Time Flies

It is crazy how quickly time goes by.

Hopefully this is not a sign of aging because I’m not ready!

If I could rewind my life and start it again, let’s say starting at my freshman year at Chico State, I’d do it.  No questions asked.

I do not regret anything but I want to continually live in the moments that have made up my most memorable years.

I know, I know.  The best has yet to come.

To put things into perspective it has been 644 days since I’ve seen my family, 640 days spent in Uganda, 1,461 days, or 4 years to date, since my Grandpa Dick passed away, 176 days since National GLOW 2013, 67 days until Northern Camp and 22 days until COS conference.

I feel like just yesterday I was sitting in training being told how to greet in the local language.

I remember the outfit I wore, as I had to get up before a crowded church at my Grandpa’s funeral.

Shoot!  I remember that day in second grade when Mrs. Boerio accidently read a letter, which she thought was addressed to her, but was actually written by my secret admirer exclaiming his love for me.  Or the day my lunchbox broke and my friends had to fix it because of my broken arm.  Or the many summer days that my neighbor Cody and I could be found inventing new games in the backyard. 

Then I think about my Peace Corps service.  It is crazy to think of all the times I have had thus far.  All the changes I have seen and all the work I like to think I’ve done that have contributed to a greater Uganda. 

Then there are all of the programs I want to finish before leaving in approximately 185 days.  Malaria murals, the grassroots soccer program with my youth and hopefully getting a grant approved for a youth program focusing on expressing emotions and developing the self through art and photography.

While I am looking forward to the day I get to see my family, friends, familiar and not so familiar surroundings of home, I know I need to soak up every moment in Uganda because the clock’s a clickin’!

Hot Topics

I never expected that the remote East African country I would serve in as a Peace Corps Volunteer would find itself in the headlines of American news.

Let’s start with the positive. 

Remember the London Olympics?  Remember the last event, the men’s marathon?  Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich took the gold and the whole world got to watch as he received his medal.  Fun fact!  They had to play the National Anthem twice in order for the flag to rise completely. 

Gold!

Let’s continue to the Anti-Pornography Bill.  Commonly known as the mini skirt bill in Uganda this bill forbids women to wear mini-skirts.  "Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function is outlawed.  Anything above the knee is outlawed.  If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her."  The bill also prohibits all pornography and the broadcasting of racy musical performances.  Sorry Ugandans… No more Beyoncé or Madonna.  The government will also have much stricter controls on the citizens Internet usage.  Those who fail to abide face a fine of 10 million Ugandan Shillings, approximately $4,000USD, up to 10 years in jail or both.

On to the more upsetting headlines. 

Yesterday Uganda’s Minister for Ethics & Integrity released a comment stating, “Well, it is men raping girls. Which is natural.” 

Excuse me?!

The article goes on to say that heterosexual rape is “…morally preferable to consensual, homosexual activity.”

Again.  WHAT?!

Statement

This brings me to the next topic. 

The Anti-Gay Bill. 

With Arizona’s name in the spotlight regarding this topic maybe Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill has been put on the back burner in the headlines.

Then again… Maybe not.

I mean shoot!  People have taken to documentaries.  While I have yet to see God Loves Uganda, I understand that it explores the impact that the American evangelical movement has had here, including the promotion of religious bigotry.  I have seen the trailer and listened to a podcast and my conclusion… It sounds terrifying. 

Then there is Call Me Kuchu, which I have seen.  Kuchu is the local word used for people who identify as apart of the LGBT community.  Produced in 2012, the movie shows the battle that David Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man, has with the media and government to defeat the homophobia that lies within many, if not all, communities throughout the country.  In the meantime a local newspaper publishes the faces and names of gay and lesbian individuals, whom Kato takes to court.  The film had me in tears and with that… I highly recommend it.

BBC, NY Times and Al Jazeera have all put out articles stating that Museveni, Uganda’s President, will officially sign the bill.  This is coming after he condemned the Members of Parliament in early January for passing it without him knowing.  He turned to his scientists for evidence that homosexuality is a socially learned behavior, which they apparently provided evidence for. 

Now I’d like to read those studies. 

Obama then conveyed that if this bill were passed it would complicate our relations with Uganda.  Museveni’s solution?  He will seek advice from us.  BBC. 

Come on USA… Pull through on this one.

A majority of Ugandans are in support of passing the bill.  I have overheard conversations and read a handful of comments that have been posted to the Ambassador’s Facebook page and what they say make me sick.  These have included everything from “Let’s all publicly stone them in town… Even kids can have a chance!” to “Hang them.”

Then there is my Supervisor.  I have decided to not bring up this topic but last week she brought it up to me. 

