Building libraries in Uganda.

Safari

2011-06-27T08:19:00.001+03:00

At the airport now so time for one last post. Everyone safe and ready to fly home. Safari was great -- still no leopard sighting but saw everything else.

Awesome trip!

Thursday School Visits

2011-06-24T10:39:00.001+03:00

On Thursday we started the day at Bat Valley with classroom visits. Unfortunately, recent rains prevented us from playing our scheduled football (soccer) match against the children -- the only match we stand any chance of winning!

We then proceeded to Ugandan Martyr's where we were greeted by the entire student body cheering and clapping. Each grade level had their own presentation involving a reading, skit, or song and dance.

The final school of the day was King's College which is the premier High School in Uganda. Our library there is situated inside a former chapel. The campus grounds are beautiful and we were given a walking as well as a virtual tour.

We then finished the day with some shopping and dinner at Nando's which is a food court serving things like pizza and ice cream.

Namirembe Sports Day

2011-06-24T09:50:00.001+03:00

Our first school visit in Kampala ony Wednesday was to Namirembe Primary who were having their Sports Day which is very much like field day at Laurel Mountain Elementary. The most interesting event had to be "getting ready for school" where some boys stripped down to their underwear and then raced to put their clothes back on!

The bottle filling event was made much more difficult by requiring participants to race to the finish line with the full bottle balanced on their heads.

Some of our women volunteers decided to take on the obstacle course -- Trudy came in a distant last place ;-).

We were treated to a traditional African dance at Kasubi Primary where we had an opportunity to sit and talk with the teachers. We finished the day with classroom visits at Uplands High School.

Busy Days in Kampala

2011-06-24T09:01:00.001+03:00

Sorry for the delay in getting posts out. We have been very busy the last few days. We are now headed to Murchison Falls so I'll have time to compose during the long trip.

Bye-bye Mbale

2011-06-24T08:55:00.001+03:00

Monday night we had dinner at the Okumu's and said our farewells. We are so fortunate to have such good friends who look after us here in Uganda and who manage receipt of the shipment of books. There are always hiccups in the plans but one phone call to Wilberforce and all is well again.

As we drove away from Masaba Hilltop Hotel the staff was standing on the balcony waving goodbye. After so many visits to Uganda we have many friends here.

School Visits

2011-06-20T17:04:00.001+03:00

On Monday we visited past schoolss where libraries have previously been built. We started at North Road Primary which is the first library I helped build. They had a huge assembly to greet us -- imagine 3200 smiling faces looking up at you! We visited classrooms and let the students ask us questions about life in America. Some of the most popular questions were about the climate, food, and how many children we had.

We next visited the very first Library of Love in Mbale, Namatala. The books in this library are well worn as we expect them to be after six years. Next year they will receive a bigger restock of books. Our team spent time helping reshelf books while many curious students hung in the doorway and windows.

I also spent a little time doing martial arts with some of the kids. They really enjoy mimicking the moves and especially like seeing me get thrown to the ground by the smallest student!

Pearl Haven Church

2011-06-20T16:44:00.001+03:00

Sunday we visited our home church here in Mbale for morning services. Sorry I couldn't get a clearer picture but the choir and congregation are in constant motion! The singing and dancing are accompanied by a whistle and now a Vuvuzela (a horn popularized at last years World Cup in South Africa).

Later that day we witnessed Trudy being Baptized at the bottom of a waterfall. You can only imagine this special moment -- especially since I have no picture from my phone to post! We do have lots of video and photos we can share later.

Sisiyi Falls Retreat

2011-06-20T16:07:00.001+03:00

This afternoon the team enjoyed a well deserved rest. We spent the afternoon at Sisiyi Falls which is like a Hawaiian resort. We had a meal as close to Texas BBQ as you're likely to find in Uganda with grilled pork and chicken and potato salad and coleslaw. To top it off we were served Mandazi (African doughnuts) for dessert.

This year there hadn't been a recent rain so the climb to the top of the falls wasn't so slippery. Always a stunning view from up there and always surprising to see the bustle of activity happening where you wouldn't expect to find entire villages of people.

Trudy Starts Her Ugandan Training

2011-06-20T15:36:00.001+03:00

As we walked through the bush today we saw many people working in fields (mostly corn in this area) and lots of people carrying supplies. And, yes, the women do actually carry things on their heads. We passed a couple of such women and Trudy decided she had to give it a try -- she couldn't even support the load on her head without help it was so heavy!

Wambwa Home Visits

2011-06-18T20:06:00.001+03:00

This morning we went to Wambwa Primary School to meet some of the students who are receiving support from Bethany United Methodist to pay for their school lunches. We followed the students back to their homes to meet their families. Some of the children live so far from the school we first had to drive in the van for 15 minutes and then walk a few miles through the bush. Without the support from Bethany these children would go hungry since it would be impossible for them to get home for lunch and they cannot afford the school lunch. The parents are very appreciative and one father commented that the lunches really help the student's academic performance.

Trudy and I visited the homes of three girls whose names were Safina, Caro, and Hajila. The parents usually speak little or no English so the students have to translate for us (that is when they aren't too shy to do so!). One grandmother we met was thanking us profusely in Lunganda and then jumped up off the ground and shouted "HALLELUJAH" when Trudy presented her with a Bible!

