Tag Archive: travel

On the Road Again

Author: October 31, 2015

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I took this picture from the window of this scenery on the way to Kampala. It’s like this for several miles. This must be where the stock photo on my home page came from. I have wanted to change my home page photo with one I’ve taken, but haven’t found the right one yet.

On my trip from Bugiri to In Service Training, by way of Kampala, I carried my backpack and lugged a purple suitcase. Seeing me that morning, a few people in my neighborhood asked, “Are you going back to America?” I assured them I would be back shortly. I was vague and omitted I would be gone two weeks because I don’t want the word to get out and my place robbed of course. As it is, the kids on my route are surely going to wonder. I sort of look forward to their excitement when I return.

I hated giving up my suitcase to the Taxi porter, but there really isn’t much choice. It gets tied to the roof with other stuff (including chickens sometimes) or stuffed in a compartment behind the last row of seats via the back hatch. My bag and I were transferred four times before reaching my destination. When it was on the roof, every time we hit a bump I would turn around to make sure it didn’t fall off. On the leg from Jinja to Kampala, they cinched a rope to tie down the back hatch with my bag because that rear compartment was so full. I was in the second to last row, and at one point I reached over the back row and took this picture just to confirm it was still there. Peace of mind I guess, but not much I could do if it wasn’t.IMAG1902
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Just before reaching the Old Taxi Park in downtown Kampala, we stopped, and a passenger removed the other bag you see in the photo. It alarmed me that the conductor didn’t go back there with him. Sure enough, a few minutes later, I saw my bag tumble to the street while we pulled away through heavy traffic. I yelled for the driver to stop, along with other passengers, and toiled my way out and ran back through the traffic. Happily, I soon saw a boda driver with my bag balanced on his handle bars. I trust he was trying to follow us. Probably should have tipped him.

I returned back to my taxi, and the conductor said “Sorry”. “Sorry” is the unemotional response Ugandans make to any misfortune- in my case it’s usually when I bump my head getting in. Last week it was the only response when I said “I thought you were picking me up for dinner, I waited for you in the rain.” “Sorry” rarely sounds sincere, it’s like the casual version of “Excuse me.” However, the conductor graciously allowed me to keep my bag next to me the last mile since now there was room for it. Still, I reflect how only a few months ago, traveling alone with taxis, navigating in crazy downtown Kampala no less, was sort of a scary process without a veteran PCV to guide us. Maybe next June I will be that PCV helping the next Agri-business cohort.

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Future Days III and Last Weekend

Author: September 16, 2015

I finally was able to meet with my supervisor and counterpart to discuss what I can contribute. There are farmer groups of 15-30 who have received training by trainers from my office. Each group has formed a VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association). The VSLAs meet once a week to contribute to their savings, and make loans among their members. The trainers are always organizing clusters of groups to meet the goals of the entities which fund ATEFO.

Matthews and I will visit a different farmer group each day and attend their scheduled VSLA meeting. First, I will attend a meeting with their trainer so I can be introduced. I will observe their VSLA meeting and see if they have VSLA issues that should be addressed. Then Matthews and I will go to their meeting the following week. I am developing a checklist of items to follow up on, such as:

  • Tell me about your post-harvest handling practices (drying and storage methods)
  • Are you storing any of your harvest to get a higher price later?
  • Are you adding value to any of your products before selling them? For example, instead of selling quarters of jackfruit on road side stands, consider separating the fruits from the rinds, and packaging them to sell it at a higher price. (Jack fruits are yummy, but they are a pain to prepare, so I would only buy jack fruit that is ready to eat).
  • Would a perma-garden near your house be a something you would consider?
    What other challenges do you face?

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I will probably end with a lesson on budgeting, post-harvest handling, storage, or explain about perma-gardens.

Perhaps Matthews and I would come back and work with a farmer to dig a demonstration perma-garden.

It all seems pretty loose to me, as Adams seems to be allowing me some autonomy, as long as I am helping these farmer groups. Somehow I will discover my niche. If I am giving the same talk over and over, I am going to buy some rice sacks and put my main points on them with a permanent marker. We will see how it goes..

In the meantime I will also work with the Youth Chairman of the Bugiri Rotary Club to form Interact (Youth) Clubs at the college level (high school is also called college), as a “secondary” Peace Corps activity.

I will continue with language lessons, and I have a personal goal to meet and get acquainted with at least one Rotarian a week.

Last Friday I went to Mbale, a few hours north of Bugiri, to participate with 13 other PCVs from the Eastern region in the annual Welcome Week. Seven new PCVs and seven veterans went swimming at a resort Friday afternoon, and then enjoyed an Indian restaurant. On Saturday morning, we took a taxi to Sipi Falls and hiked to three different falls. It was pretty grueling in parts, and might have been more of challenge for the old “fatter” Charley. I was glad to get some overdue exercise, and I could keep up with the other younger PCVs fine. As you probably know, uphill climbing can be strenuous, but going downhill and avoiding slipping can be pretty scary. We took a circular route, so no backtracking. Here are a few pictures.

