After many long plane flights, we finally made it home safe and sound. Amazingly all of our luggage made it as well. It was nice to see our family welcome us home at the airport.
We are going to miss Uganda greatly, but encourage everybody to support Conservation Through Public Health. Beth has created a facebook page for the organization and any help in making CTPH more known to the world is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading our blog and caring about us and the environment!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday August 16: Traveling to Entebbe and preparing for departure :(
We have accomplished a great deal during our three weeks here. It has truly been an amazing experience! Today we traveled from Kampala to Entebbe, only an hour drive. It's always fun to spend time with Dr. Gladys, Lawrence and the kids! We had a nice lunch and went through all the materials we are leaving with them. It is sad to be leaving Uganda in the morning, but we know that it won't be our last time here. There is still a lot to do from home to help CTPH including editing the website, creating postcards, creating posters and helping with publicizing CTPH. So in essence we won't really be leaving too quickly.
We took a short walk and found a local restaurant which served traditional food of matoke (non-sweet banana steamed in banana leaves), stew and chiapati. We entered a local market and bought some spices and tea to remind us of our travels.
It will take us two full days to return home, and will post to tell that we have arrived safely when that time comes. For now we conclude this trip.
We took a short walk and found a local restaurant which served traditional food of matoke (non-sweet banana steamed in banana leaves), stew and chiapati. We entered a local market and bought some spices and tea to remind us of our travels.
It will take us two full days to return home, and will post to tell that we have arrived safely when that time comes. For now we conclude this trip.
Saturday August 15: Final day in Kampala
Lawrence came to pick us up from the hotel, covered the gorillas chairs with material, took a photo of the wooden mother and twin gorillas and headed to the office.
We had lunch at iZone where Ndhego was evaluated for computer classes. The rain down poured but since it is dry season, it is much needed.
After that we went back to the office to complete our tasks before we leave the country. Jerri-Ann copied the videos from the video camera that we are leaving behind and Beth worked on the slide show adding words to the photos and finding some other photos from our camera. We worked until 9:30pm when we left to celebrate with Margaritas at Lotus Mexican Cantina. The food was ok, but the conversation and company was great.
We had lunch at iZone where Ndhego was evaluated for computer classes. The rain down poured but since it is dry season, it is much needed.
After that we went back to the office to complete our tasks before we leave the country. Jerri-Ann copied the videos from the video camera that we are leaving behind and Beth worked on the slide show adding words to the photos and finding some other photos from our camera. We worked until 9:30pm when we left to celebrate with Margaritas at Lotus Mexican Cantina. The food was ok, but the conversation and company was great.
Friday August 14: Hard at work
Chichio picked us up from Athina Guest House to find an ATM machine to extract more Ugandan shillings but it was not the next day in the US so we were unable to do so. We went to CTPH offices and worked on projects while waiting for Gladys. After our meeting with Gladys, Rachel and Chichio accompanied us as we went out to do errands. We searched for an open ATM and was successful, purchased colorful material for Gladys for her Animal Expo in San Francisco and ourselves, and a cardboard box for the gorilla chairs. The weather was hot and humid, so when we were finished we were glad to be back at the office and out of the traffic.
Lawrence and Beth had a brainstorming session and started a facebook while Jerri-Ann played with Ndhego.
We met Dr. Gladys's mother, Rhoda, today as well, she is a very esteemed woman and has brought Uganda a long way. She was the first woman to take a typing class and the daughter of a Prime Minister, first woman in politics. She was issued in African Woman two months ago. This months issue of African Woman features Dr. Gladys! After more meetings we all met Uncle Moses at a Thai Restaurant which was right next to our hotel. We had Thai Tea and some Pad Thai noodle dishes and wonderful conversation which lasted until almost midnight. It as a full table because we also had Rabuchey with us, Ndhego's 12 year old cousin who is here for vacation, he lives in England with his parents who just had a baby boy named Sam.
