Merry Christmas from Uganda !

These days we have been very few at Miles 2 Smiles – only 12 kids, and compared to what we have been used to with 200 it’s now a very quiet period at work . The Christmas-holiday starts much earlier than what we are used to in Norway. After the children have finished their exams, they are free to go for their holiday. Cause of that, already from the begging of the month people leaves Kampala to go their families in the village.

Although we have had a very nice week with the children at Miles 2 Smiles. They have been allowed to play with the few toys we have available (since it have been enough to all of them), and also letting them stay at the office while we have been working with the paper we had to deliver during this week.  Music, dancing, laughter and joy at the office this week !

Benedicte and I have chosen to write about the health system in Uganda – which is VERY different from what we are spoiled with in Norway. In that conjunction, we interviewed a doctor-student and visited Mulago Hospital – The biggest public hospital in Uganda.  From what we have been told- and what we have seen: We have NOTHING to complain about in Norway. A line-system not working and corruption as a big concern “Survival the fittest” is unfortunately a reality here in Uganda…

The week ended with a Microfinance-Party where the men and women got an envelope with all the money they have saved during this year. It was wonderful to see the how proud they were about the money they had made. Next year, Benedicte and I will join one of the saving-groups so that we can understand- and learn more about Microfinance in general. I will save money every week so that I will be able to pay school-fees to one of the children graduating from Miles 2 Smiles next year. When I know more about Microfinance myself, I will write a own blogpost about that.

We will spend our Christmas here in Kampala with the CHRISC- and CRO-girls celebrating it "Norwegian-style" the 24. and "Ugandan-style" the 25. After that, we will go to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro and reach the top as we enter the new year 2012. Infield in Kenya after that. Many plans the next weeks, so I will not blog for a long time.

Enjoy this christmas-movie made by my talented team-partner; Vegge !

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year ! Love from Uganda.

"Back in business" - Exams, Workshop, Outing, Marathon and Christmas-/Graduation-Party !

Long time no blogpost. After our week off, we are back in business – our daily life in Kampala ! We have had a LOT to do these 2 weeks, and blogging has therefore not been prioritized. Although - time for a little summary from our past two weeks !  The weeks have been flowing away, and they have been great !

From being lazy for a hole week we came back to work at Miles2Smiles in the period of exams.  For me – used to the Norwegian school-system it sounds very strange to test 3-5 year old children for their skills in that early age. Tasks about alphabet, counting (1-20) and writing where tested. Although it sounds very “serious” with an exam, it’s seems like it is more about to see how much the children have learnt during the year – and that’s a good thing ! The kids finished their exams during the Monday and Tuesday, and the rest of the week went to playing with 200 children in 6 hours ! Intensive, but extremely good to be back to our days at Miles 2 Smiles filled with laughter, joy and happiness !

The weekend arrived and MTN-marathon, workshop- and outing with the staff was on the menu. Saturday, the workers at Miles2Smiles gathered to have a workshop. Benedicte and I were during these 4 hours teaching about Norwegian ways of raising and teaching- children, and we also held an open discussing for how to make the schooling better – an interesting day !

We started Sunday 27. November singing the first verse of the Norwegian Advent-song “Tenn lys” – a quarter past 5 in the morning ! 7 o’clock started the MTN-marathon. About 20 000 people, wearing a yellow t-shirt ran 10, 21 or 42 km. for clean water for Amuria. I finished my first half-marathon with style – sweat and fresh interviewed by two Ugandan television-companies !

A new week arrived and pasted, and a new weekend was ahead. The big happening this weekend was the Christmas- and graduation-party. All of the 200 children with their family were invited. The children have been practicing for weeks and where ready to sing- and dance for their parents. Vegge and I had also prepared a Christmas-play about Jesus in a manger with Aunty Jowe and her middle-class (4-5 years old); Vegge was telling the story, Mary, Joseph, the tree wise men, sheep’s, shepherds, angles and me as the donkey acted as Hollywood-actresses ! The play turned out to be very successful. The children preformed excellent, both at the play but also with their other singing- and dancing performances. The children were excited preforming, and their parents was of course: Proud audience ! 

