I am an official Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) as of April 15, 2009! It's unreal, I am still trying to adjust to not being a PCV anymore. First things done after leaving Peace Corps:
1. Ride many a piki piki (motorcycle) throughout Kampala city.
2. Drank a few beers and shared a hookah with Christopher to celebrate
3. Saw some of the sites of Kampala in preparation to leave Uganda (using afore mentioned piki pikis).
We went to the Baha'i Temple in Kampala first. It was really cool to see it, one of only a few in the world and the only one on the African continent. We learned the history of the newest world religion and spent some time in the temple itself. You must take off your shoes and are not allowed to speak when in the temple, as it is used for meditation. While inside, Christopher and I were struck by the calm silence, though sometimes broken with the echoing sound of the birds outside. It truly was a holy place.
Next, we visited the Kasubi Tombs of the Baganda kings. It was interesting to see the momument built to honor the last four kings of such an expansive kingdom. We learned about the history of the kings, especially Mutesa I, who was the first Buganda king to come into contact with Europeans and even made a deal with Queen Victoria for some canons to ward off his enemies. The tombs themselves are housed in the largest grass thatched hut in the world -- which was cool to see. Also, there was the stuffed leoard pet of Mutesa I, to whom he fed a goat a day. Weird but cool!
We said our goodbyes to Kampala and headed West for the beginning of our African travels, but I am very happy we visited these two sites as they are an integral part of what makes Kampala special.
For more info on these two places, please visit the links below!
http://www.kasubitombs.org/index.htm
www.bahai.org
http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-uganda
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Christmas vacation, installment 4
When we were with my Mom and the fam we took Christopher to see the sights of the town and its surrounding areas. They are as follows:
1. My cousin Matthew's new house! It was a beautiful cottage on the lake -- I am a bit jealous! :)
2. The Peterborough lift locks--kind of like a small Panama Canal lock. Interesting, even though they were closed up due to the cold weather. It was nice though, as the canal leading up to the locks had frozen over and kids were playing hockey on the ice.
3. The Neil Young Museum: Awesome, even though it was closed.
4. The Lindsay river -- beautiful when its covered in snow and ice!!
5. Hockey, hockey and more hockey.
One of the best things we did was attend my Grandma's New Year's Day party. I love Grandma's parties because all of her sisters and brothers stop by whom I love to see and love to watch them interact. They are all so individual and unique, and by the the end of the party, they start to sing. My Great Aunt even played the organ this time. Christopher thought that was fantastic! There's always too much food and lots of laughs. Thanks Grandma!
Cody and Julian really wanted to take Christopher and I out ice skating. We went first to the indoor rink. Now, I am no pro skater. I hug to the sides of the rink like a kid, I would even push a chair in front of me as I skate if it wasn't silly for a 26 year old to do so. Finally when I got the courage to get away from the side, sure enough I fell. No injuries to report, we all had a good laugh. My brothers then took us to an outdoor rink they had made not far from the house. Christopher put on about 80 layers of clothing in order to face the elements and ended up sweating like crazy. It as a lot of fun though, I even made a goal, albeit a slow one into the hockey net. Thank goodness for our hot coffee though, as my feet were frozen after the skate.
After all this fun, food, and skating the time came to return to Uganda. It was sad to leave my family again but I am so grateful we were able to visit! Christopher had a great time too, even when Grandma asked him to play some Tony Bennet on the guitar! I can't wait to visit again, especially when it's warmer!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Daylight in Africa
There are days I wish I was more eloquent about my time and my surroundings in Uganda. I have always had a love-hate with Ugandan mornings. Once you hear the first rooster crow and the muezzin call the faithful to prayer, its over. You might was well just get up and do your laundry. But since I can't put it any better than that, here's an exerpt from a fantastic book I am reading, The Shadow of the Sun:
"The sight of the sun acts like a starter's pistol: the town instantly springs into motion. It's as if all night long everyone was crouching on his starter blocks and now, at the signal, at that shot of sunlight, they all take off full speed ahead. No intermediate stages, no preparations. All at once, the streets are full of people, the shops are open, the fires and kitchens are smoking."
