Today was a full on day and I have just squeezed everything into 2 bags. I forgot to bring a handbag so hit the market and got a second hand leather one of 75p. A young lad I met here 4 years ago came to visit me at the guest house and he looked terrible, thin and ill. He is a boy who was left with his dad when the mother was chased away form home but when the dad re-married, as is common here the step mum chased him away and he was alone. He has done well and works in hotels, he cooks, drives, does the garden etc in fact a good all rounder but being a quiet and kind boy he does get taken advantage of. After 12 years he decided at Christmas to trace his mum and found her. He was so welcomed by her and his siblings and spent Christmas with them. Sadly he became ill with malaria and was admitted to hospital for a week. On coming back to work he is employed in a local hotel but has to sleep in the company car to be near the gate and when guests need the car he just stands outside. All staff are given 1 meal a day and he is paid just under £40 a month.
No employment law to support. He went off with razors, soap, deoderant, biscuits, paracetamol, money for food and a haircut and a massive hug. tonight I received a message from him thanking me and telling me he loved me. I then went to visit some friends I made several years ago Kalim is a fisherman who lives in a shack with his wife and 3 children. They have had a lot of challenges and live on the fish he catches on the day. He struggles to send his children to school but the love within the family is beautiful. They were so grateful as I took a cabbage, got to have your veggies, sugar, salt and tea leaves. It was as if I had given the world. He said ''Sandra I don't know why you always come to see us people from so far when we are so poor. He actually said I love you. Thats 2 men in 1 day come on you UK chaps, I don't get that from you.
I went then to the beach and it was heaving, music playing with such a beat that it almost vibrated the dna. The happiness was so evident it could be felt and it all moved with the beat. 50 strangers in the water played with 1 ball and the laughter was catching, a group of teenagers all removed their trunks under water and waved then around whooping with enjoyment. food, alcohol, sweets, people walking, swimming, burying family members and real whole family fun. Reflecting I cannot recall hearing any children crying, no parents were shouting at theie youngsters and no child asking for anything. It just was as it was and it was good enough. Up at 4.30am for a 7 hour journey up country.. AND I LOVE YOU X
Sunday, 11 January 2015
11th January 2015
Saturday, 10 January 2015
10th January 2015
Today I didn't get going until 1pm.
Washing, shower, breakfast in the garden and 40 pages of a book I have become engrossed in. Chat to staff about the developments of this guest house. I stayed here before when it was Green Valley and it is nor Gorilla Guest house. Rightly so as the reception is painted like a jungle and guess what else?? Yes gorillas everywhere. One must smile.
French omlette toast sausages with pineapple, melon and African tea.
Internet catch up and a rest before heading off to Kampala on the local taxi bus. I jumped out at a local market to experience real Ugandan life them back on another and completed the 38km journey in 2 hours, stop start in scorching sun. Nothing to do except breathe, read, sip warm water and chat to those who join at stops as we go along. On arrival I experienced the rush and clatter of traffic, businesses, items being transported across town and eyes need to be down for potholes and broken pavings on the pavements and roads, up to avoid, boxes, pipes, mattresses and more being carried on heads and midway hanging onto to bags to prevent theft.
I bought icing sugar, jelly, padlocks, notebooks and an electric 2 hob stove. Yes carried it home on the same transport and will take it on 7 hours local bus to Lira. We cook on charcoal stove but have a gas 2 ring cooker for the evening running on cylinder gas. This is not available in Lira at the moment and no one knows when the next supply will arrive. So now I think all options covered .... I may eat. I have researched cooking cakes using a large and small saucepan and half a bag of sand. It will be my birthday, Ronalds, Salim and Isaac while I am here so we will be enjoying cake of all sorts... Prayers for success.
At 3.30pm I realised that I had not eaten any lunch so hunted for something local. Loads of McDonald type places with chips which everyone thinks us 'Musungus ' want at every meal Found a nice place who told me she only had Mataka remaining. Matoke, (savoury banana), small pieces of beef and green vegetables Boa. Milky coffee included for 7,000 UGX equal to about £1.75. Still full up at this time. Just topped up with a tonic water and waiting for a friend to arrive. Tomorrow it has to be beach again. Thanks everyone for your comments it is great to feel close. x
9th January 2015
I have finally arrived. Journey was ok and as I had only 40 mins to change flights in Dubai it was a speedy run across the airport and how huge is it???? I knew I had arrived in Uganda with 2 huge flights arriving from Ethiopia, Kenya amd UK within minutes of each other.
The queue for immigration was hundreds deep. We had all completed our ebola questionnaire and the safety was 1 official with a spray container of antiseptic catching us physically to clean out hands. People who tried to sneak past were shouted at and ordered back in line. Then we filed past 2 people dressed as nurses with masks and plastic gloves who took out temperature.
I passed all tests and was permitted entry to find the taxi was not waiting for me so it was hunting for my Ugandan phone. I eventually arrived at guest house to a warm welcome and sleep and more sleep. Yesterday I slept again, this time on the shores of Lake Victoria under palm trees and on soft white sand.
I swam in warm water and was greeted by a huge stork who left me bathing in the coolness of the wind created by its great and powerful wings. Sadly when God gave out beauty the stork was definitely at the back of the queue. I am off to Lira and my Ugandan family on Monday leaving here at 5.45am for my 7 hours on a local bus.
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Friday, 21 November 2014
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Buy a handmade dress.....
This is an opportunity for you to have a unique dress made for you by a tailor in Uganda sponsored and supported by One Step at a Time.
All of these young people have come from extremely vulnerable backgrounds and have been selected for training by One Step at a Time.
