My housemates

In the VSO compound in Okele Road, no number, there are 3 houses.  Actually, the design of the houses are the same; 2 bedrooms, 2 toilet and baths, shared  kitchen and a living/dining room.  VSO is renting these houses for its volunteers in Gulu.

One house is occupied by Judith,  a Kenyan.  She is a primary health care manager.  Judith is very resourceful and she is on her mobile phone most of the time.

The other house is occupied by a Filipina, Dr. Angie.  She is a general practitioner and has interest in HIV/AIDS.    Angie loves to dress up, even at home, is very sociable, tidy, and hums when she cooks.  I share the house with her, and she had been a great help in getting me settled at Okele Road, no number.

The other house is occupied by a British couple, Mike and Liz.


Mike is a community health support officer and has special interest in incidence of epilepsy and use of traditional healers.  He is an artist and is also interested in recycling plastic bottles.


 Liz is a community nurse and has special interest in TB and maternal and child health.  She plays the flute on most nights and likes to bake.

Sometimes, Doug and Sandra, who are assigned to a nearby district would come over on weekends.

We cook our meals separately, do our own laundry and cleaning, have our own schedules, and go to different church services. 

What do you do when you miss the ones you love - family, food, shopping, leisure, parlor, gym, spa, air conditioning, driving, brewed coffee, television, movie house, home movies, pet, garden, family trips, old friends, celebrations?

I get by with the help of my friends - the wonderful people at Okele Road, no number.

 

A room with a bed

This is my bed in an 8 ft. by 8 ft. room.

In the beginning there were no other pieces of furniture.  I ordered a dresser which I can use as a writing desk  and storage for my clothing.

VSO could not find a ready-to-go dresser so a carpenter was commissioned and a week later it was completed.  It arrived in a bicycle, and we were charged 10,000 Ugandan shillings for the delivery.  The cost was a bit pricey because a boda-boda will take a passenger for 1,000 Ugs. Perhaps, the delivery man just pushed his bicycle and the cargo all the way, hence, the price.  

Well, the furniture half-served its purpose, and I am already happy about it.

The rest of my wardrobe and  personal belongings will remain permanently in the suitcases stashed under the bed.

My camera brought joy to simple folks

A camera is a novelty here in Gulu...... at least among the people I encounter.  I am sure they have seen those video or bulky still cameras on the sling of some occasional media people  - but the difference is seeing themselves in that little screen or in print.




 
Whenever I ask permission to take a photo, it is not surprising for someone who overhears me to say "take mine",  and instantaneously pose. 

I wish someone could capture the moments whenever I show the subjects how they look on camera.  There is an abundance of overjoy, and in return I would promise to give them a printed copy.  

There are 3 shops here that will print pictures from CD or flash drive.  The cost is 1,000 Ugandan shillings per picture, or 2,000 Ugs per page when printed on ordinary bond, or 2,300 on card paper, or 3,500 on photo paper, regardless of the number of pictures on each page.  

Given my allowance, I managed to have some pictures printed.   I would not mind giving up the occasional Coca-Cola (that costs 1,000 Ugs a bottle) in return for the profuse and lengthy handshake and sincere "apowoyo" - meaning thank you.  I could not disappoint those folks especially when they remind me about their copy.

My happiness too is profound because I gave up something for it.

The thing that brings this joy is this little 3 1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide invention - my IXUS Canon camera.  This was actually a hand-me-down from my family because they have recently upgraded to a Nikkon, and a Panasonic.  I hope that they will derive the same pleasure as I do with my now low-end camera.  

There are still a lot of pictures to be printed, and many more Cokes to be foregone.

Post me not

Actually I do not know the physical address of our house.  There are no sign posts so street names are hardly used and I suspect,  not even generally known.  A few business establishments would indicate on their billboards the road and plot no. that they are on, but there is no sequence at all to the numbers.

Anyway, we would like to believe that we live in Okele Road, no number.  Depending on which side of the road I am coming from, I have 2 landmarks to our street corner - either the kalachuchi tree that is found after the corner store with a Coca-Cola signboard, or the garbage dumpsite in front of the Caltex gas station that leads into a road with small stores.   And if people ask me where I live, I say between the MTN and Orange towers (or beacons).  These are the 2 popular telecoms carriers in Gulu.  And whenever I seem to get lost, I just look for the direction where those 2 towers are.