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These are the first falls we got to. All three were equally impressive. That’s Becky from Wisconsin, who was in my Lasoga language group. My son Clark thinks I am too skinny for my clothes now.

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We were able to walk behind these second falls. The PCV is Carson, who was one of only two of us crazy enough to walk among those slippery rocks.

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This cave was behind us as we stood behind these second falls but it ends pretty quickly.

These are the third falls. We weren't too close but the valley below and beyond was fantastic.

These are the third falls. We weren’t too close but the valley below and beyond was fantastic.

A view to the left of the the third falls

A view to the left of the the third falls

Group photo Sunday. I busted out my vintage 80’s Broncos cap and Broncos shirt in honor of the season opener, which I was able to stream at my home from 11:30 pm to 2:30 a.m.

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Early Morning, Cold Taxi

Author: August 25, 2015

This is how we get between towns. The Taxis have four rows of 4-5 people behind the front row, everyone all crammed together, plus the conductor who is shown here trying to get passengers. IMAG1475With a back pack jammed on my lap, it’s not real comfortable. Best place is the front row with leg room and only three across. The taxi’s linger around until they are pretty jammed before leaving.

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I took this a couple of months ago while it was still filling up. That’s the conductor in front of me.Sometimes you wind up on the crack between the fold up and bench seat.

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Jam city. I am on the second row sitting second from left. Drivers are on the right side. That’s the conductor, practically sitting on the lap of the unseen lady to the left of me. It’s hard to show this photographically

A trip to PC Headquarters in Kampala last week (they will send a car to the stop) took me 3 1/2 hours to get there, 5 1/2 coming back.(Partly my fault because I was taking advantage of their free w-fi and stayed a bit too late, hitting traffic) It would be an hour on our road system. I was transferred to three different taxis before arriving at 9 p.m. You pay the first one when you transfer and somehow the conductors work it all out with each other. PC is unhappy when you are out after dark (sorry Meital if you read this) , but it was so cool to see the nightlife in the passing towns. Part of the adventure! I got out in a busy lighted intersection in Bugiri and plunged into the my neighborhood with my phone torch on, and was safely in my home within minutes. Whenever you stop in a town, vendors start shoving food through the window they want you to buy. Meat on sticks, bottled water, bags of crunchy carbs. I should have taken a picture of this. Sorry!

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Put me in coach, I’m ready to play

Author: August 9, 2015

By a wide margin, my last post about Jan provoked more responses than any other post so far. So gratifying to know how loved Jan was, and to share with other readers who were not acquainted with her. Our story provides needed context for my current adventure, and provided me with some catharsis. Some of you took the opportunity to tell me that you have enjoyed my other posts too, and I appreciate that. I am always happy to hear from you and will always try to respond to your comments and questions. I never dreamed I would post so much, but it’s all so interesting to me! When I come home, I will have a heck of journal about this part of my life. The post about Jan was written two weeks ago, so it feels like eight days between posts for me.

This week, with local volunteer Ashley as our guide, we have stayed in Kibaale District, next to the town of Karuguuza. These little towns all remind me of the Old West I have seen in movies, with the dirt streets, the town market, and small businesses lining the main street. Only thing missing is the saloon and hitching posts. Boda bodas instead of horses. You would be hard pressed to differentiate among most small towns throughout Uganda.

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Ashley teaching about VSLAs. See the passbooks?

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Pit Latrine made from clay and bamboo

The first day, we went to a very rural village where Ashley taught them how to keep records for their Village Savings and Loan (VSLA). It was fantastic to watch, since I will likely do this in my time here. VSLAs are getting very popular and Peace Corps is helping Uganda increase a culture of saving. Each member has to put in an agreed weekly minimum amount or they get fined. They use ledgers and passbooks, just like when I was a kid with a church credit union account. Also a lockbox for the money with three separately controlled locks and two other money counters. Dusting off my accounting education about internal controls.

We also got more experience in teaching. This time we used translators, so it was good to learn to get into a rhythm while talking and pausing for the translator. On Thursday, Will and I spoke to a group of Boda Boda drivers about budgeting and saving. We did an exercise in which they tried to figure out how much their monthly income and expenses were, (a rare exercise for Americans too- hence our massive credit card debt).

Reviewing the budgets with the boda drivers. Our translator is is in blue.

Reviewing the budgets with the boda drivers. Our translator is in blue.

They all estimated lots of money left over to save, but couldn’t explain where it went. (A few snickered that women and booze is a good guess 😉 ) Ashley actually thinks I motivated them to keep track of their money for a least a few weeks. They also say they want her to help them form a VSLA.

