Celebration – Peace, Love, and Uganda

December 15, 2019 – January 18, 2020

December 15 – 21, 2019

As we approached the week before Christmas, the office was finalizing any work for the rest of the year; the office would be closed until halfway through the month of January. Naturally, I will not be lounging about this whole time, but with the apparent tradition of everyone hosting everything – from introductions, to weddings, to end of the year parties, to the holidays – there’s not going to be much time for serious working for a while.

Now, I realize that I haven’t explained what an introduction ceremony is, so here’s a brief synopsis. An introduction is like a pre-wedding celebration – a party that can often be more lavish, entertaining, and food-filled than the actual ceremony and reception. At an introduction, the bride-to-be brings her whole family to meet her future groom and his family. The two then “size each other up,” with pranks, jokes, and well-meaning insults and games to ensure their daughter is marrying into a proper and upstanding family. There are gifts galore, as this is a country where bride-wealth payments, or dowry, is still practiced. There is food, music, dancing, gossiping, and much more. More so than even the wedding, which is often a much more serious affair. Since I’ve become something of a veteran of these events, I can tell each of you dear readers, that they can be as joyous and fun as they can be tedious – we still run on Ugandan time, after all.

A Vibrant, Musical Celebration! …just to say ‘hello’

We also had more visitors from the UK this week, a graduation ceremony for those in the community who completed either the carpentry or tailoring trade programs, and the official opening of the tailoring facility situated near the health clinic. Mbale district also held their end of the year/Christmas party – to which I was invited with Spotlight on Africa. There was also the end of the year meetings in the office, as well as checking in with the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) before the New Year. It’s been a busy week, to put it mildly.

December 22 – 28, 2019

The week of Christmas, and it starts with Christmas shopping! Well, Christmas cookie shopping. I’ve bought a large amount of Christmas treats for everyone who’s made my life in Uganda so wonderful thus far, and it seemed a lot easier than buying individual gifts. And everyone seemed very touched, so I’m pleased with the results. I also got my own Christmas present from home, with snacks and gifts galore!

The Plains of Africa in the afternoon sun on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve, the Big Day, and the day after were spent in the village of Bukedea. This is my boss’ childhood village, and their get-away home-in-progress, so we worshiped in their small church, we ate way too much, we hiked with friends new and old, and I introduced the Ugandans to the wonders of the classic Christmas movie “White Christmas.” They very much enjoyed themselves. After returning to the city, I took my homestay mother from language training out to a nice dinner at a fancy hotel. It was a quiet and pleasant Christmas; one to remember.

And I hope all of you enjoyed your holy days – whichever you may celebrate!

Did you know you deserved a kitten picture? Cause you do.

The week is closed out with a trip to Jinja, and the source of the Nile, for New Year Celebrations with Peace Corps friends. We’re staying at the Nile River Explorers Basecamp, with plenty of enjoyable activities, amenities, and adventures at affordable prices. You know, should you find yourself in my neck of the woods…

It is such as joy to relax with good friends, to explore new places, to spend perhaps a little too much money, and to laugh harder than you have in quite a while. And the vacation is only beginning.

Entertainment is everywhere in this Wonderland.

December 29, 2019 – January 4, 2020

Honestly, I never thought that I’d be experiencing the Nile when I wasn’t in Egypt, but I’m sure that’s something that many people just assume, considering what most people know about the great river. The river runs through four different countries, after all. To be near the water, in the water, on the water – it doesn’t much matter – water is my aesthetic, so I’m a happy man in this Ugandan town. We cruised the Nile for a short while. Visited the Source – where the Nile leaves from the great Lake Victoria. We went to a small zoo, and we went shopping – as visitors are want to do.

Some of our Animal friends, and: ALL HAIL CAROL!! Chosen Consort of Sobek, Crocodile God and Keeper of the Nile!

