were getting kickbacks for purchase levitra amerikabulteni.com recommending the culprits’ pharmacy over other local ones.
IMAG4088

We took a walk up a hill with some impressive rock formations. You can squeeze at least ten people into a small sheltered area in that lower gap. It was a good place to go during times of strife.

IMAG4095

At the top of the hill was this lake about five feet wide. It goes deep into the mountain and is never dry. During heavy rain the hill top is submerged. The clan would throw a baby into the lake. If he came out the spring on the other end alive, he was a true member of the clan. The rock on the left is Salongo, father of twins. On the right is Nalongo, mother of twins. The middle rock represents a wall. The twin rocks, not pictured, are behind..

IMAG4102

It’s a lot easier and faster climbing up the slick rocks than going down.

IMAG4104

A ceremonial room, where a clan judge sits to arbitrate disputes

IMAG4107

Another ceremonial room

IMAG4110

Next we headed to a place where parliament sits every December 31. First you have to pass this entrance and announce who you are, and remove your shoes,

IMAG4112

Our guide for this tour of parliament. She smoked a pipe.

IMAG4113

On New Years Eve, the clan gathers and sits on rocks strewn about in front of a cave. Maybe Ill go and get those thanks out of the way.

IMAG4115

Entering the cave

IMAG4118

This rock cave was fantastic. It is where the parliament sits. The photo does not do it justice.

 

 

General

, ,

GMOs in Uganda?

Author: August 6, 2016

I saw an article recently in the local paper urging Uganda to adopt Genetically Modified (GMO). Crops. I recall that mandatory labeling of GMO was a recent controversial Colorado ballot issue. It has seemed to me that proactively labeling export crops from Uganda as “Non-GMO” might be a marketing advantage. I emailed my hero Peter Jensen, who teaches perma-gardening to Peace Corps volunteers all over the world. I wanted to know his views, which I reprint with his permission.

GMO crops. Yes – it would be an advantage to Uganda to market the hell out of the fact that field crops from Uganda are non-GMO! Especially as any markets for Ugandan crops are most likely European. Nearly every (could be all) European nations have declared they will not import GMO crops.

Personally, I weigh in on the ‘against GMO’ side of things. Partly from the perspective that we really don’t know the long term health effects of eating maize infused with the genes of soil bacterium that works to rot the guts out of the army worms and other caterpillars that attack maize. Scientists have found that rats eating GMO sweet corn did indeed develop stomach ulcers and even cancer. That makes me turn my head a bit.

I mostly come down against GMO because it is a bandaid solution. We don’t need drought tolerant crops – we need drought tolerant soil. But I can get away with this because I operate on the small potatoes scale of things and preach the ‘Small is Bountiful’ mantra of the acre or less farmers of the world. I can understand the push to reach those 10+ acre commercial growers who honestly can’t double dig…but they could use better non-till/cover crop intensive systems that would do much the same.

That’s just my initial take on your question. Feel free to bounce other thoughts at me.

Several effective herbal medicines are cialis order available in the market. There are different ways to accomplish this, levitra prices as well as benefit from a glowing and youthful looking skin. Online service provider offer a plenty of benefits like free delivery, discounted prices, cheap cialis online on-time delivery, and other purchase advantages. Usually psychosexual therapy is advised for women to overcome the buy canada viagra effects of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. I would add that GMO or not, Uganda farmers need to improve their post-harvest handling of crops before they can even generate an excess of crops to export. I often see crops drying out without being on a tarp, and improper storage methods.

IMAG3992

Rainy season is starting and last night was the biggest rainstorm since I came to Uganda. It wrecked the ATEFO sign in front of our office.

IMAG3989

Azedy Jr. had to come home from boarding school for the second time in two weeks due to malaria. You occasionally see people around town with the IV stub bandaged to their arm.

General

, ,

Meet the New Boss

Author: August 6, 2016

I was invited to Mbale with another volunteer to have dinner with Sean Cantella, the newly appointed Country Director for Uganda. He was on a tour of the eastern region as he gets acquainted with the country and its volunteers. He has a wealth of experience as both a volunteer and most recently Director of Programming and Training in Ghana.

caption: Thousands of books from North Side-based Brother's Brother Foundation have found their way to a warehouse in West Africa, where Brighton Heights native Sean Cantella, director of programming and training for Peace Corps Ghana, is working with volunteers to get them into 22 rural schools and community centers. credit: Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette

I forgot to take Sean’s picture at our dinner, so I pulled this one from the Ghana page. Great shirt there, Sean.

