Week 4

Week 4 29/1/13 - 4/2/13

Tuesday -29/1/13

Today I was really sick; I have IBS and today it was causing me trouble. Just before we were about to leave this morning I felt really sick and I realized I wasn’t going anywhere today, as I was in so much pain and had a huge headache as well. So after I was finished being sick I slept for a good  hour or two. Then I was woken up by Peter checking in on me as he had brought another girl who suffers from IBS home as she said she also felt sick. Then I went back to sleep for I don’t know how long, watched a movie and then got really hungry so I raided the kitchen with Danielle and we attempted to watch ‘Modern family’. At about five the rest of the internationals came home with pizza, which for two hungry people who had been conspiring to eat everyone’s personal snacks and apologized if one lost control and ate the other one, eagerly welcomed. We then watched a harry potter movie and went to bed. Even though I was mentally out of it for most of the day, it was nice to have time to myself and do absolutely nothing productive, however not sure I would do it again due to the pain I experienced that morning. I was listening to music today and came across the songs that I had been learning  with her in my singing and piano lessons and decided I am really grateful for having met her and although she will never be able to fully understand how much she has impacted me, she has inspired me to be a better and brighter person, so shout out to her today. Peace out from Africa.

Wednesday -30/1/13

Today was also a day off so we went to some markets. They had paintings and shops with your expected souvenirs. The paintings are just incredible and I am planning to buy one. You may have seen them on face book so just to clarify that is the markets we went to. The one I want is about $50 dollars but it is so beautiful and it will make an excellent souvenir. I will be saving for it with the money I allow myself each week so I will feel like I have half earned it in a confusing way. I also bought some wooden animals; a hippo, three gorillas, a rhino, a small antelope and two colourful birds on sticks. The animals are all carved from black wood and I am planning to have a collection of animal carvings. It was half fun bartering with the owners and them telling you ‘I give you good deal, your first customer of the day’ (which is possible as it was raining that day). I did wonder about the authenticity of the carvings as each shop had the same wears but the animals were all unique and in reality who cares; there from Africa. We then had cell with Calvin and Sherly in which Hannah and Myself satisfied our cravings for western food with chips and a milkshake. Then we came home watched some movies, got fat and went to bed. A good day I should think. I was thinking of Jess Fitzgerald today because of all the souvenirs and I kept thinking about the ones she got me from Fiji. Thanks for being such a great friend and I have had such a good time with you in and out of school; you are simply the best. And can’t wait for that beer when I get back, haha!

Thursday -31/1/13

Today we just had classes and I got sick later in the night at a Men of Valour service and didn’t get home till 9:30pm (very late night).

Friday -1/1/13

Classes today as well. In future when I am on top of blogging I will advance on what we actually learnt that day. I have been pretty slack with this blogging, but I don’t really have a passion for it so I easily just brush it off until I haven’t written anything for a week or two so I am now trying to frantically catch up. I think however it is good to keep a journal and blog because it helps you process your day. Anyway hindsight is a beautiful thing so I will make it a daily routine to blog.

Saturday -2/1/13

Today we went to Subi village for a sports day. We left home at around 8:30am (which allowed for a nice sleep in) and arrived a bit before 10:00am. I started the morning playing a volleyball inspired game where everyone stood in a circle and we basically passed it around using volleyball manoeuvres. Ok not to be racist but I think I must get this out there. The Africans are insane at sports, dancing, singing, education and everything, so I sometimes wonder if they had the opportunities we get in western culture, they would be unstoppable. Any way I played that for a while then I moved onto a piggy in the middle soccer game as the actual soccer game was just a lot competitive and dangerous for armatures like myself. They skills they have, the drive and the mindset of the game, chances are the white kid would get creamed on the field and that would be the end of it. But it is incredible to watch them and the grace they have as they do intricate tricks with the ball. Honestly all those stunts you see on movies like dancing and singing and sports are all everyday life for Ugandans; they are just simply incredible people and the rest of the world better watch out because this country is rising up out of the pits. I then played a random singing clap game with some kids organised by our very own teacher Emily, watched a white man climb a tree and setup a high ropes course with the help of our very own boy scout Thomas and really just did a lot of looking. I then observed (like to mix up my words) an intense basket ball game between Africans and our very own Jess in which I felt like I was watching a private game between professional teams. However I was apparently mistaken as everyone was of their game and as usual the ordinary in Uganda is the extraordinary anywhere else.