Welcoming in the New Year was spent in a modest party crawl around the city, and along the water. We danced and cheered and enjoyed a fireworks display over the Nile. We had a wonderful time – ushering in the next bout of the Roaring Twenties! Hard to imagine that was a century ago… And we all agreed to live in the spirit of our ancestors of a hundred years past: challenge the status quo, resist oppressive authority, speak truth to power, and live our best to better our species and our world!

Sunset Cruise on the Source of the Nile, with some wonderful people to boot!

I hope you all do as well. A Very Happy New Year to You All!

After returning home, I’ve relaxed, done some shopping and some chores, and waited for the new week to begin. I’ll be finishing up my projects – currently in stasis – at the health clinic until the office opens again. Then, I’ll have a grant proposal to compose, a health curriculum to design, and a report to send on all my work to the Peace Corps as the New Year kicks off with a bang!

A Bunch of Muzungus (Bazungus) Ringing in the Roaring Twenties!!

January 6 – 11, 2020

This week was spent in the clinic, working as much and as thoroughly as I could to complete the training with the staff. Joined by a surprise visit by representatives from the District Health Office, as well as a very enjoyable visit from the Peace Corps Country Director: James Ham, most everyone was successfully briefed on the basics of typing and computer literacy. Everyone proved to be enthusiastic and capable students; they took to the information very quickly, with an eagerness to continue their own private practices. This was a welcome experience, as there are more projects and plans that require my attention moving forward.

The visit from the Peace Corps Country Director was a very productive meeting. Director James Ham seems very pleased with my progress, and he seems to be an excellent professional reference and peer to have in my life as we both continue our professional careers. No spoilers – as there’s nothing to spoil – but his connections could prove very useful. Not only for my future, but all of us serving here in country.

I have also spent the week composing, researching, and drafting the proposal for a grassroots level grant, sponsored by the Japanese Embassy. It is a simple enough design, and if we managed to secure their help with funding our imminently constructed new maternity clinic, we would consider that a massive success.

January 12 – 18, 2020

This week was divided between the clinic and the office, and was a very productive week to be sure. Everyone in the clinic has been trained in the basics of typing and computer interface. I have completed my cursory assessment of our patient database, and made contact with the developer to pass on my suggestions. I met with the head teachers of Musoto Primary School and secured our second coach for the upcoming Grass Roots Soccer training. I completed, and began accumulating feedback on, the grant proposal to the Japanese Embassy. I compiled the end of the year reports for Spotlight into a single document. I started my quarterly report for the Peace Corps, and I continued progress on a couple writing projects, even planning for a few new meetings in the coming weeks.

And with that, we have the conclusion of a busy month’s worth of days, fun, and work. I trust every one of you has been well these past weeks. As always, I thank you all for taking this journey with me, and I hope you all continue to Be Well, Be Wise, and Be Good to One Another. Until next time…

September 22, 2019 – October 12, 2019

You see matooke trees with flowers around, and you know there’s a celebration happening there!

September 22-28, 2019

It’s Sunday, and suddenly I’m called into an impromptu meeting with the District Health Officer at the Health Center to discuss the upcoming events. Naturally, this happened right when I’m in the middle of all my washing and cleaning, but Director Richard is out of town, and I’ve been requested in his place. So, despite my dirty and filthy state, I met with the head of the Mbale health office, Dr. Jonathan, Sister Agnes from the clinic, and Christine from Spotlight. We’re meeting because this coming Tuesday is a very big deal in the history of our organization. Afterwards, Agnes and the security team of Bukasakya Health Center III helped me to reorganize the clinic space according to my design. This will hopefully help to aid with time management, space maximization, and patient care.

Monday was a whole twelve-hour work day; at the clinic from before opening to well past closing. The new process for handling patients and increasing the effectiveness of the workplace has already proven a vast improvement. Even my fellow health workers have noticed the positive change we’re making. After the long day – with many new patients as is the case with every Monday – we focused on preparing the space for tomorrow. We worked past sundown, and even after I left, a whole team continued into the night.

