Laura in Kuluva

Last Weeks ....

2010-08-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

With Friends

Out and about....

In Class....

(A microbiology lesson......)

A Farewell Party....

A Family Visit!

2010-07-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

My Mum and older sister paid me a visit last week! They managed to come on the most wet and most cold week! So traveling to the Equator they came expecting warmth!
We ventured out in the mornings - but afternoons tended to be wet and cold! We visited my house help, Florence's home stead.

We explored town and came across a parade by the women of the Catholic Church who had gathered for a retreat!

We ventured up Kuluva Hill on the last afternoon - a rushed climb to beat the rain! And admired the view and got perspective of the rural area that I have been living in!

A day in the Life of a Clinical Instructor

2010-05-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

6.30am I tend to wake up with the breaking of dawn, to have breakfast and a quiet time before the business of the day.

8.00 am Off down the hill to the Out Patients Department for morning devotions. It is made up of some worship and then 20min of teaching.

8.30 am To school – this is the best teaching slot – as the students are alert and the day is still cool, I don't flag while teaching at this time. If I'm not teaching usually there will be paperwork to do. A time table to make, Ward reports to check and file, a lesson to prepare, practical lessons to plan, exam papers to be written or marked.

10.30 am Tea break – kindly prepared by James our office messenger. On alternate days we eat mandazi (like a doughnut without jam) with our 'dry' tea (black tea).

11.00 am If I didn't teach first thing I might teach in this slot. On Mondays and Thursdays I try to use this time to go to the Primary Heath Care department in time for the antenatal clinic, to work with students. On other days of the week I aim to go to the maternity ward.

1.00 pm Lunch time! I climb the hill in the heat of the day to home where lunch awaits me – cooked by Florence.

2.00 pm Back down the hill – at slower pace as by now I'm feeling sleepy with a full stomach and the heat of the midday sun. This is the worst teaching slot to have as the students are feeling the same way. And as I teach I see eyes closing around the class room as I drone on! The class room is hot by now.....

4.00 pm The work day is drawing to a close. Time to shift the last bits of paper, give permission to students who want to go to town to buy personal effects, or collect money to pay school fees, deal with the student who's not feeling well etc.

4.30 pm Time to close up and wander up the hill for a refreshing shower and for a refreshing drink. I usually use this time to catch up on emails - Internet connection is OK at this time of day, later in the evening it becomes painfully slow.

7.00 pm I may wander to a friend's house for some company for the evening, where I usually will end up being fed supper, consisting of enya (made of cassava flour), greens/ beans/ fish....
Or if I have not finished preparing the lesson for the next day I will put the finishing touches on it and print it off on the over head projector acetates.

10.30 pm Time for some rest, a refreshing sleep and thankfulness of God's mercies and faithfulness every day.

Although that is supposed to be a typical day, there are always interruptions! The latest have included receiving the delivery of goods from the EU including 10 computers, 40 chairs with a small table attached to the arm, 10 dining tables, 20 benches, a fridge, teaching models to name but a few....

The school has been refurbished through an EU project that refurbished 15 nurse training schools across Uganda. It has provided a significant improvement! Thanks to the EU!

Clinical Exams!

2010-05-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Friday saw the Set 6 students lining up outside the surgical and medical wards for their clinical exams! They had completed their written exams earlier in the week - theory was done. Now they had to prove their practical skills.

It was an anxious wait as they had never done exams on the ward before.

On each ward there were 2 examiners, so 2 students entered at a time. They were given either a task to do together or were sent to different patients. Students had 20 min on each ward.

Students were instructed to carry out procedures such as taking a blood pressure and recording it, giving oral medication, changing a wound dressing and lifting a patient from the bed to a chair.

Once the procedure was completed, they were asked questions related either to the procedure or to the patients condition.

Although it was a first for this class, they all managed to pass and will now endeavour to make sure they know and practice all the procedures while they are on ward placements!

To the source of Kuluva's electricity!

2010-05-07T22:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Maria , who lives in Arua, came to visit me. Together we went for a walk to the source of Kuluva's electricity - the hydro dam. It was a hot 45min walk along a back road.... We got nice views of Kuluva from a different angle....

We weren't entirely sure where we were going - we had been given vague directions, but set of anyway. Conveniently we met 2 students, they were also on their way there - so they led they way.

We were glad that we'd carried frozen water with us! The walk ended with some sun burn!

Ben, Pamela and Maria

A weekend away!

2010-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

The weekend following Easter I too a trip to Entebbe. I traveled with my friend Monica, who I have been working with in the Nurse Training School. Entebbe is an idyllic town on the shores of Lake Victoria. As we were by the lake side, I arranged a trip to Ngamba Island, on Lake Victoria, to see chimpanzees! Unbeknown to me, Monica was scared of traveling on the lake. She spent the first hour or so holding on to the boat for dear life, wondering how on earth the life jacket was supposed to keep her alive if she fell in!

Once we were on dry land again, even if it was surrounded by water, she began to relax. We enjoyed watching the chimpanzees playing, fighting and just sitting enjoying the sun shine! We were highly amused by their antics!

The island was beautiful and had many birds on it. All too soon our day's outing came to an end and we had to climb back into the boat and travel back over that vast expanse of water to the mainland..... That night we continued to feel the motion of the boat as we lay down to sleep!

An Unwelcome Visitor

2010-04-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

I woke up early on Easter Saturday. As I stumbled bleary eyed into the bathroom I discovered an unwelcome visitor.....

As it was still early morning I couldn't call the neighbours for assistance..... I decided if I left it, I would be wondering when I would see it in my bedroom..... so the only solution I could think of was to do the 'deed' myself.