Reminiscent of Bayani Fernando's Metro Manila landmarks

There is a post office in town, in bright pink or fuschia.


Perhaps because addresses could be confusing, post office boxes are available.   I have heard that international air mails take around a month.  But they will surely arrive.



And thanks, too,  for the post office.  Its post bus (carrying mails) is also used as a public transportation.  I have heard also that it is the most reliable bus service to take because it leaves regularly once a day to and from Kampala, in the morning, with or without passengers.

These children are our neighbors

This is the gate to the volunteers' housing facility.     

One evening, my housemate was expecting a guest who,  after several phone calls,  managed to find the vicinity.  Yet half an hour had passed since the last phone call, and no one came knocking.  Another phone call, and the guest said "I am here in front of your gate - a green gate".
My housemate had to use the light from her cellphone to locate her guest who was indeed standing in front of a gate - a red gate. 

When the street is dark,  an address based on color is highly unreliable.

I have not met Zimba, the lion king

Some visitors to this blog have asked why I don't have pictures of the fabled assorted fauna of Africa. They expected that since I had encountered baboons on the road (see posting entitled "I saw these on the road"), I would also meet gorillas, lions, hyenas, and everybody else on the highway.

Indeed, based on my readings, there is a long list of birds and animals that are endemic to Africa.  For a face-to-face encounter of the abundance of these creatures, they can be enjoyed in national and safari parks or some advertised trekking expeditions.

For now, let me share those whose pictures I actually took in the streets of Gulu.

I thought they were eagles.

 The marabou stork.  

The cattle of kings

The Ankole cattle.  

The pasture, close to where I work

After I took this picture I continued to walk to my destination.  A man greeted me and said, "You are footing."  I begged his pardon and he said, "I saw you taking pictures of the cattle.  You are footing. "   - his index and middle fingers showing the sign similar to the yellow pages logo of let your fingers do the walking.

Yes, indeed.  I was footing.  I have no car, no bike, and will not ride the boda-boda.

A birthday away from home

Today,  17th of August 2010 is the 20th birthday of my son, Yori.  I would not be able to hug him tightly this time.  I owe him a big one because he took over my desk work at home.
I would like to re-assure him that I am doing okay in Africa because I do not have to worry about the work that I left behind.

For doing a great job, and to continue to guide him as he becomes a young man, I want to share my favorite poem -  Desiderata (www.healtalk.com) and the colors of Africa:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

 
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. 

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all it's sham drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world.

That's me at the center

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Some good church practices - in my view

Needless to say,  the celebration of the mass follows the same order as the ones that I have attended in some parts of the world.  There are some differences though in the "delivery of services" based on my recent experience.

Inside the church, everyone is seated.  Not that there are few churchgoers, but the catechists and ushers make it a point to find seats for those inside the church.  Standing room is outside the doors.

During offertory, the collection baskets are not passed from pew to pew - as if people are passing sheets of paper. Instead, two baskets are held at each strategic place near the altar, and people line up to drop their donations.

The musical instruments used by the choir are mainly  their traditional instruments - drums and guitars of different sizes. 

But most importantly, the service lasts for 2 hours - not because of the long homily - but because of the singing punctuated by the clapping of hands.  People applaud after the homily and after each song.    There is no dancing or great exertion but simply light swaying to the tune.

The choir gives soft music appropriate for the occasion under the graceful hand movements of the conductor, Jennifer.  She later agreed for me to take her picture but she chose the background image.

I felt that the 2-hour long service was not meant to simply perform an "obligation", but rather to have a delightful experience while performing an obligation.     The atmosphere is conducive for people to conveniently participate in the service or express their intimate prayers.  



It was a refreshing spiritual experience.

A Catholic mass in Gulu, Uganda

Today is the 15th of August.  It is the feast day of our Lady of the Assumption, the patron saint of my hometown.  Since I can remember, our family always attended the mass and/or celebration.

In Gulu, I went to the Holy Rosary Church, which is a short distance from where I live. This church
was built by the Comboni missionaries (www.combonimissionaries.org and www.youtube).