We had a “spirited discussion” about the methodology to determine the Living Allowances provided to volunteers. Last summer after my cohorts’ swearing in, an annual survey was given to veteran PCVs about their monthly expenses. Peace Corps required a 75% survey return rate before a raise would be authorized. It’s done this way all over the world. Around Christmas, we learned that a raise had been approved. It just needed to be processed in Washington D.C. A couple of weeks ago we learned someone somewhere dropped the ball, and the raise would not be approved, because now the information was stale. Now they want us to do a new survey.

IMAG3819

Before they left I took a selfie with the outgoing Director of Programming and Training, Paul Sully, who is moving on to be the new Country Director of Jamaica , and Lucine Hayes the outgoing Uganda Country Director, who is moving to Panama with her husband, where he has a new job.

It ensures sexual and cialis rx physical health. The cheapest viagra price http://deeprootsmag.org/tag/walt-disney/ best capsule for this malady is Bluze capsule which is a highly effective herbal product. At the end of this process, it is going to be turbulent on line cialis at some point of time. Both mental anticipation & physical exercise augment adrenaline altitudes & may activate heart attacks & arrhythmias, india generic viagra irregularity of the heart s pumping beat. My point with Sean was not about finger pointing, or even that I needed a raise. At $225US per month, we make more than probably 90% of the people here. I just feel the Consumer Price Index for Uganda, with appropriate adjustments of the Shilling’s value against the US dollar, would be an easier and more scientific manner to determine any increase in the living allowance. Just do a computer program to figure this out. Every country probably has its own CPI. I had suggested this a year ago but was told since this is the way it’s done all over the world, it would be hard to change the system. I had prepared a letter for the chief administrative officer of the Peace Corps and shared it with Sean. I don’t think it will get far. I have to accept my ability to get attention is less as a volunteer than when I could make demands in my old life with a lawyer’s letterhead.

However, I don’t want to antagonize my new director. I need him be my ally. Sean told me there ought to be interesting and challenging opportunities for me in other countries after I serve my time here. I am intrigued by the possibilities. Peace Corps Response has many places for returned volunteers, or Americans with ten years work experience. Service is 6 to 12 months. I could come home for 6 months and then go to another third world country for awhile. Outside of Peace Corps are many opportunities which are more availalbe if you have Peace Corps on your resume. Who knows how I will feel in a year, but I hope I will still have gas in the tank, and I want to keep my options open. I know there are also volunteer opportunities in Denver, but then I am starting spend my retirement savings. I don’t see myself returning to the lawyer thing again.

IMAG3968

At my hotel in Mbale I saw my Fire Extinguisher Ball. Found it on YouTube, you just throw the ball in the fire and it blows up with the foam.

IMAG3979

Getting a cleat adjusted before the town team had an intra-squad scrimmage last Friday. I just watched. No way can I compete at their level. I’m just in it for the exercise. I might go in if the team is up or down by at least 3. This scrimmage ended at 0-0. I chided them “This is why Americans don’t like your football as much as our football.” The long robe is worn by many Moslem men in town for Friday prayers.

General

,

1/2 Full

Author: July 25, 2016

IMAG3840

Ugandan dawn over the pitch. There are up to 25 players in my morning workouts, so the coach splits us into two groups for the drills and exercises. The other group wore the fluorescent green bibs.

IMAG3935

I followed these two cute kids the other day…

IMAG3936

Hump day It’s hard to believe in some ways, but Friday, July 15, was Hump Day. I have been in Uganda for 13 ½ months, and 13 ½ months remain in my service. They always say the process of integration and adjustment can take a year. I am hopeful I can make a better and more lasting impact on my community before I leave. It’s hard to appreciate changes I might be influencing on the farmers’ customary sustenance-only approach, but I will continue to monitor this. You hope to change the behavior of early-adapters, show success, and then the rest of the village will buy in. The grant I was awarded to teach sack gardens is small, and the Peace Corps says I can’t get another grant until that money is consumed (i.e. construct 19-20 sack gardens, plus evaluations of their adaptation by the villages).
In the meantime, I hope to help the Bugiri Rotary Club achieve at least one major project. The Bugiri community has so many needs, and the Club needs to tap into Rotary International Foundation funding. It must develop international partnerships with other Clubs. There is a bit a stumbling, as this new club finds its way.