Opening Ceremonies

2011-06-17T21:08:00.001+03:00

Today we celebrated the opening of 3 new libraries in Mbale. We had ribbon cuttings at Fairway and St.Joseph and then a full ceremony at Nabuyonga. We were welcomed at all 3 schools with singing and dancing. The speeches at Nabuyonga were very good and not overly long for the most part. Some even declared "protocol off" and skipped recognizing each dignitary before proceeding with their speech! Each team member was presented with a gift (see the picture of Jim in his bark cloth hat) and were served a huge traditional meal including matoke. I think that is three matoke lunches in a row now. The word "full" does not even begin to describe what your stomach feels likes after that many carbs. Good thing we'll have plenty of opportunities to work it off playing with the school children.

Stoney

2011-06-17T17:35:00.001+03:00

This year I waited until opening ceremony day to enjoy my first Stoney -- a local ginger soda that has quite a kick. Many participants from prior trips have gotten addicted to the stuff and I think we have a few more stricken on this trip.The bad thing about this addiction is that it's not available in the States even though its made by Coca-Cola. So, sorry to all you addicts reading this but that tasted REALLY GOOD!

Fairway Primary library complete

2011-06-16T18:10:00.001+03:00

The third library complete in as many days. Finished on about the same schedule as the other two. Now we get a chance to catch our breath and prepare for tomorrow's opening ceremonies. Sorry no photo of the library today as my phone ran out of juice.

Mzungus on Parade

2011-06-16T18:05:00.001+03:00

Here is a photo of the cattle truck we've been riding the last couple of mornings. Today we rode down the main streets and markets in Mbale town to maximize the spectacle.

The hotel "experience"

2011-06-15T19:01:00.001+03:00

We had a good experience at Masaba Hilltop Hotel last year but this year the hotel has new management and more issues. My room is pretty good -- other than no hot water (no water at all coming out of the hot water line) window screens and mosquito net are intact, toilet flushes, working fan, and even a TV with 2 channels that aren't always playing Spanish soap operas dubbed into English :-).

Lisa has had the worst luck -- her first room had no lights. After taking a day to realize they couldn't fix that, they switched her to another room where the toilet wouldnt flush and then later overflowed while we were at the school. After a failed attempt to fix that she is now in her third room. Fingers crossed.

It is fairly typical here for there to be problems with the rooms that the management knows about but is either unwilling to fix or not provided the funds to fix.

Oops -- the power just went out! But this hotel has a generator so the lights came right back on again.

The picture shows the mosquito net hanging above my bed as well as my shower with no shower curtain. Got to get used to a wet floor in the morning.

Nabuyonga library complete

2011-06-15T18:32:00.001+03:00

The bookshelves were complete by 12:15 and that was with 2 snack breaks! The ladies started loading books on the shelves around 11am and finished by 2pm. Posters and decor were up by 3:30 when the team was served lunch - including their first taste of matoke!

The morning drive to the school was especially fun today as the team rode in a cattle truck (flatbed with bars to hold on to) which was not only exciting for us but also for the Ugandan onlookers since they never see Mzungus riding in those!

Dinner on Ugandan time

2011-06-14T19:11:00.001+03:00

The team enjoys a game of cards while waiting for our dinner to arrive (an hour later than requested).

Debbie says, "Happy Birthday Elijah"!

St. Joseph Gangama library built in record time

2011-06-14T17:04:00.001+03:00

We arrived at out first school at 8am but the door to the library room was locked, so that gave us time to spend with the children. When we did get in we learned we would be sorting the books ands building the bookshelves in the same room.Nevertheless, the modular shelves came together quickly as did the book sorting and most of the work was completed before lunch. After lunch, the last few boxes of books were placed on the shelves, posters and maps were placed on the walls and the flooring was placed down. A brand new Library of Love was completely finished by 4:30pm! Our volunteers made good use of the extra time by playing and singing with the students.

Masaba Hilltop Hotel

2011-06-14T06:56:00.001+03:00

Its early morning and Mbale town is just waking up. From my hotel room I can see the clock tower in the center of town as well as the first school I helped build a library for, North Road Primary.Today we start our 20th library at Gangama Primary.

African Children's Choir

2011-06-13T09:53:00.001+03:00

Our first stop after leaving the airport is to the African Children's Choir where we are welcomed with song.

We are here in Uganda!

2011-06-13T08:17:00.001+03:00

At the airport and checking in. All bags accounted for but one with missing zipper and contents in plastic bag

Uganda here I come!

2011-06-11T22:39:00.001+03:00

Looking forward to my fourth trip to build libraries in Uganda. Just a few hours sitting in the Tampa airport, an 8 hour flight, a day tour of London, a 9 hour flight, and I'll be there!

Last minute excitement

2010-06-21T09:07:00.001+03:00

On the way back to the airport we got a flat tire. Driver fixed it in ten minutes only to get another flat moments later! So we unloaded all the luggage and switched over to two matatus. Finally hit 100kph (60mph) in our last couple of miles driving in Uganda!!!

The elusive leopard

2010-06-20T10:43:00.001+03:00

Rarely seen outside the volleyball courts of Kansas, this rare species of leopard, known as Kendra, was spotted at Murchison National Park on Sunday. :)

Giraffe

2010-06-19T19:37:00.001+03:00

Forgot to take a picture with my phone of the lions that were relaxing under a tree so here is a giraffe.

