New post... Oh yeah.
Well, I must say the past few months have flown by...feels like just yesterday was the New Year and now Im about to hit my one year mark in Kaliro. It has had its ups and downs and all of you back home have beared with me through them all. I can feel the next year left to me in Uganda already beginning to slip away too quickly.
I just finished reading "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight". It's a childhood memoir of a white Zimbabwean woman who now lives in Wyoming (fancy that). And although I have no African childhood to go off of, and although I am just one of those 2-year timers who will forever say, "When i was in Uganda...", i really loved this book. Not just because it was touching or true or candid or funny or scary...but because she writes like she is in Africa, like she can smell it and feel it...even though she is worlds away now. And every description of Africa that she gave, and the fact that she was homesick for it all, really helped me to realize how much I will miss this all when I am done and gone from here. I think everyone looks for that place in the world where they can find an attatchment to it, whether it is home or not, and some people are able to find multiple places to connect to. I was never really sure what I was going to miss about being here...Until i remember that I'll miss everything...Even the harrassment or the bad smells or mosquitoes (yeah, I know). But, it's the same with Wyoming. And I just got more homesick for the WY after reading "Fine Just the Way it is". Amazing how a book can change your whole perspective on shit.
Agnes, Henry and me, attending Christopher's wedding (November 2008. Im wearing one of Agnes' gomes' (pronounced like 'Gomez' Adams - traditional Ugandan dress for women). It's a real piece of work to maneuver in...And how Agnes loves
to dress me up.
OK, with that said...Updates:
-Buzzed my hair
-finally got an entire 20L jerry can filled with wa
ter guarded water (no more boiling, even if it does taste better)
-Sold some jewels for women's group...they are now making paper beads, so if anyone at home is interested in having some, let me know so that i can tell them what to make
-Had a meltdown about KAYC...but came to the conclusion that it's a slow going process and as long as we enjoy one another's company, we'll find a way to really find what interests all of us.
I know life-skills are extremely important, but I also feel that a lot of the way it is taught can simply be lost on the girls. We need interaction with one another, so for now, I am going to focus on netball and volleyball games, craft making, artistic endevours any other requests and mix the life-skills into it. Because lecturing on a subject can only get your audience so far.
-I have also reached a limit with RUCODEP. The easiest way for me to explain RUCODEP is to say that they are like Jemaine, Bret and Murray...unprofessional, clueless and filled with unwavering optimism. So, i guess I'm Mel, their number 1 fan...(Just ask Sarah, Mary or Jon what i mean by this). But today, Mel has to kick some butt into gear and push them onto a more productive track...Advice, anyone?
-I remind myself about once a month now (rather than every day) that i cannot be all things to all people.
- Lola, a fullgrown grey and white puss, has decided to adopt the NTC as her place... It's actually kinda strange how she found us (dan and i). it's like she hunted us down and stalked us for a week (we caught her staring at us one day in the backyard, she kept her distance and just...watched us...creepy) and then decided it was a good enough place to stay. And she is strangely healthy, ie: no fleas, no ticks, good coat, and fat (for a ugandan cat). Her health freaked us out a bit. She also gives love bites like Fridita...except Dan thinks they are bites to kill, i try to give her the benefit of the doubt. Kalibu, Lola!!!
- I just found out on Facebook that I am the Hindu goddess Durga...Which I can appreciate because I have always had a thing for Kali, and Kali is born of Durga, so beggars can't be choosers.
"Creation. Detruction. Creation. Destruction." Sarah knows what's up...
Well, I suppose that is my life for now. I'llwrite again next month with more news and photos...also, thank you for all your recent letters..i love reading them and i know I have been a real shit about sending post back...I'm working on it. But, hey, at least I have net now, yeah?
Love to all,
I realize this maybe one of the most unflattering photos of me in existence, but I felt that I had to take full opportunity of my first mullet (which only lasted about 10min before being chopped). Sometimes is feels so good to be so gross.
Me with no mullet and missing 9 in of hair. This feels even better.
Lisa B
2 comments:
DESTRUCTION--Ugandan FOTC--They are a band, then?
If I were a Hindu goddess, I'm sure it would be the equivalent to Castro when I took that same quiz on FB and they told me I'd be a facist cuban dictator. Yay for me. Even Jon got to have a vagina as a dictator.
I heard today that you lost your phone. then you got it back, and were "robbed by motorcycle thieves"--mom's text to me during work today. Let's see...work sucks. I want to read those books you just read. I see you are now starting to miss Africa before you left bc you can finally see over the "hump." I remember that feeling. I remember also how proud I was when I thought about how we are the culture of movies, hamburgers and hip-hop. Just when I'd come across some stupid Euro or Canadian tourist and I'd be some common American to them or to me, we were the culture or hip-hop and hamburgers. Damn right. I learned a lot. Played a lot. And you are, too. I liked your latest blog, as usual. I hate work--it sucks and bitches be actin crazy all day erry day. How unethical...that's my whole problem, really. I like your sarong in your sinead o'connor picture. I love and I miss you. I'm sending Dan something this week...he'll be here and the rest of American swine, so I'll take advantage.
Hope you're well. Get another phone I have a full phone card and want to talk to you.
PS I'm texting those asshole theives right now to give my sissy back her cell phone or they'll get F*#@ed up by a goat humping a dog...or was it the other way around
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