We walk, she runs, and I take pictures!

A dear friend, Laura, came and spent 10 days with me in the village and then we went on our own little romantic get-a-way to see what most people think of when they think of Africa… Wart hogs! Now Laura (or for the remainder of this blog I will refer to her has Lola due to the inability for anyone to pronounce an “L” and an “R” in the same word here in Uganda) is a runner. She is a fit athlete who 2 days prior to coming to Uganda had run a marathon in lightening speed. Kinley… Only a runner when being chased by a rhino who is foaming at the mouth or when chasing down the ice cream man. Now this may sound like a conflict in our friendship but that is furthest from the case! Lola runs, Kinley takes pictures!

While Lola was here we had 3 main projects. Project 1 was taking afternoon walks and finding a way to give these children pride in what they love. Project 2 was creating a running race for the high schoolers and Project 3 was seeing an elephant and a giraffe. All projects completed!

Project 1:No, Africa is not only made up of sad children who have flies all over their eyes and are simply skin and bones. Yes, sometimes there are flies but these kids have the same aspirations that each of us had when growing up. They laugh, play, tease me, cry, have temper tantrums, and love candy just as I did when I was that age. The biggest difference is that it is difficult for them to get out of the village cycle.

While teaching career guidance at the local high school I learned that the head master could only think of 1 student who had gone to college from this village. That is 1 student in 10 years! That is NOT because these kids are not smart enough! The freshman class currently has 154 students and the senior class has 15. That is NOT because these kids don’t care! Due to lack of finances most children drop out of school and fish or farm for the rest of their life. They do not do this because they don’t want to be anything else, they do it because they feel it is their only choice. When taking a survey of the students we asked them to write down
1. Their name
2. What they want to be
3. Why they want to be that
4. What subjects are they good at and enjoy in school (trying to make a connection between strengths/passion and career)
5. What could be a challenge to achieve that goal
When we received the papers back 100% had school fees as their challenge. With minimal loan programs, difficulty to obtain scholarships, and large fees to travel to go to university many of these kids feel stuck.

After seeing this my career guidance talks switched to problem solving and not lecturing. We began discussing options and ways to work for a few years while continuing education and most importantly doing what you are passionate about in some way.

During one of our walks Lola and I grabbed a piece of cardboard and a marker to try to see what the youngest of the community were passionate about. We wrote “I want the world to know” and they let the kids finish the sentence. Only steps from my house we stopped and found aspiring doctors, engineers, artists, kids that love to play, smile.

Project 2: When I picked Lola up at the airport she was carrying a plastic tupperware bin that could fit a medium sized cow inside. This bin contained 25 pairs of nice running shoes and dozens of running shirts and jackets tagged with the ‘November Project’ logo. November Project is an amazing running group that started in Boston to bring runners, athletes, and aspiring athletes together to work out for free. It is a fun, charismatic group who pushes each other to work hard and have fun while doing it. When Lola arrived we discussed what the best way to give out these items were and we decided on having a race at the local high school during the PE time that I teach. We informed the school and the students and mapped out the route, printed out HIV and hygiene education that they had to get to assure they had run the correct route, and of course grabbed a roll of toilet paper for a dramatic finish. We woke up at 7:00 am on the day of the race to find it pouring rain… Perfect since November Project runs in rain, shine, snow, or hail!

The race ended up being a great success. The shirts and shoes were much appreciated considering that at the starting line 2/3 of the students had no shoes and were running in their skirts. The girls were amazing (obviously) and 20 students left with new shirts, 10 with new shoes, and 2 with new jackets. The rest of the apparel will be given during sports day later this month.

