Give Me My Motor Car!
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2007
1
46
68
Trip End
Apr 30, 2008
Mbarara,
Uganda
Monday, February 18, 2008
We got ourselves settled onto a coach bus and were on our way to Mbarara! The ride took about the 4.5 hours expected, and took us through several other towns and even a national park (I saw a few zebras along the way!)
Truck Ride to Camp
. Matt met us at the bus park in his pick up and whisked us away to his organization's base camp just on the edge of town. As far as I understand, Matt is there to assist in the construction of water spigots connecting to springs throughout the area, to increase water distribution throughout the region. He also helps a lot with many of the other elements of the camp as well, which serves as an aid station as well as an AIDS centre for the local communities (Matt I apologize if I didn't get that all right!). He was an absolutely excellent host and showed us the most relaxing time and also gave us an excellent opportunity to experience local Ugandan foods and customs. One of the women he works closely with, Rose, took us into her home for tea one day. The people there were just so gracious and excited to have us as guests! They kept asking us why we thanked them for their hospitality, saying it should be THEM thanking US - imagine! Never mind that the entire landscapes took one's breath away - green hills, seemingly virtually untouched by development (the "roads" were always an interesting adventure, and did much to unsettle the most hardened stomachs!). The title of this entry I should explain - one of the volunteers who stayed at the camp with us, a woman from Canada who comes to Uganada fairly often, has the tendency to hand out toy cars whenever she comes. So well does she have the local children trained, that as soon as you respond to their "How are you?" they quickly demand "Give me my motor car!"
Just outside Mbarara
. At first cute, later surprising at how far she penetrated the youth market - I think we could travel for several kilometers and STILL hear them cry!A great deal of our time was spent relaxing at the camp, but on our last day Matt took us along with some of his Ugandan colleagues to a Church service which also included a presentation of songs and drama by a locally formed, AIDS advocating choir. While Allison and I did find the services ran a little long (every time I go to church, I'm reminded why I don't go to Church), we both commented on the energy of the people there - the singing and dancing was terrific! The presentations afterward were what really impressed, however. The choir was formed almost exclusively of HIV Positive individuals - around 30 or so - many of whom had been living with it for well over a decade. It was just unbelievable how they all came together to send the message of safety and getting tested to local communities. The songs, the dramas, all were written and staged by them. If they represent even the smallest fraction of Uganda's positive population, it's no wonder they are having some success in bringing HIV rates down! While the dramas did run a little long (Allison had the benefit of dark sunglasses allowing her to doze - I had no such luxury), the message was undeniably impressive.
Ugandan Highlands
I must mention some other highlights before closing. One most hysterical incident involved us meeting some of the other people in the camp. Now, in Uganda, a hug hello can sometimes last a little longer than we would be used to, so one CAN become a little uncertain when to finish. Well, on one such occasion, we were being introduced to one of the other Ugandan workers at the camp, who first said hello to Allison by hugging her as Allison remained seated. Matt and I watched as Allison was clearly uncertain about the hug, but rather than "wait the hug out", Allison decided that maybe Ugandans kissed cheeks like they did in Montreal! So of course as Allison went to increase the intimacy of the greeting, she fell quite short of the woman's cheek and ended up kissing empty air rather close to the woman's neck. It is most difficult to convey how TERRIBLY awkward this all looked, but how HILARIOUS it was to the onlookers! I had trouble suppressing my laughter as I greeted the woman with a hug (JUST a hug) and oh HOW we tortured Allison with it later!
One other most noteworthy event was the slaughtering of a goat that was done on the Friday of our stay there - Matt told us that they usually bring meat for Fridays, and especially this Friday as it was Matt's birthday! I was most intrigued, and even the night before (after much wine) had thought about offering to do it myself, I of course withdrew once I determined the knife wasn't sharp enough (I need a REALLY sharp knife for my goat slaughtering)
Ugandan Highlands
. We did, however, watch the slaughter in its entirety. While I did express some dismay that the goat's neck was sawed at rather than quickly sliced open, I did most happily eat it when it was cooked - Allison was a little less certain and remains unsure whether she'll eat more goat in future - which of course means more goat for me! I don't think it helped her that the goat's head kept watch from a shed roof as we cooked him (Goatie Slaughterton as I called him), or that Matt walked over a stray hoof on the ground. My thoughts: YUM!Oh, and I should add that at this time Allison and I were posing as a married couple (I know, who would EVER believe I'd marry a redhead!), which resulted in endless humour as I insisted we respected tribal norms and that she be made to do as I say and refer only to me as sir - I met with very limited success! And people wonder at my aversion to women!
After this very long day, we headed back to camp, had a quick bite, packed our bags and slept for what would be a painfully early morning as we made our next leg on to Lake Bunyoni - a lake paradise in southwestern Uganda!
