Prairie Dogs Redefined

When Anna studied abroad in Germany last year, one of the program coordinators encouraged the students to compare their experiences in Germany to those they would have at home, to think of things in Germany as things in America, just redefined. So the girls and I have taken to saying ‘blank: redefined’ pretty often. Hopefully Gabbi and I can put together a picture post before we leave to demonstrate some of the hilarious and significant ‘redefined’ moments we have had. But here’s a snapshot.

Every morning, the four munus leave Hotel Diamond around 8:10 a.m. for our daily walk to work, which is about three blocks away. And every day without fail, we have an audience of small Acholi children to accompany us. They only know a few English phrases (the main one being “Munu, how are you?”) which they scream at us repeatedly in really high pitches, not ever waiting for us to answer. In a lot of ways, they’re like prairie dogs. Not physically, of course, but if you’ve ever seen prairie dogs at the zoo (or the wild which would be really neat), you know they stand on their hind legs and emit high-pitched squeals to warn each other of danger. The Acholi children also stand on their hind legs (duh) and emit high-pitched squeals to alert children further up the block about the coming munus. I don’t mean to imply that the munus are a danger to the children – I promise we have no plans to hurt anyone. I also don’t mean any harm in comparing the children to small animals. Actually, for another animal (or movie, I suppose) comparison, every once in a while we get this creepy, almost whispered chant of “munu, munu, munu, munu …” sort of like the Jaws attack scene (duh duh, duh duh, duh duh ...).

I think what surprises us the most is that they haven’t gotten used to us. We pass them two, sometimes three times a day – so after 23 days, that’s at least 46 times. I suppose we should feel honored and loved that they still pay us so much attention. Hopefully I still feel this way in another thirty five days.

*** munu = white person ***

= 

Sad Sunday

This was a bad weekend for my innocence. I did two things I had always hoped to avoid: used a squatty-potty and ate fish. It’s not that I’ve never not used a toilet, I just had really hoped to not not use a toilet in Uganda. And I succeeded for three weeks! But within a few hours on Sunday I had both used a squatty-potty (the toilet in Crystal and my room doesn’t work so we use Gabbi and Anna’s toilet, but they were still sleeping so I used the outside one at the hotel) and eaten fish disguised by cooked cabbage at our favorite restaurant. I’m currently mourning the loss of my innocence.

For The Sake of the Website

This is a rather odd and very boring post. I have to upload this picture onto the internet in order to download it onto the HAU website Alfred and I are currently trying to make (don't ask me why). So here is HAU's new logo!

Let's hope this works. In other news, check out the HAU website! www.healthalertuganda.org 

It's Been a While

I’ve been slightly MIA lately. I haven’t felt like blogging, not even here. But I’m back!

It took a little reflection and a chat with my mom to adjust my attitude and start loving Uganda again.

I finally realized that all of the problems I felt I’d been having recently actually have very simple solutions. If you’re bored at work, find something to do! Go on a field visit, even if it will be in all Acholi and you won’t actually understand – at least you’re there. If you’re getting bitten by mosquitoes, start using the mosquito net. If you can’t sleep because it’s hot, deal with it and realize you’ll have the most beautiful, fulfilling sleep the next night when the fan is working again. When you get a cold while in Uganda, laugh it off because it’s bizarre enough to be funny.

My expectations for Africa were too high. Before I left, Africa was this magical, foreign place full of excitement and endless entertainment. Now, I realize that, as different as Gulu is from home, it’s in many ways the exact same. Maybe that’s why I feel so comfortable here, despite the language and cultural barriers. When it comes down to it, all humans are the same. All they want in the end is to be happy and healthy.

This morning, the munus got to meet our friend Emma’s new baby boy, Jonathan. The hospital room had 8 women with their newborns and family crowded in it, the moms were eating fried bread and bananas while breast-feeding their babies openly, the babies were wrapped in traditional fabrics, and everyone was speaking Acholi. Despite the differences between Lacor Catholic Hospital and say, the hospital I was born in at home, the most apparent thing to me this morning was the love everyone felt for newborns and for each other. It made me happy, clearly.

I would post a picture of my favorite new baby, but his dad is not here to ask, so I won't. But I promise he's quite beautiful. A 'latin aber', as they would say in Acholi.

How'd You Do?

