Computer books and CD-ROMs

The computer books and CD-ROMs arrived today. The box was smashed (as usual for Ugandan post) but contents are fine.

Thanks so very much to Linda and Ron and all who donated. It is very much appreciated!!

PS. Thanks for the chocolate!

Adventure?

Right. Aye, okay. Uh huh. Methinks the adventure of living in Uganda is well and truly gone! Evidence of this is that I'm very excited about finding this product:

As can be expected the dish soap/washing up liquid here is of even lower quality that the cheapest you'd find in the UK/US. Coupled with not have hot running water, this had made doing the dishes more difficult. This product is solid, cuts grease and has tons of lather and makes doing the dishes much quicker and easier.

Well, at any rate, it's good for future volunteers to know about.

Deafness in Uganda

This morning we were entertained with a play by a troupe of deaf Ugandans. They are called The Silent Theatre and they were very talented. The play was done in sign language but there was a woman who translated everything into English, and did it quite well.

In Uganda those who are deaf or have any type of disability are often treated as people who are useless or flawed and not capable of having a productive life. The troupes' message is 'disability does mean inability'.

This troupe is performing at many of the Primary Teachers' Colleges in order to enlighten future teachers about the capabilities of deaf students.

A few thoughts.....

A couple of cultural differences....

One of the cultural differences between the west and Uganda is that women are shocked to learn that my husband does all the cooking. I was told today by our neighbour's wife that men in this culture do not and should not do the cooking. Previously, another wife had told me that it would be shameful for a Ugandan husband to do the cooking and implied that I should be ashamed. I got the impression from both of them that they thought we would suddenly change this routine to comply with the Ugandan way. Ummm......no.

Another cultural difference must be the result of how Ugandans are taught English. A polite request is often made to sound like a command. An example is that a neighbour of ours wanted to borrow some DVD's to play for his family. However, what he said was 'give me some DVD's'. Not please, not may I, not would you. He didn't realize that in other cultures this would be extremely impolite and would be met with sarcasm, anger or a refusal.

Other volunteers....

It is very important for volunteers/partners to get support from fellow volunteers. A solid support network can make a difference between someone deciding to complete their placement and becoming disillusioned and leaving early. Volunteers have something major in common which can be a basis for bonding and creating long-term friendships. This is not to say that all volunteers get along with each other, because this is not the case. However, Danny and I have made some good friends here and plan to keep in touch after leaving Uganda.

Explaining the economic meltdown....

The economic crisis affects the world. In Uganda we've noticed prices rising and a leap in the exchange rate. This book is very relevant regardless of where you live.


Managed by the Markets: How Finance Has Re-Shaped America

by Gerald F. Davis



(hardback available May 15, 2009)
available for pre-order on Amazon for $19.97

http://tinyurl.com/d469ms


Editorial reviews:The meltdown of American financial markets has been catastrophic but the cause elusive. In Managed by the Markets, Gerald Davis offers a compelling explanation for it and so much more. To understand the disintegration of big corporations, securitization of just about everything, and transformation of our zeitgeist from producing products to making money, this is the book, a gripping portrait of the triumph of financial markets over all else."--Michael Useem, Professor of Management and Director of the Leadership Center at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania


"In this intellectual tour de force, Jerry Davis describes the evolution of the American economy to where we are now-where everything is a security or an option and, therefore, tradable in some sort of market. He also details the profound costs we have paid for this evolution. Timely, engaging, and filled with facts and analysis, Managed by the Markets explains how we got to where we are and maybe, just maybe, where we need to go next."--Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University and author of What Were They Thinking? Unconventional Wisdom About Management

What I will/won't miss when we leave Uganda

I read/heard from a few people who claim the 18 month mark in a 2 year volunteer placement is significant to many volunteers/partners. We’ll be at that mark in about 3 weeks. At this point I believe one becomes a ‘short-timer’. Volunteers will assess how much they’ve accomplished and have yet to accomplish.

For me, being a short-timer makes any wee twinges of homesickness relatively painless. It also makes me look around Uganda more closely and think about what I’ll miss.