I wanted just to chop the head off, but none of my sharp knives had long enought handles for me to feel confident that if I missed I wouldn't be bitten! So second option was that piece of wood that's been behind the front door for the last 1/2 year collecting dust! I'd even thought of getting rid of it that week!

So as the first picture shows it was hard to aim for the head, so with the stick I aimed for the body...... It was not a pleasant experience...... Because the snake was so small and in a corner of the shower I struggled to kill it but with out giving you all the gory details I succeeded in the end.

By the end though I didn't have the courage to fish it out of the shower and dispose of it. So at a more reasonable hour the neighbours kindly came to rescue me!!!

A new arrival!

2010-03-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Baby Abigail Laura was born on Sunday the 14th March 2010 - Mother's day!

She has been much awaited as she arrived 15 day over due!! You may recall from an earlier blog I was one of the brides maids for her mum, Esther. So from maid at the wedding, I have been 'pregnancy advisor' and then birth attendant.......

On 'D' day we all thought this is it! We were having a bible study group social and Esther had to keep pausing between her mouth fulls of jelly and angel delight to let a contraction pass.... I went to bed expecting to be called in the night - we were all disappointed!

So the days passed and we began to discuss how to induce labour naturally - lots of pineapple was eaten!

Finally Saturday evening I was called, Esther was in early labour so I encouraged her to stay at home where we had easy access to anything we needed and she would feel more comfortable. Her husband and I persevered at home till 2am, with back massage, hot water bottle (kindly left by a Dr who worked here last year - not the kind of thing I would think of packing coming to Uganda!), 2 paracetamols, and position changes - lying, kneeling and marching! We then moved on to the hospital just 2 min from the house - I have never seen Kuluva a that time of night! It was very quiet and we were able to pace the road without being watched. We continued until Sunday morning when Baby Abigail Laura was born by caesarean section weighting a healthy 3.35kg that is 7lb 7oz. Thank God for her safe arrival!!

(The picture of me was taken after I had woken up from catching some hours sleep after the eventful night!)

This picture is especially for my fellow midwives. Esther was reluctant to breastfeed at times because Abigail Laura would kick her stomach when feeding - so I changed her position!!! Much to the horror of the 2 grandmothers and another friend present who argued she'd choke :-)

A Thanksgiving

2010-02-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I went to my friend's "Thanksgiving" for her traditional marriage. I had been asked to help with cake preparations - I iced the cakes.

The function was due to start at 3pm. We got there just after. People were just beginning to gather when at 3.30pm the heavens opened and it poured with rain and there was thunder and lightning.

Being the dry season the gathering was taking place outside. They'd set up seats, sheltered by canvas to protect guests from the sun- but with the wind blowing rain was spraying everywhere. It rained 5 hours non stop. After 3 hours the rain eased to a light rain, so the function started, but the rain soon became heavy again - this time without the wind! I was intrigued by the band who had set themselves up under a mango tree - pulled out a great big sheet and when the function started operated from under there!

We all had to position our seats so we weren't under a hole or a gap between canvas. We sat under a UNHCR canvas (it was good quality from the UN with no holes!). People had to keep going round with basins and emptying the water that was collecting in the canvas and causing it to sag! It was highly entertaining for me to say in the least!

They were not put out by the rain - here they say rain is a blessing and if it rains on your special day it will bless your marriage! So with mud on our feet we reached home 6 hours later!
(The bride is in a green gomez, the lady in a red outfit is one of the brides maids)

Up Mt Elgon, Eastern Uganda

2010-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

So last week I found myself along with 4 others climbing Mt Elgon!

The trip had been organised and I was invited to tag along! Seeing as I haven't done very much exploring in Uganda its self I decided that this was a good opportunity. Never mind about my students!! :-) I left them with some tones to copy and an assignment - which of course i now have to mark :-(

Before setting off I had to raid through my draws and wardrobe desperately looking for some warm clothes! I went to the market and bought a thick jacket too for a fiver. Here it has been 33degrees C but who knows what we'll find up the mountain!

We eagerly set of up the mountain - it's 4321m high - not too bad I thought - do-able! After the first hour we were already huffing and puffing! So unfit, I thought! Day 1 we climbed for 4 hours (5 1/2km) through fields to reach the national park then climbed the 'wall of death' and then entered a lovely forest. We ascended 1130m, set up camp at the Sasa River Camp and froze that night! It was a relief when morning came!

Day 2 we ascended a further 5km but just a further 600m to Mude Cave Camp. It was a gentler walk than the day before - but we were dreading the cold night to come! The forest gave way to 'mountain shrub land'. That night frost settled on the ground and we all shivered our way through the night - wearing at least 5 layers and lying in a sleeping bag! My wardrobe is definitely not kitted out for mountain cold!

We woke early for Day 3, the longest day, and in a way the toughest. Dealing with altitude and a steep climb and descent again! We puffed our way up to our first destination Jackson's Pool - a rewarding and beautiful sight at 4050m. There was ice on the edges of the pool.

From there we struggled another 6km up and along the ridge of the caldera to the highest peak Wagagai at 4321m! We reached 5 hours after setting off from camp.

After a relaxing 1/2hr enjoying the view at the peak, cloud started gathering and with time against us we made our descent to Mude Cave Camp. Of course coming down is always much quicker than going up, but it kills the toes!! Ouch! We had a late lunch and then were advised to continue our descent to the first camp. That day we walked 9 hours in all and 23km! I was hobbling in my boots and had 3 blisters! I wondered why I was doing this. Memories of mountain trips at school came flooding back! We all slept well that night!

Day 4 allowed us to make our way down to where we had started from in a leisurely fashion allowing us to see Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and may birds...

After a warm wash, and putting on open shoes, being back in the warmth I can reflect on the hike with a smile!!

Traveling Adventures December/January

2010-02-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

I traveled from the North Western border to the South in Uganda. (Arua to Kampala / Entebbe).