The Big Three

2010-06-19T19:30:00.001+03:00

We saw lions, elephants, and giraffe today as well as numerous types of antelope, cape buffalo, birds and warthogs. The leopard continues to elude us but they tell us they have been seen in recent days.

At the bottom

2010-06-19T13:17:00.001+03:00

The boat stops near the bottom of the falls so we can hop off on to some rocks and take some pictures.

Chillin' at Red Chilli Camp

2010-06-19T12:54:00.001+03:00

We arrived at Murchison National Park around 4pm. We've moved into our tents and ordered our packed breakfast for our early Nile river cruise. Now the team is relaxing and playing cards as we get a nice cooling afternoon rain shower.

Nile boat ride

2010-06-19T12:51:00.001+03:00

Left camp at 7:15 this morning for our Nile river cruise. Saw plenty of hippos which mostly stayed under water with their eyes and noses peeping out. Got really close to some crocs. This year we climbed up from the bottom of Murchison Falls and that was a good workout!

The van

2010-06-17T22:17:00.001+03:00

Our group of 17+ has been traveling in this van for the last couple of days. Sam tells me it will seat 29 if you use the fold-down middle seats. We've also traveled in the taxi vans called matatus which have about half the seats but still manage to squeeze in about two dozen passengers. Fortunately we've hired them privately so only had to squeeze in our team.

Shopping

2010-06-17T14:52:00.001+03:00

Thursday we are shopping for souvenirs and going to the modern mall. Most of the shops carry the same items which are nice but tend to lose some of their luster after the third trip to Uganda. I did still manage to find some new items I hadn't seen before on past trips.

Million dollar view

2010-06-16T16:40:00.001+03:00

We are back at Namirembe Guest House which sits on a hill overlooking the city and thus the tagline for the hotel! I'm sitting on my porch enjoying the nice cool breeze -- but not the smoke.

Tea fields

2010-06-16T14:51:00.001+03:00

We're on or way back to Kampala from Mbale on Thursday afternoon Stopped in Jinja for lunch and a little shopping. Along the way we pass sugar cane fields and tea fields and these are some of the most picturesque sights.

Paul Ortega out of World Cup

2010-06-15T18:00:00.002+03:00

In an exhibition match Monday versus Mbale S.S., Libraries of Love captain Paul Ortega broke his collar bone and thus will not be able to play in this year's World Cup.

Seriously, after playing some volleyball in the rain, Paul switched to the soccer field and slipped and broke his collar bone! He is currently in a "sling" and will go in Wednesday for further evaluation.

Home Visits

2010-06-14T14:29:00.001+03:00

On Monday we visited Wambwa Primary which was one of the schools that received a library last year. Many of the students in the school are supported by generous donors back in the U.S. who pay for their meals. This year, as we did last year, we went with some of these children to their homes and met their families who expressed their enthusiastic thanks for the support (and of course wished that it would be continued!). Debbie and I were fortunate enough to travel with the Headteacher as we visited the homes of 5 students. He was able to translate so the parents understood why we had come to visit and also so we could understand their great appreciation for the donations of meals for their children. Many of these families have 3 or even 4 students attending Primary school at the same time so the cost of a meal can be a great burden to them and so having it paid for is such a blessing.

These visits are really a unique opportunity for the team to see how the children and their families live, to visit the outlying communities, and to demonstrate the LOVE in Libraries of Love.

The children

2010-06-14T14:17:00.000+03:00

A picture is worth a thousand words... these are worth millions!

Sisiyi Falls

2010-06-12T09:48:00.002+03:00

Saturday we left Kampala to go to Mbale. We visited Sisiyi falls with Billy Paul and Billy (seen here at the base of the falls) as well as with Mitch. It had recently rained so the falls were quite impressive and quite brown from the runoff. Most of the younger folks took quite a hike up to the top of the falls -- a slippery, muddy, adventure!

Headteachers

2010-06-11T21:10:00.001+03:00

The Headteachers from the three schools that we completed libraries for this year were at the opening ceremonies wearing their new Libraries of Love t-shirts. The libraries are really a partnership with the schools. As Trudy often says in her speeches at the schools, we can bring the books and prepare the libraries but it won't work unless the school administrators, teachers, and students are dedicated to reading and operating the libraries.

3 New Libraries of Love

2010-06-11T09:35:00.000+03:00

By Friday all 3 of the libraries had been completed and we visited each school for the official openings. It is truly amazing to see the transformation of these rooms to completed libraries in just a few days.

No celebration is complete without some traditional African dancing!

Kitebi

2010-06-10T10:13:00.001+03:00

We arrived Thursday morning at Kitebi Primary to another greeting including an amazing traditional dance that must have lasted 15 minutes. Some of the kids were sweating but none of them looked tired.

After a couple days of practice, the team had perfected their skills and the final library was complete by 6pm.

Ugandan Martyrs

2010-06-09T10:13:00.002+03:00

The advance team was able to cut most of the lumber and sort many of the books by the time the rest of the team arrived about 1pm. By 8pm Wednesday evening the 2nd library was complete!

Kasubi

2010-06-09T10:13:00.000+03:00

We arrived at Kasubi Primary in the early afternoon ready to start work on the library but the school had other plans! We were seated in front of an assembly which gave the team an opportunity for some personal time with a few of the children.

