Training days

We are into the swing of training now. The volunteer group has split into two focus areas: livelihoods and sexual reproductive health (SRH). I’m in the SRH group. While the livelihood kids spend most of the day outside learning about soil composition and farming methods, we’re indoors with Dr. Alex discussing contraception, life skills, and hygiene.

Most of the information is old news for the overseas volunteers, but it’s helpful to go over it in a lesson context so we’ll know how to teach the content when we leave for our placements on the 2nd. There have been some frustrating cultural differences. The most noticeable one is that homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, and is seen as a strictly deviant practice. The white kids all objected when it was listed as “transactional sex.” After some argument I had to accept that there aren’t consenting gay couples here – at least not open ones. The only expression of homosexuality is in the form of prostitution and rape, but it’s still upsetting that the term is met with such disgust.

There have been a few other topics that raised some eyebrows among the internationals. We were instructed to tell adolescent girls not to wear bras – to “leave them pointy,” because wearing a tight bra will make your breasts grow downward like chapattis??? There’s a practice called “pulling” that shocked the internationals, and we’re called on to give personal examples of a lot of adolescent changes which can be pretty awkward. I want to object when it feels like misinformation, but I’m learning to let it go unless I feel like it’s going to be harmful to the kids we teach.

Other than some arguments during training, the group of 40 or so volunteers is getting along pretty well. The Ugandans are indispensable when it comes to getting around and not getting ripped off (too badly) by vendors. They’ve taught us some new card games and some key Lugandan phrases. There’s still some separation between national and overseas volunteers, especially at meal times, but I think it’s more because we stick to the people we’re comfortable with than because we have any aversion to each other.

I’m one of three Americans: Jen, who’s 27 and from Pittsburg and Carson, who just graduated from UPS. There are a couple of Canadian girls too. We’re a pretty powerful front, in terms of people who say “pants” instead of “trousers” and can eat bread without Marmite.

We’re staying in Kasenge for the rest of our training at an organic farming center. It’s a tiny town with one strip of shops we can walk to, but Mukono (which has a post office and an internet café) is 5-10 minutes away by taxi. There are converted vans called matatus that shuttle people from town to town. There are always packed to capacity, and the trip to Mukono costs 1000/= (about 50 cents) if you’re white and 500/= if you’re local.

The little kids here are a riot. They chase us around shouting “Mzungu! Mzungu!” whenever we go to town, and they are fascinated by digital cameras. There are lots of funny misconceptions about white people, and I think some of the kids think we are painted. If I touch one of their hands he or she will stare at it afterward in disbelief.

I’m thinking about picking up some multivitamins, because we are stuck with a pretty starch-based diet. Our only hope for iron or fiber is the occasional pile of leafy greens. I’ve tried some new fruit here, but a lot of it is perfumey and it’s hard to eat very much.

I finally have the address where I can receive letters:

Liz Pempe
c/o SPW
P.O. Box 1208
Jinja Uganda

Packages have to go to the physical address, which is:

Plot 6 Acacia Road
(behind Cool Breeze Hotel)
Jinja Uganda

I’ll be able to get my mail about once a month, either during trips to headquarters or visits from SPW staff.

In terms of life state-side, I’ve been invited to interview at UNC. I have to miss the recruitment weekend at the end of the month, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to do some phone interviews? It’s a good sign and I’m pretty excited about it.

That’s the wrap-up for now. I miss internet access, Sunday breakfast at the parsonage, and variety in my diet. But I’m happy to be here and ready for more!