And traveled from the East coast to the Western boarder in Tanzania. (Dar Es Salaam to Mbeya)

The time approaching Christmas found me eager to get away for a break! I had had a very busy few months and I was worn out! The students at the nursing school had kept (and still are keeping) me on my toes! I arranged the last set of exams for the year and then escaped! My ultimate destination was Mbeya, South Western Tanzania - to visit my elder sister, Jo!

First I headed to Kampala where I met up with Martin and Vic. I was invited to their family gathering and celebration of their wedding. Vic and I were called on to wear the traditional dress - a Basuti. They come as a free size - in all sorts of colours with waist bands that, to the western eye may not always match and yet look good when worn together! I had to have my outfit 'rearranged' through the day as I was not very good at keeping it all "together" - it is somewhat cumbersome!

After some relaxing and refreshing days with friends I then continued with my travels - courtesy of Air Uganda - Entebbe to Dar Es Salaam. The next morning I embarked on the epic journey from the east coast to the western boarder of Tanzania. I went on a comfortable 'Sumry High Class' Bus that transported me to Mbeya in a record time of 12 hours! I had been told it would be a 16 hr Journey - we had 3 short stops and were supplied with drinks and snack on the journey - lets just say i was impressed with the good service.

In Mbeya, I got see my sister's new home and work place. We had a pleasant few days relaxing, chatting and preparing for Christmas. Mbeya is in the hills and it was pleasantly cool and rained a bit. Trousers, jumper and socks weather.

Boxing Day found us traveling back across the width of Tanzania, headed for the big, hot and humid city of Dar Es Salaam! There we enjoyed the hospitality of our friends Ursula and Janis. Trips included to a new air conditioned shopping mall, the beach and a street filled with paintings of all sorts of styles, sizes and themes! We sweated non stop and slept with the fan on - when there was electricity!

Jo and I had planed, that while we were so close to Zanzibar (see map above), we would make the effort to visit the historic and pictures island! Ursula and Janis made a last minute decision to join us, so we all traveled across to see in the new year there! The place is beautiful, lives up to its description in the guide books and was even hotter than Dar Es Salaam! We have friends on the island, Hans and Doris, so we were kindly put up in their spare rooms!

And soon my adventure came to and end and I had to travel back to the working world again!

Visitors to Kuluva!

2009-12-13T06:25:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of having David and Catherine all the way from Nyahururu, Kenya! (Just over 1000km away!) They came by road and broke up the journey with a stop in Kampala.

David enjoyed my magazines! :-)

I had a lovely time showing them the surroundings, introducing them to friends, and showing them the hightlights of Arua Town - the material market.

We visited the dam which supplies my electricity in Kuluva.

We enjoyed the luxuaries of 'The White Castle' Hotel. Swimming and eating there.

We even went to the boarder of the Democratic Republic of Congo - which is just 20 mins away by car.

Christmas is coming

2009-12-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had Christmas carols for the students before most of them go on holiday. We gathered in the School dining hall for the special occasion.

We all dressed up!

The program only ran behing by one hour at all times! I think that was partly because there were so few speaches. The guest of honour was unable to attend - so I had to speak instead - being the Matron of Focus at the school. My speech was very brief! :-)

Here are some of them singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

We sang some carols together.

Played some games!! Who can get to the sweet first and the fastest!

This was the christmas tree - it had fruit, sweets and biscuits hanging on it. For a small fee we were allowed to harvest something.

So altough we finished in good time, just as the final song was being sung, the heavens opened and rain beat down on the tin roof of the Dinning room. We were then stuck in the Dining room for a further hour and a half waiting for the lightning and thunder that were directly overhead to pass!

Some of my School work

2009-11-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

So here at Kuluva School of Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing we wear Uniforms! The motto of the school is 'Called To Serve'. The students have two uniforms Polo shirts and skirt / trousours for when they are in the class room. Dresses and aprons for the ladies and tunics and trousorus with a white coat for the gentlemen when on duty on the wards. I have a white dress that I struggle to keep clean through the day and have to wear a petty coat despite the heat!

Every first Wednesday moring of the month we have school assembly. Students and tutors gather together and sing the National Anthem, then the Nurses Anthem and lastly we sing the School Anthem. Then any notices that need to be conveyed are given. Including disipline issues, smartness, upcoming exams, payement of fees etc etc...

Students are expected to clean their class rooms every friday afternoon. Here they are scrubbing the floor and cleaning the slatted windows!

Soon after I arrived I found various models tucked in a cupboard being unused. I have dug them out and been giving practical sessions to groups of four students at a time. Here they are learning the mechanisms of a spontaneous breech delivery. We then went on to learn emergency manouvers in a breech delivery.

Here the students are learning all about suturing on a sponge model. I have done this session with 3 classes now! We discuss the theory - revising what they learnt in the class room and then they all get to practice on the sponge models. I have had students come to me later and tell me of how they have had the opportunity to practice what they have learnt with me.

The least enjoyable work of a teacher is exam setting and marking. Here are a pile of papers I have marked this year. I have one more stash coming my way tomorrow!

Laura's Little House!

2009-11-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures for you to get an idea of my new home! I moved into this house in September - the other house had become rather large and lonesome. This house became available in September so I requested to move. It is still on the same compound just 5 door up from my previous house!

The back of the house - the gardner is making a good effor at bringing some plants amoung the rocks!

The approach from the back of the house!

This is my living room/ dinner

Kitchen! I am without an oven - my neighbours have kindly lent me a bread maker so I can make bread and was able to have a birthday cake!

These are my enemies - they build up very quickly - termites - the main war is above the bathroom door- I sweap them away and blast the hole with 'Doom' (insetc spray) but the return in time!

My office where I do all my lesson preparations! On the wall are my deadlines, term plan for lessons and the school calender!