"The sight of the sun acts like a starter's pistol: the town instantly springs into motion. It's as if all night long everyone was crouching on his starter blocks and now, at the signal, at that shot of sunlight, they all take off full speed ahead. No intermediate stages, no preparations. All at once, the streets are full of people, the shops are open, the fires and kitchens are smoking."
Leaving Busia
So the time came for me to leave my home of 2 years. It came a bit before I was ready, due to unforturnate circumstances. It was overwhelming to say farewell, and even more so having to do it abruptly. Yet, all things must come to an end.
Its been almost 3 weeks since I moved out of Busia for good. It was very sad and I think I haven't wrote about it too much because its slowly sinking in that my work and life in Uganda is done. In some ways, there is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, as the burden of living in a risky border area kept me always tense. The gravity of the issues in Busia also weighed heavily on me though I think, over time, I became desensitized to it all. That crazy border town created an endless amount of work, as well. I loved it though, especially the girls' camp and the orphans and vulnerable children project development.
I am having trouble putting my 2 years in Busia into perspective. I think the beginning was really shaky, as I tried to find my place and apply what I learned in Peace Corps training to such a unique environment. With the knowledge I have now on how to get things in Uganda done, I wish I could go back and do some things again. Yet, I realize that learning is a process and I couldn't have done it any differently, especially in a place like Busia. There were days I wanted to give up -- my outlook on behavior change tarnished by endemic problems in the population. I think those days were more frequent in the first year. Coming to realize that corruption is the system through which things here get done, seeing street children treated like pests, hearing horrible stories of abuse, seeing the effects of HIV everyday, and witnessing the ways people have to use in order to provide for themselves and their families all mixed together in my heart and soul to block any semblance of a solution I could have come up with. These are also the things that I became desensitized to over the two years. I worry to what effect seeing these things and continuing everyday to work and live have had on me.
But, instead of focusing on the negative things, I know that I will never forget the people. What a difference relationships made for me! My best friend in Busia, Harriet, and her daughter, Gloria, provided solace and support through it all. I owe my sanity to Harriet as she helped me find myself amongst all the dirt, disease, and dust. She truly was an angel sent at the right time in my service, a time when questioning myself had become constant. Its amazing when we, as human beings, realize our connectedness, our humanity. Harriet helped me to this realization. Even though we were very different, we could be girlfriends -- something I so desperately needed. I think that the art program at New Hope Orphanage that I was able to participate in during my second year lifted my spirit as well. The children there are probably the most humble people I have ever met. They are truly and inspiration in selflessness. I learned from them that leading our lives with our hearts is possible. I think their faces will foever be in my heart and memory. Camp GLOW was another activity that helped me along my journey. I believed in the work more than any other work I have ever done. I felt a purpose and a drive to impart some of what I believe makes me who I am to my girls. I saw myself in them and found a kind of commradery amongst them. They truly are a light in the darkness of that town.
So, when I look back on my service, yes I could focus on Busia (or Busketchia as some of us fondly renamed it) and its problems, or I can focus on the people and thank God for the relationships I was blessed to make.
And that, more than the work, is my biggest accomplishment and what I am eternally thankful for.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Jonathan Swift poem
In preparation for my travels in East Africa, I am reading a book on the history of Indian Ocean trade. Here's a poem I found amongst the 500 pages:
"So geographers, in Afric maps,
With savage pictures fill their gaps,
And o'er unhabitable downs,
Place elephants for want of towns."
(1733)
"So geographers, in Afric maps,
With savage pictures fill their gaps,
And o'er unhabitable downs,
Place elephants for want of towns."
(1733)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Christmas vacation, installment 3
After leaving Kansas, we travelled to see my family. I had met Christopher's family when they came to visit in Uganda in 2007, but he had never met any of my family. And meet the family he did. Now, I must preface this family meeting business with a small note on the SIZE of my extended family. It's huge. We're Irish. I meet new people I am somehow related to everytime I visit.
