Would Be a Katie Story

Would only happen to Katie type of stories:
A collection of mini stories that if I was in the States I would call or text you so we could share a laugh. I thought this might be a fun way to sum up some of my days and/or experiences. Some are out loud funny and some are just embarrasing.

Here we go. . . Happy reading.

>Ruth and I were told that a public boat left the islands at 9am. When we finished breakfast, realizing it was 8:40am, with the last touches of packing, and getting ready, plus walking to the village, we figured we still had plenty of time. We were on “African” time. Well not so much. Dan, Mamma and Pappa O’s grandson ran ahead to tell them to wait. He was maybe a minute or two ahead of us. We made it to the boat at 9:15am, it had already left! Surprisingly, they actually came back for us. They were not that far away, maybe just pulled away from what we would a dock. Luckily, Ruth and I are not fluent in Luganda because we might have understood what the mean, annoyed looks of peoples’ faces actually meant.


This one if for Dr. Brenner and the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease class. Who knew I would retain the information I did about the diseases I came in contact with, that I had no prior interest in, I would be super excited, and I get no response. The team must think I am the biggest nerd, like a walking textbook. No one wants to be known as the walking textbook, they‘re boring. Personally, I’m okay with that. :p
In one of the villages on the island there is a health clinic in the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) compound/property. Ruth and I are sitting in the YWAM compound talking to some friends, meanwhile this couple comes in carrying a sick baby who sits next to me waiting for the health clinic to open. In the short conversation I had with them, the child who is less than one, maybe 7 months of age, has a fever, a cough, was covered in this bumpy looking rash on its face and down it’s chest, and has not been vaccinated. I am not an expert, or any kind of medical professional, but I remembered a picture of baby with a similar rash and it was measles. Again, if so, a public health issue. After taking Dr. Brenner’s class my mind is turning quite quickly about modes of transmission, incubation periods, etc. I politely bring my thoughts to the pastor we were sitting with, well more asking him questions about if they will test for measles, questions about the clinic, and who is in charge of a clinic etc. From what I understood, the man who works the clinic does not have a medical education/degree but might have some kind of training. He diagnosed the child with a cough and sent him home. I am curious to find out about the child when I return to the village.

>I knew from my time in Niger, that when you travel on a “bus” you want the single window seat. Normally in these buses, there is about 7 rows of single seats next to a window, a seat that fits 2 or so people on the by the other window, then the dreaded folded middle seat in the aisle. When anyone next to you or behind you, needs to get off, you have to get up, fold your seat, move your stuff, move yourself out of the way, then the vise versa to sit back down. This happens often. When traveling from Jinja to Kampala on Wednesday, the time I made it to the bus, all the window seats were taken. Using my “southern charm” I talked a man into giving me his single window seat. I was, in a way, proud of myself, some anxiety had left, and I could enjoy the almost 2 hour ride and not care about the many many stops. Well it turns out, the man I charmed out of his seat, worked on the bus, he collected money from people and called out the stops. WOW. Talk about feeling like a goober.


I have a cell phone charger, and two battery/solar chargers. Did I bring them to Jinja. Yes. DLING_ERROR_9">id I bring them to Kampala, no. By Saturday my phone was barley hanging on. The family I was staying with did not have a Nokia phone. Out of luck, no, there is always a way. I went outside to their guard station. Working for the embassy, they are provided 24hour guard security. The night guard did not have a phone charger for my phone, but his friend did. He said that he would give it to the morning guard, fully charged. I handed it over, sounded good to me. Then my “American mind” set in, what did I just do! I thought of the worst things that could happen: the phone comes back with no money on it, my sim card is m_11">issing, the phone is broken, the phone comes back but is not charged or the phone does not come back. I am not sure how things work in Uganda, or how things get done, but somehow, sometimes, they do. I don’t need to understand everything, I just need to appreciate when things work out well. My phone came back in the morning before church fully charged and properly working.


I somehow picked up my own boda-boda man, well young man, when I was in Kampala. Talk about a blessing. Bonny, my blessing. I could call him, he would come get me from the family’s home, take me where I needed to go, when I was ready I would call him, he would get me, and drop me off. There is no way I could even give directions, let alone an address, to a boda-boda that I picked up when I needed a ride back. We even went shopping together when I was looking for a new-used skirt. I tried to hurry, because I know how Brent feels when he shops with me so I didn’t want to be rude or have him jack up the price of the ride.


