Merry Christmas!

The past couple of days have been rough in terms of not being home for the holidays but somehow I am making it through with my friends here in Africa.  The endless amounts of home cooked food and packages sent from loved ones back home have helped alleviate the homesickness.  Not to mention the traditional black and white films, It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas.  Oh and Love Actually, except that one is in color.

My Christmas Eve was non-traditional in that it did not include breakfast with my sisters and dad, church service, and a dinner out on the town.  Instead I spent it at another PCV’s site with some children at an orphanage.  We took pictures on my computer and played games while they stroked my hair that they found oh so interesting.  The children’s smiles reminded me of how lucky of an opportunity I have been given.   

I will fill everyone in on the day’s events in a later post.  This was just a short and simple post to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Time To Play Catch (Up)

After an 18-day adventure of living out of a hiking backpack in a school dormitory, hostels, and hotels, I am back just in time to leave again for the holidays.  Oh December! 

Prepare yourself… This is a long one!  Okay?  Go!

From November 30^th to December 8^th I was working at National Camp GLOW (Girl’s Leading Our World) as a counselor.  Up until this point, I felt like my work in Uganda has been minimal and quite frankly, not all that practical and sustainable.  Peace Corps reminds us that change takes time and to remain patient but when you work day in and day out to educate Ugandans on healthy practices, all you want to see is a cluster of school-aged children around a borehole washing their hands with soap or mothers breastfeeding their newborns rather than giving them a Coke.  (Yes.  This does occur).   Well, camp changed my attitude. 

During the two-day counselor training I found out that I would be working with Eunice, my Ugandan co-counselor, and that together we would be responsible for the rhinos.  Each counselor pair was assigned an animal group and upon finding out what we had Eunice came to me and said, “Ah!  Tara!  I have been asking around and researching what sound a rhino makes.  I do not know!  Are they silent?!  What will we do?”  For those that may be curious as to why this is important is because camp is full of chants, cheers, and songs.  I said, “Eunice, do not fear.  What kinda, sorta rhymes with rhino?  GLOW!  And we are at Camp GLOW so for the meantime we will chant, ‘Who GLOWS?  Rhinos!’”  This was a hit and after the girl’s arrived, we came up with plenty of more chants, cheers, and songs. 

Camp started on the 2^nd with the arrival of 180 girls from all around the country.  We welcomed them with t-shirts, games, posters, manuals, and icebreakers galore.  It was a flashback to move-in day when I was a Resident Advisor.  I reminisced.  Eunice and I were blessed to work with 11 rhinos, who started off shy, timid, and still inside their bubbles.  By day two of camp, Eunice and I couldn’t convince them with anything to get back inside their bubbles.    

Camp was filled with sessions surrounding topics of teamwork, life skills, income generating activities, and healthy living.  We talked about gender roles, nutrition, how to make pita bread, female health, malaria, assertiveness, in addition to many others.  The topics we talked about are not always conveyed to these young girls in the village so we were able to educate and empower them to go back home with this new information. 

I led a session on self-esteem, which was very empowering to witness.  Many Ugandan girls are told that they cannot accomplish their dreams and that their destiny is to marry young and become mothers.  To witness the girls in my session write positive words about themselves, to visualize their dreams and to know that they can do it was beyond inspirational.  I also had them write down on a piece of paper something they were told by someone else that they could not do or something they fear doing.  That night at dinner I gave a mini speech and together, we threw the fears into a fire.  This symbolization of their fears turning into smoke and ash meant that nothing was holding them back and they could do anything. 

The week continued with activities, guest speakers, movies, a talent show, nighttime capture the flag, and a dance party.  We also had a field day with the boys from Camp BUILD (Boys In Uganda In Leadership Development), which included the limbo, volleyball, an obstacle course, in addition to others.  

At the closing ceremony, this is what I left my rhinos with.  “After being in this country for almost seven months, I started to question my purpose.  Well, I no longer have to after spending a week with all of you.  Throughout camp I have seen you all come out of your shells, help others, and become the leaders you were born to become.  Each and every one of you have inspired me to continue work back in my village.  Each and every one of you have made a lasting impact on my life.  Each and every one of you are special individuals who have the capacity to continue what you have learned here at camp back home.  I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you grow into a GLOW girl!”