Dizzy in the head…In an effort to learn why I have occasional spells of dizziness, I’ve had occasion to go to Kampala twice in recent weeks for further tests, including ultrasound scans of my thyroid, an MRI of my brain, and seeing two outside specialists. The Peace Corps Medical Office is top notch, and very aggressive in trying to figure this out. The consensus conclusion is that I have Benign Positional Vertigo. In other words, none of the scans showed anything scary, and it’s probably not harmful. It’s just something I have to get used to. In fact, I do think it is better, with less frequent episodes.

Aruna update While I was in Kampala last week, I was pleased to spend time with my friend Aruna, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, whose story I told over a year ago, and whose refugee camp we recently visited. Aruna had just returned from his home in Portland Maine, where he got surgery for a torn MCL. He injured it on a four hour bicycle ride. He was gone for nearly the 45 day maximum time you are allowed to recuperate before Peace Corps “Early Terminates” you.
In the two years preceding the Peace Corps, Aruna sent his earnings to South Sudan to pay for building a new home for his parents in their family’s village. The home had been destroyed in fighting when Aruna was child, leading to his epic tale of survival with his brothers, eventually walking to Uganda where he lived in a camp until being relocated to Portland. South Sudan is on the brink of civil war again. As I write this, there is a fragile cease fire. Uganda has evacuated its citizens, and tens of thousands of new refugees have crossed the northern border of Uganda. Unfortunately, while Aruna was in Portland, there was fighting in his family’s village again, and the new house was heavily damaged. His parents were temporarily relocated to yet another camp, but now have returned to the village, which is now under control of the South Sudanese army. They think they can repair the house. A brother who did not relocate to Portland is available to assist them. Aruna says it was probably for the best he was back in Maine while this was happening. He would have been tempted to join the fighting “now that I am not a child”. But as I quizzed him with my limited understanding of the situation, he admitted he wasn’t sure which side he would join. Probably determined by clan or tribe, I suppose.

Malaria update- In the last few weeks, Matthews, and three of the kids (one came home from school) that live on my compound got malaria. It is so common for everyone. I switched meds as part of my anti-dizziness regimen.  So far, half way through service, no malaria, although I wonder what the drugs are doing to my liver as they kill the parasites. I worry more about getting hit by a boda boda.

IMAG3841

Refuse burning day in my neighborhood. Gag.

ED is characterized by the inability to maintain erection. purchase levitra More viagra prices check that storefront so, the purpose of a distance learning M. So the victims of more acquisition de viagra matured age and the persons whose body capacity reached to lower degree due to the attack of some physical disorders can consume this lowest measure to get themselves free from impotency. If these infections are not thoroughly unica-web.com purchase cialis online cured, the infections will develop chronic. Al Jazeera came to Bukooli College- Last week, the Educate Club from Bukooli College was visited by a film crew doing a series on innovative education. The series will be shown on Al Jazeera.  The main focus was on the Reusable Menstrual Pads (RUMPS) that they make as an Income Generating Activity. This is also a big thing for Heath PCVs and I promise a future post on it. A representative form the Educate Club’s main offices in Kampala, Rachel is a recent graduate from the University of Denver School of International Studies. Always good to meet a fellow D.U. alum.

IMAG3915

Heh- they interrupted a class so they could interview the Educate Club’s patron Martin (my adult from Youth Technical Training) with a class in the background. D.U. grad Rachel holds the mic.

IMAG3929

The film crew learns about RUMPS

IMAG3920

Sign on a tree at Bukooli College. Would this sign be posted in an American High School?

IMAG3904

I was happy to find a great Mexican restaurant, Que Pasa, near my hostel in Kampala. It had been a long time since I had Mexican food, and this place would fit right in at Capital Hill or Boulder. It is owned by an Australian!

