Second Post

It has been nearly a month since my first post.  For three of the last four weeks I have not had access to the internet and only in the last few days have I also had reasonably reliable access to electrical power.  I apologize. 

UGANDA

I arrived with my group of 45 fellow trainees in Kampala around 9PM local time.  We moved through customs very rapidly and then met with Peace Corps volunteers and staff at a place called Banana Village.  Banana Village is a Ugandan style resort where we were to spend our first few days in-country before reporting to the Peace Corps training center.  I was in a dorm with three other men.  Banana Village is a resort only by Ugandan standards.  We had a flush toilet, a shower that only dispensed cold water a small face bowl, and two bunk beds each equipped with mosquito netting.  There was no place to hang or otherwise store clothes so we all lived out of our suitcases.  Consequently, I did not take pictures of the room as you can imagine what four guys did to that room in a few days.  I did take pictures of the grounds and local fauna, including the rooster that would start crowing at about 3AM.  I will share the photos and sound bites at my next post.   

Within a few days ~15 people (mostly women) were sick with what we affectionately refer to as pee-butt.  It was not pretty but everyone survived and a few of us learned how to use a pit latrine. 

Along with 8 other individuals I am learning Luganda and therefore I expect to be assigned somewhere in the central region (within about 120 miles of Kampala) as that is the language spoken in that region.  Next week I am scheduled to visit the site where I am to be based for my two-year tour. 

First Impressions 

Uganda is a beautiful country.  Poverty is extreme and pervasive but the land is beautiful.  Near Kampala the land is hilly with beautiful views overlooking valleys.  The land is incredibly fertile.  Nearly anything can grow here with great sun, plenty of rain and a near perfect year round average temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F.  (Yes, I did not believe that temperature either, but it is true: San Diego temperatures with cool nights of 65°.)  The land has the potential to be among the richest countries in Africa. 

We visited Kampala during our first few days in Uganda to become familiar with the city and how to get around the town.  Kampala is a city of 1.7 million people.  Traffic is a nightmare.  We were not allowed to bring cameras during the first trip but on my next trip to Kampala I will bring a camera so I can share pictures along with a more complete text.   

Peace Corps Uganda

Our class of trainees is getting to know each other and appreciate our respective strengths and weaknesses.)  As you might imagine most of the trainees are in their early to late 20s.  I am one of handful of over 50-somethings.  Recently the younger trainees gave us all rap star names.  I am happy to report I am Hova.  I am quite proud of my new name.  For those of you that don’t know who Hova is, I suggest you ask your grandchild. 

Ugandans tend to be short in stature.  Part of our training program is to be assigned to a local host family to help learn the culture and language.  We live with them in their home as a son/daughter or brother/sister.  My host family provided me with a standard sized Ugandan bed.  It was four inches too short so the Peace Corps had to have a special bed made so I could lay flat without assuming the fetal position.  My host brother got quite a kick out of watching me lay in the bed with my feet and several inches of my calves hanging over the end.

I am having a similar problem with my bicycle.  I will resolve that after I complete training and go to the site to which I have been assigned. 

On the plus side I do get stares when walking around the neighborhood.  My size has been variously described by natives as American high or True African.