Benedicte and I have been in Uganda for 2 months now – almost 1/3 of our internship. We have been told- many though stories, experienced new and rough impressions daily, and have also got to see “a new world”, presentable for so many people in this world, but not imaginable from my life in Norway. Though, much of our days have been filled with laughter, smiles- and hugs from children gasping for more attention, happiness and joy. We have been lucky to be a part of a extremely important work in an community-based organization focusing helping both children and their families to give rise to a brighter day and future. It has been 2 months about learning from each other, sharing ideas, but most of all been filled by gratefulness. Thankfulness has got a new meaning during this stay …

East- and South Africa - Slaughtering chicken and safari !

The last week we have experienced for sure what is called “African-time” – in many different ways.

Our week turned out to be a small holiday, since the kindergarten was closed for the whole week. The toilets had to be rebuilt and where supposed to be finished on Tuesday, but since the working-strategy is a bit different from what we are used to in Norway; effectivity and “everybody working”, the Africans serenity seems to effect the work. In Uganda when 1, maximum 2 of the men works the rest of the 8 workers are sitting and relaxing, so they needed also the rest of the week to get the work finished. No work means a lot of new adventures outside Kampala city, and this time Vegge and Jørgensen experienced the West- and Southern part of Uganda.

Our journey started with a weekend with Rotary Club; a Ugandan organization. Kanungu was the name of the place we were visiting – a small village south in Uganda between valleys deep in the green jungle. Departure from Kampala city the 11. November was supposed to be at 14.00. We left 22.00. The trip where supposed to take 6 hours, maximum 7. We arrived Kanungu 08.00 Saturday morning (10 hours!)… With almost no sleep after a trip with a noise that reminded me of a mixture from 200 children at Miles 2 Smiles and the Norwegian “Russe-celebration” we had not got much of sleep. Sleeping is for wimps ! After a typical Ugandan breakfast with mashed bananas with beans, we went further into the jungle where we were going to hand out some mosquito-nets, blankets and mango- and avocado-plants. 

Spending this weekend with Rotary Club in Kanungu turned out to be some interesting days, with a lot of waiting every time we were supposed to enter the bus, not much of sleep - but a great weekend after all !  Since we were located not far from our friends in Kabale; Synne and Hanne, we decided to go for a surprise-visit. After 4 hours driving on a motorbike on small roads of red dust/gravel we experiences stunning nature with mountains and valleys of jungle: Flat and sore buts, but green therapy for the eyes.

We spent 3 days in Kabale. Compared to Kampala, Kabale was a very small town surrounded with mountains and forest with fresh air and cold temperature (like a Norwegian summer). We got introduced to they’re daily life. It was very interesting to see another project supported by Strømme Foundation. The girls’ works with the project called Drucilla – a school for teenage-girls with no completed education, and also following-up about 70 different Microfinance-groups in the Kabale district. With a new start at school the girls get a “second chance” learning alternative ways for how to make money. After two years the girls will learn basics skills like sewing, agriculture and handcraft. It was very cool to be introduced to another program supported by Strømme Foundation – to see another well-working program making a difference in a community. The days flew away and in great company we had a lot of fun, eating a lot of delicious food and also slaughtering a chicken, all by ourselves ! (Movie will soon be posted) 

After just some days chilling in Kampala we were ready for a new trip on Friday. All of the “Act-Now-girls” where going to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the western part of Uganda, and I also got to experience the most patience-demanding journey in my life ! Super excited for a new trip we were ready to leave Kampala 12.00 Friday 18. November. Well, we left 14.00. That was ok since we had many hours until we were supposed to meet the Kabale-girls in Mbarara, about 2,5 hours from Kampala.  Problems with the battery two times, before changing it the third time we didn’t manage to arrive Mbarara before 20.30 (6,5 hours later!). I have to admit; I was a BIT fed up, but then it would be even better to arrive the village after this long journey I thought, and it was only a 1 hour journey ! But, before we started on the last lap of this tour they just had to take a short visit to the mechanic. “It will be so short. Very, very short” as they said, so we could just wait at the gas-station. It took 4,5 hour before we decided to rent a room for the night, and the car was still at the mechanic when we went to bed ! The car was fortunately ready the next morning, and 05.00 when we sat in the car ready for Safari.