My bedroom is nice an spacious. I get the sunrise shining in.

Laura as a brides maid back in May!

2009-11-01T02:04:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few pictures from May when I was a brides maid for my friend Esther.

Here are Joseph and Esther signing the resister.

We were 6 brides maids. Here you can see us preparing to enter the church.

Here we are after the church service........

An here are all the maids and grooms men!!

Culture and Language

2009-07-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

I've been here for 9 months now. Last week I caught myself say a very non - English sentence!
I was just nipping out of my office, at the school, to see someone in an office at the hospital, when the secretary asked me if I was on my way home. My reply was “ I”m just coming”. In England I would have said 'I'll be back in a mo...' or 'I”m just nipping out...'. So Uganda is beginning to rub off on me – you'll have to bear with me and my English when I come back!!

Here are some of the other things I've heard!
'You are lost!' often a greeting a received when I've not seen someone for a while. I used to reply 'I've been around!'. But I have now come to realise that they are just saying haven't seen me for a while.
When I'm out and about in trousers (happy to be out of my uniform dress!) I often get complimented 'You are smart!'. At first I wondered if my uniform was scruffy!! But it's just a compliment stating that I'm looking well dressed.

The classic one I received when I came back from my Easter Holiday “you have put on weight”. It really is ingrained here that to put on weight is a good thing – indicates prosperity and being well fed.
These days if I'm trying to arranged a lift to somewhere I now ask them to 'pick me' at ...... For some reason the 'up' is dropped from the statement. I've not worked out why yet!
When ever I get back from being in town or visiting a friend I am told 'Wellb back!' an abbreviation of welcome back!

What I haven't got used to is being told 'well done' when I meet people. I usually reply – what for?? But I am coming to realise that in fact it is just part of a greeting, like saying hello!!! So when I see you, you will now know what I mean, when I say 'I'm just coming'. And you will understand when I tell you to 'pick me' that I am without car and need a lift!

I found this poem in a book and liked it- here it is for you to read!
We and They
by Rudyard Kipling
Father, Mother and Me
Sister and Aunties say
All the people like us are We,
And everyone else is They.
And They live over the sea
While we live over the way.
But – would you believe it? -
They look upon WE
As only a sort of They!
We eat pork and beef
With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf
Are horrified out of Their lives;
While They who live up a tree,
Feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn't it scandalous?) We look upon
As a simply disgusting They!
We eat kitcheny food.
We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood
Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!)
They look upon We
As a quite impossible They!
All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And everyone else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!)
Looking on WE
As only a sort of They!

Moths!

2009-05-30T04:49:00.001-07:00

Just couple of pictures for you to admire! I have discovered these outside my house. Usually around where the security lights are!

This one has see - through bits on it's wings!! I had to inspect it very throughly to be convinced that it hadn't just been nibbled by some enemy!!

A Home Birth!

2009-05-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I was called out for my first ever home birth!
Three months ago I was asked if I could help provide some midwifery care for one of the missionary ladies here. When I went for the first check up, I was then asked about providing labour care as well! I discussed it with 2 other midwives here and we formed a team providing care for her. As we prepared for the birth we discussed all eventuallities - what to do in an emergency, investigated flights out of the town etc!! It was interesting discussing all these things as we are midwives from varying countries - British, Netherlands and America!
This morning I had a text message at 4.30am saying that she thought it was time for me to come. I quickly had some breakfast, as I checked my bag of 'might be useful' things! I then rung my neighbours who had kindly agreed to be my transport!
When I arrived things were calm and the other 2 midwives were there debating if it had been a false alarm. However you never know...... So we stuck around to see how things would go.
By 08.30am things started to look more promising and by 09.55am we had a smooth birth of a beautiful little girl! Praise God for her safe arrival!

P.S. For photographs have a look at this address http//coppedgeafrica.blogspot.com I'm in one of the pictures.

Flowers...

2009-05-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

One thing that is nice about this compound is that there are many many trees. They provide good protection from the strong sun in the heat of the day. The only thing about the many trees is that there are so many leaves to be swept up during the dry season!
We have many fruit trees, including: lemon, mandarin, avocado, mango and mulberry bushes. When they are in season it is lovely – you generally have to compete with the children to get any fruit – as they leg it up the trees and take what ever is going! As well as competing with the children for fruit we have to compete with the monkeys! They tend to come especially for the mulberries. (frustrating when you want to make mulberry jam!) Of course no one competes for the lemons!
This compound also has many beautiful flowers – I've been enjoying some lovely ones in my small flower beds. They spring up on their own – without much attention from me or the gardener. So the place is colourful and I benefit through the differnt seasons.......

Esther's Big Day

2009-05-09T22:25:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago Esther came to me asking me to be a maid at her wedding because one of the other maids had droped out. I said 'surely 5 maids were enough'. But no! You can't have an uneven number of maids as they have to march in pairs! So I became a maid!

THE DAY BEFORE

Beautification started on Thursday with the maids having thier hair done. Extentions put in, 'fine pencil' extentions! I was called upon on Friday to come. The bride and a few other maids set of at 7am. But Esther called me and said I could come at 9am! So at 9am I was ready and met up with the matrons to travel into town where the salon was. They said we would wait for hospital transport. 10.30am we were still waiting... I suggested I get a motorbike into town and take a flower girl with me. But the matron's were reluctant as I didn't know where I was going. 11am a motorbike driver, some how related to the wedding, turned up and I was sent with the girl to town. Sure enough I would never have found the place!

At the salon there was a hive of activity. 2 maids having their hair done with 3 hairdresseres working on each head. After a while the chief hair dresser called me to see what they could do with my hair. She wanted to do the same as the other maids, but without extentions. But after doing 3 I realised what great difficulty I would have getting the twists out agian. So refused any further hair dressing. They all thought it was funny that I should refuse! But the hairdresser, who then undid what she had done, came to realise the truth of my words....