What I will miss in Uganda:
~Many people on the BSPTC campus
~A few locals and the former principal
~Some fellow volunteers
~The Ugandan people in general as they are so very friendly and helpful
~The climate!!!!!!!!
~The pineapples and avocados
~The matoke and posho and kabaragara
~Fried goat (and chips) washed down with a cold Club
~The delighted reactions of Ugandans when I speak to them in Runyankole
~The beaming faces of the young kids shouting and waving at us as we drive/walk past
~The national parks and going on safari
~The cute geckos
~Our 4WD car that can get through ANYTHING
~Lush green scenery, lovely landscape, miles and miles of banana trees

What I won’t miss:~Agonizingly slow internet
~The mosquitoes!!!
~All the spiders!
~The useless task of sweeping dirt off the floors only to be dirty soon after
~Unreliable electricity and water
~Cold showers – not having hot running water
~The inconvenience of having to use a mozzie net on beds
~Hand washing the laundry
~SG (don’t ask!)
~The potholed roads and bad drivers
~The lack of variety of food in the grocery stores
~All the electrical and other stuff that doesn’t work!!
~Having to use boiled/bottled water

What I’m looking forward to at home in Scotland:
~Seeing friends and Danny’s family
~Our house, the location and the view!!!!
~Having breakfast in bed in our lovely blue bedroom with the view over the loch
~Wholegrain sunflower bread from our breadmaker
~My washer and drier!
~Big screen tv and Sky satellite
~Bacon rolls, scones, haddock and chips
~Proper fresh biscuits—Hob Nobs!
~Being able to drive
~Tesco!
~High speed internet!!
~Rubbish pickup

Packages and Ugandan postal 'service'

There have been packages posted to us here in Uganda which have never been received.

I just wanted to let everyone know who has sent a package, such as items requested for the college computer lab, that none have arrived. We have received no packages, only letters, since early autumn. A couple of staff members check the PO box and both can be trusted completely. The fault will lie with the post office, most likely here in Uganda.

Uganda trip report

Danny's daughter, Kathleen, and her husband, Riaan, visited us for the first two weeks in February. Aside from a couple of 'glitches' we all enjoyed the trip.

On the trip which began with an overnight stay in Kampala, we visited Lake Mburo National Park, Mbarara, Katara Lodge in Kichwamba (near QENP), Mweya Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp near the Ishasha gate for QENP, Kibale Forest, Fort Portal, and spent the last night in Entebbe.Since there were only 4 of us we used our own car and Danny did most of the driving including game drives, Riaan also helped drive.

Most of our accommodation rates included 3 full meals a day--full breakfasts, 2 or 3 course lunches, and dinners which included a starter, soup, main course and dessert. Most of us are all a bit larger than we were at the beginning of the trip.Photos are in this album:http://flickr.com/photos/anniedanny/sets/72157613832067430/detail/

A detailed trip report is in a separate blog:http://ugandakathleenriaan.blogspot.com/

Highlights

• Seeing elephants close up on the Ishasha game drive, including one which became annoyed at us for being in its ‘personal space’.
• Hearing the tale of Riaan hanging outside the car window on Mweya QENP game drive and coming too close to a lion lying nearby!
• The local family entertaining us at Ishasha with dancing and drumming.
• The refreshing pool at Mweya with an amazing view over Lake Edward.
• The delighted reactions when we spoke any of the local language.
• Seeing elephants on the shoreline of Lake Edward.
• Having a long, hot shower at Lake View Hotel after 2 days w/o washing. Ewww…
• Meeting other tourists.
• Being in accommodation where we actually got COLD beer.
• Having loads of laughs with Kathleen and Riaan. Nothing to do with beer consumption…..
• Soaking in the clawed tub whilst enjoying the view of the Rift Valley at Katara Lodge.
• Listening to the animal sounds at night from our rooms or tents.
• The absolutely incredibly gorgeous meals at Mweya, Katara, Arcadia Cottages, Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp, and Primate Lodge.
• Walking through the tangle of branches and vines trying to keep up with our guide in Kibale Forest in search of chimps.
• Hearing the chimps calling to each other.
• The highly energetic traditional dancing at the Primate Lodge.
• Listening to the lions at a not-too-great-distance from our tents early in the morning at Ishasha River Camp.
• Winding down the trip at the Airport Guesthouse in Entebbe and just hanging out in the lovely gardens and on the comfortable porch