 

Foto: Benedicte E. Bjerknes. "A lion !"

The safari turned out to be a bigger success than expected ! Picturing a big land cruiser our small Toyota Avensis wasn’t the safari-care we had imagined, but with open widows we were seeing all the actress form “The Lion King”, elephants, antelopes and hippos - closely ! We were 2 meters (no exaggerating) from a lion, with open windows in a small Toyota Avensis ! Memories for life.

Safari-car Nr. 1 !

After the safari we went to the village to our dear Ugandan friend Scovia, experiencing a bigger hospitality I could ever dream about in Norway; eating food and chatting around the fireplace in the middle of the African jungle with a lighting sky and small Ugandan girls’ singing- and dancing for us as entertaining.

The trip back to Kampala turned out to be the most legendary after all. A 5-hours journey turned out to take 16 hours caused by 5 flat wheels ! Unbelievable. But, we arrived Kampala safely 03.00 Monday morning. After a great week; slaughtering chicken, meeting the actress in “The Lion King” and testing my patience spending many hours sitting on the Ugandan high-way waiting I’m extremely ready and excited to finally go back to Miles 2 Smiles !

Always look at the bright side of life

 We have been living in Uganda for 5 weeks, and i have to admit; this week has won the price for being the “Not-very-cool-week”. After ending the weekend with a wonderful day at the river Nile I also manage to start this week being sick, (nothing serious just a little flu) which has been affected my week. Instead of being at Miles2Smiles playing- and having fun with the kids I have been extremely bored back home; Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday ! Yesterday I was about to go crazy, so I tried to go to work. That only worked out for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. I was exhausted, and that is not very fun when you are used to have a lot of energy and be in activity all day long. All though, during the time at work one of my small buddies from Miles2Smiles got a small outbreak of anger. 99% of the time he is a very cute, charming, happy and smiling boy, but when he first gets angry; he is ANGRY ! Jumping up and down, screaming, running in circles, screaming louder, jump again and then fell on the ground and starting to hit it. I haven’t baptized him “Sinnataggen” (in English “Grumpy”) without a reason. I have to say; this doesn’t happen very often, but from now on we have really found out how to cure his temper; start to sing 8 verses of the Norwegian children-song “tre små kinesere på høybro-plass” (“Tree small Chinese on highbridge-place”, it sounds ridiculous in English).  It was fantastic to see how the child went from anger to smile. Glorious. He made my day !

I haven’t been able to create many moments at Miles2Smiles this week, so the days have been long and uninteresting. I have had a lot of time to think and many thoughts have been addressed to Miles2Smiles, but also back home to Norway. I can understand why people feel homesick when they have nothing to fulfill their days with... After all, this experience of being reduced haven’t only been negative: I have realized how much I enjoy staying at Miles2Smiles; playing, see their smiling faces and hear their laughter. After all, even though this week has been a bit “handicapped” it’s all about how you want to see your experiences.

“Always look at the bright side of life” is not a lie or bad thing in life !

We are now heading a new weekend and new adventures are waiting for Vegge and Jørgensen. Today we are leaving Kampala with a group of Ugandan volunteers called Rotary Internationals. We are going to a village called Kanungu in purpose to hand out some mosquito-nets, teach about hygiene and just play and have a great time with kids and the local people. This will be great. Wish you all a great weekend !

Introduction-party and rafting Ugandan style !