When we arrived at the library room we found too much lumber and none of the tools from past trips! Fortunately, Paul had sent new tools so we could start work on the shelves but only with one drill. Amazingly, by 8pm almost 2/3 of the bookcases were complete. A broken drill bit decided it was quitting time. By that evening, Wilber arrived with the rest of tools so the next day, most of the team were able to complete Kasubi while some of the team went ahead to start work at the next school.

Welcome home to Namirembe

2010-06-08T10:12:00.000+03:00

Tuesday morning we walked down the hill from the hotel to visit our very first school, Namirembe Infants Primary. After visiting this school for so many years, it really is like coming home to see family. We visited with the children and played netball and basketball.

Chicago, London and Johannesburg, oh my!

2010-06-07T10:14:00.000+03:00

After four flights and almost 48 hours we arrived in Uganda. The British Airways strike caused our original flight to Entebbe to be canceled so instead we took an 11 hour flight to Johannesburg and then a 4 hour flight back to Entebbe. Dave A. and Rachel were each missing a piece of luggage and Dave figured out that they must have missed the flight in Austin. The bags arrived at the hotel Thursday.

Chicago airport

2010-06-06T03:11:00.001+03:00

The team is here waiting for our international flight to London. Lots of time in the air before we get to Uganda. Hopefully, T- mobile will get their act together and get me an unlock code otherwise I'll be posting from internet cafes rather than from my phone!

The Children

2009-06-26T19:15:00.001+03:00

As I've mentioned many times in prior posts, we are constantly being
watched by the school children as we work to complete the libraries.
It is hard to describe exactly what it feels like to look up from your
work and see a student peering through the window and to see them
smile when they notice you looking back. These pictures capture just a
few of the beautiful faces surrounding us every day as we visit the
schools.

The Libraries

2009-06-26T19:09:00.001+03:00

This year we completed 3 libraries in 3 days -- Wambwa Primary, Mbale
High School, and Namakwekwe Primary. The opening ceremony was at
Wambwa on Friday but of course the other schools wanted their own
ribbon-cutting as well so we made the rounds to all the schools that
day. At Namakwekwe the children lined the entrance to the school and
sang as we arrived. The Ugandans have a unique talent for making you
feel not only welcome but special too.

These "before" and "after" pictures show the dramatic transformation
of the school rooms into libraries. Even those of us who worked to
build the shelves and fill them with books are amazed at the final
product.

Namakwekwe Primary

2009-06-18T18:17:00.001+03:00

We finished the library at Namakwekwe by mid-afternoon today -- except for the flooring. The room was challenging with low windows on two walls but we managed to build an interesting configuration of shelves that left plenty of room for displays. The room really looks amazing with all the shelves loaded with books, posters covering the walls, and the wall map and globes on display.

Of course we had lots of curious on-lookers again today -- peering in through the windows and standing in the doorway until a teacher shooed them away. By 3PM the team sat down for a late lunch and afterwards had time to enjoy talking to the students an even joining in on a game of netball.

Off to a great start

2009-06-17T18:28:00.001+03:00

Sorry it took me so long to post to the blog... our regular Internet shop next to the hotel is no longer there and the night we went looking for an alternate place the power was out so none of them were open. I found a place a short way down the road from the hotel so hopefully I'll have time to make a few more posts before we leave Mbale. The attached picture is a view out my window of the K.C. Hotel and is the same road where this Internet shop is where I am sitting now.

The team made it safely to Uganda -- flights were ahead of time and everyone's luggage made it! We've had 2 days working on the libraries and we are on schedule -- shelves built and books loaded at Wambwa and Mbale HS. The women put as to shame by completing the book sorting hours before the bookshelves were ready at Wambwa. Today we found our rhythm and had the bookshelves finished in record time. This afternoon we went over to Namakwekwe Primary to get a jump start on tomorrow's work. Looks like we'll finish up there in plenty of time.

Everyone is tired but we are having a great time. We've had some time to meet with the school children and of course they are hanging in every window watching us as we work so there is always time to exchange greetings and see their smiles.

Off to dinner now so hopefully I'll have more to share soon.

Murchison Falls

2008-06-23T20:50:00.001+03:00

On our last day at Murchison Falls Park we stop at the top of the falls on the way out of the park. Just the sound of the water surging through the narrow gap in the rocks makes you feel the power of the Nile here. This is a perfect photo spot and I take full opportunity to get some good Kuk Sool Won poses captured in front of the falls.

Chimp Tracking

2008-06-23T20:39:00.001+03:00

On Saturday morning half the group gets up and leaves camp at 5:30am to go Chimpanzee Tracking. We load into a van in darkness and travel 75 minutes back toward the entrance of the park to the chimp preserve. As daylight arrives, the 8 of us split into 2 groups and march out into the forest in hopes of getting a glimpse of the chimps. Within about 10 minutes we hear loud chimp noises and within the dim light of the trees it feels as if we are surrounded by them. Our guide stops us and as we sit quietly a few of the chimps go across the path about 30 yards behind us. We continue on into the forest seemingly leaving the large group of chimps behind us. But the guide has circled us around in place to view the 3 chimps continuing on their journey to a common feeding place. He explains that the male chimp is the leader of a group of about 8 chimps which is just part of the overall number of about 100 chimps that live here. These subgroups are often formed based on their dietary preference and apparently this group favors the bitter fruit found in this area which looks like limes but has an orange flesh. They litter the ground which means the chimps don't have to do any climbing to enjoy their meal. As we head further into the forest we leave the path and the guide spots our three chimps sitting and feeding on the fruit. As we sit and watch more chimps arrive. Some of the chimps are as close as 15-20 yards away and we soon learn how fortunate we are to have gotten this close. A voice calls out over our guide's radio -- the other team has been walking all this time and has barley seen any sign of chimps so they request help finding our location. By the time they arrive the feeding chimps start to walk off. Our trek is just about over so we start walking back. Our group shares our experience with the other one and we realize just how lucky we were to be in the right place at the right time.

