I moved to Masaka on Monday. Actually, that’s not quite right, I moved to Kayirikiti village within Nyendo township, about 5km from where I work in Masaka. My organization is called Renewed Efforts to Alleviate Poverty (REAP) and the reason that I moved here so quickly is that I am replacing a volunteer from the group that came in August who terminated his service after a month. There were prospects in the far west and in the far east, but, in the end, I am here. I’m not going to lie: when Peace Corps told me that I was coming here I was extremely disappointed and upset. I told them that all I wanted was to live in a village. I did not care the work that I was told to do or where in the country I was told to go and I didn’t mind learning a new language; I just wanted to live somewhere rural for another year. Nyendo is not rural. It is a township at an intersection of two roads that go to two bigger towns, Mbarara and Masaka. Nyendo feels a little like Busia, a border town in the East. There are a lot of businesses focused on people travelling, more motorcycles than people, a lot of bustling and exhaust and noise, car repair shops, litter everywhere. It’s ugly and when I first arrived I was extremely upset, disappointed and honestly wondered if I could live in a place like this for a year. I’m staying.
I don’t live somewhere beautiful anymore, but I am living and working with wonderful people that I already trust. I live in a small, two room house with a separate kitchen in the back yard of my counterpart/supervisor, Paul. I spent the first day organizing and decorating. I put my pictures on the wall and unlike my last house, I put up a ton of pictures of all of you. I wanted this house to feel like my home. I have electricity now, which is nice, but has already been detrimental to my habit of reading a lot. The best part about my home is Paul and his family. They have taken me in and in two days have already made me feel accepted and a part of their family. So far they have invited me to breakfast and dinner every morning, where we sit as a family and eat. His wife, Margaret, sits at the table with us, which is not common here and it feels like home, I feel like I am part of their family, not just a guest in their home. Ibrahim is their 18 year old son, home from school until February. He’s helped me get organized, helps with my laundry and is hopefully going to take me to play soccer with his friends. I’ve invited him to watch movies at my home and I lent his the art book that my sister gave me and he’s done a very good sketch of the Mona Lisa from it. I feel comfortable there, I feel at home. I am also excited because across the street lives a truly amazing woman named Josephine. She is older, in her 60s and she takes in unwanted children. I visited her for the first time yesterday and she has at least 10 1-5 year old kids living with her. I want that to be one of my bases. I want to go and play with the kids and help her with her work.
REAP also has people like that. I work with Paul and a woman named Molly. They share a two person office in the Ugandan equivalent of a strip mall. I was not happy to see that most of my work would be done in this office. In fact, I am here now, at my computer about to connect to the internet in my office. I have to say that I had terrible flashbacks to my last job. Our problem is transportation. Paul, Molly and to some extent, myself, are trained to teach and do outreaches. They work in four communities but the problem is that there is no money to get out there. This was part of the reason that their last volunteer left, he also didn’t want to work in an office. I feel that if we find a way to get into the field, we have a lot to offer. The idea that I introduced yesterday is to piggyback on other organizations and go out with them when they do outreaches and teach and train them. Molly and Paul liked the idea and we had two meetings yesterday to arrange transportation with other organizations. I think and hope it will work because I don’t want to be cooped up an office all day. I hope it works. I also started a blog for them (reapmasaka.blogspot.com) where we intend to publicly document the work we do which we can use with other reports to maybe get funding down the road.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Not Much Has Happened
I moved to Masaka on Monday. Actually, that’s not quite right, I moved to Kayirikiti village within Nyendo township, about 5km from where I work in Masaka. My organization is called Renewed Efforts to Alleviate Poverty (REAP) and the reason that I moved here so quickly is that I am replacing a volunteer from the group that came in August who terminated his service after a month. There were prospects in the far west and in the far east, but, in the end, I am here. I’m not going to lie: when Peace Corps told me that I was coming here I was extremely disappointed and upset. I told them that all I wanted was to live in a village. I did not care the work that I was told to do or where in the country I was told to go and I didn’t mind learning a new language; I just wanted to live somewhere rural for another year. Nyendo is not rural. It is a township at an intersection of two roads that go to two bigger towns, Mbarara and Masaka. Nyendo feels a little like Busia, a border town in the East. There are a lot of businesses focused on people travelling, more motorcycles than people, a lot of bustling and exhaust and noise, car repair shops, litter everywhere. It’s ugly and when I first arrived I was extremely upset, disappointed and honestly wondered if I could live in a place like this for a year. I’m staying.