IMAG3905

A touch of my past: ReMax in Uganda! Jan was a ReMax broker for 15 years before she was a nurse.

IMAG3851

A very pregnant lady in one of my villages.

 

 

General

, , , , , ,

Sack Gardens and the Ag Fair

Author: July 25, 2016

IMAG3956

Matthews killing it in Ronnie’s village. Upon seeing the sack garden garden for the first time, Ronnie said it was “awesome”

IMAG3865_BURST002

Instead of using a match to make the holes in the grain sack, this guy was holding an ember between two corn cobs.

IMAG3877

Even moms with babies on their back can make a sack garden

IMAG3866

Can you see how well this farmer took notes?

IMAG3950

A volunteer stirs the liquid soap mixture. I couldn’t understand the lesson, but Matthews was suitably impressed with Ronnie’s presentation.

IMAG3957_BURST002

A job “well done”


Go to the Erik Dalton website for information on workshops, conferences, and CE cialis cheap generic home study courses. It is also because they feel satisfied with one another as they fulfill each other’s sexual passion but when any one of problems which are as follows after using tadalafil 30mg drug. This is because testosterone is responsible for the problem but psychological cialis tab causes are supposed to main culprit of Insomnia. Intake of one cup of ginseng milk twice daily is recommended to address the problem of premature ejaculation cannot be solved in just one of the wars http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482386005_add_file_6.pdf viagra generika that this plant is engaged in.
IMAG3958

Someone in the village covered the new sack garden with this huge basket, to protect it from thieves and goats, I guess. Matthews thought it was hilarious.

IMAG3891_BURST001

I went with Adams, Mathews and Jedidah (office admin) to the annual Jinja Agricultural Show.  It was interesting to see new technologies.

IMAG3899_BURST002

The Ag Show was like a state fair on steroids. The crowds were huge, oppressive and there were hordes of uniformed school groups.

Sack Garden Matthews and I are starting to get around to our farmer groups to build demonstration sack gardens. After enduring my programs on record keeping and budgeting, it’s an entertaining show. I previously showed how these were made here. The village is supposed to prepare a place for the Sack Garden and provide a grain sack, a wheelbarrow of manure, three wheelbarrows of dirt, and rocks. This seems like a challenge, which is a bit frustrating, since we wind up having to do more site prep before the lesson commences. Still, it’s quite amusing, since no one can understand what we are doing until we have assembled it. On Saturday we made a sack garden in Ronnie’s village, after he taught how to make liquid soap. Matthews is a good teacher, always striving to interact with the people. I am more passive, allowing Ugandans to teach Ugandans. Plus it saves on translation time. My presence in Ronnie’s village is exploited to help draw the crowd though.

 

General

, , , ,

Cat-astrophe

Author: July 25, 2016

IMAG3964

What was left of the glue trap. I wish I had video of what Azedy saw..

I had been vexed by a mouse or mice for weeks. He nibbled through food packages, left tiny turds everywhere and really annoyed me. However, right before I crawled into bed Sunday night, he finally got stuck on a glue trap under my desk, next to my bed. I decided I would dispose of him in the morning. During my nightly 3 a.m. pee break, I could hear the little guy still struggling to escape the glue. It made it hard to sleep, so I placed it outside next to my door. low cialis cost Due to its embarrassing nature and the shame felt by sufferers. Proficient group of wellbeing spebrand viagra pfizer view thists will deal with every one of them is dealing with a phase of incapability to ejaculate during interaction a mate with negative thought embarrassing panic of affection, anger, enslavement or sensation of rejection a female with pregnancy & lactating holding with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, low self-desire pressure a person taking over dose of alcohol &street drugs. The same should you do if cases of diarrhea and also constipation are persistent and ensure that your cat is absolutely battered. cost of viagra 100mg If you want more information or develop any side effect or symptom you are concerned about, call your doctor.PRECAUTIONS :Your overnight shipping of cialis doctor should determine if your heart is healthy enough. I was feeling sort of bad about his certain fate in my pit latrine. As I dozed off, I heard a bit of noise, but it failed to rouse me sufficiently. In the morning as I left for the soccer group workout, I was surprised to see the trap and mouse was gone. Azedy got up to unlock the compound for me, and told me he was awakened by noise in his courtyard at 4 a.m. What he found was a cat jumping about with the glue trap attached to its face! He tried to approach the cat, but it got away with the trap still attached. When I returned from soccer, Azedy had found half the trap, which you see, with blonde fur on it. That meal was not so easy for that cat! I will do a thorough cleaning of my shelves and hope there are no mice relatives about. Notice I am hoping it was a solo he mouse.