PICTURE NOTE: The forest was too dark for a good picture of the chimps with my little digital camera so the picture above is actually of a baboon mother grooming her baby!

Safari

2008-06-23T20:35:00.001+03:00

The dirt road leading to Red Chilli camp at Murchison is bumpy and it makes typing on the small XO keyboard even more difficult. We frequently encounter groups of baboons along the road. They move to the side of the road and watch us suspiciously as we pass. When we get into camp we see it is a warthog hangout -- Pumbaa and family are sleeping in the shade beside the tents and eating the grass.

The camp obviously caters to Mzungus as the restaurant menu has burgers, spaghetti, and hot dogs. Most still take the opportunity to enjoy some local specialties like the ginger soda called Stoney or Bitter Lemon soda called Krest.

After a 6 hour ride from Kampala we unpack, grab a quick bite to eat, and jump back into our vehicles for a 4 hour safari ride. We take a ferry across the Nile river where there are hippos lurking just under the surface of the water. As soon as we cross the river we start seeing wildlife including a multitude of antelope-like creatures whose names I have yet to understand from our guide. We spot a lone elephant and groups of Cape Buffalo taking mud baths. We also see quite a few Crested Cranes which is the national bird of Uganda and this is somewhat surprising to me since I thought they were reduced in numbers so much so as to be rarely sighted these days. We come upon a group of Giraffes and everyone is mesmerized by their slow graceful movements and beautiful coloring. After a while the presence of these animals gets mundane and the group wants to see something really spectacular. Our driver gets a call and he turns the vehicle around and speeds off in the opposite direction. We see another vehicle carrying the other half of our group parked on a sloping hill covered in high grass. As we approach we spot the lions they had phoned our driver about. We follow the older male of the group as it walks along before finally settling down once it decides we're not much of a threat. The females and younger male move quickly through the high grass so it's hard to get good pictures of them. Now the group has set their sights on finding a leopard but our guide informs us he has not seen one of these in quite some time.

If this is Thursday, this must be Bat Valley

2008-06-22T15:20:00.001+03:00

Today we make our final school visit which is to Bat Valley Primary. This school has been in turmoil because the buildings originally belonged to Indians and there is a possibility that they may be returned to them. Enrollment has dropped from over 3000 to about 800. The teachers seem somewhat down and a few of them ask how they can come to the U.S. and teach at our schools. Still, they are very proud of their library and they say that enrollment is increasing again.

Namirembe Primary School

2008-06-19T08:05:00.001+03:00

On Tuesday we visited Namirembe which was the site of the very first library. We spent the day singing and playing with the children. I got a chance to demonstrate some Kuk Sool Won which was a bit difficult to do because the children pressed in so close I had barely more than 2 feet of room to move in any direction!

Mbale to Kampala

2008-06-19T07:57:00.001+03:00

After a week in Mbale we have completed the two libraries, attended the opening ceremonies, and met with the children. Our work here is done and it is time to visit libraries from past years in Kampala. I'm tired because of the early start today and from our football (soccer) game against the staff and students at Namatala Primary. But the sights along the road keep my attention so I don't want to sleep. There is rarely a section of road that isn't lined with shops or houses. These are built from rough bricks made from the local red volcanic clay soil and most have tin roofs. Some are built entirely from mud and wood poles. For as many buildings as there are standing there are equally as many only partly constructed. Piles of the clay bricks can be found everywhere. The buildings are constructed only when there is money to pay for it so they go up slowly. Some foundations have been sitting for so long the surrounding plants have taken them over.

The shops are easily identified by the brightly colored advertisements that span the front of the buildings. The product names like "Sleeping Baby" seem silly but there are ads for the familiar international brands like Coke as well as some National brands like Uganda Telecom.

People line the streets either walking or on bicycles. The bicycles carry more than just people and are usually overloaded with bunches of bananas or sacks loaded with food or charcoal. And yes, the people often carry heavy loads on top of their heads as they walk -- I see a yellow plastic water container on top of a woman's head that easily weighs 50 pounds. There are animals everywhere -- mostly chickens and goats but occasionally a cow. The chickens roam free but the goats are usually tethered by one leg to keep them from wandering too far. Each house invariably has banana trees or corn or both growing around it. Having left Mount Elgin behind us, the terrain is mostly flat and since the buildings are only a single story high you can see for quite a distance. It is green everywhere. Trees and native plants cover the ground where there are no cornfields or bananas. Occasional spots of color -- usually yellow but also purple and other colors -- are found in flowering trees or bushes.

We pass a school where the girls are wearing bright pink uniforms. I wonder how they keep them clean because most of the children we have met have uniforms that are tattered and dirty. In pictures these uniforms often appear in good condition but when you meet the children face to face most often you see they are not.

Our van seats over 20 and we are fairly cramped with 16 passengers, 3 drivers, and all the luggage. The smaller "matatus" which are minivans used as the primary bus transportation easily surpass this amount of cargo. Every square inch inside the matatu is filled with people, packages, animals, and any other thing that might need to be moved from one place to another.

