Back to Civilization

Yes, I am alive. I realize it has been a while, but believe me when I say- Kishanje is REMOTE. To get to electricity, internet and fresh fruit first we hike down the mountains, hills, and over a stream (twice) to reach the “docks” at our side of Lake Bunyoni. We call “Alfred” to come pick us up (if another boat isn’t there) and cross the lake. Arriving on the other side we catch bodas or a “taxi” to take us to Kabale Town. The hike is a solid 50 minutes filled with breathtaking nature, weird critters, multiple children, and perilous jumps, skips, hops, and prayers. The boat ride is about 20 minutes, the bodas take 30 minutes (during which time I close my eyes and pray we don’t crash) and then we reach Kabale. Gad and the gang at “edirisa” welcome us at the hostel and we revel in the availability of power for charging phones and computers.

Much has happened since I last updated. So much in fact it seems surreal. Here are some highlights:
One of my kids after looking at the photo album I brought: “Aunt, your clan produces large people”

Dean of Students at the school I work at: “You are beautiful when you speak Rukiga”

Valentine’s Day: feeling a bit melancholy since it would be the first V-day without flowers from my dad…. Three of my kids giving me flowers and wishing me a “happy vday and Sunday”. Per their request I wore them in my hair the next day. Such a sweet gesture. How loved I felt!!

Adjusting to village life has been a challenge, even for this girl who grew up in a small town. RA and I faced some pretty hardcore opposition when we came together to Kishanje, and it is by the grace of God that we are fine and healthy. Kishanje has a longstanding history of witchcraft, ancestor worship, and tough “lessons”. It was rough going for a while, but thanks to the support of some incredible friends and prayers from those back home, we are now doing well. One of the less threatening challenges has been the multitude of rumors floating around since our arrival.

By far, the most humorous and least ill-willed rumor about me is as follows: (Background: one of our most faithful and sweet friends here who is always willing to help us girls with Whatever we need has a field he watches for his family, a plot of land where they plant crops} Laban went to check his potato crop and discovered that the potatoes had been dug up already (aka: stolen). He saw some people near his land and went to ask them if they knew anything, indeed they did, it seems that that evil Leah had come in December in her airplane and stolen the harvest, carrying it back to her country to feed her family.

No, I am not kidding.

RA and I laugh about what will happen when we return to civilization. Who played “Oregon Trail” growing up? It is pretty much my life. We cross mountain ranges, buy beans and rice in burlap sacks to carry with us to the wilderness, wash clothes by hand, eat dinner by candle light or kerosene lantern, and wake to the local drummer telling the village it is now six a.m. In true Ugandan style, we eat from the same plate when taking lunch at school. When the rain comes we run around like crazed people collecting all the containers we can for catching the water (so we don’t have to carry jerry cans full of water from the top of the hill down to where we live). RA is a full fledged member of the NBA and I am a reluctant joiner (Non Bathing Association) – we ration our water use. Sundays are special days for us- we add powdered milk and a spoon of sugar to our “coffee” calling it “milk coffee day”.

I am officially known as “Counselor Leah” at school, or “aunt leah” to the kids. It is a strange concept to have a school counselor here, but they are warming to the idea. I have made it my goal to learn the names of all of the secondary students and it is a challenge. I have been asked to develop a curriculum to share with all the staff and teachers from all three centers covering child development. At the school I am beginning “talks” with groups of students to discuss AIDS/HIV, Love, Abuse, STDs STIs, physical changes, etc. Obviously I am working on learning Rukiga to facilitate those conversations.

One of the highlights of my week is trekking down to the “pitch” for sports days. Each trip to and fro I walk with a different group of students. It is a great time to talk and get to know them in a non threatening environment. I was super psyched when one of the boys showed me “amalebe” known to me as “rhubarb” growing wild in the marsh. Now weekly I get fresh amalebe and omufungwa (which is kind of like tart celery) to bring home for dinner. Washed, chopped, and slightly boiled with lemon juice it is a nice change from beans and posho, rice and potatoes.

By the way- these boys are amazing to me. They play football (soccer) whole heartedly and passionately – without “boots”- no cleats. On Wednesday one of the boys was kicking the ball in from one end of the field and kicked so hard/accurately that he scored a goal – on the other end of the field. Totally serious. I was blown away. He then proceeded to do a back flip in celebration. The strength of these kids who sometimes get only one meal a day is incredible.

Mom and Dad sent me with some biofreeze/sombra etc which I brought to the pitch on the day my team was playing. (The school was divided into four “houses” for sports competitions. My house rocks) I was elected team doctor which makes me happy (I get to be with the kids!) and scares me (cause if they really get hurt…. Ummm…) anyway…. Now all students and even the teachers are coming to me with their “sports injuries” one morning I had to look at three feet all before I even reached the school! (mom, please send more biofreeze!!!)

I wish I could introduce to you the students I work with. Some are harder for me to love than others, some are still skeptical of me being here, and others continue to amaze me with their sweet natures. Throughout the year I will try to introduce you to some of the characters I interact with on a daily basis.

Last Sunday I was informed that I was being given full authority of Caleb, a special needs student here in the village. He had been taken from a school for special needs kids in Mbarara and brought here. Let me assure you, I did not ask for this authority, nor was I prepared for such a responsibility, but here we are…
Kind of overwhelming to be honest. I decided to begin by bringing him to the secondary school with me. First thing I did was announce at school assembly that he would be joining us and I gave clear and strict guidelines of how interactions with Caleb would go. The student body has been great with the exception of one group of boys. Consequently I made them Caleb’s special buddies. They are responsible for hanging out with him during break, taking him to get lunch, and making sure he gets home safely. There was resistance at first, but today (on caleb’s off day) five of the boys asked me where he was. Success!

Final thoughts: shout out to my cousin who hooked me up with all the cool gear…. Today I made an indoor clothesline with parachute cord because it would not stop raining and we needed clean clothes. Take that mother nature!!