Empty Nest

Regrettably, I woke up this morning a bit late, around 7AM. Beatrice was knocking on my metal, pad-locked door, whispering that my "friends" were now leaving. I shouted a short response and almost tore my mosquito net down while I was rushing out of bed to pull on some decent attire before saying hello to the new day. I stumbled out of my room half-blind, and saw three bodas piled up with bags and suitcases I helped pack the night before. Achola and Edgar were leaving for the bus to Kampala, because their summer holidays are over. I had threatened before to lock them inside my room because I would miss them so badly when they left me, and so I threw my arms around them this morning and gave them each a peck on the cheek before the bodas kicked up their engines and left dust and smoke in their wake. Wednesday, Prosie is leaving me for education training after grabbing dinner together in town at Mazuke with some friends. All that is left is Beatrice and David, and Janet. But, good news! Janet gave birth to a baby girl, Joan Bianca Wambuga, 3.4kg. I couldn't be more proud. She was screaming bloody murder yesterday morning during her bath, but she somehow retained her cuteness throughout. I couldn't help but take some snaps of Janet's mom splashing the baby with water. I'm now "one of those" - the ones who encourage embarassing photos like "the first bath".

Saturday, I went to town with Beatrice. The boda driver was literally sitting on my lap while steering the motorbike, and Beatrice sandwiched me in because she was sitting sideways due to the long skirt she was wearing. I got my bag mended somewhere in the market square, bought some silk fabric, and then went for a consultation to have a dress made for myself by a local tailor. I spent the entire day at the Acholi Inn with the CVAP Canadian University Students, after which we headed out to Havana Pub and Corner Cafe to enjoy a couple Nile Specials. That night was not so good... but I think it's fair to leave details lacking at this point in time.

Work:

I began walking down towards Gulu University after my bath this morning, hoping to catch a boda on my way to work. A 13 year old girl in a striped pink and white shirt was pedaling alongside me on her bike, striking up a friendly conversation. Barbara offered to carry me on her bike, and so I hopped on for a good half mile or so before a boda came zooming past. This is the second time I've been offered a bike ride from a complete stranger - could you ever find that in America?

Today, I came into Health Alert - Uganda with the clear intentions of updating Francis on what I had been doing, and things I was envisioning for GlobeMed - UNC's partnership with HAU. He has approved of my idea to hold a workshop for the CVC's, so I'm going to the District office and NUMAT again tomorrow to verify that they are available this Friday morning for a quick training to introduce the TB component to supplement the manual I created last week. Tomorrow, we're sitting down to set out a budget, so that I leave with a concrete idea of what Health Alert - Uganda needs. It is amazing that they are the only organization supplying replacement feeding in all of Northern Uganda. After consultations with board and staff members, I have decided that GlobeMed - UNC will invest in their PMTCT program. Other ideas come in forms of organizational capacity and transport support, but those will surely follow in the future. This week will also be the time for me to scout some nearby apartments so that I can start setting up some lodging and accomodations for future GlobeMed - UNC fellows I hope to send in the following summers. This afternoon, I was sporadically elected as chairperson for the Peer Educators Meeting. At least 18 young HIV positive adolescents gather to form this Young Peer Support Club, where they provide mentorship for the younger children enrolled in HAU, as well as forming a drama and dance group to spread HIV/AIDS advocacy, positive prevention strategies, as well as using it as a means for HAU's anti-stigma campaign. Elections were done by ballot, and discussions were made about the goals, operations, and activities of the club. I'll be working with them on their code of conduct later this week, as well.

Now:
Electricity just cut out, and I waited about 10 minutes for the generator to start whirring again. It's getting darker out, and I'm craving a pork dish from Abola Lepok. I'm trying to decide what to do with my last weekend in Uganda - either to stay in Gulu up to the day I'm supposed to fly out of Entebbe, or go to Kampala to travel with Red Chili to Murchison Falls. I met the national coordinator of Uganda Young Positives today, and he graciously offered his guest house to me for the nights I would need to stay in Kampala, surprisingly free of charge.

Anywho, my parched throat is craving a Mirinda Pineapple now, and I'm looking forward to the refreshing boda ride home.

The lightning and thunder has been insane as of late, but I'm getting excited now that the moon has disappeared and the stars can come back out again. It's amazing how much I feel at home in Gulu, now.