Project 3: I love elephants. They never forget, they care for their families, and regardless of the fact that people tell me they can be one of the most dangerous animals, I like to pretend they are like Dumbo and very gentle! Lola and I decided that we should take a 3 day. Get-a-way and see if we could see some wild animals! Uganda is no Kenya or Tanzania when it comes to African safaris but it is one thing… Much cheaper! Lola and I took a little adventure on public transportation alone to Kampala and found a safari leaving the next day. On this safari we traveled north to a rhino sanctuary were we saw the only wild rhinos in Uganda, went on a hike to find some hippos (another animal that is said to be dangerous but I like to pretend they are just as cuddly as they look), took a game drive through Murchinson National Park, and went chimp trekking. I realized 2 things on this trip. 1. When you have a choice dont chose to sit in the back of the van for a long long bumpy trip and 2. Wart hogs are funny.

The safari ended on March 17th by me pinching Lola because she wasn’t wearing green, us grabbing a Nile Special, and meeting some new friends!

What I have learned part 2

1. When living with no electricity don’t forget to put your solar light outside to charge.
2. When you forget to put your solar light outside to charge the next best invention is a cell phone with a flashlight.
3. If you think it may be dark by the time you walk back to your room always remember to bring your flashlight.
4. If you think it will still be light by the time you walk home still bring your flashlight.
5. If you forget your flashlight make sure you leave it in the same spot… Sense of touch isn’t as good as you may think and flashlights are surprisingly deceiving.
6. Snizards like to hide out in the latrines.
7. Bats scare the $#*%^|€ out of me.
8. Mosquito nets give me a false sense if security.
9. I answer to “Mzungu”.
10. I am in love with the village I live in.
11. My favorite part of my day is being greeted by the kids on my walks in the afternoon.
12. It’s ok to wash your body with water that looks green.
13. It’s ok to wash your clothes with water that looks green.
14. It is NOT ok to drink the water that looks green.
15. If your hear a crying child outside your window run outside and help them.
16. That crying child may just be a goat.
17. If a Ugandan sees you running to check on a crying child/goat just pretend you are going for a run.
18. You won’t die from eating too much matoke.
19. Pasta and popcorn are acceptable to eat for breakfast in Uganda.
20. When in doubt… Just dance.

One of these things is not like the other

Look what I found while walking to tea this evening. A beautiful Kankobe Village sunset with a silhouette of the banana tree leaves and the guest house… And little bunny foo foo? Kennedy what are you doing hopping around at this hour? Don’t you know there are lions in Africa?

Holy Laundry!

Laundry has never been my favorite past time. I will admit to both having a huge pile of laundry in the corner of my room that easily begins to blend into the walls and before I know it becomes invisible. I also am a believer that jeans, when on the floor for long enough, do in fact clean themselves and are able to be worn again. The wonderful thing about San Diego is that there are many Goodwills and cheap store where I can easily buy a $2 shirt or $5 dress in a pinch. The truth is I didn’t know how lucky I was! Yes for deeper self reflection this whole living in Africa thing has really taught me to be truly grateful for all that I have but laundry is now climbed the later in that list!

It is difficult to get a big pile of clothes here in Africa because 1. I don’t have that many clothes 2. You can’t rewear many clothes because of how dirty they get and 3. You can’t buy any other clothes when you are out. My underwear reserve was getting low and I had worn the same pair of pants a few days in a row plus I had some clothes that the group had left for give aways that I had yet to give away to anyone in need because they were caked in dirt. It was time.

I have done my laundry quite a few times since being here and really don’t mind it. Plop a chair in the shade, carry 2 heavy 20L Jerry cans up from the water source to my shady spot, have 2 big buckets of water, some soap, and I’m off. Scrub scrub scrub, sing, do a little dance, wring out, throw in the “clean water bucket”, rinse and repeat, and then hang on the line. Easy enough! This trip is about me having some time to myself and so laundry is just that.

Well my nice relaxing thoughts of laundry are over. Laundry is a dangerous sport. After 5 hours of scrubbing and 6 Jerry cans of water later I noticed a funny color in the water. Tracing back to the source of that funny color it was my knuckles! I had rubbed my knuckles raw until they were bleeding. With 2 towels left, 2 pairs of jeans, and the dirtiest shorts I’ve ever seen, there was no stopping. I powered through the last ones only to hear that “we wash our clothes until they are fully clean” and told that I should re-wash those dirty shorts. Ouch!

