Well the honeymoon is over and now that I am, or we are, PCV's real life is setting in. Some is fun and some is a drag. I think we didn't realize how much work everything requires and now we do because we are doing it for ourselves. I knew washing was a hassle. Have you ever tried to wash queen size sheets in a bucket and then rinse them after you scrubbed them because you didn't scrub you feet before getting in bed because then you would need ANOTHER bucket or basin. Since arriving in Arua to our 3 bedroom rambler duplex we have been on our own. First night when we arrived after a 8 hour trip N some of the student council and instructors were lined up to welcome us with flowers and cheers and welcomes. They had me get out of the vehicle and paraded me to our home. I looked a wreck but my supervisor was all smiles and told me this an African Welcome and “it's all right”. We got to our new home that all the repairs had been done to and they wanted to pray for us and our home and our time with them at the school. Thank you Jesus. No where in America has some one greeted me and thanked God for sending me... I cried. I was also praying and asking God to strengthen me to not disappoint any of them or myself but most of all Him. That was Friday and the bursar (accountant) Sande took us out for supper. Chips (fries) and chicken beef goat or egg. No pork with in town because of the Muslim population. They deep fry this stuff and then you have a side of cabbage and peppers. This is considered American fare. Dr. Murthy is not close and I do not want my gall bladder out here so food is limiting but so far no attacks maybe because they don't use corn oil but rather vegetable oil, what ever that is...
We went home and went to bed but 1st I took my malaria med and lay down which the box clearly says never do. Remain upright for ½ hour after taking and drink lots of water which I didn't do either. 2 hours later I am awake with heartburn and it is still hanging on. Being a nurse I figure I at least have esophageal erosion. So 2 days I can't eat and feel awful so Tom doesn't eat much either because for some reason he has forgotten how to do much but boil water for instant coffee. He went out and got donuts (hard balls of paste deep fried in a doughnut shape and they get harder as the day goes on) to tide him over but day 2 we were going out. Day 3 is the same but yesterday we went to market and bought some veggies and made a broth that I could get down with out as much pain. This weight loss plan is working real well if you are at the thrift shops I wear a size 6 now. The thing with eating out is it takes 11/2 hours for you food to come out because cooking from scratch here is a process which I will now explain. You walk to market in the hot equatorial sun and you buy tomatoes from 1, egg plant from 1, garlic and onions from one, cucumbers, ect and this takes an hour of bargaining and haggling and looking over everything and you are wore out. Home you walk and eat a doughnut because your blood sugar is low because the big bowl of oats you had for breakfast didn't hold you till lunch. Now it is lunch and you have to prepare what ever your going to put in your fat face so white hard stale bread and bad peanut butter seem pretty good to Tom I like raw carrots Cucumbers and tomatoes myself but I forgot to get an avocado and why can't you find cheese here? They have cows and goats. Oh yea no fridges though. I know you are tired of hearing me complain about the food but food consumed me in MN and it still is.
For supper you have to start 2 hours ahead because the power goes out and you can't see except with the lantern fueled with kerosene. This asphyxiates you and you are nauseated by the time the food is ready. So you cut and clean and get your pan ready then light the single burner kerosene stove like camping only the camping one was round and had even heat. You put your pan on the burner and keep turning it so it all cooks and doesn't burn. I am not real good with this yet or portion size for 2 so we don't throw away ½ as you can not save without refrigeration. Now it's dark the bugs are out the kerosene has made you sick and you can eat. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF COMING TO VISIT WAIT A BIT UNTIL I HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF FOOD PREP. The restaurants (guest houses) here offer chips and ? The goat is the best, or regular Ugandan food. (Banana’s a couple ways with potatoes rice beans and G Nut sauce and pumpkin leaves steamed) So it is a great weight loss as the sweets and crackers are bad. OK enough already.
Tom and I went out and bought bikes, I found a used Schwinn that I test drove before they did repairs too and charged me 90$ for but Tom didn't get to test drive his as it was new. Today we went and picked it up and it is too small for him. Sorry sucker, no refunds. He has to ride it about 8 miles everyday to get to and from work so he may be looking for some handle bar extension soon and a seat extension. We went to the market after for our daily dose of fun and came home for a nap. We are to start working next week and I don't know when I will find time to work too. I am exhausted after 11AM. We may become rich white people and hire help. I don't know how far our 36$ will go. We have to pay our own electric and water bill here but the electric isn't on all that often and we are still taking bucket baths. But it is pure bliss to turn on a tap and have water so you have one less chore to do. We bought dried beans today and the lady next door told me they were onzie (bad) they were old and had weevil. Were going to eat them tomorrow if I can cook them that long. She said she would go to market with me next time. Tom will be relieved.
Do you ever notice how African woman stand so straight and there butts stick out. Here is why. They do everything on the ground and they bend at the waist. There hamstrings must be stretched to the max. I will send pictures when I write again and I want you to notice. So they cook on the ground wash on the ground sit on the ground and walk and fetch and haul. Thank you Lord I was born in America! I understand why they only live to be 52. Christianity appeals to me just for the reason of eternal rest and the Heavenly banquet. I understand why it spread here.
Well this is enough of my musings today. I have been invited to a Bible study at the mayors house he married a British woman and the local missionaries all come so I will meet woman from other countries as well. I am excited and think I may be the only American except for Latoya a 26 year old PCV who is a teacher here. Since we have been here our credit card got accessed and someone was taking trips to Spain and racking up 3000$ resort bill. USAA was aware of it and called us right away. So now, we don't have a credit card. No big deal, no one here takes them anyway. NO ONE. So we will next be learning how to really budget....Which is what living in the culture means. Eyre Eyre (Slowly Slowly) I love you all miss you all and am so looking forward to the suitcase arrival on Friday. Thank you Thank you Thank you! Love from sunny Uganda. Marc