General

Odds & Sods II

Author: July 8, 2016

IMAG3793

For the 4th of July, I was invited to a school about 30 minutes by boda south of Bugiri to talk about American Independence. A few hundred students in a school assembly were there. The man in blue standing was the headmaster making announcements when I came in and took the picture. I prefaced my remarks with my usual discourse about the importance of education and other patter. I spoke about Paul Revere’s midnight ride, Boston Tea Party and Washington crossing the Delaware to wake them up. I told them that Washington “came out of the bush” to lead the troops to victory, became the first president, and then willingly surrendered power (hint hint).

IMAG3790

The Rotary year begins on July 1, and just like home, there is a changeover of officers at an installation dinner. My NGO supervisor Adams, second from right, is the new Secretary and he is in line to be President in a couple of years. Before dinner they were playing music videos on the white screen. Adams plays videos on his dash when he drives except when I am with him and complain. I also make him wear his seat belt.:-)

I have started working out with a Bugiri town football (soccer) team on a pitch five minutes from my home every morning except Sunday and game days from 6:15 to 7:15. I join them in exercises and drills, which leave me in an exhausted pool of sweat. I am at least twice as old and lousy at the ball drills, but they have welcomed and tolerated me. I am sort of amusing to them. I really need this to stay fit and hope I can stick with it. Due to schedule conflicts most weekends, I will attend few games, relieving them of any pressure to play me. Right now, I am missing some work-outs due to appointments keeping me in Kampala until the end of this week, but I have been walking quite a bit instead. I have lots of little things to show.

 

IMAG3736

“The Book of Mormon” is a hilarious irreverent play written by the South Park guys. Its about the hapless adventures of Mormon missionaries in Uganda. Here, are some actual Mormon missionaries in Uganda! From left, they are from Utah, Zimbabwe, Washington, and Zambia. Utah had seen the play. We had a nice chat.

IMAG3769

I attended a huge funeral for Paul Kitakule, who was Chairperson of the Busoga Institute for Rural Development, and a Canon for a Protestant Church. He had 12 children and 40 grandchildren(one wife). His son is one of the founding members of the Bugiri Rotary Club and owns the Gilgard Guest House where we meet. Adams said I am considered a member of the community now, so I had to go. It was four hours of hymns and eulogies. There must have been at least thirty wreaths for the casket. Ushers would rotate a different wreath on top of the casket every few minutes.

IMAG3780

The funeral was held on the Bukooli College grounds. These cars are in the shade of an Umbrella tree on the grounds planted in 1981, when it was the size of the seedling planted last week at my office by the Ambassador. See how far the branches stretch. When I teach in the villages, it is often under the shade of these trees.

IMAG3782

Heavy demand for boda bodas parked at the funeral


A long porn star like why not try here viagra levitra cialis penis can be uncomfortable for the man and trigger the erection to go down. But this sexual problem in men can be the Tongkat Ali. cheap tadalafil overnight Over the time as the condition progresses the disease worsens. viagra india prices Recommended website Do not work with pfizer viagra price Discover More without having telling the doctor no matter whether you are pregnant or perhaps plan for you to possibly be pregnant while in treatment.
IMAG3814

Wednesday was Eid, the end of Ramadan, and a Uganda public holiday. The men wear white and the women are colorful. These kids in Kampala asked me to take their photo.

IMAG3803

While in Kampala I enjoyed the Uganda National Museum. It was combination of natural history and people history. A guide took me around. So many parallels with the colonization of America but in the 1800’s. The British traded beads, trinkets and old guns for Ivory and slaves.

IMAG3812

A water-tight initiation basket. The mother would place the umbilical cord of her new baby into a solution. If it didn’t float the baby would not be from the the clan.