We also learned about filing quarterly reports with the Peace Corps. I have not escaped the need to keep track of my time! Dave and I also spoke to a school youth group about saving without a translator.
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Uncle Roy, do they have this breed in the USA?

Ashley, an agri-business volunteer, was serving with her husband Matt, a health volunteer. They started in June 2014. (The third type in Uganda, Education volunteers, arrive every November). A couple of months ago, Matt had a seizure and fell, damaging both arms. He can’t remember the incident, and the doctors can’t determine if the seizure or fall happened first. Still a lot of mystery. Matt is back in the USA, and because he can’t finish therapy for his arms and be back at his site within 45 days, he got early termination yesterday. Pretty sure Ashley will stick it out though, until August, 2016, because Peace Corps was her dream. Anyway, Matt is one of four ETs from their class this month, bringing it down to 29 out of their original cohort of 40 from last year, an usually high number of ETs.

Finally my first monkey sighting! White tuft on the tail.

Finally my first monkey sighting! White tuft on the tail.

Sadly, we had our first ET leave yesterday, one of the Colorado girls too. She was raised in Colorado Springs and a recent CSU grad (had a good friend in common with my son Clark). She was agri-business and knew more than almost everyone at training about agriculture. I would have never predicted this. I had reached out to her a few weeks ago when I heard she had issues through the grapevine (I am jokingly referred by some of these kids as their in-country “dad”- I give my advice freely of course- just ask my kids’ friends at home! The rest of the kids here generally mock me :-)). She was kind enough to call me from the Entebbe airport yesterday. She said since early on “it just didn’t feel right” and during each phase it just wouldn’t click in. She will look for a job in the Denver area, so I hope to see her again someday. I understand how a physical ailment could cause me to ET, but otherwise I knew from the beginning I would be horribly embarrassed if I didn’t stick it out. So far, it’s not even a thought.

Day off today before leaving to Entebbe for Supervisors workshop and swearing in at Kampala next week. The hike down was scarier than than the hike up. Nick, Katie, Carson, me, and James.

Day off today before going to Entebbe for Supervisors workshop and then swearing in at Kampala next week. The hike down was scarier than than the hike up. Will, Nick, Katie, Carson, me, and James. I picked up a cool feather on the way and stuck it in the back velcro of my cap.

The adventure vacation continues for me. Next week I will be officially a PCV instead of a PCT.

PS- I just can’t let go of current events back home. I use my phone for as a hotspot for internet access. This constant ability to communicate didn’t exist for PCVs just a few years ago. So sad about the Las Animus river. I would miss Jon Stewart, but Donald Trump- Wow! Karmic balance! I also can’t resist reading about Broncos training camp and I hope Tulo leads Toronto to glory.

 

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Village

Author: July 17, 2015

I got the opportunity to weigh myself a few days ago. I weigh 75 kilos which is 165 pounds, a loss of 10 pounds since arriving in Uganda and a total of 47 pounds since January. I feel great and eat plenty.

Two weekends ago (July 5), my host father Simon took us to his home village, Kawanga, about an hour north of Iganga, although it took longer due to mechanical difficulties which caused us to stop several times. Simon’s brother, Emma, his oldest daughter Sylvia, a teacher, and her child Immaculate went with us. At times we had 12 in the vehicle, including his truck bed, going over bumpy rutted roads. He is licensed to carry up to 13.

I met Simon’s mother Beatrice there. She is 84. When she was young, Beatrice was not allowed to get an education. Simon’s father died when he was very young. Simon’s mother was determined her children get opportunities, and she took on farming, chopping wood, and making the village hootch, whatever it took, to raise the fees needed for her children’s education. Simon reveres her for her efforts.

Simon’s village is the most remote in the district. He is determined to raise the standard of living. He helped raise funds for a four room school house in the village. It attracts about 400 students from all over. Classrooms with 100 student are common in Uganda.

As you will see, Simon built a shed with corn (milling?) and rice processing machinery that helped the local farmers add value to their crops. As I have learned in training, most farmers are sustenance only, meaning they only raise enough to support themselves. But that is often insufficient when you encounter a dry spell, or unexpected family illness, not to mention keeping up with the school fees. So we look at opportunities for value-added products. Unfortunately after a year of operation, a big storm blew off the roof and wrecked the equipment. It has not been repaired since. So many pieces of equipment do not stay maintained in Uganda.

Simon’s “target” is to introduce goat farming as a viable business for his community. He wants to start a demonstration project on his land. He produced a business plan and budget for my review. Looks like he needs about $4500 US.

