End of Terms & Bridges

The term has ended for Kamuge High. Exams have been given and now just need to be marked and entered into report cards. Thus begins the great long break that exists until Term 1 starts up next year in early February. This was definitely a challenging term for me. But I can look forward to applying lessons learned towards my next and final term here in Uganda. It's crazy to think about how my time is dwindling here.

Bridges are collapsing in Pallisa District! Two bridges on two separate roads out of my village have collapsed due to the incredibly large amount of rain we've been getting. These roads are essentially constructed out of rock and dirt, so they wear away easily when lots of water comes. Locals are trying to repair them but nobody knows exactly when they will be finished.

I had a great visit with a couple (brother and sister) of students last Sunday. They wrote me a formal letter inviting me to their place on Sunday, November 20. It also stated that I was to be picked up at exactly 8:25 am. Sure enough, around 8 that morning some random man showed up at my door to pick me up. He droves us deep into the village until we arrived at this single brick building that was their church. Apparently I had also been invited to the church service that morning.

It lasted 3 hours. Some of it was really good, such as the singing and dancing. I really enjoy those traditions. Other parts were quite boring, such as the sermon. But I picked up what I could from the experience. Afterwards we all travelled to the students' home where we had a delightful meal of matoke, millet bread, rice, and chicken. The whole day took 8 hours, from 8 in the morning til 4 in the afternoon. Afterwards I was just completely exhausted, and I didn't know why. All I had done was sit, talk, and eat. I immediately had to go home and rest.

My birthday and subsequent turkey day went off successfully. I spent a few days up in Gulu with about 40 other PCVs where we had a potluck at an Ethiopian Restaurant that allowed us to use their kitchen. The event was a blast. PCVs are unlike any other group I've met and I've definitely acquired a huge appreciation for my group and the bonds that we've made over the past two years.

This weekend I'm in Kampala for the MTN Kampala Marathon. I'll be running the half tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

Links to some new Picasa photo albums:

Sex Education

https://picasaweb.google.com/115925164564481520821/SexEd?authkey=Gv1sRgCKWRhvao19ShEQ

Trip to Kenya

https://picasaweb.google.com/115925164564481520821/Kenya?authkey=Gv1sRgCIyj2L7coN26Mg

Nile River Rafting Competition

https://picasaweb.google.com/115925164564481520821/NRERaftRace?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmrgMmK3azspgE

Thanks for reading!

Tear Gas and Eating Disorders

In Peace Corps, certain things that would typically seem odd become the day-to-day norm. These things include:

*during about 50% of meals, consuming food that has a small amount of rocks and sand in it (just to keep the stomach in top shape)

*eating really old and moldy bread, because the nearest resupply point is miles of torturous Ugandan transit away

*eating rotten eggs, see above

*going for days without bathing

*essentially constantly NOT getting a good night's sleep because of the numerous and varying disturbances that is Uganda's essence, I. HATE. ROOSTERS.

Seriously, my neighbors keep two roosters INSIDE their house, which is also my house (we live in a duplex with no ceiling and noise travels freely). Every morning at 5:15 for the past month, the cocks crow every 20-30 seconds for a good hour or two. Horrible. I've pleaded with them, my neighbors. I offered to actually pay them money to slaughter them and enjoy the feast. They refused. They said they were waiting for their mother to return and that's when they would slaughter them. The mother has returned, the roosters still live.

It's funny how your mind adjusts to things over time. A month ago, I was irate, completely furious at the disturbances these little animals cause in my life. Today, it has become a part of my life, and I don't mind it as much. It's amazing what the human body and mind can endure if forced to do so for an extended period of time.

I'm sorry for the lack of pictures on here as of late. The truth is internet has been really bad lately. The only thing my connection allows me to upload is pretty much words. I hope those will suffice for now.

I spent the weekend in Budadiri (lush village at the base of Mt. Elgon) visiting another PCV and working in his school. We met with over 100 boys to discuss sexual education...again. I think I'm enjoying it more and more as I facilitate additional sessions. This time the subject of condom use was brought up. I read the following statement to the boys: "Condoms cause cancers". 100% of the 100+ boys believed this statement to be true. I was pretty shocked. I expected some of them to believe it, but not ALL of them.

So I asked them, why do you guys think this? They told me that they were told by their headmaster and teachers that this was true, that condoms actually did cause cancer. And subsequently they all believed it and considered it a fact. I have several theories as to why they were told this by their teachers. One theory, many Ugandans don't like condoms. They don't like the way they feel and they don't like how they encourage pre-marital sex. I'll abstain (get it... get it) from commenting on either one of those. But the fact that the leaders of the school were making up lies and knowingly telling them to their children is appalling. Again, another reason why containing HIV/AIDS is a challenge here. No protection means, well, no protection.

During that same weekend, a riot broke out a couple hundred feet from the PCV's house whom I was visiting. Don't ask me why they were rioting, I still don't know. In response to the chaos, police and military forces launched several tear gas canisters into the mob, the resulting gas of which proceeded to blow over to the house which I was staying in and into my eyes, nose, and throat. It was not a pleasant experience. Several students and I proceeded to run away as far from the gas as possible, across the football field and towards the school, but the gas had already taken its effect and it made it difficult to see while running. The stuff is effective. I doubt I would continue to riot if it were used on me. I recovered quickly though and all was well after an hour or two.

Ok, I've been writing this entry in pieces throughout the last week. New update. The roosters still annoy. I managed to get my neighbors to slaughter one of them. Now, another has reared it's ugly head and is even more loud and annoying than the first. I'm thinking I'm going to have to get others involved to resolve this issue, I'm confident I can though. I'll keep you posted.

For the past two and a half weeks UNEB (Uganda National Examinations Board) has been conducting nationwide exams on all S4 candidates. This includes our candidates at Kamuge High. Due to lack of space and the need to accommodate all 130 S3 candidates at my school, our Headmaster and Director of Studies decided to send the rest of the students, the S1, 23 and S3 classes, home. So basically very little has been going on at my school. So I've had to find ways to entertain and keep myself busy. In Kamuge, this can be a challenge. Reading helps.