The sun is beating through the window on the ride side of the bus where I am sitting. It's hot but with the window open there is a cool breeze that keeps it from being too overwhelming. There are stretches of road where my nose is not assaulted by the smell of smoke coming from the charcoal cooking fires but for the most part this is a constant element of the trip.

The larger towns are identified by the presence of a few tall buildings and the building space spreading out away from just the side of the main road. The individual market stalls selling their produce must compete with supermarkets here. As we reach the outskirts of Kampala it is quickly evident that this is a modern city with millions of people as the high-rise buildings come in to view, the people are dressed in modern clothes, and we get stuck in modern traffic jams.

Mbale Secondary Opening Ceremony

2008-06-19T07:52:00.001+03:00

Early Monday morning we joined the staff and students at Mbale Secondary for their own library grand opening ceremony. Later in the day we played football (soccer) against neighboring Namatala Primary where we won the game 2-1. That makes the LOL undefeated in football having tied Mbale Secondary 1-1 earlier in the week!

Pearl Haven Church

2008-06-19T07:45:00.001+03:00

The team attended services at Pastor Okumu's Pearl Haven church. Now this is what I call an energized service! With the chorus singing and dancing everyone in the congregation was in constant motion. Even Pastor Okumu joined in on the dancing at the children's service!

Ugandan Time

2008-06-18T21:40:00.003+03:00

They have a saying here in Uganda that when you schedule a meeting with somebody don't expect them to show up then since that is when they will start thinking about the fact that there is a meeting. We refer to this lack of timeliness as "Ugandan time" and the locals guestimate that you should expect someone to be about an hour late (or you should tell them to show up an hour earlier than you want)!

It is Wednesday night and my blog posts currently only cover thru the previous Saturday. So consider me on Ugandan time and that I am starting to think about posting about subsequent days. It may happen soon or then again, maybe not.

A Short Retreat

2008-06-18T08:12:00.001+03:00

The team traveled to Sisifi Falls on Saturday at the invitation of Dr. Patrick and his wife and family. It is such a beautiful site and with the waterfall, tropical plants, tiki hut, and landscaping I can only describe it as a tropical paradise much like one might find in Hawaii. We walked to the base of the falls, enjoyed a BBQ lunch, and learned of the many medical missions that Dr. Patrick has led. It was such a great way for the team to relax and unwind for the day. We hope to make it a regular part of our itinerary for the Libraries of Love trips.

We Made It!

2008-06-14T18:10:00.001+03:00

It's Friday and after three long days of work the libraries are mostly ready for the grand opening celebration today. As we arrive at North Roads we find carpenters working on replacing the glass in the windows and electricians are wiring up the light fixtures that haven't been in use for quite some time. We later learn that the school was told by the local utility that it owed money and so the power was cut off until it was paid. We find hope that the electricity will be restored soon when we learn that the school commission is considering paying off the balance.

The room we had previously used for woodworking is cleaned of all the sawdust and now contains tables and chairs to facilitate the ceremony. The start is delayed (but this is to be expected here) until invited dignitaries arrive. We are happy to see that the P7 grade (all 500+) of them have been invited to attend the ceremony and they start filing in to fill the back end of the room and surround the walls outside.

The speeches are long and the customary protocols make the ceremony drag on but it is clear that many Mbale officials understand the importance of this library and of the need to support this kind of project. Pastor Okumu who has been so instrumental in ensuring the success of the libraries this year reminds the government officials that more can be done to support us -- that customs taxes we were forced to pay on the pencils and other gifts for the children is simply not acceptable and not conducive to encouraging future projects. Our leader Trudy Marshall reminds everyone that the library is only a tool and that is must be used properly to be truly effective.

After the speeches are over we are served a traditional Ugandan meal including matoke of course! We are in a hurry to eat because we have another appointment at Mbale SS today.

Meet the Children

2008-06-14T17:57:00.001+03:00

A special day is in store for everyone as we prepare to meet all the school children at North Roads. By grade levels, the students march into the large room we used for building the bookshelves and sit down to hear the message of our mission here. We talk, sing, dance, and hand out gifts for them. Before each student leaves he or she is given a pencil, sharpener, rubber (erase), and a book of their own to take home and read.

Since some of the grade levels are too large to fit in the room at one time we end up doing almost ten presentations. After that much singing and dancing we are tired but we still inspired to deliver our message to each new group that arrives.

We later learn that the classes for the remainder of the day are pretty much useless as the children are too distracted by their new gifts to pay much attention to their teachers!

The next day it is evident that our gifts are appreciated as it is easy to spot children around the school sitting and reading their new books.

Welcome Home to Mbale SS!