The flower girl had her hair done..... we had lunch at the point when I felt like I was about to faint! The warmth, the chemical smells, the exaughst fumes of a generator and lack of fluids contributed to my faint feeling! Lunch was Enya and Greens which I stomached due to my hunger, but the texture of enya gets to me every time!

By 4pm I was getting tired, as was the flower girl. Her hair was done, mine was staying undone... I asked about us leaving .... but we needed our nails painting. The men who paint nails were on thier way (here it is a job that men do for good money! They sit in the market place and other strategic places and paint mainly toe nails. They will cut, file and paint if you let them!)

They arrived at 6pm!! I have ticklish feet so all I let them do is wash the dirt off my toes and paint them. They were told to paint my toes white - when I got home I noted, in the good light, they were cream!! They were also told to paint the fingers of the left hand but not the right! I had my right hand painted too as I thought I'd look odd with just one hand painted!

So at 7pm, as the sun was setting, and after haggling with the motorbike drivers, who wanted to charge the white woman almost double the price, I got a ride home with the flower girl....The bride and her entorage got home gone 9pm!

WEDDING DAY....

Saturday, I got up early, boiled water for a hot 'shower' and washed and styled my hair in accordance with the other maids. I covered my feet with plasters, all the points where the shoes seemed to rub! I joined the wedding party soon after 8am ready to leave at 9am.... We left at 11am! I was told we were late in leaving as the bride should not turn up at the church before the groom - and he was running late...

We traveled in 3 decorated cars and as we approached town, 'tooted' our way to the church!We slow stepped into the church - we had practiced the steps while waiting to travel to church! I was a little unnearved as parts of the church floor were unfinished and therefore uneven, and we had heels on! The service was great, thought the music rather loud! The sermon was good and was translated from English to Kuku (Kakwa) a Sudanese language. The bride is Sudanese.

After the service we had a pit stop at a lady's house near the church where we all had a reviving 'soda', sugar rush! We then moved on to the golf course for photos. We reached the reception in good time....

The reception was held in a school hall - which offered shade to all. The food was good, Enya, Rice, Potatoes, Beef, Chicken, Fish, and Salad. A couple of very short speaches were made by the parents of the bride and groom. (Short speaches are very unusual, so I feel I got off lightly!) There was the cutting of the cake and giving it out. And the there was the gift giving. Everyone gets a chance to dance up and hand their gift over at a table and wave to the bride and groom. Among the gifts were a Chicken, big plastic bowls for washing clothes in, a jug, kerosene lamps, an arm chair and sofa, a side board and gifts of money...... There was lots of singing of different styles and everyone seemed to have fun. The day came to an end at about 6pm.....

I slept well that night!!!

2009-04-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today we had a picnic for our finalist students. At the begining of May they will be sitting their finals and leaving us, having completed their Comprehensive Nurse Training.

I organised some games to play, and we all became children again! We had relayes such as: the lemon and spoon race (lemons instead of eggs as eggs are expensive). Balloon Races and a Chimp race!!

We had fun wrapping people in Toilet paper and retriving sweets from a washing line whilst blind folded! We also enjoyed eating Banana Cake. Thanks to folks at the LRI for sweets and other goodies that made the day more fun!!

Thunderstorm!!

2009-03-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

After a particularly hot Saturday, I was longing for some rain. I didn't hold out much hope as the night before it had threatened rain and then just passed us by. So Saturday night I suddenly found myself awake, realizing I could hear the rumblings of thunder and see repeated lightning flashes lighting up the room. I looked at the clock -just after midnight.
Then all of a sudden the heavens opened and the rain hammered down (tin roof!). I pulled over a blanket as the temperature suddenly dropped. The thunder came closer and the lighting flashed repeatedly. After one particular bright flash of lightning came a deafening crack of thunder that made my heart pound! And with it there was suddenly bright light!?!
The hall light had come on!!! The hall light has not worked for the last 3 months! With the light on I now could see how each time there was a roar of thunder my mosquito net billowed with the resulting gust of wind! I debated about getting up to switch it off but as I continued debating getting up out of the safety of my bed in the middle of a tremendous thunderstorm my problem was solved – the light went out again!
As the rain began to ease I did venture out of bed just to check on water status in my wing – and found a small trail of water moving down the steps in the hall way – but that was all. I wondered how the guests were fairing in the other wing – but did not venture to find out!
Sunday I opened the door to the living room/dinner and discovered 2 big puddles! Not quite sure how they got there! The leaks always seem to be in a new place from last time! I think the wind has something to do with it! There was also a big puddle in the kitchen where the water had come under the kitchen door from outside.

postscript....
Sunday evening we had another storm - hailstones!!! I discovered where the water was entering!! Roof leaks!! One of the visitors had water pouring through her window (wire mesh at the top - there's no stopping it!) So her bed got a bit wet!
On Monday morning on the way to work there was a commotion - a tall Eucalyptus tree had fallen during the storm on Sunday night - it fell in the direction where least damage was done. An outside kitchen and toilets were damaged. Had it fallen any other way it would have landed either on the church or on houses. God was Merciful!

A Weekend Away

2009-03-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I ventured south for a change of scenery. I made contact with a family with whom I have distant contact and arranged to visit them.

This trip required me to travel on the infamous Gaga Bus (my fist journey with them!). They provide multiple trips daily from Arua to the capital, stopping at towns on route as requested. Travel in this bus is well know for it's high speed. Sure enough once I was seated, we set off at high speed zooming up and down hills and swinging round bends. (when a seat belt was looked for - none could be found!)