Today my forearms are tired from wringing out so many clothes about 5 times each. Wash, wring out, rinse, wring out, wash again, wring out, rinse, wring, rinse with cleaner water, wring, hang. I have a new found respect and love of the whole “I have a ton of laundry to do so I have to watch TV while the machine does it and then every 40 min I have to move it from 1 godly machine to another.”

I believe washing my clothes may be even enjoyable when I get back to the US… Maybe

Adventure African style

Now the word adventure can be interpreted in many different ways. Some may think going on a hike is an adventure while others intend on climbing Mt. Everest or swimming with Great Whites but the biggest adventure I have yet to do is… Survive public transportation in Kampala, Uganda!

There are a few different means of public transportation you can use when navigating through a city with no street signs, no stop lights at intersections, and 6 lanes of traffic when there are painted lines for 2. There is the most commonly used Boda Boda which is a motorcycle and driver with enough room for 1.5 people in the back. I have gotten quite comfortable with the Boda Boda in the village and I have my trusted Beakwaso who is the main Boda Boda driver that we use at the medical center. I feel comfortable with his driving and notice that he drives a few mph slower when the Mzungu is on board. With that said we have had some interesting rides with 3 passengers, oxygen, and mass amounts if food strapped to the back, but again village Boda Boda experience is different than chaotic, crazy, city Boda Boda where there is a high chance you may lose your knee when cutting off a bus (yep, true story that almost happened). I almost lost a chicken when decided to ride a boda boda in Kampala while holding a live chicken (that we were giving to a family in need). All I kept telling myself was “please keep this chicken alive and don’t turn it into a chicken patty when the Boda Boda stops abruptly and you smash into him!” Chicken survived! So far my only Boda Boda casualty has not been when riding one but has been when crossing the street. I zigged when I should have zagged or maybe I forgot to look right after looking right and then left and boom!!! He ran over my foot. Aside from a little tire burn on the top of my foot I was fine.

That brings me to my next type of adventure other than the Boda Boda… Walking. In Kampala the pedestrian does NOT have the right of way. Whatever vehicle is bigger and faster does. Again there are no cross walks, no traffic lights, pretty much no time that is safe to cross so the best time is when the lightest vehicle is coming towards you. I feel like I am in a cartoon at times, running forwards then backwards then jumping as a Boda Boda almost clips my Boda Boda. I have learned the best thing to do is find a local and stay very very close.

The next form of public transportation is the taxi. No it is not a yellow car that you hire to take you from grand central to the upper east side. It is (as I have briefly explained in a previous post) an old van that has 5 rows of seats. Each row has a bench that fits 2 butts and a flip down seat which is quite reclined due to the bent metal so you become cozy with the gentleman sitting behind you. As are the lines on the roads, the number of seats are just for decoration but not for function. Easily 4 adults and 2 children can fit in a row for the entire 3 hour ride. Through my time here I have sat on many of laps and had a child or two fall asleep on me. We are one happy family!

Although the taxi ride itself is an adventure the taxi terminal/ station is another. Trying to find the correct taxi is like trying to play scrabble with your eyes closed… Impossible. And it doesn’t help that every taxi driver wants you to go in their taxi so they get paid more so they are constantly pulling you in the direction if their taxi regardless if it takes you where you want to go or not. Once you do find your taxi in the sea of 10,000,000 identical taxis and not one sign for where they go, you take a seat inside and bake as you wait for the taxi to fill up prior to leaving the chaotic taxi cluster. The pro to this is you then get to go shopping from your window until you leave. People come by with cold water (a delicacy), matoke, bread, watches, belts, underwear, calculators, lights, skirts, socks, sheets, toys, diaper rash cream, head ache meds, handkerchief, you name it. Next time I’m feeling lazy and need to shop I think I will sit in a taxi, literally window shop, and then skedaddle before the taxi leaves.