Here is what she told me.

“Tara, right now there are men and women having sex.  Probably right here in Kitgum.”

“Yes.”

“And here in Kitgum there might be men having sex with men.  Right now.”

“Okay.”

“And guess what?  We do not see either of them because it is behind closed doors and what people do privately is none of our business.”

Exactly!

She went on to state that if the bill is passed and aid is pulled out that HIV-positive individuals would lose access to their free ARVs, currently being given by the United States.  She fears what will happen to all of the work being done to end this fight.  She fears for the future of her country.

I don’t blame her.

In the meantime we will continue to fight the many fights here in the UG.

My Friend Fred

Below is an email you will find that I sent out to some family and friends this morning.  I ask that you take the time to read.

Hey Friends,

Something unfortunate has happened in Peace Corps Uganda and we need your help.

Before I continue, let me share a thought…

It absolutely drives me crazy when people in Uganda assume that I have extra money that I will freely give them because I am an American munu, also known as a white person. 

 “Munu, give me money.”

“Munu, money!  Munu, money!  Munu, money!”  

“ Eh!  But you have money.  You first give me some.”

And this all happens as kids tug at my skirt with sad puppy dog eyes.

Well, here I am asking for you to do the same for Peace Corps Uganda. 

I know that you have yet to travel to The Pearl so I am asking you to donate money to a person in a place that chances are, you may never make it to.

This is where I need your faith.

Fred Kiyingi is the Safety and Security Officer for Peace Corps Uganda and has been for 15 years. 

He is incredible. 

And supportive. 

And a huge advocate for Volunteers.

And will come to our rescue in any situation we might find ourselves in. 

Another story.  Back in July 2012 when Peace Corps Uganda let us Volunteers venture out on our own for our Future Site Visits I had a terrible travel day.  I was stranded in the middle of a bustling taxi park waiting for a 14-person matatu to fill for hours.  I was being poked and prodded from the windows all the while drunken men shouted obscene harassments and crowded around to see the white girl.  Fred was in contact with the taxi driver, even requesting him to remove all the bystanders or else he’d contact the authorities, which he's legitimately do and has done.  He was constantly calling to check in with me and ended up coming to pick me up in the air-conditioned PC vehicle to take me to a guesthouse for the night.

It was so comforting to know that us Volunteers had someone who was willing to go to such extent for our wellbeing.

Now the last time I saw Fred was back in December when I was at the office in Kampala.  I noticed he was not his usual self… He was much more quiet and his eyes, which usually were vibrant with life, were jaundiced. 

I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. 

I kept a positive attitude and after I helped him finish a couple emails I gave him a hug, only to feel how much he had shrunk in size.

Soon thereafter an email was released saying Fred was sick.  Really, really sick.  He needed to go to India immediately.  Both current and Returned Volunteers came together with the help of family and friends to raise the funds to send him there.

Well upon returning back home nothing new was discovered.  He continued to go for tests in Kampala and it was found out that he has been diagnosed with Hepato-Biliary Cirrhosis, and is in need of a liver transplant, which at this point will most likely come from his son.  Throughout the process of his diagnosis and proposed treatment Peace Corps Uganda has reached out to Embassy personnel, friends and family to raise money through the Federal Emergency and Education Association.  Currently the hospital where Fred is being treated has provided ongoing care and services at no charge while the funds are being gathered. 

We need an additional 40,000USD to complete his treatment.

Our plan? 

Family and friends.

Whether you have 4USD or 40USD, anything is appreciated.  By taking this simple action we can give the thanks and gratitude to a person who has helped so many others in their times of need.

Time is of the essence, as 10,000USD of funding for Fred’s procedures must be raised by the end of Friday, February 21st!  So far 2,000USD has been collected.

Additional funds will have to be identified but the immediate concern is the 10,000USD.

To donate, please visit: www.feea.org/GivePeaceCorps

You will fill in your respective information.  

When you get to the line “In Honor/Memory of”, fill in Kiyingi Fredrick and Darlic Janet Natukunda.  

On the next line you will select, Honor.  

The agency is Peace Corps. 

Each day we are blessed with new opportunities, which in some cases bring lifelong friends.  For me this opportunity is Peace Corps and this friend is Fred.

One last story.  In December 2012 was my first Camp GLOW.  When we were checking in the campers I noticed this young girl who looked just like someone I knew.  Of course… It was Fred’s daughter.  Throughout camp she was outstanding… She was active in all the sessions and activities, supportive of all the campers and was someone with such a bright outlook on life.  On the last day as the buses took the girls back home, I noticed a man walking in the school gate to pick up his daughter.  He saw her from behind and began to run towards her, at which time I nodded at her to look around.  It was Fred.  The smiles were contagious and as he got closer he picked her up and swung her around like no one was watching. 