As I was getting comfortable (if you can on narrow seats and plastic covers at high speed), the in house entertainment began! Music DVDs to start with. East African music artists. These were played at loud volume, and had cheesy dancing and back drops .... I was informed by my neighbour that some of these artist were famous gospel singers - I showed my ignorance by never having heard of any of them! I thought to my self - "if this is the in house entertainment -we'll be OK (bearing in mind I'd got 5 1/2hrs of it)!" Some time into the journey.... Entertainment changed.... to a Nigerian Film - if you have never seen one - in my opinion count yourself lucky! But maybe you should see one just to share my experience! (People love these films here - I think it's a cultural thing, to which they can relate. Usually there is a strong Christian overtone through out, and the storyline aways contains someone who is evil/ uses witchcraft, causes mischief and by the end wrongs are put right...). Any way 5 1/2hrs later I disembarked in Luwero in one piece and was picked up by the Brown family.

The Browns live and work at New Hope Children's Home. A lovely set up 1/2hr out of Luwero with green gardens (ours are brown currently!) and with several families based there. New Hope provides a home for orphans in a family set up and provides education for them.

So I spent a relaxing weekend in their home with their three children. I was taken for walks, to the market in the near by town - Kiwoko. Where while drinking a soda I had my toe nails painted! (It's a common trade - women here are very proud of their feet and like having their toes painted with fancy designs. I asked for a pattern on mine - and got a french manicure, Kathryn was sitting next to me and he just copied what was on her toes!)

On the Sunday afternoon, we walked to a near by village to visit the home of one of the girls who attends Kathryn's Sunday school. An hour long walk in the hot sun... We reached the home - She is an orphan being cared for by the grandparents. In fact altogether they are caring for 6 orphan grandchildren. The grandparents had 9 children. Lost 2 sons in the war (rebel war here in Uganda) and other losses related to HIV/AIDS. So they are bringing the grandchildren as best they can. They were delighted by our visit.

Monday brought departure day - after seeing some home schooling, eating lunch I was dropped off in Luwero to catch the Gaga bus for my trip up north.... Back to work again!

In the Kitchen!

2009-02-20T23:57:00.000-08:00

(Pictures:- my water filter that stops me getting any nasties! The gas bottle that provides the cooker. My attempt at making home made butter !)

I have made butter! I'm pleased with it - it doesn't taste like shop bought butter. I used the cream from the milk I buy to make, and it reminds me of butter we used to eat when I was a child.

I've also started baking banana cakes - I've realised that people here don't generally have ovens so they don't bake. So I've discovered I can take a cake with me when I visit or when people visit I can give them a piece, which they enjoy.

I have been a bit reluctant in the kitchen mostly because of my encounters.... when I delve into the cupboard I often discover a few cockroaches (and I can not bring myself to kill them because of the crunch sound they make ....) Once when I had visitors, I decided to make a pot of tea. I lifted the lid off the tea pot and promptly dropped the pot - brown beasts scuttled away! Then I gained courage to continue, as I rinsed out the pot two cockroaches came swimming out of the spout.... I gave up on the tea pot and made tea in mugs instead!

We have also had a rat on 2 occasions - eventually they have both been poisoned but not before we've heard rattling in the cupboards and seen a tail disappearing over the side of the cooker. I always shut the door in a hurry and waited a few minutes before venturing into the kitchen again!

The Market

2009-02-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

I read in the guide book that Arua boasts one of the biggest Markets in Uganda! I have to say it is size able though not as big as the Shires in Leicester!

The food market is colourful, there is much fish – as we live so close to the Nile. Unfortunately (for me) smoked/dr fish is liked, which gives a very strong taste – which I'm not keen on! But the fresh fish is good.

Beyond the food market is the second hand market which sells all clothes, shoes, bags, towels, bed sheets – basically what our charity shops would sell. It's fun to go and rummage. Things come from Europe and the States. The way people make money is by buying a bale of tops, or children's clothes, or shoes etc then they open the bale on a mat. People rummage through and buy items at a good price. Buyers then iron those items, hang them on coat hangers and sell at a higher price – and so the money goes round and many are well dressed!

Beyond the 2nd hand market is what I would call the metal work market – you can buy things like door frames, metal coat hooks, a hoe, window frames, nuts, bolts, screws.... then beyond that market section is another warren of a market which sells cheap new goods eg. clothes, shoes, crockery. At the far end are about 40 or so stalls all selling material of varying colours, patterns and makes. You can find batiks, tie dies, kangas/lesos, kitenges, waxes, and super waxes (the most expensive). These come from places like Congo, Nigeria, and Kenya. There are some Ugandan ones but the best quality ones are super waxes that come from Congo. Congo has now started producing not only African patterns but also those of a more European taste! My friend Rachel came to visit from North West Tanzania and had a great time trying to choose. The selection is overwhelming!

One puzzling thing – that we haven't been able to fully fathom yet is that most of these materials come as a length that divides into 3 pieces. When they are still all attached the shop keepers decline to sell you one piece!! But will happily sell 2 pieces!?!!? And no matter what you say they normally will not budge! Usually if you keep looking you may find the same pattern in another stall where they may have sold 2 pieces already and have 1 piece left. (one piece is enough to make a summery dress or a flowing skirt). Once you have bought the material there are plenty of willing tailors to make you what you want. I've had a nice skirt and top made so far.

(Pictures are of a tailor, one of the Material stores and some of the matereial I have bought so far)

Kuluva Hospital

2009-02-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

(Pictures include the hospital church, the view from my house, the hospital as seen from a hill and approaching the house I live in)

Kuluva Hospital
Here at Kuluva I live on a large compound up a hill from the hospital. The compound has many trees. So it is easy to find shade from the heat that this part of the country suffers from! It is often possible to find a cooling breeze while the sun beats down merciless from 10am till gone 4pm. And the night does bring coolness, in fact we sleep with blankets! But of course it is nothing compared to the UK winter. I find the cool nights a welcome relief after the heat of the day.