I don’t live somewhere beautiful anymore, but I am living and working with wonderful people that I already trust. I live in a small, two room house with a separate kitchen in the back yard of my counterpart/supervisor, Paul. I spent the first day organizing and decorating. I put my pictures on the wall and unlike my last house, I put up a ton of pictures of all of you. I wanted this house to feel like my home. I have electricity now, which is nice, but has already been detrimental to my habit of reading a lot. The best part about my home is Paul and his family. They have taken me in and in two days have already made me feel accepted and a part of their family. So far they have invited me to breakfast and dinner every morning, where we sit as a family and eat. His wife, Margaret, sits at the table with us, which is not common here and it feels like home, I feel like I am part of their family, not just a guest in their home. Ibrahim is their 18 year old son, home from school until February. He’s helped me get organized, helps with my laundry and is hopefully going to take me to play soccer with his friends. I’ve invited him to watch movies at my home and I lent his the art book that my sister gave me and he’s done a very good sketch of the Mona Lisa from it. I feel comfortable there, I feel at home. I am also excited because across the street lives a truly amazing woman named Josephine. She is older, in her 60s and she takes in unwanted children. I visited her for the first time yesterday and she has at least 10 1-5 year old kids living with her. I want that to be one of my bases. I want to go and play with the kids and help her with her work.
REAP also has people like that. I work with Paul and a woman named Molly. They share a two person office in the Ugandan equivalent of a strip mall. I was not happy to see that most of my work would be done in this office. In fact, I am here now, at my computer about to connect to the internet in my office. I have to say that I had terrible flashbacks to my last job. Our problem is transportation. Paul, Molly and to some extent, myself, are trained to teach and do outreaches. They work in four communities but the problem is that there is no money to get out there. This was part of the reason that their last volunteer left, he also didn’t want to work in an office. I feel that if we find a way to get into the field, we have a lot to offer. The idea that I introduced yesterday is to piggyback on other organizations and go out with them when they do outreaches and teach and train them. Molly and Paul liked the idea and we had two meetings yesterday to arrange transportation with other organizations. I think and hope it will work because I don’t want to be cooped up an office all day. I hope it works. I also started a blog for them (reapmasaka.blogspot.com) where we intend to publicly document the work we do which we can use with other reports to maybe get funding down the road.
I don’t live somewhere beautiful anymore, but I am living and working with wonderful people that I already trust. I live in a small, two room house with a separate kitchen in the back yard of my counterpart/supervisor, Paul. I spent the first day organizing and decorating. I put my pictures on the wall and unlike my last house, I put up a ton of pictures of all of you. I wanted this house to feel like my home. I have electricity now, which is nice, but has already been detrimental to my habit of reading a lot. The best part about my home is Paul and his family. They have taken me in and in two days have already made me feel accepted and a part of their family. So far they have invited me to breakfast and dinner every morning, where we sit as a family and eat. His wife, Margaret, sits at the table with us, which is not common here and it feels like home, I feel like I am part of their family, not just a guest in their home. Ibrahim is their 18 year old son, home from school until February. He’s helped me get organized, helps with my laundry and is hopefully going to take me to play soccer with his friends. I’ve invited him to watch movies at my home and I lent his the art book that my sister gave me and he’s done a very good sketch of the Mona Lisa from it. I feel comfortable there, I feel at home. I am also excited because across the street lives a truly amazing woman named Josephine. She is older, in her 60s and she takes in unwanted children. I visited her for the first time yesterday and she has at least 10 1-5 year old kids living with her. I want that to be one of my bases. I want to go and play with the kids and help her with her work.