With all this said somehow the chaos works. I have been tested on patience and I am amazed by everyone’s willingness to sit and wait without frustration. Multiple times now we have taken a 3 hour chaotic taxi into the main city of Kampala to pick up some supplies for the medical center and then taken the 3 hour chaotic taxi home. An all day affair with not one complaint! I enjoy the slow mentality. The idea that some things may take long and that is ok.

For everyone worried about my well being after this post know that I am safe. I am taking every precaution I can to not get run over by a Boda Boda but there are times when I have to embrace the chaos that is my home at this present moment.

Bricks for Peace 2013

For the past 2 weeks I have been fortunate enough to be a part of an amazing effort including 14 Americans and many Ugandans called “Bricks for Peace”. The first few weeks of my time in Kankobe Village was quintessential rural life. My mornings were quiet, days spent doing things for the medical center, creating educational material, having meetings with leaders of the surrounding villages about healthcare and our resources, and doing the necessities such as washing my clothes by hand and fetching water for a shower-ish. Much of my time was spend alone. On Feb 7th life in Kankobe Village and rural life changed in a way that will never be forgotten.

The ridiculously amazing team came to Uganda for the first time and worked until we were covered in clay, threw bricks until our hands were bleeding, and danced until the sweat washed both the clay and the blood away. Bricks for Peace was created to unite Americans and Ugandans together while building a maternity ward. Although we worked long hours we sure found time to sneak in a few adventures, village walks, and talks around a fire.

As a group we completed the most difficult part of the building process which consisted of moving the clay bricks and filling the foundation. Nothing here is done with machines. Bricks are moved by lining up people and tossing these surprisingly heavy and sharp bricks to their needed destination. Thank goodness we had Adrian and his Army chants to get us through the tedious hours of throwing and catching and making sure you dont drop one on your foot if you choose to wear flip flops. “They say that in Uganda the bricks are mighty fine….” The foundation is filled using shovels, hoes, broken wheel barrows, and your feet. Water for the cement is fetched using our trusted ‘Solongo’ and his rickety old bike with flat tires to carry 8 Jerry cans the 1 mile up hill from Lake Victoria. Somehow he is able to do it multiple times alone yet when 3 strong Americans go to help him they all come back sweating and in awe of the difficulty. Every time Solongo returns pushing the 100+lbs of water on the bike he always has a huge smile and gives us a cheer. That seems to be the Ugandan way.

When not working ouur activities included:
~Taking 10 Boda Bodas (motorcycles that are used as taxis, driver plus 2 passengers) through the surrounding villages, to a crocodile farm, to the equator, and back home. Everyone’s face looked as if they had been snookie-fied with orange self tanner from the clay/dirt roads and everyone’s expression stuck in pure terror from the trip. To me it was a great success, no casualties and a lot of good memories. Although many said they would never ride on “that damn thing” ever again I know deep down they are longing to increase their heart rate on another Boda Boda joy ride.
~River rafting down the Nile. I have been rafting quite a few times in the US and have loved every minute of it. I have gone down what I feel are pretty big rapids yet felt safe knowing I was with a qualified guild who would not take me down any rapid that would put my life in danger. On the Nile… Not the case. I don’t know what started making me nervous. It could have been when our guide made us practice what to do when someone falls out of the boat. Or when he made us flip the boat and practice how to get out from under the raft. Or maybe when we were told we would be going down 4 class 5 rapids (class 6 is the highest). Actually… I know when I started to panic. It was when the other guide said “on this next rapid I want to see some carnage!” Yep, that did it. Well he asked for carnage and he got some! On every rapid aside from the first (which was a 12 foot waterfall we went down) someone fell out of the raft myself included. I will say that rafting trip will forever be engrained in my mind and I feel honored to be standing on solid ground.
~Pig roast Ameri-ganda style. You may ask what is ameri-ganda style. Well… It is what happens when a group of Americans and Ugandans wing a pig roast. All you need is a hole (which we dug quite quickly), banana leaves, some pineapple, an amazing rub (made with whatever I could find), and a pig! Easy enough right? Except for when you go buy a pig in the village and the pig is brought to us alive. Hmmm??? This is when I removed myself from the situation and let the Ugandans take over. All in all the pig was a huge success. We invited a few neighbors and all the men who had been working with us building and fed everyone with pork to spare!
~By far my favorite activity was our nightly drum circles and dance parties. After dinner we would have a few warm beers and begin with the drums and before you knew it myself and a few others would be shaking our booties and playing air jump rope.

