Carol's In Uganda: DAY 2 IN LIRA

I slept in....LATE...it was 7:30 AM before I "rose from the literal dead". Living at the Monastery means no sleeping in....except for Holidays, so sleeping in means 6 AM instead of 5 AM. It was a treat to be able to sleep in and rise rested and refreshed. I was greeted with sweet black tea and we breakfasted on the cookies and bananas.

Benard's hut (the one I stayed in)

These huts are surprisingly cool in the heat and warm in the cold
The roof does not leak!

A wild garden right outside my door!

I then decided to practice the small amount of Luo (the local language) I had been learning. I went up to Robine's Mother and said what I thought was "Thank you". She looked at me with a quizzical smile, glanced at the bicycle next to her and then back at me. I heard Robine ask from across the compound "What were you trying to say?!". I told him I was thanking his Mother for the tea. Lets just say intense laughter filled the entire compound. I stood there (now getting fairly used to being the source of everyone's entertainment) waiting for the outcome of all this. Robine finally replied "You didn't say THANK YOU, you told her that is a good tire". OK...at this point, I started laughing...HARD. Let's just say my nickname is now "tire".

The locals hanging out

The Riff Raff next door

We headed off for a tour of the town on Benard's boda. Robine took me to see his old high school, the local trading center, the cathedral and then to the local hospital. The Hospital is run by Catholic missionaries and is staffed primarily with Italian volunteers. Dr Bruno, a long time resident of Africa, is now stationed here in Lira. We arrived in time to see him giving a tour to a group of Italians.

The path to town

Robine's high school

Robine knew Dr Bruno as he had helped care for his brother who had been admitted for treatment of injuries sustained in a boda accident. Dr Bruno then introduced us to Patrick, who is program director for COMBRID Friends of Disability. He just happened to be taking a group of Italians to see the various sites for the organization in hopes to help them assess the best way to serve. Patrick is an extremely energetic and charismatic director who helps organize Physio training in the rural villages via volunteers and intensive training for the local people. I do not believe this was pure coincidence that we met. I forsee a possible future doing this type of work....from the way Patrick talks, we are as good as coworkers!

The Cathedral

Patrick, myself and Robine at the local
hospital (a chance meeting with a disabilities expert)

The hospital grounds

Robine and Patrick (the director of COMBRID (friends of disability)

We then took time to visit Robine's Aunt Flo, another dynamic personality with a BIG heart! She has a way of making all her visitors feel like they are the most important people in the whole world. I fell in love with this hard working woman almost immediately!

Aunt Flo talking with Robine

An absolutely wonderful woman!

It was then off to shop for supper....we were barraged by men selling chickens...I only wish I got a picture when there were 10 chickens being held to may face to choose!

One had to "feel the legs" to see how well they would
fit on the dinner table

Then it was back home to rest. Robine's Mother (like most mothers) does not know the meaning of rest. Between cooking and cleaning, she was out beating the soy bean pods to release the soy nuts. Neither Robine nor I could sit there any longer and we both arose to help her. They did NOT want me to participate for fear of "hurting" myself. I grabbed the stick away from Robine determined to show them that I was not a weak white chick. Again, I was only subjected to more laughter. Seems nothing I did was "quite right". Robine was trying to show me the correct way to hold the stick to beat the pods while his Mother stood there laughing and saying in Luo that I looked like I was trying to beat a snake.

Beating soy bean pods

Carol! Put that stick down! You'll hurt yourself!

Seriously, how could there be a right or wrong way
to beat a bunch of beans!

Robine's Mother laughing at me in the background

Then it was peeling potatoes....The question I was asked..."Are you sure you have done this before?" I am beginning to think that these guys think white people must be completely incapable of any amount of housework or cooking at all. GEEZE...as if we have someone wipe our butts for us!!!

Robine and Moses (his older brother) showing
me how to peel sweet potatoes

Robine's Mother in the kitchen

We had another stream of guests including neighbors and family. We were also greeted by the family elder Tommy who is the leader of the immediately family. He has to be present for any marriage or major function in order to give approval and blessings. He was most gracious as well.