2 months into the adventure and Tom said all he has gotten out of it is a bad hair cut from me, a sore elbow which is healed now, and a few Lugbara words. Oh yea, he got his wife back too. He isn't sure if that is a good thing, he didn't mind the quite withdrawn one so much. HAHA
Thank you Dianne for reminding me I haven't written. I have diligently been practicing my language skills and we have been being tested on everything at school. Only 2 more weeks to go and we can be sworn in as Peace Corp Volunteers. Lots has gone on and I will try and recap but my back is killing me so I can't sit for long. This is due to a long bus trip last week and the buses leave much to be desired...
Since the 18 we were invited to the 50 anniversary of the USAID and Peace Corp. It was held at the embassy so after coming back from Arua we went to the Embassy. It is 4;30 and the party starts at 6 and we are all starving and hoping for American food. They wanted us there early to go through security which took 15 minutes so we all got to know each other better. There was a bar that was expensive that the off duty marines that guard the place were at so some of the girls hung out there and the rest of us waited. We already know each other too well and ca hardly wait to meet new people. Festivities started with national anthems and speeches. We were in another part of the embassy ground when the anthem was sung and I could have cried when I heard faint strains of it. AH AMERICA how I miss the familiar and the things that connect me to it. The people that were there said it was meaningful for them. Some of the AIDS orphans danced and played drums and it was interesting, they magnified the music again which they don't need to but it was nice to see how the locals dance. I may be able to send video if I can figure it out. more to come on that...I started talking to random people and one was the Norwegian ambassador who was hungry too so he left to get something to eat, the deputy to the US ambassadors husband was standing around so I talked to him for a while. He is from Ohio I think and his brother went to ST Olaf so he had been to the BWCA. Young guy with 3 kids and a wife who is working. He is into computers so he is looking to start a business as soon as the funding comes through from Kenya. Interest rates here in Uganda are 48% on bank loans and I am not exaggerating either. And they get it if you borrow money. So when the bars opened the volunteers bellied up and 2 hours later we get on the bus with them. MY MY how can such intelligent educated people be so stupid and have such potty mouths. I guess I forgot how stupid I once was. So enough about the party. With one more week of serious language I have been memorizing and I wish I knew if it would help. One language teacher went MIA after Arua and the other one processes our questions slowly and says yes to everything so when we think a word means one thing it really doesn't and we don't find out until the next week, it is maddening. I have repeatedly asked for a tutor and I get a yes answer but when I show up no one else does. So it will be what it is. More to come. I talked to Anne who invited us to her house when we were in Arua and she said the electricity has been off since we left. And will be off at least until Dec. The solar place is doing a booming business. Seems the government is not paying there bills like at the hospital so the power is cut off to the area. People coming to the hospital are asked to bring candles and kerosene when they come if they want to see at night when they care for there loved ones. I am awaiting a fire at the place... Now I will close and write again after I have all this language memorized and the battery is full. I may start a solar panel fund for Marcy see how much it costs. Hate to have to dip into my retirement and my 36$ allowance from PC wont cover the cost...Poor me so next time you turn on the lights think about me sitting in the dark looking at the stars in Uganda. Love you all. Marc