Each member of this team taught me something and the trip wouldn’t have been the same without them. I knew that the goodbyes would be difficult and they were. I am now back to the village life. There are no more lines in the morning for sunscreen, no more drum circles, no more east coast sarcasm, no more chants, no more Mzungus. I sure miss all of their smiles, laughs, and camaraderie but I have to continue to do the work that they started! Their inspiration will help me through these next few months.

The Bricks for Peace crew from Rhode Island, California, and North Carolina
John- our fearless leader! Without his energy, vision, and optimism none of this would be possible.
Derek- throws bricks like he threw a football in college
Paige- the only person I know who was able to get ready in the morning in Uganda and without looking like she had gotten ready in the morning in Uganda!
Kristina- the lady that could keep up with the men (what was that 16 pull ups?)
Bill- the positive and steady one.
Adrian- best voice! Kept us going with his chants/songs
Anthony- constantly analyzing the surroundings
Cuong- able to take a quick nap anywhere!!! At anytime!!! And mr gadget with his mosquito zapper
Alex- monkey trainer and fellow snizard wrangler.
Marie- best laugh!!!
Joe- who needs bags and clothes when you are in Uganda?
Eric- this is who you turn to when you need some good music to set the mood!

Much love to my Bricks for Peace 2013 crew! Thinking of you!

Grand Opening of the Donna Carnevale Medical Center

On Sunday feb 17th we had a grand opening for the Donna Carnevale Medical Center (although we have been open for a year) and then discussed the future of the Unity Maternity Ward and other community developments. The grand opening couldn’t have been more of a success! The day started with a mass including music and the father blessing the medical center and maternity ward. That was followed by many amazing women volunteering their time to cook a meal for 300+ people who joined us! Some how everyone was able to have a full plate of rice and beans and a soda. It couldn’t have run more smoothly. We then had an introduction time where all of the local leaders got up to speak as well as John, myself, and the rest of the team. We were able to discuss our services as well as the services that we will be adding once the maternity ward is finished being built. Throughout the entire day I had a little girl holding my hand and sitting on my lap. No I do not know her name or who her parents were but I do know that she was comfortable enough to fall asleep on me just before I had to stand up to talk.

The grand finale was a soccer game that we hosted between our local village and a neighboring one. Adrian (part of our US team) played for Kankobe village and 3 other US folks were the refs (ballsy move if you ask me). The soccer game brought over 400 people all screaming and cheering for the teams, rushing the field after goals, and lining the goal posts during penalty kicks. There are no lines on the field so a man walks up and down the sidelines with a stick hitting anyone who steps over the invisible line. I made sure to take a few big steps back when I saw him heading my way. John had received donated jerseys and each team was outfitted in new red and white jerseys. Although Kankobe Village lost the game was dramatic and exciting and amazing to see an entire village together.

The night ended with drums, music, dancing, and another child falling asleep on me.

I am beyond proud to be apart of this medical center and village.