We got in late as our flights were cancelled/delayed (seemed to be a running theme of the vacation) and I got off the plane with reindeer ears that blinked and Christopher with his maple leaf hat. I can't really explain how overwhelming it was to actually see my family's faces after 2 years of being apart. My first thought was, holy crap, Cody is huge! It seems my youngest brother grew up while I was gone...a reminder of the length of my absence.
First thing we did was get some fast food (another running theme of the vacation) and coffee to warm us up. Again, that side of the world is COLD! We arrived home around one in the morning without our luggage, as it was unfortunately lost. Christopher and I were sick over the lost luggage as we had brought half of Africa home to give to my family and friends but the airline promised to deliver the luggage later.
Over the course of the week, we had visits from so many family members it was exhausting and great! Poor Christopher, everytime the house would empty out at the end of the day I'd see him go downstairs to the basement to get a cold beer. He was a trooper, there were a lot of people to meet!
We went out to my Aunt and Uncle's place for New Year's Eve to watch USA play Canada in hockey. The Americans among us tried to rally our team, but a USA victory was not to be. Let's face it, Canadians know hockey! By the end of the night, even Christopher was wearing a Canada hat. Traitor.
The final chapter in Christmas vacation 2008 witll come soon...
We got in late as our flights were cancelled/delayed (seemed to be a running theme of the vacation) and I got off the plane with reindeer ears that blinked and Christopher with his maple leaf hat. I can't really explain how overwhelming it was to actually see my family's faces after 2 years of being apart. My first thought was, holy crap, Cody is huge! It seems my youngest brother grew up while I was gone...a reminder of the length of my absence.
First thing we did was get some fast food (another running theme of the vacation) and coffee to warm us up. Again, that side of the world is COLD! We arrived home around one in the morning without our luggage, as it was unfortunately lost. Christopher and I were sick over the lost luggage as we had brought half of Africa home to give to my family and friends but the airline promised to deliver the luggage later.
Over the course of the week, we had visits from so many family members it was exhausting and great! Poor Christopher, everytime the house would empty out at the end of the day I'd see him go downstairs to the basement to get a cold beer. He was a trooper, there were a lot of people to meet!
We went out to my Aunt and Uncle's place for New Year's Eve to watch USA play Canada in hockey. The Americans among us tried to rally our team, but a USA victory was not to be. Let's face it, Canadians know hockey! By the end of the night, even Christopher was wearing a Canada hat. Traitor.
The final chapter in Christmas vacation 2008 witll come soon...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Newsletter Article
Thought I would post the article I wrote for our monthly Peace Corps Uganda newsletter. It was a write up of the girls' empowerment camp I initiated at my site in Busia Town Council. I submitted it for the November 2008 newsletter.
BUSIA IS GLOWING
Over the past three months I have been involved in the planning and implementation of a weekly girls’ empowerment camp. It’s been something I have wanted to put into action at my site for almost a year now, and to finally have an outlet for girls in my community to come and express themselves is, I feel, quite an achievement.
My site is located in Busia Town Council, a town that shares its name with its Kenyan counterpart as the border of the two countries splits the town through the middle. Busia is a town that never sleeps. It is the main border crossing for the East African Highway in Uganda. As a result, the town is a conglomerate of truck drivers, migrant workers, immigrants, refugees and IDPs. Due its demographics, Busia is also home to rampant smuggling, prostitution and a very high HIV/AIDS rate.
This was a daunting scene for me when I first arrived to my new home last year. I so desperately wanted to do some good during my time in Uganda but I had a hard time seeing how one person could be beneficial standing up against such ingrained issues. However, as time went on my outlook began to change. Instead of only seeing the large issues mentioned above, I started to see the little ones that maybe a PCV could devote her time to.