Little did he know, we were all watching.

I ask that even at the distance that separates you and me, and therefore you and Fred, that you put this aside.  Know that the smile I just mentioned is the one he will be sending you from his hospital room.

Sending lots of love from Africa,

Tara 

Please share this email with everyone you know.  I understand these emails sometimes find themselves in the trash folder without ever being read.  Please give this one a chance.  

The deadline is coming quickly and while I tried to find out what will happen in the event the money is not raised, I failed to reach anyone. 

Here is what I hope to be true. 

The money will be used to continue to help him improve his physical health, slowly by slowly, here in Uganda.

Here is what I know to be true.

It will most definitely help with the emotional and mental health of his family and the Peace Corps Uganda community.  

Havoc Traffic

Expect the unexpected. 

Throughout my Peace Corps service this has always been my mantra. 

Especially when it comes to travel.

One can never predict how a travel day will go.  From Kitgum to Kampala is 439.4 kilometers, or for those who calculate in miles, 273.  What should in the United States take an average of four hours takes anywhere from eight, on a perfect day, to sixteen, as I recently experienced.

A week ago I had to make the long journey down to the capitol for a Volunteer Advisory Committee meeting.  I had to catch the 6a bus, which meant leaving my house at 5a to secure a seat.  The bus arrived and I attempted to get comfortable for the very bumpy ride to Gulu. 

At 6:30a we were on our way. 

Now I usually never take a seat in the very back of the bus but on this day, it was my only option. 

The driver managed to hit every gargantuan pothole of varying depths, inevitably sending me three feet in the air and an unforgiving return landing. 

The lack of rain caused the dirt roads to transform to a desert storm, which found its way into the bus despite the closed windows.  I swear to you there must have been a hole underneath my seat. 

After the hour and a half journey to Gulu, I was covered in dust. 

And I mean covered. 

At this point some passengers left as they reached their destination and I immediately sought out a window seat closer to the front. 

Luckily I found myself sitting next to a woman who had baby wipes.  She offered me some to freshen.  Trust me when I say that the wipe was brown in color by the time I finished cleaning the lower half of my left arm.

The bus revved its engine and we were out.  Since we made it to some smooth road, I managed to fall asleep in minutes… Only to wake 15 minutes later… Stranded on the side of the road. 

Apparently we were nine, or nineteen, kilometers outside Gulu town when our driver realized that the gears were not working. 

How he did not realize this for the first part of the journey I am unclear.  At this point I was just thankful to have made it alive.

People start leaving the bus, seeking out other transport options.  Now let me remind you we are still four to six hours from the capital.  I decide to sit on the bus and listen to the Celine Dion/Enrique Iglesias/Shania Twain CD that is on repeat. 

After hearing “Because of You” three times I figured it was time for a walk.

The other passengers told me that they were bringing mechanics from Gulu and they should arrive very soon.

Three hours later they appear on boda bodas and start tinkering with the bus. 

During this wait period I played with children, snuggled babies and was given water, soda and biscuits from the other passengers.  I easily could have paid for them myself but they insisted on behalf of their country and its faulty roads and transportation.

At 1p we finally loaded back on the bus to continue our journey.  Usually by this time we would have been on the outskirts of Kampala.

Our journey is going well and the driver is making up for lost time, neglecting to stop for bathroom breaks.  I was perfectly okay with this.

Out of nowhere the brakes come to a screeching halt

As I peak my head out the window I notice a traffic accident involving a Coca Cola truck and a fuel tanker.  Rumor from the onlookers was that the driver of the Coca Cola vehicle hit the fuel tanker, head on, which caused the Coca Cola vehicle to flip on its side.  The drivers fled the scene, which caused every Uganda to emerge from the homes in the bush to take crates and crates of soda and to siphon the gasoline. 

At this point all I was waiting for was someone to light a cigarette.  

Long story short the brought it some crazy contraception that was able to “safely” remove the fuel tanker to the side of the road, allowing traffic to continue.  The Coca Cola truck remained on its side, with people fleeing for Fanta. 

The bus finally made it to the outskirts of the city around 7:30p but the streets of Kampala are ruled by two things...  Congestion and traffic. 

Around 9p I made it to the bus park.  Exhausted.  I managed to have a friend who operates a private taxi pick me up and take me to the Annex.

The time it takes to transport in Uganda is like playing a game of Russian roulette. 

Most times you make it with time to spare.

And then there are those days where you wish you never left home.

Like I said… Expect the unexpected.