The weekend is over, and wonderful moments created. During this weekend all the 12 Hald-mzungus where gathered in Kampala, and we have had a lot of fun ! Thursday afternoon we got surprised by Hanna Charlotte and Benedicte hiding in our apartment, and later the same evening we welcomed the two boys from Lira; Eivind and Håkon. Our tiny-winy apartment with tree rooms had no other choice then to enclose 6 persons – Narrow but very, very cozy with visitors !

The main reason all the students was gathered in Kampala this weekend was because of a introduction (engagement-party) some of us should attend this Saturday. For this big happening all of the 6 Norwegian girls had got our own traditional dress; the gomes – A colorful, silky dress from top to toe ! With a skirt to promote enormous buts and pads for wide shoulders we looked “so smart”, as the Ugandans says (Not meaning smart as clever, but smart as goodlooking). After dressing up all the 6 african-mzunguz looked colorful clowns, ready for a engagement-party Ugandan style !

If we knew the couple ? No, not at all, we had met the man once, but it was very exciting to attend such a big traditional happening anyway. We had no idea what this day would bring, but as soon as we got our gomeses on we knew at least that this would be a very HOT day… The introduction found place in a village 1 hour away from Kampala, as the Ugandan said (it was at least 3 hours). In the garden to the lady’s parents, under three party-tents in front of their house all of the 200 guests were gathered and able to see the “stage” in the middle. Sitting beside the speaker this turned out to be an NOICY experience and also a bit challenging for the impatient Helene Jørgensen...

The sermoni was not as we are used to in Norway; lasting for about one hour. No, not at all, this ceremony lasted for 4 hours (!), speaking in luganda ! To the Ugandans big despair it also started to rain during the ceremony - A totaly crisis since the Ugandans are allergic to the rain it seems… So, we could not understand much but from what we could observe it seems to be a play somehow, where the bride’s brothers and sisters/friends played most of the roles; walking to the "stage" with their dancing moves, slowly - in and out of the house into the garden, sitting on a mat and got interviewed by the speaker. The aunties had after all the leading role sice it’s their task to teach the comming bride to be a representative wife and being able to satisfy her husband in every way... It's not combarable but to “hand over” the daughter (as in the western culture is the fathers tasks) is the aunties job here in Uganda.

Pretty much like this for 4 hours, sitting on the mat. The bride is sitting to the right.

During the sermoni we, as the comming husbands' guests was helping to bring all the presents to his father in law; like a present for getting  to marry his daughter. As ladies we had to carry the presents on our heads, and the men brought the animals and the heavy presents. Many tens of baskets with food, bags of rice and flour, soda, beer, chickens, couches and one leg from an cow was a part of the gifts from the grom to his in-laws.

Oh yeah ! The mzungus (white peolpe) have turned african, and we like it !!

As you can see, father in law got many intresting presents. Among them one leg from an cow and two couches.

Toilet Ugandan style - Walls of bamboo.

After about 4 hours the introduction was finally over. Interesting beeing in the audience to this traditional happening, but I don’t think I will participate in many “strangers” engagement-parties from now on. It wasn’t that fun, but very nice to attend one; to observe, feel the the gomes in some hours and also try to go to the toilet with this on, which turned out to be very interesting for us who took the challenge. As earlier mentioned this dress is BIG with a lot of fabric, and the moment sitting behind a bomboo-wall with the view over jungle and mountains was a great moment to remember as the finish of this wedding !

Sporty girls taking the challenge. No privacy - A great moment to reamember !

We have no time to sit still here in Uganda, and we love it that way ! Sunday all the 12 mzungus form Hald went on a rollercoaster down the longest river in the world – rafting down the river Nile ! Pretty awesome surrounded by jungle, baby-crocodiles, major rapids and eating fresh pineapple for lunch. I must have been drinking at least 2 liters of the water, cause in some of the rough areas I got more water in my lunges than oxygen. But anyway; what an wonderful adventure !!