 By this time it was lunch so we broke off and descended down into Subi village homes to visit the families over lunch. I did some looking at photos, had a chat with some people and did some breathing. We then had lunch which was rice, matuku (a steamed banana mash) and fried cabbage, which was all well and nice but as I was eating it hit me like a cow. The amount of meat n the African diet is like 1%. And I realised at that point just how much I was missing meat (as an Australian I am specifically referring to beef, chicken is somewhat more common) and I as I ate I just felt spiritually, emotionally and physically empty in a way because I hadn’t eaten a good feast of meat in nearly a month. However the local diet is nice and tasty in its own way although it is nothing like a westerners diet (the food here is healthy or starch, so I was feeling a little out of place and missing my processed preservatives, flavours and cancerous substances).  Whilst at the house I noticed four little kids starring at me through the window, so I decided like any smart white guy to get out my camera and attain their full attention; had an awesome photo shoot with them. They liked touching my face in the pictures and they have the most funny and beautiful expressions. I would post them for you to see, however to protect the children we are asked not to post pictures of Watoto children. I also videoed them singing and dancing to Christian songs which is a treasure I will keep forever.

Then at about 3:00pm we left for the buses to go to church. We then divided up into guys and girls in separate buses as us gentlemen had some issues we needed to discuss without the presence of female ears. The church service was really good and one thing that has stuck in my head because it one of those awesome quotes is ‘Each of us have been given a unique fingerprint that no one in past present of future will ever had, because we have each been put on this earth to leave an imprint that only we can make in the world’. That was Saturday’s events and then I went home and probably went to bed.

Sunday -3/1/13

On this day we went to our separate districts to serve in the church services. For the first month we all have to try the different jobs that need doing including children’s ministry, parking, security and ushering. I have so far done children’s ministry and today was in parking. The idea of being a parking instructor is ensure that the cars park in an effective and safe manner utilising every square inch as there are a lot of cars. At Watoto east the parking area is just a large area of grass in which cars park in rows instructed by the parking people (me today). Honestly there isn’t too much else to say about the job because it sounds as exciting as it is. I didn’t mind it at first because I actually felt like I was doing something constructive however between services when cars are coming and going, the situation is beyond insanity and chaos (ok I might be being a little dramatic here). Then towards the end you might be tempted to step in front of a car to actually feel something (again me being a little dramatic to add flavour to my story) as I at least nearly lost my mind just standing there and watching cars go out and making sure cars didn’t enter through the exit and miss the security check.

However things do get extraordinarily beautiful and the world ounce again found meaning because we went and had lunch at Java’s in which I feasted my deepest desires; fatty food! It was the most incredible food (mostly because I hadn’t had true western food in so long; what I would do for some Mcfatdonalds). So I happily hoed into that and I felt like a true monster tearing into my double beef burger, chips and vanilla thick shakes; I honestly felt like heaven was melting like ice-cream into my mouth. And I ounce I had stuffed myself I felt so emotionally, physically and spiritually full, satisfied and joyous. So it just goes to show how influencing food really is to us (or maybe just me). I also realized that my most emotionally unstable place was that I am simply missing every aspect of home. While other people are upset over peoples sickness and the horrible lives people have over here in poverty; here I am worried about a steak, but that’s ok because that’s were God has me at the moment. We then went home and I had a bath and started to watch Avatar in the bath, so that was really relaxing and somewhat pointless as the water wasn’t very hot; but the idea was defiantly nice at the time. We then watched a movie maybe and as usual at night went to bed.

Monday -4/2/13

Today was just a lazy day. We didn’t do much. I painted a painting for Callie for her birthday of the ocean and made a cardboard frame. We had cake and ice cream for her and then had a family meeting about a few things. I did some catch-up blogging also. For most of the day I actually was sorting out my iTunes library and imported some of Emily’s fantastic music. I felt like I was on a shopping spree because we have such similar taste; however I did a big clean out and actually lost all the music I imported from CD’s so I can get it back when I go home except I will miss my Kimbra music to much so I am humming and harring as to if I will buy it on iTunes. I also skyped with my parents and showed them my purchases, some Ugandan money and some other things. So I actually did do quite a bit today. Anyway stay safe everyone and thanks for the prayers and support. Peace out from Africa.