BJZ Quiz Answers

Part One – Geography

1.  Ottawa
2.  Mt. McKinley
3.  Dominican Republic
4.  Gambia
5. Agra, India
6. Chunnel

Part Two – General Knowledge

1.  Janus
2. Cheetah
3. 8
4. Boxing
5.  32.7 million
6. The Northern lights
7. 39

Part Three – Sports

1. Moscow
2.  5
3. Yankees
4.  Jesse Owens
5.  11

Part Four – Drinks

1.  Italy
2.  Milk, espresso, chocolate
3.  Tennessee
4. Tequila
5. Malt
6. Sweet tea and lemonade
7.  Primus beer

Here's a Little Practice for Quiz Tonight

Quiz = Trivia

BJZ BAR (19/05/2011)

 Group Name: Acholi Mudinz

Part One - Geography

1.       What is the capital of Canada?

2.       What is the highest peak in North America?

3.       Which country has the bible on its flag?

4.       What is the smallest African nation?

5.       In what city and country is the Taj Mahal located in?

6.       What is the name of the transportation connector between France and England?

Part Two – General Knowledge

1.       After what Greek god is the month January named?

2.       What is the fastest mammal in the world?

3.       How many planets are in our solar system?

4.       What is the considered the sport of kings?

5.       What is the population of Uganda?

6.       What is the Aurora Burealis?

7.       At what age did MLK die?

Part Three – Sports

1.       Where were the 1992 Olympics hosted?

2.       How many nations where in the first African Cup tournament?

3.       What American sports team has the highest income?

4.       What American holds the 1935 track record?

5.       How many people does a cricket team consist of?

Part Four – Drinks

1.       Where did Sambooka originate?

2.       What ingredients are in a mocha?

3.       In what US state was Jack Daniels created?

4.       What spirit is made from blue agave?

5.       What liquid does barley become when it is brewed?

6.       What are the two ingredients of an Arnold Palmer?

7.       What is the name of the Rwandan local beer?

***** answers tomorrow! ***

Most Likely To ...

Cause an accident on foot – Crystal

Cause an accident attempting to drive a bodaboda – Jess

Blatantly reject men – Gabbi

Get lost – Anna

Steal a baby (and return it when it starts to cry) – Jess

Befriend a goat – Anna

Eat goat – Crystal

Eat Acholi-style American food – Gabbi

Have multiple Acholi names she’s chosen for herself - Jess

Give her number to randos – Crystal

Find the nicest Acholi boyfriend – Anna

Loudly call other white people ‘munus’ – Jess

Cry without the internet – Gabbi

Spend more than $1 per day on food – Crystal

Use lots of chemicals – Gabbi

Not get malaria – Gabbi

Repeat the same silly phrase multiple times until everyone starts saying it – Jess

Do her laundry wrong – all of the above

Do her laundry like a man (apparently) – Anna

Play games on her cell phone way too intensely – Crystal

Have a DNA-zapping water purifier stick - Gabbi

Force a cow onto a boda (hopefully) – Jess

Talk about America for the entire four hour bus ride - Anna

Know crappy American music – Crystal

Be munu – Gabbi

Scream when it’s definitely not necessary – Crystal and Jess (it’s a draw)

Change her major depending on who she’s talking to – Anna

Have an allergic reaction to hypoallergenic, sensitive-enough-for-soft-baby-butts baby wipes – Jess

Write a novel while she’s here – Gabbi

85 cents can buy you ....

this many pills in Uganda!

 crazy, right?

So, if you ever plan to visit Gulu, Uganda, DON'T use these on your face. Because then you'll need all those pills  I have now. Yay allergic reactions to hypo-allergenic baby-soft baby wipes!

How to Drive a BodaBoda (during the day)

I wish I knew ....
The key is to release the clutch slowly while turning the right handle to rev the engine. I haven't quite mastered it yet but I'll let you know when I do.

How to Ride a BodaBoda (at night)

First, try to get a ride to BJz bar with a rando Diamond employee’s brother.

When this doesn’t work, walk to the darkest intersection you can find, and the bodas will appear.

Bargain with the boda driver to get a not-Munu price (1000 Ush a piece).

Hop on the boda two deep and rest all feet above the engine, so as not to get burned.

Hold onto the boda driver’s arms but not his biceps, because when you get scared and squeeze tighter to hold on, you will cause the boda to speed up.

Don’t be afraid when you bounce very high over the bumps in the road and feel like you might die.

Attempt to be ladylike while wearing a skirt, but we warn you, it is very difficult.

How to Carry a Baby on Your Back with Just a Blanket

1.  Pick up the child by its arms and swing it over your head onto your back. Hope that the baby’s head is strong enough to support itself. The baby’s legs will rest around your waist.

2.  Bend at the hips so the baby and your back are parallel to the ground. Arrange your blanket on the ground beneath you so that it is folded in half.

3.  Pick up the blanket by the top two corners. Flip the blanket over your head so that it covers the baby.

4. Tie the top two corners above your chest, just under your collarbones. The blanket should rest around the same place on the baby.

5. Grab the bottom two corners and adjust until the blanket rests under the baby’s butt. Excess blanket will be tucked down there as well. Tie the two corners of the blanket under your chest, above your belly button.       6. Move around a bit while holding your arms behind your back to protect the baby. You do this to make sure the contraption is stable.                                                                                                                        7.  Balance your bags on your head and walk home.