If you want to read more, here is the camp blog: http://glowuganda2012.blogspot.com/ and an article written about the camp:

http://www.thecommunityagenda.com/new/index.php/community/68-peace-corps-hold-girls-empowerment-camp

It was also decided at camp who would be the directors of National Camp GLOW 2013.  Well, it looks like I will be a busy bee because yours truly along with two other fabulous Volunteers will be heading up those positions.  I am very excited to once again be involved in an event that in my mind is one of the best things that we do as Peace Corps Volunteers.

Well that concludes the first 10-days of my adventure.  After this I traveled to Entebbe, quite possibly my favorite “city” in Uganda.  We celebrated the joint birthday of two Volunteers with pizza and cold beer.  We then moved on to Kampala, where many people were getting their mid-service medical exams but I had a VAC meeting with Administration.  After taking in a movie in an air-conditioned theater, I began my two-day meeting (Sunday and Monday), with Peace Corps.  I then had all day Tuesday to explore the ins and outs of the country’s capital with my friend Kat.  We started the morning off with café lattes, then found a 2-for-1-pizza deal for lunch, and ended the day with soft serve ice cream.  In between our Taste of Kampala tour we shopped for Christmas presents, which resulted in a Santa suit for her and a yoga mat for me. 

On Wednesday I was presenting a session to the new group of trainees on living with a Ugandan family during their time at homestay.  I only got to meet half the group as the education sector facilitates their training differently.  What I can say is that the group of individuals I met were awesome and to see their energy and excitement about Peace Corps and Uganda rejuvenated me.  After that training session, four of the Volunteers still in town and I took in The Little Donkey.  AKA Mexican food.  Delicious Mexican food.  We are talking quesadillas, burritos, tortilla chips, fish tacos, chimichangas, and margaritas with salt on the glass rim.  If you visit, we will go here and it’ll give Mi Pueblo a run for its money!

After my trip in Kampala I then journeyed back to the Southwest down to Rukungiri District (where I may be moving, more on that later though), where I helped with a belayed World AIDS Day Event on December 15.  World AIDS Day is on December 1 but with a majority of us at Camp, we decided to postpone.  We applied for a grant and received $500USD.  This allowed us to purchase tents, rent space from a church in town, and get all of our necessary materials.  Two days before the event, Candy, Kendra, and I were on the radio where we used our Runyankore language skills to talk about the event.  The following day as we shopped in town for fabric, glue, paper, rope, rubber rings, soda, and stakes, everyone recognized us by our voices and started to refer to us by our Runyankore names.  People in shops we didn’t even go in to, vendors at the market, men driving by in the back of a pick-up truck would shout, “Eh Kyomuhendo and Businge!  I heard you on Rukungiri Radio!  You were great!”

The day started out with a damper as the skies darkened with rain clouds.  With the creativity of PCV’s, we were able to accommodate and adjust, making the necessary changes to have a wonderful event that would accommodate approximately 300 people of all ages.  We chose to focus our event on general health, with an AIDS focus of course.  We had educational sessions on malaria, WATSAN (water and sanitation), nutrition, and HIV/AIDS.  After each session, we then had carnival games set up that the participants could engage in, as long as they correctly answered questions about the subject matter.  The prize?  Sweeties.  Candy.  We also had free testing and counseling, drama from a local village group and TASO (The AIDS Support Organization), speeches, and a raffle. 

On the trip back to site after the event, I made one short stop along the way to visit the new trainees who would be joining us down in the Southwest, as they were beginning their regional satellite language training.  We met at a local restaurant and over drinks we were able to learn more about the group of nine.  They are awesome and I am excited to have them join what I think is one of the best regions in the country… Not like I am biased or anything.  We were able to answer questions, ease fears, and plan for Christmas. 

I left the restaurant excited for what the future holds… A new group of Volunteers, directing a National Camp, a possible new site, a new year, fresh beginnings, and a rejuvenated sense of self. 