So on this large compound live most of the workers of the hospital and their families, the nursing students, their tutors, then there is the Chaplin and the hospital chapel – Saint Luke's. The hospital is located on one side of the compound and contains patients and all attendants/ relatives who come to help care, cook and feed them. At the entrance to the compound are 4 or so small stalls that sell essentials like eggs, sugar, air time (credit for the phone).... The compound has many rules and regulations ( though I have not actually been told what they all are) but these include no animals and no alcohol. The animals are a saga in themselves as one can find chickens, ducks, goats and straying cows (let in to graze on the untouched grass). The animal rule is really here to improve hygiene, and reduce transmissible diseases that are all to common place here and parasites. However I have been amused to see a stray chicken wandering in and out of the wards. I was trying to work out if it needed treatment or if it was there awaiting to fulfill it's duty – becoming someone's supper! :-) The cows are the ones that are a pain - they take to nibbling any washing left hanging on the washing line! Our clothes have not met such a fate yet – our house keeper leaves them out while she's around but then brings them in before she leaves.

Post has come!

2009-01-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in up dating all of you!

To follow on from my last post... Christmas post did not start arriving until New Year's Eve!! There was great excitement when 2 parcels arrived along with some Christmas cards! Since then post has arrived in dribs and drabs. An advent calender arrived last week! And today a further 3 parcels for me and 2 for my house mates who have now left. They have kindly gave me the instructions that I could have the consumables and forward the letters!! A very exciting day! Things like 'smellies', candles (for the power cuts), chocolate, post it notes have all come! Just to say a big thank you to you all for such exciting post!
I'm trying to up load some photos of me and my parcels but the blog is refusing to work with me! I will get them on somehow! Will try agian later or tomorrow! Sorry about no pictures! More soon....

Christmas is coming!

2008-12-18T02:31:00.000-08:00

Time is flying by and if feels like midsummer but even hotter!! Since about mid November we have been melting in the heat temperatures of up to 34°C in the shade. But what surprises me is that by the wee hours of the morning I have pulled a blanket over me in bed!

Christmas seems surreal here, being in the sticks a bit, we are missing out on the usual rush of shopping and decorations are not in sight yet. To aid the Christmas feeling I have bought a nativity set made out of Ebony (a black/brown hard wood). Emma has received a wooden 10cm high Christmas tree from her mum to get us in the festive spirit!

Christmas plans are as follows: the muzungus (the expatriates) get together on Christmas eve to sing carols at the Catholic Radio Station in Arua. We are looking forward to it with great anticipation as we have heard good things like home made ice cream, a real tree will be decorated and lit up outside the home where we all gather and of course it will be a good opportunity to get together!
Christmas day we will attend a church service here at our chapel on the hospital grounds and then venture to Alan and Anne's (our neighbours) for a Christmas roast. A special chicken – brought all the way from the capital, Kampala, as it is hard to find a good sized and tender chick here!

We are all hoping that a parcel or two will find their way this far north before Christmas so that we have something to open on that day! But we don't hold our breath. We have been told that the mailing system can't cope at this time of year and things eventually find their way up here after the seasonal rush! Anyway a few of you have told me there are things in the post so I'm enjoying the anticipation of it just as much as receiving it all! The knowledge of post to come gives me that hope of something coming and the knowledge that someone has thought of me! Amazing how pleasurable small things can be in a place like this!

I hope to be able to load up a few photos...they are of me at murcheson falls and my bible study group! my internet access is going to have to change from today as we are packing up the library! This is because the school of nursing is having renovation work done (thanks to the EU!) and the building in which the Library is located is currently being chipped away ready to renew the cement floors. The dust and dirt levels are HIGH! Not the best for technology....
Anyway I hope to get a more accessible and reliable source of internet soon signal allowing! (The house is in a dip and therefore a bit hit and miss with signal – we have worked out all the best mobile phone signal points now!

Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

A weekend away!

2008-11-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

I realise I'm being very poor at updating you all! And I have discovered that my last post was saved as a draft and not posted! So appologies. I am finding the internet very tempramental.
Let me tell you about what we did last weekend! Myself and four others decided to take Friday off and travel to the near by park - Murchison Falls for the weekend. On route we stopped at a prayer mountain, near Goli. The prayer mountain was a beautiful setting, with cool air, and different small buildings built along the walk representing a variety of things such as, a heart shaped building representing Gods love for the world.
We then traveled on. The park is known for its delta, where the Victoria Nile runs into lake Albert and flows out as the Albert Nile! Birds are the best thing about this park. Though hard to identify as they move so fast!
An exciting bit is crossing the Nile on the ferry - I was supprised how wide the river was and a bit wary of the crocodiles (that I couldn't see but knew they were there somewhere!)and hippos. The falls were magnificent!They had lovely rainbows that varied in size as the water spray rose and fell. We viewed them from the top Saturday morning and then I went on the boat ride (that took 3 1/2hrs)that viewed the falls from the bottom. On the boat ride we were able to see waterbuck, elephants, hippo, crocodiles and a wide variety of birds like king fishers, fish eagals and grey erets.
We went on a game drive Sunday morning and saw elephant close up, pleanty of Ugandan kob, hartebeast, some buffalo and Giraffe! It was a lovely weekend away, somewhat dusty on the game drive (water in the shower was brown!)and good food at Red Chilli camp.

A typical day for Laura

2008-10-29T23:12:00.001-07:00

a delay in up loading photos but i hope this works! - also an up date!