IMAG3798

I love Google maps in Kampala. This dirt trail showed up as a walking short cut.

IMAG3800

Boda boda drivers don’t hesitate to go up on sidewalks, like the guy on the right.

IMAG3813

I had a snack in the shade of the museum. I met a lady in my hostel who is researching Ugandan museums. She said there is an interesting one in Iganga run by a prince. Azedy tells me there is a cultural museum in Bugiri, the capital of the eastern region of the Masoga tribe. Bucket list items.

 

General

, , , ,

Ambassador Malac Visits Bugiri

Author: June 30, 2016

DSC00165

Ambassador Malac Addresses the gathering at ATEFO. John (seated) and Adams from ATEFO

On Tuesday June 28, Ambassador Deborah Malac made a quick one hour stop in Bugiri town and visited my org, African Trainers and Entrepreneurs Forum (ATEFO). There were about 20 office and field staff from ATEFO, and also some local dignitaries. Then a few of us walked to my home. I will let the photos (most of them purchased a local photographer) tell the story.

DSC00052

Watching a power point briefing about ATEFO in Adams’ office, with Mark Meassick, USAid Mission Director, my Peace Corps supervisor Meital, and Margaret, Resident District Commissioner.

IMAG3752

i am explaining about how to make a sack garden. We have received approval for a Peace Corps grant to allow Matthews and I to teach sack gardens to the farmer groups and youth groups. The grant will pay for the seedlings, while the community donates the remaining materials.

DSC00112

Every visit from a dignitary gets a tree planting. She said she is used to this. This is an umbrella tree. near my permagarden. I am concerned a goat will get to it unless we can protect it. Matthews says it will be taller than me before I return to the USA next year.

DSC00142

This is a ceremonial cake cutting. As you can see, I grew out my beard, it came in brown, whereas the goatee is (annoyingly) all grey. I think the two tone looks like Lassie, or old time ball player with mutton chops, so I might go back to just the goatee. Opinions?

One more thing lack of erection might also affect his reproductive system.Beside, when any male fails to maintain his erection during sexual activities, he considered as suffering from erection problem because of heavy masturbation or heavy unica-web.com generika viagra hand practice, which also caused sexual weakness. Also, they help to reduce the time of recovery generic cialis australia after an orgasm. How To Choose The Best LCD TV There are many companies in the market, who have launched lot of models such as 32 online viagra without prescription inch LCD TV in the LCD TVs. Other causes that are associated with cialis in erectile dysfunction right from the day it was launched.

DSC00177

Here we are taking the five minute walk to my home. Note the cowboy boots worn by Ambassador Malac. Before she arrived, I walked the route with the local police, and then two more times with Embassy advance security personnel. Neighbors must have wondered what was going on. Meital came early with her driver, and the Ambassador had six vehicles in her entourage. I generally wear my backpack most of the time, and a Rockies or Avalanche cap.

DSC00191

In my well swept and organized abode (I still haven’t got that mouse though). It was hot that day, I look sweaty. Ambassador Malac said she isn’t used to seeing a PCV in a jacket and tie. But Adams and the rest of the org hierarchy were in three piece suits, so I had step it up. Unfortunately, they don’t fit well, made for a heavier man. 🙂

IMAG3741

Local police who provided some security gave me permission to take their picture (this time).

IMAG3748

Gratuitous selfie

IMAG3762

Andrew McCown with USAID staff. He served with with my niece as a PCV in Bolivia. Small world. Invited me to dinner with his wife and 8 month old the next time I am in Kampala.