It’s not a party in Uganda without the right kind of music and dancing! (all from the hips)

Tuesday was a spectacular day; even though it was another long thirteen-hour day. After starting off at the office for a little more prep time, I journeyed to the clinic in Bukasakya, and found the festivities all ready for the big day! Today was the long awaited ground breaking and dedication ceremony for the new Maternity clinic, our vocational institute, and the new motorcycle ambulances (I call them ‘bodambulances’)! There was singing, dancing, wonderful speeches, and – of course – the symbolic breaking of the ground. We were able to see some of the work the tailor students were capable of, and see the very fair, possibly too cheap, prices of their products. The buildings and grounds were beautiful. More than three hundred people were in attendance. I was able to meet the sponsors from Harpenden Spotlight on Africa in the UK, as well as a member of the British Parliament, the Honorable Bim Afolami! They are all wonderful people. We had enough traditional Ugandan cuisine to feed everyone a nutritious meal, and then some. And despite the line for that meal bringing me physically closer to the other hungry people – closer even than some past intimate encounters – everyone was fed, happy, and had a wonderful time!

When I returned to work at the clinic on Wednesday, I was so proud to learn that the staff had continued to work using the new layout and procedures I had designed, even when I wasn’t there. And it ran smoothly to boot! They are happy with the ease and comfort that the new stages have afforded them. So, Wednesday was a rather relaxed day – albeit with a significant number of new patients. As I was walking home, expecting an easy nine-hour day as usual, I was surprised by our visitors from the UK! They wrangled me into a series of productive meetings over drinks at their hotel, and then a dinner with the board members of the Spotlight on Africa – Uganda Foundation. And thus, ended another long, productive, and unexpectedly enjoyable day on this very busy week!

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Aceng, breaking the ground on our new maternity clinic!

Thursday, we had to be up at 5:00 in the morning, because we were all driving to Kampala! We have to be at the residence of the British High Commissioner for evening tea, and a fundraiser for Spotlight on Africa! And we made it, despite the short delay from a flat tire on the road to Iganga, and the repairing of the tire in Jinja. Since every dark cloud has a silver lining, my new friends from the UK bought me a bacon cheeseburger for lunch while we waited in Java House for the repairs! I’d been craving one for some time now, and yes: it was wonderful. We arrived in Kampala at our destined location close to the time of our tea and fundraiser, and the event itself was a smashing success! High Commissioner Alison Blackburn has a beautiful house, with some breathtaking gardens, and we were welcomed with open arms to gather as friends and co-workers. We discussed the future of our work in the healthcare field for Spotlight on Africa, and we ensured everyone would be on the same page going forward. I even gave a short presentation myself, impressing the political members of those in attendance; they said I was a natural public speaker. Afterwards, we drove through the maddening Kampala traffic to take our friends from the UK to Entebbe airport. After a friendly farewell, and a promise to meet again in a few more months, the remainder of us made the long, long, LONG trip back to Mbale. In terms of kilometers, it wasn’t that long; but for a twenty-hour day of mostly travel: it most certainly was long…

An afternoon tea and fundraiser at the British High Commissioner’s!

Friday was a day of recovery. And the weekend was relatively uneventful. Just the usual chores and errands. But there was another surprise meeting on Sunday evening with a district official, so that was something. All in all, this week was exceedingly busy, but an undeniable triumph for us and the work we do with Spotlight on Africa.

Now, I know some of you have reached out, wondering about possible donations to Spotlight. This is, currently, difficult to do, as the website is only accepting the British pound. But I’ve talked with the members from the UK, and we should be able to change that to include American dollars in the relatively near future. So, look out for that update, and give when you’re feeling generous!

September 29, 2019 – October 5, 2019

We also celebrated the opening of our new tailoring vocational building!

And with the end of the highly productive, stressful, wonderful, crazy busy week, it is back to the usual grind. Monday at the health center made it clear that it was time to start the next phase of capacity building for the staff and the workings of the clinic. I started planning for my one-on-one lessons with each member of the team, and how I would build their typing proficiency as well as showing them how best to use the computers provided by Harpenden Spotlight UK. Our monthly staff meeting was beneficial in many ways, allowing for me to get most all of the staff on board with where our work together would be going next.