The day begins by waking up sometime between 6.30-7am, as the sunrises. I head straight for the kitchen to boil the kettle, so that the thermos can be filled for our day's tea. (Here it is considered wasteful to boil the kettle repeatedly through the day for your hot drinks.) Breakfast is weatabix with bananas and milk from Florence's cow (Florence is our house help). (The milk is boiled, with the non boil over disk that I was given just before I left Leicester – thanks guys!) The all important ingredient of breakfast is of course Doxycylcline – the antimalarial, taken dutifully everyday with food. I aim to get out of the door by 7.55am in order to rush down the hill to the Out Patients Department in time for morning prayers that are held Monday to Fridays 8-8.30am. This is attended by hospital staff, student nurses, patients and those who have arrived early for treatment that day. Then work begins – off to the the maternity ward, where my day is filled with a variety of things. Weigh the premature babies on alternate days- ensure they are gaining weight, taking blood pressure readings, some occasional translation in Swahili for the doctors round, encouraging a labouring mother, assessing a student, teaching a student about filling relevant maternity paperwork etc. Each day brings its own events and things to be done.
Work stops at 1pm for lunch. We head back up the hill to see what good food Florence has prepared for us! Lunch break ends and at 2pm what we didn't get finished before lunch is taken up again, by 5pm we stroll up the hill ready to kick off our shoes, wash our feet, climb out of the uniform ready for a quiet evening in... Some evenings are spent picking mulberries – in a bid to keep the monkeys away. They like to visit just as we wake up in the morning and stomp round on our tin roof and eat our fruit. Much to our annoyance as Mulberries make good jam! The sun sets by 7pm and we retreat in doors to reduce the feast of good English blood for the mosquitoes who like to share malaria with anyone who flashes a bit of skin after dusk.

Independance day in Uganda

2008-10-13T01:26:00.000-07:00

On Thursday Uganda celebrated Independence Day! I was invited to come and see the celebrations along with the first year students.
We loaded up the mini bus traveled off to the sub county headquarters in Vurra. As we arrived the heavens opened, we took shelter on the porch of a building there! When the rain eased and the rivers returned to the resemblance of roads we ventured to a field where things were to take place! Things were rather squelchy underfoot and sandals were definitely the wrong choice of foot wear that morning.
As we stood watching people begin to gather around the field, drumming started up and songs were begun. Groups took turns in parading round and demonstrating what they had practiced for this special day! The groups were representatives of the primary and secondary schools and projects in the area such as a deaf school, health promotion team, scouts and guides, Group living with HIV, and Women Farmers. Altogether there were about 40 groups, which had 8 to 100+ people in each!
At one end of the field a shelter was set up and seats were arranged under the shelter. We were invited to sit in the front row (to enable photo taking), where we had a great view of all that went on and as the hours passed we were grateful to be sitting in shade (and our feet resting in the water)!
The event officially started when the guest of honor arrived, a councilor from the region. Initially each group had to march past the guest of honor in time with the beat of drums, sound of bugles and announce who they were. The groups were attired in their various uniforms – blue, pink, maroon, yellow, white, purple and green. They held up banners declaring who they represented and many waved the Ugandan flag.
Then speeches were made by various dignitaries, mostly taking place in Lugbara. After the speeches the groups were invited to parade again this time presenting their songs as they came by. It was an impressive display.
Food was to follow all of this, however the clouds grew dark and once the last group of student had paraded past the heavens opened once again! Our student took this as their cue to leave as by now it was 4.30pm as they were tired and hungry having left home at 11am!

Arrived

2008-09-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Well here I am, I have arrived safely and have started my induction. I have been meeting all the important people in the hospital – trying to learn who is who, what their names are and who does what!!

This is a Church of Uganda Hospital with a School of Nursing attached to it. They teach the Certificate in Comprehensive Nursing Course. This is a 2 ½ year course. My role initially will be as a Clinical Instructor . This will require me to supervise and support students on the maternity ward and try and help bridge the theory practical divide. I will also be called on to do some teaching in the school – computing being one of the subjects that they need more help with. The EU have given a grant to the school, part of which was for computers and Internet access (which is temperamental in my experience so far!).

My new home is in the 'German house' – which confuses people as they associate people who live here to come from there! I'm living here with Emma and Pete who are doctors – here for a year. We have taken over one wing of this 7 bedroomed house and are making it more homely. However we do have 'friends' who like to pay us visits in the form of a thing with a bushy tail (Bushbaby), flying insects, geckos and spiders. It's hard to know where to start with blocking the gaps!We will be getting a net door put on our back door so that we can get some breeze in without risking mosquito onslaught!
We are fortunate enough to have running water and electricity with the occasional power cut. It is a cold shower or we can have a bowl of hot water from the kettle. A cooker and fridge/ freezer have come with the house, this has facilitated tasty food cooked by our very experienced house help.This week she has demonstrated her great ablity by baking a cake! Not much chance of loosing weight if this keeps up!

I hope to be a bit more frequent with my up dates as I settle in....

Two weeks to go!!

2008-08-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

So work finished last week and packing has begun. The shifting of belongings into the loft and the weighing up of luggage has taken up the week. Here is evidence of the chaos that reigns.

These are a couple of pictures of the sucessfull cake sales that took place at the Leicester Royal Infirmary! Thanks to you all for eating so much cake! :-) And thank you for all the fundraising. I will be able to eat and live for a little longer as a result of your support!

Had a great leaving meal this afternoon! Thanks for all the cards and gifts. It was lovely to see everyone. (My sister is also in this picture! Don't get too confused!)

Here it all begins

2008-08-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

So I'm off to Uganda with the Church Mission Society! I am going to work in Kuluva Church Hospital. It has a maternity ward, antenatal clinic, nursing school, and 5 out lying maternal and child health clinics. My main skills are midwifery with a bit of tropical nursing thrown in. I leave in 6 weeks. Packing has not yet begun, but will take place shortly!