25 March 2009

Post date: Apr 7, 2009 6:28:40 AM

25 Mar (Wednesday) Evening about 5PM:

Went to bed early last night for the second night in a row and I believe that got the best of me -- I was awake from about 3AM on -- I don't function well with too much sleep it seems. It's just so hot hear working in the logistics trailer and in the building for that matter that by the end of the day I feel wiped out. It was a similar feeling in Thailand -- by the end of the day I felt like I had run a marathon or something. Deb called last night with stories and mishaps from her work that always make life interesting. The connection was so good it was better than some US calls. Deb called briefly this afternoon to say hi --- that connection was a little more typical. Oh --- T-mobile hasn't given me the code to unlock the phone yet -- they keep asking for more information. It's almost like working with BUDS Foundation in Uganda. So I'm still using my spare phone a bought in Thailand.

I met with Edith today. She's actually working in two schools - one as the Headmaster - so she would like me to visit each and see which will work better. For the one where she is the headmaster I will need to take a 15 min boat ride out to an Island to get there --- oooooboy --- a boat in Uganda! I'd bet it's really a 1/2 hour ride too. The children go on break for a month starting April 27th through the end of May but she thinks I could still meet with the kids and their teacher once a week to do the Journey. Correction on the grade level --- we're going to work with Primary 7 --- which is the Equivalent of 6th Grade in US school systems. These kids will take their test to advance to Secondary 1 (7th Grade) in November. So there's a good amount of time that the Journey could make a difference for them.

Nathan and I tackled some more of the Inventory Spot check today. More interesting stuff to discover --- lol. I also began looking at the problems with the Inventory Database and the Master Database. Ooooboy -- just makes one want to put your hands in your head and wish for a beer. Hmmmmm --- a beer --- sounds like a good ideas about now. I was supposed to give a Journey to Naashom but she's having a busy day --- so I think I will try and have dinner with Ryan. Then ya'all can hear more about him.

Little Later:

Last night on the way home from work I didn't find a matatu waiting for me -- in fact I just missed one by about 5 seconds. Instead though a Ugandan man yelled out his window to me "Kampala?" I turned and looked confused and he asked again "Kampala?" --- so I smiled and jumped in his truck. His name is Don and he said he'd be looking for me from now on. That's the first time anyone has ever picked me up -- not including the time Margot and I asked a Indian man for a ride downtown one morning because all of the matatus were full. Tonight the matatu again rolled up as I stepped out the gate of Mango Tree. Really it's quite odd because matatus rarely roll down that road.

I'm at the Protea Hotel now --- speedy internet --- Kate, Naashom, and Cori are here. Cori and Ryan are two of my housemates at the La Fontaine guest house. There's a girl there too but I can't remember her name. Ryan agreed to dinner this evening and then texted me to go back to Thur night. Cory commented that he and Ryan were having dinner Thur night --- so the girls dubbed Ryan a dinner whore and texted him for me. Not sure what will turn out from all this ---but I imagine I'll get to have dinner with all of them eventually. Kate has a party on Saturday for Naashom's last weekend in town and I'll see them all then --- and probably a few old friends I haven't seen in a year :o) Oh -- just a bit of gossip --- Naashom's boyfriend as Ugandan and they both are associated with Makerere University. She says her boyfriend got his pay cut in half because she wouldn't sleep with the Dean. Ryan is interviewing her and two other women who have similar work experiences here in Uganda. Nothing too out of the ordinary for third world behavior -- but thought I'd pass it on for those that might wonder where Uganda is at in its growth cycle of women's rights. As the Sufi Saint Rabia of Delhi whispered to me in meditation a few years ago ------ patience and persistence ----- the world is balancing and awakening.

T-Mobile just sent me their third email --- no more questions this time though ---- the unlock request is in and I should have the info within 24 yeah!

Peace Out ---

PS -- Moonberge (German beer brewed in Uganda) almost rocks!!!!