One of the issues foremost in my mind was the absence of any direct programming to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS or the risk of commercial sex work among the community’s young women and girls. With such a high HIV/AIDS rate, most of the programs being initiated by the numerous organizations in town were focused on testing, treatment and care of the disease among adults. Though these programs have made a significant difference in the quality of living of community members, the lack of prevention programming seems to breed an air of lost hope; as if there is nothing to be done to prevent the spread of the virus. Along the same lines, I saw a few programs working with commercial sex workers to improve or change their lives yet I saw no programs in place to give young women and girls the skills and information needed to avoid such work.
So I got down to business. I started by researching prevention programs for youth and children which led me to a Peace Corps program that has been implemented all over the world called Camp GLOW(Girls Leading Our World). Throughout the world the camp’s main focus has been promoting leadership among young women through self-esteem development, life skills education, and goal setting exercises. When reading past success stories of the camp in other countries, I felt inspired. The program just fit my site and my capabilities as a volunteer. Yet for Busia, I knew that I needed to include some camp activities to help girls understand the transmission of HIV/AIDS and their rights to education, health care, and a safe career.
In order to develop the proposal for Camp GLOW Busia properly, I contacted women in my community in leadership positions for advice. Enlisting women in local government and in local CBOs aided me in comprehending the issues young girls face as well as the possibilities open to them in the future. With the help of a few key female community leaders, we developed the camp to cover 11 different topics specific to young girls and women in Busia. Some of these topics include positive peer relationships, premature sex and its consequences, HIV/AIDS transmission, personal hygiene and child/women’s rights. All camp days include activities that are centered on creating long term goals and avoiding risky situations. Volunteers from the community and I engage the campers in these topics through the use of art therapy and life skills education. The final day of the camp included a career fair highlighting the careers available to women and how to pursue them, as well as a question and answer session between the campers and successful women in their community.
The camp has been received by my campers and the community with open arms. Over the course of the last two months, my campers have become more outspoken, empowered individuals. They use the information we discuss to advise their peers, avoid dangerous places, and some have even chosen to go for VCT to know their HIV status. Through the art therapy exercises, many girls have expressed themselves in a positive way that was not available to them before the camp.
Yet with such beautiful successes also come difficulties. It’s hard to promote girls’ empowerment when parents are unwilling to continue educating their daughters and it’s devastating when some of the girls go for VCT and receive sad news. These are things that I am powerless to change but I hope that through empowering young women with knowledge about prevention I can promote advocacy and information sharing among the female community. If I can’t pay school fees or provide HIV/AIDS treatment for every girl, I can at least instill in them a desire to see a different world for their sisters and daughters. I think I have also changed as a result of Camp GLOW. Through learning more about the Ugandan and Kenyan women in my community I’ve gotten to know first hand against what women in East Africa have to struggle. I cannot even begin to fathom the strength it takes to live with such adversity. But they do it, and most of them have a smile on their face while they’re at it! , through their struggle I am empowered. How could I not be?
BUSIA IS GLOWING
Over the past three months I have been involved in the planning and implementation of a weekly girls’ empowerment camp. It’s been something I have wanted to put into action at my site for almost a year now, and to finally have an outlet for girls in my community to come and express themselves is, I feel, quite an achievement.
My site is located in Busia Town Council, a town that shares its name with its Kenyan counterpart as the border of the two countries splits the town through the middle. Busia is a town that never sleeps. It is the main border crossing for the East African Highway in Uganda. As a result, the town is a conglomerate of truck drivers, migrant workers, immigrants, refugees and IDPs. Due its demographics, Busia is also home to rampant smuggling, prostitution and a very high HIV/AIDS rate.
This was a daunting scene for me when I first arrived to my new home last year. I so desperately wanted to do some good during my time in Uganda but I had a hard time seeing how one person could be beneficial standing up against such ingrained issues. However, as time went on my outlook began to change. Instead of only seeing the large issues mentioned above, I started to see the little ones that maybe a PCV could devote her time to.