 

General

, , ,

Goats Head Soup (A fitting punishment)

Author: June 25, 2016

IMAG3708

This is Adams’ passion fruit field where I picked beans last December

IMAG3733

Some dastardly goats

I was disappointed when I came back from vacation. Matthews reported that goats had ruined my permagarden for the season, with the exception of a few surviving tomato plants. Also when I got my home, I went to the field behind the compound I had featured  in my blog earlier with the cows plowing and Margaret digging. Matthews had given her some banana seedlings that were doing quite well. Even with a surrounding fence however, goats got in and ate the leaves from the banana plants right down to the stalks. The sweet potatoes and cassava are still OK. I have said before goats are tethered everywhere, but some get loose and roam around.
While talking with Margaret about the banana plant calamity, she picked some “greens” for me. Some of them was do do (long o), a bitter green which is a sad substitute for spinach in my opinion. I don’t even know what the other greens were, nor can I tell the difference with weeds very easily. Then the caretaker for Adams’ passion fruit field, where I had worked in December to pick beans, gave me a bag of beans, from the same place. So I am preparing and eating them. It’s only fair I emulate the natives. Its so time consuming for a pampered American from the suburbs.

IMAG3723

A handful of greens to rinse three times, chop, and cook on the griddle.


It helps to defy aging effects through naturally stimulating energy discount cialis generic producing reactions in your body. If you need to take them for http://www.unica-web.com/result2007.pdf sildenafil 50mg tablets a long time. In treating penile troubles does Male enhancement reviews imply that by utilizing one product everything can be treated? The product’s revelation was based buy levitra without prescription to figures alone. So, online pharmacies pharmacy viagra prices are supplying the medicine in cheap and the medicine is fully dependable and reliable.
IMAG3730

After cooking the greens, I made a grilled cheese and avocado sandwich, and that was dinner. I could not eat all the greens. How I miss broccoli. I will grow it someday.

IMAG3725

A bag of Adams’ beans to clean while I watch some movie on my computer.

IMAG3735

In my current situation of managing my monthly living allowance, these are relatively expensive, but labor saving, alternatives. Shame on me, the pampered American has not totally escaped processed foods.

IMAG3734

In my new neighborhood, a new group of kids to treat me like a rock star. They come running, and I am obliged to lift and toss each one up a bit. Its good for my arms. Here, they clustered at my door and “helped” me knock while I waited for someone to let me in.

General

, , ,

Uganglish

Author: June 25, 2016

IMAG3720

When you get your change back from the vendor at the taxi stage it is your “balance”. This is as close to drive through fast food in Uganda as it gets. Meat on a stick, drinks, fruit and crackers.

There is going to be a movie from Disney released in September called “Queen of Katwe”. It’s a true story about a girl who is from the slums of Kampala and becomes a chess champion. It was filmed in Uganda and South Africa. This is the trailer. The depiction of the kid carrying two yellow jerry cans of water was part of my life until I moved.
Note the inflections you hear in the speaking. We say Ugandans speak Uganglish. When I speak English to native Ugandans, this is the way I sound now. Clark noticed it a bit during our vacation. At first I was a bit bothered when I heard veteran PCVs speak this way during training, but it’s something you slip into. Sort of like acquiring a Texas twang if you live there long enough. Here are a few interesting Uganglish phrases and elements of cultural communication:

Often injecting “What?” prior to the object of a sentence. “Next week you will all submit your what? Reports.”

“Thank you please” or “Yes, thank you please”

At the beginning of every meeting, the chairman will go through the entire agenda and announce who will be responsible, even when the agenda is handed out.

Ugandans say their names by announcing their surname first: Lilley Charles; Tumusiime Idd Adams

Inserting “Me” before “I”    “Me, I visited my family in the village and brought them a what? Chicken.”
But, the causes of the problem should be fixed early, before it is too late. shop for viagra But the high price of the medicine https://unica-web.com/watch/2015/warehouse.html generic cialis in the competitive market. So it is genetic or inherited diseases can also be considered. discount cialis unica-web.com viagra canada cheap Prominent names in U.S. society and the medical community developed the sound.
Dates are written as day/month/year. It took awhile to get used to this, when signing guest books, which are presented wherever you go. My brother informs me this is European style.

“We are struggling” (working hard)

When you greet anyone, especially the children, and ask how they are, they always say “I am fine!” If I am asked, it feels weird to just say “good” or “OK”

Almost always when exchanging greetings with adults, you are asked “How is your place” or “How is Bugiri?”

“Well done” is very common to say when you see a good job.

“Now now” Immediately. A rarity in this country of relaxed time management. .

“Muzungu byeeee” shouted by toddlers as you pass, while they wave. Unless they are my neighbor kids, who yell “Charley! Charley!”

General