Unfortunately this came to a quick halt when I got my first experience of being sick in Uganda.  Nothing that a bowl of chicken noodle soup, throat lozenges, and liters upon liters of water couldn’t fix. 

P.S. If you ever have questions about life in Uganda, want more details, or have ideas on a post, please feel free to comment or email me!

A Memo To My Devoted Readers

I apologize to you all in advance but wanted to let you know that it is going to be awhile until my next post.  As the Ugandans say, “Sorry, sorry, sorry!”  Starting this Friday I am going to be away from site for approximately three weeks.  I am a counselor at National Camp GLOW (Girl’s Leading Our World), I then have a VAC (Volunteer Action Committee) Meeting with the Peace Corps Administration in Kampala, then I am presenting on homestay living at the new trainee’s Pre-Service Training, and finally I will be traveling back to the Southwest region to do a World AIDS Day event with my fellow Volunteers.  Needless to say, the next post will be long but full of all the things I have been doing.  Brace yourself; it is going to be a wild ride!

A Step-By-Step Guide to Thanksgiving in Uganda

I can tell you one thing about Thanksgiving… It doesn’t matter where you are, whom you are with, or what you have to cook on, it is a day to be treasured. 

Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favorite holiday of the year.  It is a day centered on family, food, and football.  It commences the holiday season, although Costco might disagree as I bet their holiday décor has been displayed since before Halloween.  I knew that when I applied for Peace Corps, that I would be spending at least two holiday seasons away from the comforts of home.  Upon arrival in this country, I was already actively figuring out how to make the holidays the best possible.  Here is a condensed how to guide.

1 – Assemble a group of wonderful PCV’s at a predetermined location, preferably one with cold drinks in stock.

2 – Have one of those wonderful PCV friends bring a turkey.  Essential for a traditional meal.

3 – Ensure that another one of those wonderful PCV’s is willing to kill and prepare the turkey.

4 – Spend Thanksgiving morning together chopping, dicing, and slicing all the food for the feast.  This includes potatoes, garlic, string beans, peppers, onions, cheese, carrots, chives, cucumbers, and tomatoes among many others.  Oh and please make sure all fingers are out of the knives way.  Rookie mistake Tara.  Rookie mistake. 

5 – Begin lighting the sigiri’s, charcoal stoves, and brick oven; because here in Uganda you do not always have access to those appliances that simply require the push of a button.

6 – In an organized fashion, cook each dish.  This has to be organized in that pots and pans are limited.  It should go something like this… Turkey first.  Toast bread for stuffing.  Break into pieces.  Boil the potatoes.  Boil pumpkin for miniature pies/brownies.  Make the mushroom soup for the casserole and chicken stock for the stuffing.

7 – Take a break to play a round of Apples to Apples.

8– Begin to assemble the dishes.

9 – Once the food is prepared, dispense into clean basins.

10 – Let the feast of turkey, green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, salad, and individual pumpkin pie brownies commence. 

Now to go into a little more detail…

My first Thanksgiving in Uganda was spent with 12 newfound friends at a wonderful place called Kalebas.  My fellow PCV’s and I discovered this wondrous place during language training.  It changed our world.   It had a mini trampoline, cold drinks, pizza, speakers we could play our American music on, running water, beds, and a bon fire pit.  This was to be our Thanksgiving destination. 

We arrived there after spending a day in Mbarara shopping for the epic feast that was to come.  Three of my fellow PCV’s and I took on the task of shopping and organizing the cooking.  Now none of us had done this in the States, so why now you ask?  My answer: What better place to practice than Uganda.  If we could accomplish that here then the States has nothing on us.  From Mbarara the eight of us were able to take a private hire (taxi) to Kalebas with all of our food, luggage, and a live turkey in the boot (trunk).  We spent the night eating pizza, drinking cold beer and soda, reflecting about the past six months in country and predicting what the following 18 or so more will turn out to be like.  The highlight

of the evening was when Robyn, a fellow PCV, finally arrived with her mom and sister, who graciously brought us American goodies.  Pistachios, Peanut Butter M&M’s, and organic fried onions for the green bean casserole. 

