Honey, I'm home!

As my time in Uganda was coming to an end, a dear friend of mine asked when I was returning home. I took a few hours to respond to the question, not because I was in denial about leaving Uganda, but more because Uganda had merely been added to the long list of places I already call home. At the time, I truly didn't know which home she was referring to, but let me FINALLY give you a little glimse of most of the places I could call home this summer :)

So first up, the land of my birth. That's where this awesome summer started.
Within it, I also have many homes, but for simplicity, I'll highlight only the one where I permanently park my suitcases...and do the most cooking and baking :D

Needless to say, one of my favourite places of every home is usually the kitchen!

My next stop from Jamaica, was actually Grinnell. A place, that by force, I have adopted as home. Yet every time I travel here immigration officers (usually in Miami airport) want to play 21 questions with me! Honestly though, that was only a quick stop over that would serve to replenish my bank account and buy me a little extra time to prepare for my next set of homes:

You already met London in the beginning of my blogging, but I never quite showed you Uganda and trust me there,s quite a bit so see!

So going back to the "this is home where I permanently park my suitcase" definition, that would make this place home, and the people you see are some of the people that made it!

Christine was right, home was not an easy place to find! There was one evening I went for a walk and it was just by the mercy of God that I found my way back. That was towards the beginning of the trip, but by week 10 I was perfectly sure of the directions from town to home! Yay Me!!!

Town reminded me too much of Roehampton traffic in Kingston ....times 10! And if I remember correctly, Roehampton traffic was one of the deciding factors which led me to pursue my studies at a place where I could get to class by means of my 10-toe turbo!

Kawempe Traffic (this is a more or less 24/7 situation)

Road heading back home

In thr true spirit of tourism though, I couldn't let this summer go by without my own #London2012 experience...well round 2! So I neatly snuck in another visit to London on my way back to Grinnell!
I had a great timw visiting two of my Aunts and my sister...a trip to the Olympic Village was certainly in order, a little bit of shopping, lots of chatting and a fantastic Jamaican and some good KFC Chicken!

The view from the Emirates Air Lift @ Olympic Village

Jerked Chicken, Jerked Pork, Ribs, Rice &Peas and fried Plantain all on one plate
Washed down with one of my favourite beverages ever...coconut water
...A meal sent from heaven!

Aunty Marcia and I at Olympic Village, just off the Emirates thingy 

Aunty Cecille and I just before I left for Grinnell

Man all of this made me wonder how on earth am I going to tough it our in Grinnell without all of these stuff to do! Then I came back to Grinnell....and tell you the truth, I'm not 100% sure how I feel about that as yet. When I just got back I realized that SOOOO much has changed and so much will be different, yet, I entered my room and found peace among the chaos that was the result of rushed packing for departure 11 weeks ago!

It took me a few days to realize that the people who matter the most, hadn't changed one bit. I knew I was home after all the hugs, cheerful smiles and really sincere, "how was your summer?" questions. I knew I was home when someone (not going to call any names) introduced me to the new Rabbi on campus and told him that I live on the couch right outside of his office at the CRSSJ, I knew I was home when I started complaining about the same things I left here complaining about in the Spring...but hey I never said Grinnell was perfect....but it home [not to be confused with home - Jamaica]

Jamaica...I'll see you in a few weeks, but until then, I;m gonna enjoy home...

[NOT] Saying goodbye

So I haven't been as bad at this blogging thing as it seemed...here's what happened: I DID create a post filled with quite a few pictures, using my ipod and some free WiFi I picked up in Entebbe last week, but then I had a connection in dubai and, once again, the whole page turned in arabic. I made a guess and pressed something and that turned out to be the *delete post* button. I was, well, pretty discouraged, and decided not to post until things settled down again...I can't say they have BUT I had a beautiful period of calm as I was essentially without a phone. I'm not sure if anyone was looking for me but believe me I was TIRED and shamelessly took the opportunity to get away from every responsibility that was calling my name.

Anyway, I have jumped the gun a bit -- let me fill you in in what happened over the past two weeks...

So I finally made it to AYMU offices and did A LOT of paperwork. How much?

Well, actually, A LOT more than this...I had to accounty for EVERY expediture made over the past 7 weeks. As in from 500/= worth of airtime, to our grocery shopping at the market, to petrol and office rent. I've only shown SOME of the airtime! After working on that for a couple of days, I just have to say THANK YOU GRINNELL COLLEGE FOR changing your policy about submitting receipts! I'm glad my accounting paperwork was limited to those 3 days at the office!

I LOVED Entebbe! A lot!