Incidentally, my photos are sharper because now I email them to my brother with the text and he does the blog from Colorado. This uploading process consumes a great deal of data, which is expensive on my Peace Corps stipends. So I waited to transmit until we went to the “Sol Cafe” on Saturday (a foreigner hang-out) and took advantage of the free wi-fi. My brother is also more skilled on WordPress. I wish I could upload some video, but it times out and sucks up the data.

Our first stop on our tour was a house that Simon recently built that he wants to retire to when he starts up his demonstration goat farm. It is empty right now, his mother refuses to live in it. She lives in the house you see slightly to the left and behind it. We ate lunch on the floor of this house.

Our first stop on our tour was a house that Simon recently built that he wants to retire to when he starts up his demonstration goat farm. It is empty right now, his mother refuses to live in it. She lives in the house you see slightly to the left and behind it. We ate lunch on the floor of this house.

This is the building which housed the corn and rice machinery with the roof blown off.

This is the building which housed the corn and rice machinery with the roof blown off.

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This is taken from the back of Simon's house. The boy is his cousin's child.

This is taken from the back of Simon’s house. The boy is his cousin’s child.

The young man from the neighborhood who Simon hires as caretaker in his absence. He is carrying sweet potatoes. Simon and his truck are behind him.

The young man from the neighborhood who Simon hires as caretaker in his absence. He is carrying sweet potatoes. Simon and his truck are behind him.

Simon's mother, Beatrice, and daughter Sylvia, and Immaculate

Simon’s mother, Beatrice, and daughter Sylvia, and Immaculate

We saw little compounds like this scattered about. Simon claims that up to ten people sleep in each hut. Takes up the whole floor as you might guess.

We saw little compounds like this scattered about. Simon claims that up to ten people sleep in each hut. Takes up the whole floor as you might guess.

Various crops are drying on the ground. If they would just use a tarp, less would go to waste. Even better would be secure storage/drying bins. You don't need to be trained by the Peace Corps or have an Ag background to know this! They need capital to have better storage and thus more income. PCVs would hope to introduce other income generating activities to raise such capital. Hey Peter, these are not ideal roofs for a Perma-Garden!

Various crops are drying on the ground. If they would just use a tarp, less would go to waste. Even better would be secure storage/drying bins. You don’t need to be trained by the Peace Corps or have an Ag background to know this! They need capital to have better storage and thus more income. PCVs would hope to introduce other income generating activities to raise such capital. Hey Peter, these are not ideal roofs for a Perma-Garden!

This is Simon's cousin and two of his children. They sleep seven in his hut. He was showing me a snake bite on his leg. Simon is disappointed his cousin refuses to send his children to the school Simon helped fund. He won't even take a tour of it.

This is Simon’s cousin and two of his children. They sleep seven in his hut. He was showing me a snake bite on his leg. Simon is disappointed his cousin refuses to send his children to the school Simon helped fund. He won’t even take a tour of it.

We had the occasional animal delay besides mechanical delay.

We had the occasional animal delay besides mechanical delay.

We made a few stops within the village neighborhood, always attracting hordes of kids. They literally backed away upon seeing me come out of the car, then stampeded me when I showed them their pictures on my smart phone. These kids make the kids in my host family seem privileged by comparison. But they don't know how poor they are, so they are happy as kids will be.

We made a few stops within the village neighborhood, always attracting hordes of kids. They literally backed away upon seeing me come out of the car, then stampeded me when I showed them their pictures on my smart phone. These kids make the kids in my host family seem privileged by comparison. But they don’t know how poor they are, so they are happy as kids will be.

You can see Simon holding his phone on the lower right. He hardly knows how to use it without Hellen's help. I'm not much better.

You can see Simon holding his phone on the lower right. He hardly knows how to use it without Hellen’s help. I’m not much better.

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Leaving Here

Author: May 31, 2015

IMAG0861This is such a cliché photo, but I have a similar photos of My Wife Jan when she traveled to Europe during college, and my children when they left for Thailand and Copenhagen. So now we have a complete set. This is the first of at least four posts in the works about arrival and orientation, which will answer some of your questions. Once we get to pre-service training in Uganda, it will probably be difficult to add posts for awhile . What is kamagra jelly? Also known as Sildenafil jelly, cialis 20mg generika soft tablets and effervescent. Before any erectile dysfunction medication is taken (after consultation with your doctor), it is important to have a good blood supply to the penis and for that a person should not have PDE5 enzyme in the penis which leads to the relaxation of india tadalafil online smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum and dilates the blood vessels and ensures more blood supply to the reproductive organs. Thus we have got generic medicine. levitra generic no prescription Not using the nofollow format wholesale prices viagra cute-n-tiny.com is commonly called as impotency. Peace Corps says to tell family and friends that no news is good news. Of course, most volunteers will use Facebook instead of a blog. Sorry, not my cuppa.

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