Fast forward to Thanksgiving morning.  No Macy’s Day Parade, morning hike, or trap shooting with the family.  Rather we spent it drinking instant coffee and eating fruit salad, bread with butter, and eggs.  Then we went to town.

We had to clean pounds and pounds of potatoes in basins among peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables.  This then required us to chop away.  Now Ugandan knives are absolutely terrible and dull and some do not even have a handle.  We chose to use three Swiss Army Knives for the endeavor.  After four hours of slicing and dicing, we finished. 

We then sat around staring at all of the food, contemplating how to go about cooking everything in a timely manner and most importantly, how to have it all ready at the same time.  Well, we just went for it. 

First was the pumpkin pie, which required cleaning it out, saving the seeds for a snack, and boiling the pieces on a sigiri.  Then we put the cooked pieces into a basin and with a pestle, made the filling.  With a lot of milk and cinnamon, we managed to get a pumpkin pie consistency and taste.  This was added to our shortcake cookie crust, which was made ever so fine by the fingers of our hard working pinchers.

Garlic mashed potatoes was next, which went surprisingly fast.  Over a wood stove, think an open fire with bricks to lift the pit up off the coals, the potatoes were quickly brought to a boil.  Again with a pestle, the potatoes were mashed, cream was added, salt and pepper to taste, and garlic to top it off.

The macaroni and cheese was all Robyn.  She made her delicious, one of a kind cheese sauce over a small gas burner.  The pasta was all cooked over a sigiri.  In two takes since we had three bags.  We might have over estimated that one a bit.  Again in a basin, everything was brought together and topped off with breadcrumbs.

Now you might be wondering about the turkey.  Robyn’s vegan sister, Bailey, is a turkey connoisseur.  She helped ensure that the Ugandans were properly butchering, cooking, and seasoning it.  She did a phenomenal job.  It tasted wonderful!

Back to more food.  The stuffing.  My Mama’s stuffing recipe.  Now my Mama’s cooking is one of a kind delicious.  She sent me the recipe and I attempted to live up to it.  Mission accomplished.  Everyone loved it and needless to say, I am looking forward to the day when I can make it for her and the rest of the family during Thanksgiving 2014.  Anyway, after sautéing onions, chives, peppers, carrots, and garlic, three loaves of toasted, bite-size pieces of bread were added with approximately six cup of chicken broth.  Lawry’s poultry seasoning gave the dish that something special.  This was all done over an open fire, which resulted in a lot of smoke inhalation.  Pop this dish in the brick oven for a crispy top and voila!

The salad was simple.  Chop up cucumbers, tomatoes, garlic, and peppers.  Then carefully find that perfect balance of balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Serve.

Last but not least was the green bean casserole.  Now I never ate this in the States.  Funny coincidence though, as I was on the phone with my family during Thanksgiving I found out that my Baba Mila was bringing green bean casserole.  The one-year I am not home.  We made some instant creamy mushroom soup, added fresh green beans, and let the beans cook in that.  The secret.  Use milk instead of water.  It makes it so creamy!  While we waited for the beans to soak up a lot of the soup, we pan fried the onions.  Add those to the top and you got yourself a casserole.

Well, there it is, Thanksgiving in Uganda using traditional cooking apparatuses.  Together we feasted, shared stories, watched Ugandans eat their first taste of Thanksgiving side dishes, and then fell to the inevitable Thanksgiving nap.  We awoke to a bon fire, phone calls to loved ones back in America, and a sense of accomplishment. 

Total cost of Thanksgiving meal: 168,000 Ugandan Shillings ($67.20 USD)

Cost breakdown for each person: 14,000 Ugandan Shillings ($5.60 USD)

Spending Thanksgiving with Andrew, Brittany, Chelsea, Griffin, John, Kendra, Michelle, Murph, Patrick, Robyn, Robyn’s Mom Sharon, and Robyn’s Sister Bailey: Priceless.