Lusoga, Lusoga, Lusoga.

2.13.10

THE KIDS ARE BACK J They all began to arrive on the first of February. It feels like I have adopted 80 kids. I can’t even explain how much I missed them.

Since they have been back I have been working on paper beads again. But what I’m even more excited about is developing new crafts this spring. I made a leather bracelet that says “Musana” in seed beads; similar to the “Uganda” bracelet I am always wearing. I am looking into metal and wood jewelry options. If anyone has any ideas feel free to email me them! As for the work with our tailors, I’m looking into new patterns. Also, I came back to Uganda with professional tie-dye! We will be tie-dying scarves to sell and all the kids will get shirts! This spring will be very exciting!

The center of the “craft world” is Nairobi, Kenya. I am hoping to get to go to Kenya with Diana, the woman who taught me how to make beads, and learn where all the supplies come from. Literally everything comes from Nairobi. If I can save the money, I will hopefully go this spring.

A few days ago we celebrated Christmas at Musana. Every kid got a bible and tee shirt, thanks to Greenwood Community Church! They were very excited about both the bible and shirt. Then we gave them each another gift. They were all very happy running around showing each other. When Andrea handed Fred, the most high-energy kid you will ever meet, a big yellow truck his eyes light up and he ran off yelling “vroom vroom”. When Fred came over to show me his truck I reached out to touch it and he screamed “oli muebe!” (You’re a thief) and ran off to show, but not allow them to touch, everyone his new truck. It was a refreshing way to celebrate Christmas!

A few days ago we went to one of my favorite places in Uganda, Sipi Falls. It takes about five hours to get there but is worth all the uncomfortable taxi rides. First we had to get in a three-hour taxi ride to Mbale, a large city near the Kenyan boarder. The first taxi ride was bearable, we made a few stops and they didn’t jam too many of us in. After walking around Mbale we grabbed a special hire car to take us up to Sipi. We had six people (plus the driver) and a car about the size of a Camry. I was in the front seat sitting on Andrea. Pete, Ryan, Ellen and Julie were all crammed in the back seat. Sipi Falls has around four large waterfalls and is at the base of Mt. Elgon. The roads up are steep and winding. Over holidays I took one of our kids, Bosco, to Sipi Falls. During the ride up, he threw up all over my leg. Thankfully, this time no one threw up on me! Whenever we go to Sipi we always stay at Sipi River Lodge. One of the waterfalls is right near the lodge and bandas. They have a large banda, round building with a grass-thatched roof, which we stayed in. The rooms are extremely well decorated and have a shower with hot water. The shower has a large stone that you stand on with small black stones surrounding it. The walls are orange, tan and greens. There is a main lodge building where meals are served. All the food is fresh and light, unlike the Ugandan food. For lunch we had salami, cheese, salad, personal pizzas and pasta. If the waterfall isn’t enough to make Sipi incredible, the food is. Coffee plantations surround Sipi River Lodge, so all the coffee we got was roasted and ground that morning. Andrea, Pete, Ryan and I spent most of our time playing scrabble. If we weren’t playing scrabble, we were hiking or reading. Going to Sipi is always an escape from the chaos of life here.

Recently I have been trying to learn Lusoga, the local language. I suddenly got motivation, or maybe just enough frustration to force myself to practice. I feel like I have learned a lot! I’m consistently running phrases through my head trying to learn them.

In May or August I’m hoping to take a short vacation to the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. Only downside is the 26-hour bus ride!

Homeward Bound- hobo.

2.4.10

Going back to the States was an extremely refreshing trip. I didn’t realize a person could miss chipotle so much. In some ways being home was encouraging but it was hard to face the change. While in Uganda I can easily deny how much my world at home is changing without me. But going home really showed me whose important in my life.

I flew back to Uganda with my friend and Musana volunteer, Pete. It was nice not to be traveling alone. The flights were long but my excitement kept me going. We made it to Uganda safely with all our bags. Pete and I spent the night in Entebbee and the next morning we were picked up by Haril and Pipih (close friends and Musana staff). We made, what could have been an uneventful three hour drive to Iganga, a lot of fun. Almost the entire car ride Pete, Pipih and I were standing up with our heads out the sun roof. I loved watching Pete who had never left the country observe what was around him. It hit me how different my life here really is. I don’t stop to think twice about 100 chickens strapped to the top of a taxi or how motorcycles, cars and people are practically playing frogger on the roads. Has this all really become normal to me? It still blows my mind how much life can change in a single year. I forced everyone to stop in Kampala to get me a mango from the market. At the time I would have told you it was the best mango I had ever had. After we left the market, we continued on the journey to Iganga. On the way to Jinja, right before Mabira forest, is what can most easily be described as a Ugandan drive thru. The drive thru is one of my favorite parts about going to Kampala. You pull over on the side of the road and about twenty people swarm your car selling passion fruit, mangos, juice, water, roasted bananas, goat meat on a stick, chicken on a stick, and fried sweet bread. The second you roll down the window, all the food and bottles are shoved through the window. What makes the drive thru so incredible is the chicken on a stick. The salt and spice flavor is out of this world. I would get a taxi to kampala anyday just to get them! We made a quick stop in Jinja at Sonrise Babies Home and I got to see an old friend, Amy Washington. Amy and I meet in Uganda last June while she was at Musana. Since leaving Uganda, Amy became co directors of Sonrise. They are doing awesome work in Jinja. Finally we made it to Iganga! I was thrilled to be back in my other home J