We are more than ready for what this new week will bring of memorable moments !






 

Our daily lives still new - But closer bonds created.

It feels like this first weeks has just flown away ! We are already introduced to week 4 at Miles 2 Smiles, and it’s a great feeling to finally remember more than just a few names any finally being able to attach several of the names to those adorable faces. Even though we have almost been here for a moth, everything still feels new somehow. I can’t say I have found one place I feel I can contribute more than other, but that’s a very ok anyway. Participating in the different classes and tasks during the day have been very useful  to get to know as many of the children and workers  as possible, and in the same time getting a bigger view of how important and exacting  this work actually is !

In one of my earlier blog-posts I mentioned that the children are learning the alphabet, counting and English (which is not their mother tongue) in the early age of 3 years old. By participating in the different classes we have been able to also see the methods of teaching, which is very different from the Norwegian. Repeating after the teacher and copy the blackboard, day in and day out seems to be consistently, and the teaching is extremely academic. Even though we have been very impressed of the children’s skills, we have been more skeptical in time; are the children preforming their own skills, or just repeating ? From the Norwegian school we have been more used to creative and divers ways of teaching. After some more weeks of observations we will gather the teachers to have an workshop; helping and share each other’s theories and tips in teaching in purpose to make the teaching even better !

In time we have also got to know some of the children backgrounds. During the last week we got to know better some of the children and their families, and saw where they lived. The Norwegian standard of living is not even comparable to theirs, and what many Norwegians calls their own bedroom is for several families’ living room, kitchen and bedroom for all of the members. Personal space is unknown.  It’s difficult, and I can’t imagine how they make it, but anyway it’s so important to try, and to hear and tell their stories. It’s time to realize that our Norwegian standard is not a matter of course.

This week we got to know Karen at 7 moths and her father’s background - how they live and make their ends meet in their lives…

Suprise and sightsing in Kampala city - A wonderful weekend !

The days at Miles 2 Smiles flies away, and after a busy but wonderful weekend we neither then have had much time to be lazy. As curious and adventurist Mzungus we’re still finding new and interesting things to fulfill and color our days in Uganda, and this weekend was no exception...

Finding time to study is not easy. Even though Friday is our study-day, where we are supposed to read books and write book-rapports we find it much more interesting to use our time to bake. Norwegian bread and “kanelsnurrer” was on the menu, and I have to admit; during some rounds of baking, me and Vegge have turned out as outstanding bakers ! 60 successfully “kanelsnurrer” turned out to be the result of this baking-days, and even though we (and me especially) have a really big appetite; this was a too big amount to enjoy ourselves ! Known as the surprising-team, Vegge and I therefore decided to travel around this evening and surprised our dear colleagues. We went to our colleagues living at the daycare-center and to our wonderful boss Katherine to give them a taste and our appreciation for their great piece of work at Miles 2 Smile, something they really deserves !

The children and the ladies got very happy and suprised. Our study-day couldn't have been exploited in a better way ! 

My wonderful team-mate Vegge and our great colleagues at Miles 2 Smiles. I'm lucky !

During this weekend we also went for a sightsing on bodaboda (a motorbike-type or something) to see the hole of Kampala on two wheels, got an introduction to the Ugandan nightlife and dancing “African-style”, and also see a Ugandan village. In other words we have had a super weekend, and until now I haven’t had much time to miss back home...

Even though we haven’t charged our batteries by being lazy, we’re more than ready for this new and existing week at Miles 2 Smiles with home-visits to some of the children, teaching ALONE in a class and of course be a aunty to this wonderful and energetic . Life is so far very, very great in Uganda. I’m very lucky to have such great people around me, and especially a big thank you to my great, great partner, boss and colleagues at Miles 2 Smiles for that !

Here is a movie from our adventure on the bodaboda. Enjoy !

PS ! Blog-post about this week at Miles 2 Smiles will be posted soon. Siba bulungi !