There was one evening, I walked from work to Aero beach. Well, of course it was really a lake and not a beach, but dat neva stop if from having some great sand. While I was there I hung out with the Zebras and the Camel:

Okay! Okay! The zebra isn't real but the camel sure is! But I mostly spent time along the shoreline just watching the sun set and making my journal entries and thinking about the amazing fried fish I had for dinner the previous night (which came from that very lake)

Now let me tell you, that tilapia was (h)amazing... and it kept me thru to lunch the next day!

My last day of work was pretty short; my supervisor insisted that we take a trip to the zoo as my final day treat. Indeed it was a treat. I met 5 chimps who had the most incredible personalities! They were all sleeping/resting when we arrived but er begged the keeper to help us their attention and she did. She threw them some bananas and they woke up right there and then. But one of them didn't get any #slowpoke...an mi tell u seh him vex! how mi know? boss man sat down, folding his shoulders, tun him back to us, and every five or so seconds, clapping his hand to get the keeper's attention!

Sorry -- no zoom on this device :(

Then it was back to Kawempe. I must admit, journeying home in the friday evening traffic made me miss Grinnell for a split second, but what was to come was all worth it! My surprise going away party! Most of the family was out for the day, but they came home with 3 live chicken that met their doom that night! A feast was served, followed by everyone wishing me well and farewell...

 Dinner in the making...whomever said too many cooks spoil the stew had obviously never journeyed to a Ugandan kitchen! I'd just say too many cooks make A LOT of food, because when I was half way through my plate I had to lay flat on the ground!

Sorry, I lost the pic that had me in it --- but I there's mum (purple) with Elaine, one of her granddaughters, next to her is her sister, holding little Bianca. Bianca is Grace's daughter, which makes her my niece :)

So, a great friend once told me that once you visit a friend's home and get along well with their mother, that's just it, the friendship will last for eternity. Translation: Christine, thanks for setting yourself up to put up with me as your sister for the rest of our lives! I had a great time in Uganda, but I know I will be back, after all.... I have a bed there!

Time winding down

So international youth day finally came and left – and took pretty much all the red ribbons I made with it!

Now I want to tell you that the president was meant to be the guest of honour and every exhibitor at the event was keeping the booths impeccable until he arrived. There were also numerous supporters decked out in T-shirts that would support his re-election. After all of this hullabaloo….the man dis the programme! All now him cah reach.

Anyway, the weekend was great without him:

• I passed some zebras along the road side travelling to and from kabala
• We planted plenty of trees at Kabale University
• I went to Rwanda (well just to the border of Rwanda)
• I saw some amazing dance performances
• I ironed probably 60 shirts. Wait! What? Kaydi-Ann R Newsome ironed more clothes than she needed to wear in one day! Yup – all a part of the job! The power outage the night I should have done the ironing didn't make my life any easier though – so I also woke up at a ungodly 5:30am to iron the shirts for the whole team of us!

I promise there are pictures of us all wearing the shirts and of me ironing and I will definitely upload this and everything else in due course.

Now there are many indications that my time is winding down here in Uganda:

• I should finally start some office work - I say should, but that would be a story I have to tell you face to face so you can hear me get real Jamaican!
• Half of my hair is braided (don’t worry, you wouldn't know it’s only half)
• The first draft of my research paper is 80-90% written
• I woke up this morning and realized that I only have about 37MB of internet remaining (that actually cannot hold me for even one day, but I used quite a tidy sum streaming the Jamaica50 grand gala and watching a few of the races for the Olympics), but fret not, Entebbe seems to be the perfect place to solve my problems – I have been blessed with free wireless internet for now 2 days in a row J in case the blessing runs out, I will try my best to squeeze in one last update tomorrow night.

Speaking of Jamaica50....as promised, I did recover some pics of the outfit:

I know I always fight against people adding red to J'can coulour but  is really the Uganada added

I am excited for the weekend ahead – I finally get to go back home (to Kawempe) and do one of my favourite activities for the summer: hang out with the fam in the back yard. Its sad to think that Saturday may be our last opportunity to hang out for a while but I definitely be savouring the moment

Not as exciting as di 1,2,3 but...

Mi are sooooooo excite mi can hardly write #London2012 -- Jamaican men sweep off all o di medal for di 200m race!