2008-06-14T17:46:00.000+03:00

Our second library this year is in Mbale Secondary School. The room for the library is huge and one end is already covered with bookshelves which were refinished by our Ugandan friend John and are in beautiful shape. We are greeted by Geofrey, an administrator at the school, who is very enthusiastic about the library. We quickly realize that the desks that fill the room need to be moved in order to have enough space for us to work. Everyone joins in the task of stacking up the desks to clear sufficient space. The boxes of books are marched into the room by more friends and the girls immediately start loading up the existing bookshelves. After some quick measurements the guys start building new bookshelves to fit the long wall. In no time, three new are in place and ready to be filled with books. As we get close to filling them we realize there are too many books left to fit (a good problem to have!) so we decide to build one more bookshelf. The next day the team creates an assembly line and shifts all the books over by one bookshelf. Once that task is accomplished we move on to the decorations -- posters and bookcovers that adorn the wall and that complete the look of the new library. Geofrey gladly joins this task and scrambles over the stacked desks to place some posters on the walls opposite the wall of long bookshelves. Later as we sit to catch our breath and admire our work, Geofrey tells me that many years ago this room had bookshelves but they were stolen by looters during the previous period of fighting in Uganda. Tears come to his eyes as he sits in almost disbelief at the new library that has appeared before his eyes.

A Day in the Life of a Mzungu Volunteer in Mbale, Uganda

2008-06-12T21:45:00.002+03:00

My watch alarm goes off at 6:30AM but I'm already awake because daylight has arrived and with it the people and animals have begun to stir and the air is filled with the noises of their activities. I get up and shower as I usually do in the mornings but here I am not sure whether there will be hot water (not today!) and there is no shower curtain so the entire bathroom floor is wet when I am done. I get dressed and put all my money -- US dollars and Uganda Shillings in a safe pocket. I keep some small denominations in another pocket to pay quickly for things like water and boda-boda rides. I also load my backpack with all the equipment I might need for the day:

- my electronics including my digital camera and XO laptop
- my mazungu supplies including deet wipes, antibacterial wipes, sunscreen, toilet paper
- various pills I might need for the day including vitamins, Prilosec, Aleve, and of course my daily malaria pill
- snacks
- a hat and sunglasses

I'm out of the room by 7AM to eat breakfast with the Libraries of Love team who despite a hard 12 hour day of work yesterday are cheerfully talking about starting in again today. I eat fresh fruit including pineapple and watermelon, some bread and butter, some juice, and some milk tea. I skip the cereal and hard boiled eggs.

We leave the hotel by 8AM either packed into a mini-van or by boda-boda. Today, Paul and I splurge and hire a motorcycle taxi rather than the bicycle one. The cool morning air helps wake me up on the short ride to the school as we make our way through the traffic of cars, motorcycles, bicycles and people walking. I can't help but notice the smell of smoke in the air. Almost all of the cooking is done via an outdoor charcoal fire and those fires seem to be going constantly. When I ask my driver how much for the ride he smiles and says 10,000 Shillings. I laugh and then he says 1,000. I know that any Ugandan would pay about 300-400 Shillings but I happily hand over 1000 knowing the ride was worth every bit of the 70 cents I've given him.

I am greeted by the boy monitoring the gate at North Roads Primary and it occurs to me that every Ugandan I have encountered this morning has greeted me warmly -- the hotel staff, people I walk by in the hotel or on the street, and especially the school children. I head to the new library to see the progress we've made so far and am greeted by name by the many Ugandans who are helping us. As I walk through the school yard I get lots of stares and sometimes hear "Mazungu!" as I walk by. As soon as I turn to them and smile I instantly receive a beaming smile and sometimes a laugh in return.

Having already worked for the entire day before, everybody knows their tasks and immediately sets in to work. We anticipate the needs of each other and so a hammer or drill driver is exchanged often without even being asked. Ugandans and Mazungus work side by side creating a library that will serve as a small oasis of learning in a country where checking a book out of a library is a rare occurance.

As we work, the school children watch us, peering through windows, hanging over handrails, standing in doorways. When they are out of their classrooms on break there are so many of them watching it seems that we are the main attraction at the zoo. They enjoy shaking my hand and often find it funny that I will do so. Sometimes when a major event occurs like a truck arriving to help move supplies, there are hundreds of children gathered around. As I walk through their midst and they all reach out to shake my hand or touch my arm I suddenly get the feeling I am a celebrity being surrounded by fans. I know their interest is mainly becaue I am such an oddity in this place but still the experience is quite moving.

As it becomes afternoon we take a break for lunch. Today we have samosas which are like triangle shaped egg-rolls filled with meat and onion, chapati which is an egg-based flat bread, and sodas to drink. Some of the guys have a ginger soda and I try a bitter lemon soda that reminds me very much of Fresca.

As we have mostly completed the work at North Roads we pack up our equipment and jump into the back of a pickup truck to head over to Mbale Secondary to get started on the library there. An administrator there welcomes each one of us and asks our names. Later in the day I will seem him across the room and he will yell out my name and wave and ask me how I am doing. The room for the library there already has some bookcases so the girls get right to work loading them up with books. After a short planning discussion the guys start building the standard large bookcase they have made 3 of already. Soon all the wood is cut and we have assemble 3 of the 4 bookcases we've planned. We take a short break and enjoy some milk tea and some laughs from stories that quickly turn silly due to our tiredness.

The guys take a break to play some basketball with the Ugandans. Basketball is not a popular sport here but they do have a court albeit with a rocky dirt one A couple of them have obviously played before but one has not and he is hesitant to join in but plays with enthusiasm nonetheless.

We head back to the library and help the gals with the book sorting. It looks like we may need the 4th shelf afterall but we have finished and amazing amount of work so should have no trouble getting it done on time.

It is already 8PM and shortly thereafter our driver arrives to take us back to the hotel. I head to the room and wash up quickly since dinner is already waiting. We learn that the power is cutting off frequently at the hotel due to power shedding. We eat dinner by lamps and enjoy a real treat tonight with goat, rice, potatoes, and a wonderful curry vegetable dish.