** photo cred to africanfabric.co.uk **

Favorite Acholi or Acholi-gone-English Phrases

 You are welcome (said as a greeting)

 It is okay (meaning ‘okay’ but sounds like an apology)

3.       Sorry! Sorry! (said whenever something somewhat bad happens – especially when it isn’t their fault)

4.       Munu mudin – stubborn white person

5.       Pi (said like pee) – water

6.       Copadi! – slang for ‘are you fine?'

7.       Latin – baby

8.       Morano ki mochille – rice and beans

9.       Negro – an American black person (at first I was horrified, but they don’t mean it offensively)

Lessons Learned

1. Don't wander too close to the Brussels airplane runways. You will get arrested.

2. Do look pee-your-pants/sob-uncontrollably terrified when you get arrested. The officer will take pity on you. Especially when he realizes you don't understand his Dutch screaming.

3. Belgian parking lots are not the same as American parking lots.

4. Don't sit by yourself to eat dinner in the airport. The bus boy will think you're lame. Or do sit by yourself because the bus boy will take pity on you and you'll get to eat your dinner at the bar where the bartenders entertain you and give you free things.

5. Do be entertained that the only movie available on your flight from Brussels to Kigali to Entebbe is Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.

6. Do ride in a rando taxi to your hostel when your assigned taxi doesn't come - as long as it's a calculated decision.

7. Don't instigate the angry German girl at the hostel. She'll use lots of creative explicatives and stalk you into the bathroom even though she's the one that put her wet clothes where you were supposed to sleep.

8. Do make conversation with the Ugandans. They're extremely interesting and knowledgeable.

9. Switch which arm you stick out the window to make a more even sunburn.

10. Use sunscreen.

11. I love Gulu :)

My Faith in Canada has Been Renewed!

I'm currently sitting on the floor of the Toronto airport, checking my email, and picking all of the gross raisins out of my trail mix. One or more of the above must be culturally inappropriate because I'm getting some angry French glares. I'll assume it's the sitting on the floor. BUT I have a new appreciation for the country, or at least the city, due to their free wi-fi! I <3 Canada (that's for you, Elliot).

Today has been a bit of a whirlwind and it's only 2:00! My flight from Philly to Toronto was rather enjoyable, with a personal t.v. and everything! I got here around 11:30 and then went on to confuse the crap out of people for 2 hours. Even though my flight is to Brussels, it's considered domestic because we stop in Montreal. This confusing bit of information resulted in a lost bag and a lost me for quite a while. But both have been found, as you can probably tell.

So I fly out of here at 5:00 to arrive in Brussels at 8:35 am. I get to spend the day exploring the city (I'll let you know how that goes ...) and then I head towards Uganda around 10 am Saturday. I should get into Entebbe at 9:45 pm at which point I'll meet the other girls (Crystal, Anna, Gabbi) at Backpacker's Hostel in Kampala! We're taking a bus to Gulu on Sunday and starting work at HAU on Monday. My life is baller, obviously.

Anybody has suggestions for things to do in Brussels? My to-do list currently consists of 1. eat a Belgian waffle (courtesy of Anna) and 2. don't get lost (courtesy of my impressive ability to get lost). I'd consider 1 out of 2 a success at this point.

I should probably go find where my gate is, because the one I was sent to appears to be heading to Ontario at 5:00. Uh oh.

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for visiting!

This summer, I'll be interning at an NGO called Health Alert Uganda (more information below) through an organization called GlobeMed (more information below) in northern Uganda for 11 weeks. I had my travel clinic for medications and immunizations on Wednesday and I discovered that my insurance doesn't cover my malaria medication or any immunizations. I had budgeted $300 for medications/immunizations but the total will end up being $792.84. Help keep me malaria-free by donating to my cause!


Health Alert Uganda
Health Alert Uganda’s over-arching mission is to support children in Gulu who are infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. HAU was founded in 2005 as the civil war between the Ugandan military and the Lord's Resistance Army came to a close. As an intern there, I will be evaluating and expanding a seed-lending program and developing a nutrition program.
 

GlobeMedGlobeMed is a national student-led non-profit that aims to strengthen the movement for global health equity by empowering students and communities to work together to improve the health of the impoverished around the world. GlobeMed has partnered with HAU for 3 years and each year, four interns (called the GROW- GrassRoots Onsite Work - team) travel to Gulu during the summer to implement projects.


Medications/Immunizations


Polio vaccine - $56
Yellow Fever vaccine - $107
Oral Typhoid - $44.84
Mefloquine (malaria medication) - $585
       Malarone would be $900
       Doxycycline would be $105 (not getting this because it makes your skin more sensitive and at least twice as likely to sunburn, which is especially problematic in Africa near the equator)


Total: $792.84




Mefloquine price computation:
      $70 per 2 week prescription
      2 weeks before departure + (75 days/7 days) in country + 4 weeks after return = 16.7 weeks
      16.7 * $70 = $1170/2 weeks = $585