Jinja, Islands, and Random Updates

After some confusion with meeting up with the SHIM bus, I was finally with some of the team heading to the Entebbe to pick up Andy and Keeky, along with their son David. They arrived Sunday night after being gone for 4 or so months. This is at 11am Monday. We reach Entebbe at around noon. Then we head off to pick up Shannon, this amazingly strong and courageous 16 year old from Oregon who knows team members from back home. Shannon will be here for two months, she has volunteered at the local orphanage and is now joining the SHIM team after her friends had left. (Her friends stayed for about 2 weeks). The ride to Jinja from Kampala is roughly an hour and a half. We stop for some fast food at Mr. Tasty, a little hamburger/chicken joint at Lugogo shopping plaza. For 6,500 shillings for a burger, chips (fries), and a soda, it wasn’t bad.

We did not arrive to the Jinja office until almost 6pm. The traffic was horrible. An hour and half drive lasting more than twice the normal drive. We did have some great conversations, but with no air conditioning and a cool breeze only occurs when the vehicle is moving, you can imagine how hot it was. David, who is 8 months, was a very good sport. I have never met such a patient, perfect, calm, go with the flow baby.

That night, Ruth, Shannon, and I were tried of sitting, so we went on a walk around Jinja. Ruth was very generous and bought us ice cream from the local coffee and internet shop: The Source. I had the most amazing ice cream, covered in white chocolate with strawberry chucks and shortcake pieces in it. I am not ashamed to admit that when chocolate broke off and fell to the ground, I picked it up and ate it. I am not wasting precious chocolate. So far, I have not gotten sick.

Jinga is the city where the SHIM office is located. It is also the city where one would catch a boat to head to the Buvuma Islands. The front part of the house is the office, with two desks, computer, and shelves. This is also where we eat, work, and have meetings. So there is large kitchen table, a couch, and another small chair. In the back of the house there are two bedrooms, a bathroom, and the kitchen. At the SHIM office there is something called Table Ministry. I have fallen in love with Table Ministry, “reaching people, connecting people to people with food.”

We are staying here until maybe Thursday. This allows time for Andy and Keeky to visit friends in Jinja, as well as for the staff to get together for progress reports, and new directions for current and new projects. This is perfect time for me to continue to build relationships with the staff, get to know Andy and Keeky, type of my journals for my practicum, read materials from Raising Voices, and adjust. Today Keeky and Andy are going to try to meet to discuss my work: what they need, what I need to do for my requirements, what is feasible, how long it will take, background information, etc. So getting on common ground, setting the next steps, and begin the “actual” work. However, these past two weeks have been work, just not work in the American sense.

Yesterday was a very quite, relaxed day for me and most of the staff. Today will be as well. As you will be able to tell I have had time to type and post. I figured that you guys needed an update and since I am journaling for my practicum and blogging, some might overlap. There will be some very long entries. I do what I can, when I can.

I did do laundry today. That was fun. I do not hand wash things at home, so to hand wash everything, without running water mind you, it’s a big change. I am becoming very appreciative of the stuff I have at home, and the moments here that may seem little but are small joyful blessings. On a non-work related note, a group of us might try to go see the Source of the Nile or the Bujagali Falls here in Jinja.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we should be heading off to the Islands!


Update about Mr. Lwanga: He could not meet with me when I was in Kampala . We are going to try to meet next time I am in the city, with hopefully a few days heads-up.

Update on the Dobson Volunteer Service Program: I am still waiting to hear about my application. The Dobson program provides funding for students and faculty for their volunteer service projects. They will fund up to half of your trip in exchange for ten lectures about your projects with certain requirements on what to include. My application was to be reviewed earlier but they have decided to wait to review it with the other applications. Since I will not be in town when the Board meets, they have requested an update of my project with possible pictures. Keep your fingers crossed. Not only would the money be more than helpful (I am funding this trip, paying out of state tuition, and wanting to try to fund this myself since my family and friends have already given me so much in the past, that their support and encouragement was more than I needed this time) I enjoyed sharing my Peace Corps experience with people that I want this opportunity again to share my experience and hopefully inspire other people.
Part of any experience is to share it...Maybe that’s why my blog posts are so long.