With the power out there is no chance of using the Internet cafe tonight so I head back to my room and open up the XO laptop to write down the days events in hopes of sending it off to family tomorrow. As I prepare for bed I restock my backpack supplies and set out my clothes for the next morning. I hope tonight that my body has adjusted to this time zone and I will sleep through the night rather than waking up three or four times during the night.

As I lay down in bed I realize how tired my body feels but how energized my spirit is from the work we are doing. I look forward to the next day and pray we are able to finish everything we have planned since I know how significant a difference it will make in the lives of the children that have touched my hands and my heart.

The Reason for Our Visit

2008-06-12T21:38:00.001+03:00

The best reward we could ever ask for is the smiles on the children's faces. They are ever curious about us and our work so we are watched constantly. They love to have their pictures taken and to see themselves displayed on the camera screen. At North Roads the uniform for the girls is an orange dress with a blue striped sock (go Gators!) and the boys wear a white shirt with blue shorts.

Time to Work

2008-06-12T21:23:00.001+03:00

The guys are greeted by stacks of 14' sanded and stained lumber which they will turn into bookshelves. They are challenged by the fact that the room wbere the lumber is cut is far away from the new library room forcing them to move the generator (required since there is no electricity!) to first cut the lumber using a saw and then again to assemble it using an air compressor nail gun and drill/drivers and screws. Further issues with both the generator and compressor cause some delays but all obstacles are overcome and the shelves start going up. All of this activity is observed by the students who are so curious that the give up their playtime to crowd around and watch the bookshelves being assembled

The gals are greeted by a room that is much smaller and darker than anticipated and is full of the boxes of books that must be opened, sorted, and placed onto the bookshelves. Due to the shortage of space, many of the boxes must first be moved out of the room to provide enough area in which to do the sorting. Undaunted, they complete the Easy Reader and Fiction books and get the initial sorting done for the Non-Fiction books.

The last of the work is completed after the sun has set using a floodlight that requires delivery of a second generator to get working. By 8PM the team is happy to see the mini-van that returns them to the hotel after a long but gratifying day of work.

Welcome Home to North Roads Primary School!

2008-06-12T21:13:00.001+03:00

The team arrives at our first school and greets the children. This picture of the student assembly should give you an idea of what 3800+ students gathered together looks like! After a brief tour of the room that will house the new library the team is introduced to the students and then we go straight to work!

Going to School in the Morning

2008-06-12T21:06:00.001+03:00

After a nice breakfast including fresh fruit and Corn Flakes, the team headed out about 8AM to start on the library. All along the road kids were walking to the school which has over 3800 students. Paul and I rode "boda-boda" bicycle taxis while the rest of the crew packed into a mini-van.

More from the K.C. Hotel

2008-06-12T21:01:00.001+03:00

Here is my bed (mosquito netting included) and the view out my window. As evidenced by my priior blog post I had a successful visit to the Internet cafe located in the same building complex as the hotel. They had difficulty getting me set up on a system with a USB port that also had a working network connection but I eventually was set up and finished my post in the alloted 20 minutes for 300 shillings (the equivalant of $1 per hour). Everyone turned in early -- about 8pm -- Monday night after the long journey. Many reported waking up in the wee hours wide awake since we haven't adjusted to the new time zone which is 8 hours earlier than CST in the States. I slept OK considering the noise coming from the convention being held at the hotel and the dogs barking at night and roosters crowing in the morning.

I'm Still Here!

2008-06-12T07:16:00.001+03:00

Just a quick note to let you know I'm fine and everything is going well here in Mbale. With the long work hours and the power shedding (power goes out) I haven't been able to use the Internet cafe so haven't been able to post. It's 7AM here and breakfast time so I need to go eat but I've got plenty of stories to pass along and hopefully will have a chance to do that later today.

Welcome Home to Uganda!

2008-06-09T19:53:00.001+03:00

We finally arrived in Mbale at 1:45PM local time on Monday. Even though many of the flights into Chicago were very late and three of the group actually missed the original flight to London, we all ended up together on schedule in Entebbe. Unfortunately, the luggage for ten of the group did not arrive! It likely won't get to Uganda until Wednesday and who knows when it will get to us in Mbale. This was not entirely unexpected so everyone had extra clothes and supplies packed in their carry-ons.

During the four hour mini-van ride from Entebbe to Mbale I sat window-side and took in all the sights (that is, when I wasn't cat napping!). The countryside is quite beautiful with rolling hills covered in many trees and other plants and quiet often with picturesque homes. The road is lined with homes and shops and people milling about. The buildings are often brightly colored and adorned with painted advertisements for products and companies I've not heard of but in a style very reminiscent of the 60s. There are plantain (banana) trees everywhere which was to be expected since I had been told that it is a main staple of the Ugandan diet served steamed and known as "matoke".

Our hotel is quiet modern and the building is fairly new. I'm sitting here in the lobby as our dinner is being prepared in the hotel restaurant (chicken and french fries tonight). Trudy ordered matoke so I got to try some -- not as bad as everyone was making out -- the groundnut sauce is very much like peanut butter and the plaintain has a texture very much like boiled potato. The combination is very thick and hard to swallow.

We start work early tomorrow and will work until late but I still hope to have some news and pictures to post.