One of the issues foremost in my mind was the absence of any direct programming to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS or the risk of commercial sex work among the community’s young women and girls. With such a high HIV/AIDS rate, most of the programs being initiated by the numerous organizations in town were focused on testing, treatment and care of the disease among adults. Though these programs have made a significant difference in the quality of living of community members, the lack of prevention programming seems to breed an air of lost hope; as if there is nothing to be done to prevent the spread of the virus. Along the same lines, I saw a few programs working with commercial sex workers to improve or change their lives yet I saw no programs in place to give young women and girls the skills and information needed to avoid such work.
So I got down to business. I started by researching prevention programs for youth and children which led me to a Peace Corps program that has been implemented all over the world called Camp GLOW(Girls Leading Our World). Throughout the world the camp’s main focus has been promoting leadership among young women through self-esteem development, life skills education, and goal setting exercises. When reading past success stories of the camp in other countries, I felt inspired. The program just fit my site and my capabilities as a volunteer. Yet for Busia, I knew that I needed to include some camp activities to help girls understand the transmission of HIV/AIDS and their rights to education, health care, and a safe career.
In order to develop the proposal for Camp GLOW Busia properly, I contacted women in my community in leadership positions for advice. Enlisting women in local government and in local CBOs aided me in comprehending the issues young girls face as well as the possibilities open to them in the future. With the help of a few key female community leaders, we developed the camp to cover 11 different topics specific to young girls and women in Busia. Some of these topics include positive peer relationships, premature sex and its consequences, HIV/AIDS transmission, personal hygiene and child/women’s rights. All camp days include activities that are centered on creating long term goals and avoiding risky situations. Volunteers from the community and I engage the campers in these topics through the use of art therapy and life skills education. The final day of the camp included a career fair highlighting the careers available to women and how to pursue them, as well as a question and answer session between the campers and successful women in their community.
The camp has been received by my campers and the community with open arms. Over the course of the last two months, my campers have become more outspoken, empowered individuals. They use the information we discuss to advise their peers, avoid dangerous places, and some have even chosen to go for VCT to know their HIV status. Through the art therapy exercises, many girls have expressed themselves in a positive way that was not available to them before the camp.
Yet with such beautiful successes also come difficulties. It’s hard to promote girls’ empowerment when parents are unwilling to continue educating their daughters and it’s devastating when some of the girls go for VCT and receive sad news. These are things that I am powerless to change but I hope that through empowering young women with knowledge about prevention I can promote advocacy and information sharing among the female community. If I can’t pay school fees or provide HIV/AIDS treatment for every girl, I can at least instill in them a desire to see a different world for their sisters and daughters. I think I have also changed as a result of Camp GLOW. Through learning more about the Ugandan and Kenyan women in my community I’ve gotten to know first hand against what women in East Africa have to struggle. I cannot even begin to fathom the strength it takes to live with such adversity. But they do it, and most of them have a smile on their face while they’re at it! , through their struggle I am empowered. How could I not be?
Christmas Vacation, Installment 2
Our time in Kansas was well spent. While there, Christopher and I did many things. Most of these things included eating. We ate even when we weren't hungry, especially when the food included cheese. Needless to say, we gained some holiday weight, but I think it was a good thing as both of us had some pounds to gain after living in the African heat for 2 years. The following are the best things eaten while there: 1. El Charro - Mexican food and Mexican beer.
2. Uncle Stan's homemade cheesecake - I have no words.
3. Chipotle Burritos - I couldn't finish it, so Christopher did.
4. El Charro - Christopher might leave me for the Durango.
5. Ribs!!
6. Wendy's - When purchased from the drive thru after completing a 38 pt turn in a limo.
7. El Charro - We ate there a lot.
I got to attend a basketball game at Christopher's high school to see his sister cheer (great job, Lauren!!). Some of the other things we did were watch a lot of movies(as we are horribly out of the loop with pop culture), played with the family's dogs (I had forgotten how much I love having dogs around!), played lots of Cranium, and visited with Grandmas and friends.