The parish priest was Fr. Eugene (or Italian equivalent)  Leso and he gave me a very brief history of his family back in Verona.  He allowed me to take his picture with a request that I should give him a printed copy so he can send to his sister in Italy.  He officiates the mass in English but there are other mass schedules in the native language, Luo.

I was in total admiration of how the parishioners come to church.  Young men and women, children, older men and women wear their Sunday best.  Very clean and well pressed attire, and shiny shoes.

I am making this observation to make a contrast to the parishioners who attend Sunday mass around our area in Ortigas Center.  Most of them are dressed to explore the shopping malls, and just dropped by for the service either before, in-between, or after shopping. 

At the end of the road

On the way to Gulu, we had to make a brief detour to conduct Charles, another volunteer, to Lira, his place of assignment.  This picture was taken in front of the house that Charles will share with Deb, a senior volunteer. We are happy that we completed unloading the household stuff in a very quick and orderly fashion that would be the envy of reputable and experienced forwarders in our part of the world.



 Lira is a beautiful town.

After an hour and a half, I saw this landmark - "Welcome to Gulu" - and finally, we found the access road to my "house".



My heart leaped with joy when I noticed the telecoms towers.  By golly, cellphones won't be a problem here...... and so internet access could not be far behind.

I won't feel isolated.  I can SMS, talk on the phone, email, use skype, return to facebook, search the internet.  And blog.  

Isn't this a great time and place to choose a life-changing path?

I saw these on the road

People who know me back home and who have been reading my blog are quite curious about the kind of work that I will do in Gulu.  My postings on that one would have to wait for sometime.  As they say, the joy is the journey, and not the destination.

The main road that leads to Gulu is called Kampala road, and these were the unique sights that I saw on the way.  The yellow jerry jugs -  these are actually water containers that people either hand carry or put them in their bikes.  Imagine how people in this part of the world go for long distances under the scorching rays of the equatorial sun  just to fetch water.

Women and girls with head-borne goods.   The thing that makes this unique to me is that it is a common sight and the ease and gracefulness by which they carry the load.  Fashion models and performers (dancers) who have balancing acts to do on their heads can very well learn from African women.  I wonder why I have not seen African men carry load this way.   I have not been fortunate enough to take a shot, but the women could also have an infant strap in her back, with goods on her head, and walk a distance.

Finally, I saw these baboons, just crossing the road oblivious of our vehicle.  It is as if they know that they have the right of way.  Or are those stripes on the road meant for them to use in the same way that we, humans, recognize pedestrian lanes?
 

A whole new world

Just to complete my journal, I am showing here the map of Africa, and where Uganda is in the vast continent, and from the equator.

In terms of travel time from Manila, Philippines, it is 8 hours plus to Dubai, then 7 hours plus to Entebbe via Addis Abdaba in Ethiopia.  It is 16 hours flying time plus 5 hours lay-over in 2 airports using Emirates airline.

My placement is in northern Uganda, in a town called Gulu, near the southern part of the Sudan.  It is 350 kilometers from Kampala, a travel time of around 5 hours with generally good roads.  

It seems an endless long solitary road, but it is not.

Off we go - second leg of the journey

We are now off to our place of assignments.  Here are the rest of my provisions:

My crash helmet.  VSO is very strict about wearing helmets on motorbikes - whether as a passenger or driver.  I would rather be the driver, but on favorable roads and orderly traffic.

My blanket, pillow, mosquito net and medical kit.
















Some of the employers (the organizations who have requested for volunteers) have traveled almost 12 hours to pick-up their volunteers.

I found it heart-warming when one employer upon seeing Jacent, a Filipina volunteer, politely asked if she could first touch her hair.  In my usual spontaneous reaction, I asked why... and the employer said that she wanted to get the feel of a soft, long hair - because the African hair is usually short or plainly braided and wiry. 

However, there are some African women who sport long and multi-colored braided hair or bouncy curls.  I was told that this is the current hair fashion among African women... it is called an extender.  It is actually a natural or synthetic hair that is strongly attached to their natural hair -  unlike a removable wig.  It takes almost an hour to have this done, and the set stays for around 3 months. 

These are 2 volunteers leaving for faraway Kabale, south of Uganda... about 8 hours travel by land.  I understand that Kabale is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Africa because of its landscape and cool weather.

My next posting will be about my trip to the north of Uganda - my final destination.