Getting ready for the group

A group of 15 people from the US are arriving on Friday and so I have been getting ready to welcome them. My first job was to buy 15 mosquito nets for them to sleep under. To do this we (Miah, Rogers, Pim, and I) took a 2.5 hour taxi into the capital city of Kampala. By taxi I mean we got into an old van that has 5 rows of 3 seats including the driver (you can to the math). There is a legable sign on the side that reads “licensed for 14 passengers” and a large sign painted across the rear window that reads “emergency exit”. This van stops at every little town as well as at every person on the side of the road. That was fine until the stopped and 6 people wanted to get in. 14 of us were already seated fairly comfortably so I was interested in how the driver was going to turn the other 5 away… He didn’t. Everyone silently scooted over and I followed suit by pretty much sitting on an old mans lap and we continued the rest of the away to the city. I probably should have introduced myself and asked if he minded if we played “trot trot to Boston”(well Kampala actually) on his knee but due to my lack if Luganda all I could get out was “how’s it going” with a reply from him of “OK Madam”. We didn’t speak another word to each other but I could tell we had bonded.

Once in the city we hopped in a “boda boda” which is a small motorcycle that acts like a cab and 2 people can fit on the back and drove to the larges market in the city to buy the mosquito nets. Because I am one of few ladies on the property I felt it would be fitting to get neon pink, neon green, and blue mosquito nets. After the boys smiled and shook their heads is concurrence I’m sure and we completed the transaction and hoped in the taxi home. (Repeat paragraph above).

Tonight all of the 15 beds have arrived with mattresses and we packed them like sardines into the rooms. We will be one comfy bunch but when we are discussing unity there is no better way! We must practice what we preach.

Tomorrow Miah, Rogers, Pim, and I will take the taxi back into Kampala (repeat paragraph 1) and spend the next 24 hours going back me forth to the airport and stores to pick up cheaper supplies and then take a rented van home. That means I have 24 hours to learn how to ask the name of the person whose lap I will be sitting on.

Lunch Time Jam Sesh

Quick lunchtime post:

I was sitting in the large cement building with blue skies, the windows open, breeze blowing, and a plate full of matoke and potatoes. Feeling full and happy after discuss our next plan of attack. In true Kinley form I began dancing in my seat. A simple beat was started by banging on the table and within minutes Miah Boombiah (Jeremiah) and Pim started grabbing forks, spoons, plates, using pot tops as symbols, pans as drums and creating beautiful music as I danced like a maniac around the building! Each person walking through has laughed, smiled, and nodded in appreciation (I think).

Definitely beginning to feel at home!

No need for electricity when you’ve got good convos!

Yesterday was a tough day. Not physically but I just felt off. Possibly due to the lack of communication, language barrier, difficulty figuring out some of the culture, and missing those I love. I just didn’t feel myself. Regardless of what or why I was feeling this way it was turned around with an amazing conversation with Jeremiah as we were sipping our tea in a dark cement room. We spoke of the lifestyle here, the hardships, the African culture, American culture, desires, ambitions, and our goal! He told me about his family and what life was like growing up n rural Uganda. He explained the importance of strength, unity, perseverance but he also described the current downfalls of these villages. Although one is forced to fight to put food on the table or a roof over your head the fight is easier when working together. I left feeling reminded of why I came here. Why I left a place so comfortable, weather unbeatable, a job of my passion, friends irreplaceable, and a simply happy life. I left because I wanted to learn and in return help. I wanted to be inspired and repay with inspiration.

Today I woke up feeling ready! I walked down to get some tea in the morning and then spent some time with the animals that live on the land with us. My favorite is a bunny which had no name but Jeremiah has named after me “Kennedy”. You may ask how “Kennedy” is named after “Kinley” but trust me… If I am called anything other than “Mazungu” I go along with it. Jeremiah heard someone calling me Kennedy (I didn’t even notice) and has continued to think it is funny and now calls me that himself. Enjoy the pictures of the Kankobe Village farm that I call home!

Mama pig and piglets!

Goat 1 and goat 2

Jeremiah, Kennedy the bunny, and Me.

Signing off -Kennedy