Now, one of the most important things accomplished while in Kansas was learning how to play the game Rock Band. Christopher and I were completely unaware of this game's existence and I think we both agree we are now better people for having learned of it. Over the course of the week this game was endless entertainment!!
On Christmas day, Christopher and his brothers decided to shoot rockets in the front yard (the picture posted above). I mean, what else to you do on Christmas in America, right? Overall, Christmas in Kansas was a fantastic vacation! It was hard to leave! Thanks for everything!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Christmas vacation, installment 1
So, I am a blogging slacker and haven't blogged yet this year. Blog is such a funny word, isn't it? Kinda sounds like something you would be afraid lives under your bed when you were a kid. I guess I should begin by recounting our holiday trip to the STATES!! There's a lot to tell so I am going to type it up in increments.
Installment 1:
We arrived Stateside about a week before Christmas day, and what an arrival it was! Every flight we took was horribly delayed due to December weather. Needless to say, all the delays, 2 days of flying and the shock of being in America again made us look like crazy people! Neither one of us had been back since we left home in March 2007, so I know we were quite the spectacle.
Immediate obervations:
1. Americans are horribly, horribly rude (Chicago being the worst in this observation).
2. Everyone has a tiny computer stuck to their face, EVERYWHERE.
3. We have way too many options for food, drinks, gas, life.
4. I hadn't had a haircut in 13 months and everyone around me seemed to know it.
5. Everyone is sizing each other up constantly, how does anybody get anything done with all
the judging?
6. It's COLD in the US.
When we got to Kansas City it, we were both on our last bit of energy. We rubbed our eyes and found the Porter family joyously awaiting us! They were great and brought us a change of clothes, underwear and deoderant (necessities at this point). They ushered us outside and told us that they had borrowed a friend's SUV so that all of us could ride in 1 car, so we started walking down the sidewalk looking for the vehicle when we passed an old school white limo idling next to the curb. As we got closer, the back window rolled down and a bald headed man told us to "git in". I just stood there in amazement, ready to add this on the list of strange observations when we all realized it was Christopher's brother and that the family had driven a friend's limo to pick us up!
We got into the limo, where there were blankets readily available, listened to a new Britney Spears song while strobe lights flashed, went through the drive through at Wendy's, played in the snow, and finally fell asleep. It was one of the best welcomes I have ever experienced! Thanks, ya'll!
Installment 1:
We arrived Stateside about a week before Christmas day, and what an arrival it was! Every flight we took was horribly delayed due to December weather. Needless to say, all the delays, 2 days of flying and the shock of being in America again made us look like crazy people! Neither one of us had been back since we left home in March 2007, so I know we were quite the spectacle.
Immediate obervations:
1. Americans are horribly, horribly rude (Chicago being the worst in this observation).
2. Everyone has a tiny computer stuck to their face, EVERYWHERE.
3. We have way too many options for food, drinks, gas, life.
4. I hadn't had a haircut in 13 months and everyone around me seemed to know it.
5. Everyone is sizing each other up constantly, how does anybody get anything done with all
the judging?
6. It's COLD in the US.
When we got to Kansas City it, we were both on our last bit of energy. We rubbed our eyes and found the Porter family joyously awaiting us! They were great and brought us a change of clothes, underwear and deoderant (necessities at this point). They ushered us outside and told us that they had borrowed a friend's SUV so that all of us could ride in 1 car, so we started walking down the sidewalk looking for the vehicle when we passed an old school white limo idling next to the curb. As we got closer, the back window rolled down and a bald headed man told us to "git in". I just stood there in amazement, ready to add this on the list of strange observations when we all realized it was Christopher's brother and that the family had driven a friend's limo to pick us up!
We got into the limo, where there were blankets readily available, listened to a new Britney Spears song while strobe lights flashed, went through the drive through at Wendy's, played in the snow, and finally fell asleep. It was one of the best welcomes I have ever experienced! Thanks, ya'll!
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