On my mind

 

The first funerals were held today. Norway, we are all thinking about you.

Random nights of laughter, painting faces and African Mama.

I haven't been able to get onto Blogger recently, but I managed to sort it all out by downloading Firefox and sorting my cookies. Rather proud of myself!

So I have not been able to share...

• My random night last week. So random, yet that was probably why I laughed even louder and harder than usual. An unexpected dinner with welcoming unfamiliar smiling faces from all over the globe. Real characters of life that I wish I had met earlier in my time here. Talk of child birthing stories in Uganda, parties of the past, periods of time in Iraq. Some people are just great storytellers and I enjoyed being part of the audience.
• Stories of bravery. One boy in my class broke his clavicle bone last week. He was such a trooper through his pain and only let his walls come down when mum arrived.  Another pupil had to leave the country as his mum is very sick indeed, he is a bundle of positivity and told me how he is going to look after his little sister and make cups of tea for mum. It was hard saying goodbye to this wee special boy.
• My friend gave birth to her first baby (girl) here in Uganda. Congratulations African Mama!

Next week I am looking forward to sharing 'project dining hall' - we are in the final stages of painting and the grand opening at the School for the Deaf will be next week! Here is a peak at what we have been doing.

I am running the Source of the Nile half-marathon tomorrow. Hoping for a dry, cool morning! Happy Weekend!

The Wildebeest Story

"Africa saved them....from themselves".

So many sarcastic comments come to mind. Well, I am a Scot after all!

This often happens when I am up-country and meet 18 year old students on a gap "yah" saving the world'. The phrase " Mummy, can we adopt an African" was honestly said by a volunteer I once lived with!! But I've been there (I never said that though, but...) I was changed too!
I can't really be that cynical can I !? Well, I am my father's daughter after all!

I think my friends at home still think that I am here saving the world...but like I said in my 10 year reunion speech (thanks Rob) - even rich children need an education! (I then went on to ask for a job in my old boarding school...)
There should be no illusions for the real reasons why I am here in Africa.
The safari, adventures and anecdotes.

Now that I know how to upload videos from u-tube (I have no technical talents!) - I want to share a talented storyteller with you ..no, not I (!!!), Billy Connolly.

Tomatoes aren't round in Uganda

What we think of as 'perfection' in the West is different to that here in Uganda.

Take the ladies bottom, most people in the Western World are still striving for the size 8, non visible butt (although Beyonce has changed this a little!)- the pert and fat bottomed girls are loved here by more than just Freddie Mercury! The big "kabina' is what everyone wants!

Cars that are 'perfect' here in Uganda, are ones that run for the best part of the year. Or, like mine, has the sense to break down withing the city boundaries!!We also coo over cars where the rust stays at bay on a small patch on the roof; a losing battle here!!

Fruit and vegetables are another important example. My tasty tomatoes are not round, but an oval shape. If I do find round ones, (sometimes in the South African shop Shoprite) I  wonder how they got like that! My avos look like they have been pumped with steroids (they are so big they can be used to help those smalled bottomed ladies!) but they are naturally so. I know this because I often try to nab them off neighbouring trees!
My clothes have holes all over them from hand washing, but I don't fret...everyone elses do too! They all look great!
My hair is never perfect (this is no breaking news!) because of dust, pollution, dodgy water, lack of hairdryer and through laziness.

The 'perfet' partner in Uganda is one that is single...well for at least 3 nights a week! My friends and I often joke that the longer we are here the cheese will taste better and the men will become attractive!

The wine selection in Uganda has a lot to answer for. Wine is still something newly available here, so we basically get the unwanted bottles from South Africa's wine cellar. However, when it is chilled and opened for sundowners on safari, the wine could not taste any better.

The local insects try to ruin these moments of perfection or just want to get-in on some action.(This is when you can spot how long your drinking buddies have been on the continent).I once read that there are three type of  ways to dealing with an insect landing in your beer. The first is to order a new drink; this person obviously has just landed in Africa. The second is to remove the said beast and continue to drink the beer; this person has been here for a substantial amount of time. The third type of person will notice the insect in the drink, but drinks it anyway. They are in Africa for the long-haul.

(I always watch for this. My friend recently took hers out and drank, but as it was a moth the size of her mouth I let her off!)

Lots of things here in Uganda may not be 'perfect',my tomatoes are not round, but somethings  are in a whole level of its own -potholes is one and the other is sundowners underneath the African sky. Blink and you'll miss the sunset, but the blanket of stars that surround you will more than make up for it.

Home is where...your stuff is!

I have spent the last week 'playing grown-ups' (as my friend Erin rightly put it)..I am house sitting. This isn't really a house, but a home -a family home; one mum, 2 children, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 chickens (well-make that 2...one died in my care!!), oh and I forgot -the live in staff!

Those of you who have lived out of a suitcase..or in my case, 8 boxes...for a year or 5 , know how annoying it is wanting to cook or bake something and not having all the things you need, just putting up with things as it's not 'home' -well not this week-pantry full and all the utensils I need, a piano I can run my fingers along for a tune or two, an amazing bed..I could go on, but you get the idea! I have had a great week-feel more awake when I am school, come home to pets that want my attention and love, go for a run and baths are ran by the staff (ok..so that might not happen in every home!)

Ok, so we know the truth in the cliche-home is where the heart is...I used to get questioned intensively by my History teacher, Mr.Steve - a patriotic Scottish-rugby player type, "why did I feel like I was Scottish?Why did I feel my home was is Scotland?"... He wasn't trying to accuse me of forging my Nationality, he just wanted to make me think about what makes me me. Funny- I feel Scottish, my parents spent many tipsy nights trying to teach me 'Scots' (they failed!)and home is always Lucerne. Our family home, not especially Cove, or Helensburgh, but definately Lucerne.

I love my little flat in Kampala, I have learnt from Kuwait to quickly make it comfortable with a lick of paint and some home-made hangings and stencils...but it is not a home!

What am I trying to say..maybe I am ready to collect antique furntiure, put magnets on my fridge, buy a decent mattress and read Martha Stewart magazines!!Oh dear, maybe it's not that I am ready for a home...maybe I am just getting old..or does that go hand-in-hand!!