REAP also has people like that. I work with Paul and a woman named Molly. They share a two person office in the Ugandan equivalent of a strip mall. I was not happy to see that most of my work would be done in this office. In fact, I am here now, at my computer about to connect to the internet in my office. I have to say that I had terrible flashbacks to my last job. Our problem is transportation. Paul, Molly and to some extent, myself, are trained to teach and do outreaches. They work in four communities but the problem is that there is no money to get out there. This was part of the reason that their last volunteer left, he also didn’t want to work in an office. I feel that if we find a way to get into the field, we have a lot to offer. The idea that I introduced yesterday is to piggyback on other organizations and go out with them when they do outreaches and teach and train them. Molly and Paul liked the idea and we had two meetings yesterday to arrange transportation with other organizations. I think and hope it will work because I don’t want to be cooped up an office all day. I hope it works. I also started a blog for them (reapmasaka.blogspot.com) where we intend to publicly document the work we do which we can use with other reports to maybe get funding down the road.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Happy 08!
I guess that I'm late to that party, no? The last month has been hectic, with a lot of travelling and some small changes at site. We had our 3 month in-service training in Kampala a couple of weeks ago. That meant two weeks in Kampala, which was 11 days too much. It was nice seeing the people from my training group and compare notes.
I finally came back to the village on the 26th of January to see that through the amazing work of an american/canadian woman who lives in my district, a new vocational school openned in my village. I am now working there primarily. So far I am teaching math (addition and subtraction) and health. We had a great talk during my first health class about gender roles and the need to better educate men. The women know already how things should be, but are being held back by men who refuse to change. Hopefully, I can help with that in some way.
I am still trying to work at the health center, but that is proving to be difficult. The administration is so out of whack and the things they need most (supplies, drugs) require a lot of money that I don't want to shell out. Hopefully I can somehow combine the school with the healthcenter and work on creating a ton of community health workers.
A new group of volunteers come in a week. 62 people, that's a ton. Luckily most are going west because I see enough volunteers as it is. Tomorrow, Feb 9, my half birthday, marks 6 months in country!
All for now, more laterish.
I finally came back to the village on the 26th of January to see that through the amazing work of an american/canadian woman who lives in my district, a new vocational school openned in my village. I am now working there primarily. So far I am teaching math (addition and subtraction) and health. We had a great talk during my first health class about gender roles and the need to better educate men. The women know already how things should be, but are being held back by men who refuse to change. Hopefully, I can help with that in some way.
I am still trying to work at the health center, but that is proving to be difficult. The administration is so out of whack and the things they need most (supplies, drugs) require a lot of money that I don't want to shell out. Hopefully I can somehow combine the school with the healthcenter and work on creating a ton of community health workers.
A new group of volunteers come in a week. 62 people, that's a ton. Luckily most are going west because I see enough volunteers as it is. Tomorrow, Feb 9, my half birthday, marks 6 months in country!
All for now, more laterish.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Hello all!
I can't believe it's already christmas. It sure doesn't feel like it, I swear I've only been here a few weeks. It's hot and dry here and does not feel at all like christmas except for the festive people painting their houses with a mixture of sand and cow manure.
I am going to my Lumasaba teacher's house with some friends from the area. I will be at her house for Christmas eve until Wednesday and will see how christmas is done in the village. Hopefully I will tell you all about it pretty soon, next week even if I get the chance.
Also, I want to say Merry Christmas to all of my friends and everyone who has shown me tremendous support since I got here. I am so lucky to have absolutely the best people in the world for friends and I am greatful for that. And, my family rocks, too! Things here are going well. I miss and love you all.
Lisandro
2008 here we come! I love an election year!
I can't believe it's already christmas. It sure doesn't feel like it, I swear I've only been here a few weeks. It's hot and dry here and does not feel at all like christmas except for the festive people painting their houses with a mixture of sand and cow manure.
I am going to my Lumasaba teacher's house with some friends from the area. I will be at her house for Christmas eve until Wednesday and will see how christmas is done in the village. Hopefully I will tell you all about it pretty soon, next week even if I get the chance.