On one of the rides with Bonny, he starts asking me about pregnancy, seriously as we are driving down the road going pretty fast. Asking me how soon can you tell if a 17 year old is pregnant, that his girlfriend might be pregnant, and he is really scared. I’m thinking, stop turning around to talk to me, you’re driving! We chatted when we came to a proper stopping place. Bonny was quite knowledge, more than I had expected; he knew about periods, pregnancy tests, and this and that. The conversation, switch to condoms and birth control. I told him very firmly, “You remember this fear, and next time wear a condom. Men in American wear condoms. They are seen as respectful, mature, and loving men. They love their women. And they are faithful.” (the gist of it, there was more, some abstinence stuff too, I’m pretty wordy, but I do sum things up at the end.) I figured that he might not like condoms, or hear the myths or excuses men use, but from what I gather, America is the land of all, so if they are doing it, I want to do it etc. I found out Monday, that his girlfriend went to the clinic and is not pregnant. I’ll have to call him later to see if the test was true negative and ask him about our “talk.” But who would have thought, Bonny knew that I would be the Mzungu that would know about pregnancy and protection.


When shopping at the craft market on Saturday in Kampala, I received a discount on this dress I wanted because the seamstress thought I was pretty and she wanted me to marry her brother. Original price of Dress 40,000 shillings. I paid 30,000 shillings and free alterations.


Who knew that mechanical bull riding, from college nights at The Saloon with Jerilyn and Nicole, would beblsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">come boda-boda riding skills. My ass="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Boda-boda man, Bonny, complimenteass="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">d me> on my boda-boda riding, saying it was not Mzungu like. I took that as a good thing. Now whether or not he was trying to get a tip . . . Don’t knock down my skills.


I was tapped on the shoulder right, outside the meat section of the market, by a young man who puckered his lips wanting a kiss from me. I was so taken back and confused I’m sure I gave this horrified look and laughed.


Today I was talking with Chief, one of the SHIM staff members and I we could not understand each other. After a few “Huh?“ “What?“ we had a few laughs and he told me that I have an exotic accent. What?!?!?! My accent is not that southern, I may have a Texas twang every once and awhile and I might have a “Yankee” moment but not exotic. However, I will take the compliment. When my family or friends tell me, “I talk funny,” I can now proudly say, “It’s exotic.”

r>Oh the joys of bargaining when shopping. Stone statues, cannot give too much details they are surprise gifts for people. The sales man wanted 8,000 shillings for it. No. No. No. He started asking me, “Why aren’t you at a place for Mzungu’s.” I responded, “Because I am not a Mzungu, I stay on the Buvuma Islands.” By the end, I got 2 for 6,000 shillings and a free pair of earrings.


Another one if for Dr. Brenner and the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease class.
I am going to the bathroom at the office in Jinja, I look out the open window and I was so surprised I couldn’t let out a “girlie I see a spider cry.” Under the roof ledge on the next door neighbors house, maybe 4 feet away, is a line of 20 or so bats hanging upside down, napping. My first thought was rabies, Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), shortage of rabies vaccinations in the States, Dr. Brenner’s midterm, different rabies cases I read in the MMWR, etc. I’m in the bathroom taking photos, video recording, and just watching intrigued by them since the only time I’ve seen a bat up close, not behind glass at a zoo, was in Niger when a bat was attached to my mosquito net while I was laying in bed. So I am talking about the limited knowledge I have about bats and the public health issue to anyone who comes in hearing distance, as well as, being the dork I am being fascinated by these creatures, while everyone in the office said, “Oh yeah, bats. Okay.”


Fun fact from Buz: The origin of the word boda-boda was taker from the idea that you could go from border to border with the a motor bike, hence boda boda (if you listen carefully, they pronounce it bodah bodah).
I've been listening, and it's true.

Hair Experiment: No I am not shaving it, mom and dad. I brought with me a two in one shampoo and conditioner. My hair is not adapting as well to Uganda or to this two-in-one shampoo. Instead of buying conditioner for 7,000 shillings, my hair is not that important I just want the curls somewhat manageable, I bought some Hair Food to put in my hair, even though it is not meant for “white people hair“. No joke it’s called Hair Food. So my hair is drying now, and I am hoping it does not look greasy or just plain gross but it smells good!!!