In just a few years, all of this will be filled with buildings, making a complete sub-county hospital!

Wednesday also made it clear that the clinic still has some major hurdles to overcome with regards to communication. My one-on-one lessons will provide ample opportunity for this; it really just needs to be hammered in how important it is to tell others on the team where you will be, what you are doing, etc. That way we can best ensure all stations and departments are covered at all times when we are open.

My days in the office turned out to be much more complex than I thought. Both days had me running from the office to the district health office and back and forth so we can work on getting the new motorcycle ambulances certified and working as soon as possible. I also spent time revamping the schedule for the health center, prepping for my lessons, working on the quarterly report for the Peace Corps, and potentially become part of the National Malaria Think Tank to which I was invited to apply.

My homestay brother, the new Doctor Dennis, and his friend and classmate!

Thursday was another day of celebration! My homestay brother, Dennis, graduated from medical school, and I was lucky enough to celebrate with him, friends, family, and lots of food. All in all, I would say this week was another highly productive week! And it gave me a chance to start Prep-tober. Working a month ahead of time in preparation for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month! Stay tuned for more about that as I try to write a novel in a month and steadily lose my sanity!

The weekend, starting on Friday, was hit by some of the harshest storms, thunder, and rainfall that I’ve experiences since coming to this country. It let up enough to allow for work, errands, chores, etc. but during the evening and nightly hours, the storms were at their worst. So, with the roads being in such bad, and worsening, condition from all the rain, I still have not been able to get my bicycle’s rear tire fixed. But good news: I finally have a large rotating fan for my living room, and I have my small refridgerator! Now I need to start getting some actual furniture and decorative pieces over the next few months/years…

Family and friends came from all over the country, and some from beyond, to celebrate!

There was cake, and as always: sooo much food!

October 6 – 12, 2019

With even more rain carried over from the weekend, a pleasant surprise was waiting at the clinic, and would remain for several weeks: nursing students! Which meant there were able-bodied and minded humans to handle patient intake and management; freeing me to start work on other projects at the center that had been bothering me for a while. For example, the storage room: it was in need of some serious consolidation, maintenance, attention, cleaning, updates, and more. So that’s what my Monday, Tuesday, and part of Wednesday were about. All and all, I freed up two whole shelves worth of space, separated the supplies, drugs, equipment, etc. into their own specified sections, and I’ve started the task of updating the inventory. The work is not finished, but it’s a solid start.

It will also make things much easier once we’ve received our next quarterly shipment of drugs and supplies… Which is already late… By several months… Another problem that happens here – it happens all over the world, but here it can be rather frequent. So, you just have the make due with what you have.

Some pretty clouds and light play for you all.

Also: Happy Ugandan Independence Day! Celebrating 57 Years!

October 9th is the day when England granted the emancipation of Uganda to its own sovereign state after centuries of colonial occupation. To celebrate, I attended a nationally sponsored training session on Measles and Rubella vaccination efforts. You see, unlike some Americans, Ugandans are aware of the importance of vaccinations – we have them for free here everyday at our clinic. Taking that to heart, you can now tell any “anti-vax supporters” that you meet that they can look forward to complications, bills, and potential sorrow, while the folks in Uganda just continue to build healthier and better lives.

(Note: at the training, when I told them, the participants were in utter shock and disbelief that some Americans were actually rejecting the uses and benefits of vaccinations; they were also very, very worried about the children living with such parents who refused their life-saving medicines)

Thursday and Friday have been in the office, as per usual. I’ve completed my first reporting of activities to the Peace Corps, and I’ve been working on finalizing the lesson plans for the folks at the clinic. I also continued working on a few outlying projects, and continued researching for the CHP health education expansion. This busy week will be concluded with a relaxing weekend with friends. The Lumasaaba crew is heading up to the Sipi Falls for the weekend, so be on the lookout for many gorgeous photos in the next installment.

Once again, my wonderful readers, thank you for joining me on this journey! And until next time: be well, be wise, and be good to one another!