I tell u it very rough being here and not getting to see these thing live but I thank the Lord for my facebook friends: always keeping me up-to-date...so let me fill you in on what ive bn up to on these ends:

• We had a media launch for the straw project -- it was not the kinda media launch I was accustomed to: took place right under the tree outside of the Jinja Town Hall! We first sent all our trainees into town to gather straws and show right there on the street side the transformation that could take place. for the life of me, I never realized that these people were official media crew: their audio recorders were really cell phones wrapped in paper (to prevent interference I suppose) and very there was one guy with a point and shoot camera and another with a camcorder. I thought to myself, someone, somewhere must be very happy with my camera that went missing the day before....God will deal with them stillz!
• The International Youth Day will be held in Kabale - not to be confused with Kibale where Ebola has broke out. Yesterday, a advert on the radio actually made this error and mum was about to keep me quite locked up in this house for the weekend.
• Since I hate packing so much, and usually am guilty of doing a last minute spritz, I decided to change to a better life! I started packing today. Definitely not because I am ready to leave but more because by the time I'm done with my last two assignments it will be time to do my hair (could be a whole day process) and the time to leave -- and chus me I cah afford to miss the flight! Grinnell College money has already been spent and by the time I leave here I land in London, I will go back to my life as a "poor college student"
• I can't even believe that the time had gotten away like this. It must be in some race with Bolt, Blake and Weir! As for me, I have put my pedal to the metal with my research and this paper - that's what I am taking a study break from at the mo...
• I'm actually trying to see how late I can stay up tonight. I know, that does not sound like me at all unless the day is called New Years' Eve -- but hear di ting now, Kabale is VERY far and we should have left today BUT the gov't had not yet released our funds for travel -- and its their youth day! So like thieves in the night we shall depart at 1:00am for Kabale. You know I'm already in my sweats and ready to take to sleep as I sit in that car. Pray for the driver that he will be able to stay alert!

Walk, or should I say, run good!

Not sure what to call this but I love typing #Jamaica50

" On August 6, 1962, the British Flag was lowered and the Jamaican flag was raised (in Jamaica) and a new anthem sung in celebration of Independence from Britain. 
August 6, 2012 The Jamaican Flag was raised in Britain and the anthem played to recognize that our tiny island produced the fastest man on earth and the beast! #Jamaica50 #TeamJamaica #London2012"

-That's one of my fb status for the day :D

I woke up this morning feeling a little annoyed that I would have to work today. Back where I'm from its a public holiday (aka federal holiday)! You know how I complained about having to go to class on Good Friday, man I was coming close to that, especially since I was also meant to work yesterday (Sunday). Anyway, you know what, I decided to take life easy...things are always running on African time here so what would make today different?!

The answer is actually, "nothing". We had one main task for the day, but it required money being sent from Kampala. So we waited and waited and waited. Me, I walked the streets of Jinja comparing prices one last time, and actually purchasing nothing except breakfast and lunch items. Eventually the money came and my brideprice fell in the same hour: my outfit for today was a long dress (Black, Green, Yellow...and red) and I had to ride on a motorbike with 4 sacks of straws tied on the back and a basin hovering over my head! Then we managed to switch things up so I was only moving with the basin while the straws rode alone - we hired another boda at our first opportunity!

Then I went with Rachel to visit her mother.

Then I thought - I may not be able to get fish and bammy and festival on hellshire beach today but I sure can get some fried fish, roasted casava (Casava is used to make bammy), and definitely some festival-like food item (festival is fried dough, slightly sweet; one freind likened it to hush puppies when i made them on campus). Anyway it was all good - washed down with some lovely sugarcane.

I must say that eating that sugarcane somehow felt like a more momentous occasion, quite like today's facebook status. Imagine how British colonization turned my entire country, and so many others including Uganda, into sugarcane plantations. Today, I sat pretty as my national anthem was being played in Britain and chews on my sugarcane. I couldn't watch the ceremony first hand - but that TWO whole other stories! To summarize them:

1. I lost my camera and spent a good amount of time trying to relocate it, so I wasnt able to get my bearings right in time to catch the ceremony

2. I found somewhere much more convenient to watch the games today - right next door - certainly safer at this hour of the night to go there, right? No! Went there today at noon to catch the hurdles and mi nuh undastan why di owna/manager/man pretending to be eithe tink i care one bit to talk to him, especially as the races were going on! Di man was looking me and him wasnt even being tactful bout it --- yu kno how i feel bout dese folks...

so now yu probably saying, Kaydi, yu sound so calm about losing ure camera, truth be told, if I wasn't being calm, I'd be being a hyporite. I'm always first to remind the world that "God allows everything to happen for a reason". Yes, I had almost 2 weeks worth of pictures on my camera, and that is what is more important to me - they were mostly pictures I had taken for work with the exception of those I had taken today. I still have life, I still have health, I am still very happy...so y stress over God's will?

The last picture I took on my camera, I thought about you all in light of my previous post. It was a A4 sized paper pasted on a school wall, landscape bearing the words, "We don't shake hands", in the first line, then a big bold, "EBOLA" in the second! If I pass it again, I'll be sure to take another picture (though it will be of much lower quality) and you'll definitely see me around in my outfit -- I already captured the Independence meal and the sugarcane - technology is just being a bit stubborn now that it has crossed the Greenwich Meridian!