Also, I want to say Merry Christmas to all of my friends and everyone who has shown me tremendous support since I got here. I am so lucky to have absolutely the best people in the world for friends and I am greatful for that. And, my family rocks, too! Things here are going well. I miss and love you all.
Lisandro
2008 here we come! I love an election year!
Friday, December 14, 2007
In Kampala
I am in Kampala for the weekend to play softball against Japanese volunteers. At least that is what I hope happens. And, maybe, I'll go see a movie. Not much has been going on in my village except that I am starting to understand more and more the role of corruption in development and how it hinders progress. Maybe I'll work on that, it seems like a pretty easy problem to fix.
I don't have much to say so maybe I'll put a picture and that will be that.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Life is good
I have been in an absolutely wonderful mood for the past few weeks. I am starting to get into a little bit of a routine at site and it allows me to do the things that interest me. On Mondays and Wednesdays I am working at the local health center and I am trying to start some education programs. So far, that means me talking to mothers for an hour or two, answering their questions and trying to teach them how to prevent common diseases. I love that and the mothers really seem to enjoy it. Best of all, I help with baby weighing and there are few things funnier than looking at a baby's face as it dangles from a hanging scale.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work in the field, which means very long walks, some teaching, and, usually, a huge lunch. I have been walking a ton here (not counting my two, 15+ mile walks to town) and I enjoy the hell out of that. I walk with my counterparts and it gives me a chance to talk to them about all the questions I have about Uganda. I need to start practicing my language more, I have flatlined a bit. That is my goal for the next couple of months. On Friday I work with Paul, one of my counterparts. We do not have a set program yet, but we are trying to develop a few ideas. Mondays and Thursdays are Market days and I enjoy looking for neat clothing. Haven't bought anything yet, but there are lots of fun shirts, like a "Nyet Nyet Soviet" shirt with and crossed out sickle and hammer. I usually get lunch and milk tea at the Market, which lets me talk to some women. The woman I usually go to, Juliet, makes donuts. I am going to teach her to make a glaze so she can sell more. Anyone with a good recipe, please email me.
At night I have been eating out at friends houses a lot. Many nights that's Josh, the other volunteer that lives 10 minutes away, but lately it has been at the houses of Ugandans. I went to a friend's birthday party last night and ended up drinking Malwa (a maize and millet moonshine) with the girls family and grandmother. Pictures should come soon!
So, that's what I'm up to (plus, reading a lot - Neil, thanks for the New Yorkers!) and I want to bike more soon. I had my first machete accident last night as I sliced my finger. I am okay, just a lot of blood.
Miss and love most of you!
Lisandro
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work in the field, which means very long walks, some teaching, and, usually, a huge lunch. I have been walking a ton here (not counting my two, 15+ mile walks to town) and I enjoy the hell out of that. I walk with my counterparts and it gives me a chance to talk to them about all the questions I have about Uganda. I need to start practicing my language more, I have flatlined a bit. That is my goal for the next couple of months. On Friday I work with Paul, one of my counterparts. We do not have a set program yet, but we are trying to develop a few ideas. Mondays and Thursdays are Market days and I enjoy looking for neat clothing. Haven't bought anything yet, but there are lots of fun shirts, like a "Nyet Nyet Soviet" shirt with and crossed out sickle and hammer. I usually get lunch and milk tea at the Market, which lets me talk to some women. The woman I usually go to, Juliet, makes donuts. I am going to teach her to make a glaze so she can sell more. Anyone with a good recipe, please email me.
At night I have been eating out at friends houses a lot. Many nights that's Josh, the other volunteer that lives 10 minutes away, but lately it has been at the houses of Ugandans. I went to a friend's birthday party last night and ended up drinking Malwa (a maize and millet moonshine) with the girls family and grandmother. Pictures should come soon!
So, that's what I'm up to (plus, reading a lot - Neil, thanks for the New Yorkers!) and I want to bike more soon. I had my first machete accident last night as I sliced my finger. I am okay, just a lot of blood.
Miss and love most of you!
Lisandro
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