Love, Peace & Joy

Is it Ebola?

During the malaria outbreak sometime back in Jamaica, I recall the popular question posed after every sneeze was, "Is it Malaria?" As I come to the end of my 8th week here, I realize that I am realizing that we talk about malaria far more in the Western World than we do here. Likewise, this thing of Ebola...No I don't have it... I first came to hear about it through a concerned relative in Jamaica. (I won't loud yu up).

I know, I haven't posted in a while! It's been very busy and even sometimes stressful here! Stressful summer is not what I expected, but in a nutshell, here are the highlights of the past few weeks:

1. Jamaica mash up the track in the 100m final -- yes I may not be in London but the effects of technology and globalization has been able to allow me to keep up with #teamJamaica 
2. The British West Indies celebrated 178 years of Emancipation - this kick off some of the key events in the Jamaica50 celebration (again see note above) - tomorrow, August 6, join me in wearing your black, green and gold and/or your pin of pride to celebrate the golden Jubilee of my country's independence!
3. I made A LOT of red ribbons - not sure how many!
4. We had two training sessions managing in Jinja (hence the stress)
5. I learnt that one man's trash can really be another's treasure - one of our training sessions was making straw hand crafts. As in from used plastic drinking straws - collected, washed, soaked overnight in detergent, rinsed, then pressed flat to make these craft items and be good to the environment!
6. I started my final paper, then realized that if I write one page per day, I'd be finished by the time I board the plane out of where. Then I got sad that I have to leave already...
7. So I went shopping again cuz no matter where you are in the world, retail therapy is always good! This time I picked up a couple things from my second tailor and 2 jars of locally produced jam - one is Mango and the other is Passion fruit. I'm keeping on the lookout for the pineapple, had it the other day and it was amazing :)
8. Then I saw an add that American Airlines is having a sale - so like any good Grinnellian I started looking up plane tickets -- my fellow Grinnellians, you may have more difficulty finding me in Grinnell than you already do! Rest of the world, look out - I may be coming to an airport near you!

So let me just reconfirm - I neither have Ebola nor Malaria, matter of fact, I have exhibited symptoms of neither.

Until next time,

Stay safe!

Watch the Olympics

Wear your [Jamaican] Colours on August 6 - even if you're not Jamaican please understand that this is BIG

and of course....Walk Good!

So who's the boss?

You know, I thought it was Albert until some of our doners from Germany landed in Uganda. What should have been my first day physically in the office, ended up being a day trip to Rakai and back! Why? The donors wanted to see where there money was going and were on a tight schedule -- they also need to see all the Big 5 and source of the Nile.....AGAIN!

Anyway it was a great lil trip to Rakai, though my poor body didn't do very well after what must have been 10 hours of driving in 1 day --- well 10 hours of being driven! I've got to say, I actually miss driving myself around, but since that's not an option here, I just sit still and take naps every now and then. I had forgotten that the road between Kampala and Rakai was being worked on, after being awoken from my first nap, half-scared-to-death, I needed no additional reminder!

The children in Rakai had put on a grand welcoming show for us all, even throwing flowers at us as they danced, sang and beat their drums. I was so happy to be among them :) One of the most amazing truths was that these children were actually on school holiday but have no family to go home to so they stay at school and the teachers care for them. One would never be able to guess that from our visit yesterday.

We also stopped by Fred, the football coach, as he would accompany us on the visit to the school/orphanage. These days, it seems that one can't go far without being offered maize/corn - roasted or boiled. I think each of us had 3 for our lunch that day. I think this week alone I consumed more corn than I ever did in the two years I've lived in Iowa. #IowaCornFields == FAIL!

Anyway, some of you may or may not know that one of my favourite pastimes is filing customer complaints. From Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd in Ja to Kellogs in the USA and now, despite the fun time I had at the Safari, the driver we had just did not pass the cut at all! Result of that complaint: The balance oweing on my trip was written off ($30) and the safari company is also a spa so I was offered deeply discounted spa services! Praise Jesus, my foot-bottom can no longer be used as a nailfile (if you hang around me long enough, you would have heard my complaint) and the full mani & pedi cost me only $4...I tell you the truth, this was the best pedicure I had ever gotten in my life too - and this place was no joke when it came to atmosphere and ting!

Anyway, back to making dem red-ribbons and eating up the maize,

Before I leave tho I just gotta loud up #TeamJamaica @ #London2012...mi kno uno a go boss up di ting and mek we even prouda :D