Then Beth continued to work on the slide show that she is creating for the Expo in San Francisco, until late into the night.
Lawrence and Beth had a brainstorming session and started a facebook while Jerri-Ann played with Ndhego.
We met Dr. Gladys's mother, Rhoda, today as well, she is a very esteemed woman and has brought Uganda a long way. She was the first woman to take a typing class and the daughter of a Prime Minister, first woman in politics. She was issued in African Woman two months ago. This months issue of African Woman features Dr. Gladys! After more meetings we all met Uncle Moses at a Thai Restaurant which was right next to our hotel. We had Thai Tea and some Pad Thai noodle dishes and wonderful conversation which lasted until almost midnight. It as a full table because we also had Rabuchey with us, Ndhego's 12 year old cousin who is here for vacation, he lives in England with his parents who just had a baby boy named Sam.
Then Beth continued to work on the slide show that she is creating for the Expo in San Francisco, until late into the night.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday August 13: Traveling from QENP to Kampala
Today was a travel day from QENP to Kampala. We had a few stops, one of which was for lunch in Fort Portal, and an ATM for me. We also stopped to buy Matoke (not sweet bananas used to make a traditional dish that is similar to mashed potatoes), and other vegetables before we got to the bigger towns and city. It is much more expensive to buy these items in the city and harder to come by as well.
We made it to Athina Guest House before dark, around 6:30pm but we started around 10:30am. A very long day.
Had a nice dinner, a COLD coke was never so refreshing!
Wednesday August 12: Workshop and Boat Launch
After we had breakfast we picked up Stella from the TeleCentre and went to her father's village, Hamakungo. After the introductions Stella's father mentioned education in a rural area is difficult, the government did not help open the schools, the people of the town did.
The talk centered around the health of the animals such as Brucilosis in the goats, New Castle Disease in the poultry, and Mastitis in cows. They came up with some recommendations.
Beth took a group photo and then took individual photos so that we can start the process of making them identification cards as well.
Alfonse, Stella's father, showed us the schools that go up to Senior 4. He would like some communication to help the students. It is a fishing village and it surrounds QENP and they have many problems. The lake can not sustain all of the fisherman. They need new skills to help with sustainability.
We then went to a house where we had a delicious Tilapia and soup with Chipati and something like Posho, but made with millet which makes it purple. It had a very gooey/chewy texture and not much flavor. We ate with our hands in the traditional manner.
We then had a lovely adventure on a boat launch around the Kzinga Channel where Lake Edward & Lake George connect. There are 840 species of animals there there. We saw many hippos, elephants, Uganda Kob, Warthogs, Jack Pig (rare to see), Cape Buffalo, and Crocodiles. We also saw a variety of birds such as: cormorants, ocpeckers, pelicans, Ibis, Kingfisher, Maribou Storks and more.
After that we drove to the UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) offices to say hello and go with them for a drink at the Uganda Safari Camp Lounge. We listened to scary animal stories. Gladys had a conference call and we played with Ndegho and Tendo.
We skipped dinner but had a slumber party with Ndegho, who slept through the night.
Wednesday August 12: Workshop and Boat Launch
After we had breakfast we picked up Stella from the TeleCentre and went to her father's village, Hamakungo. After the introductions Stella's father mentioned education in a rural area is difficult, the government did not help open the schools, the people of the town did.
The talk centered around the health of the animals such as Brucilosis in the goats, New Castle Disease in the poultry, and Mastitis in cows. They came up with some recommendations.
Beth took a group photo and then took individual photos so that we can start the process of making them identification cards as well.
Alfonse, Stella's father, showed us the schools that go up to Senior 4. He would like some communication to help the students. It is a fishing village and it surrounds QENP and they have many problems. The lake can not sustain all of the fisherman. They need new skills to help with sustainability.
We then went to a house where we had a delicious Tilapia and soup with Chipati and something like Posho, but made with millet which makes it purple. It had a very gooey/chewy texture and not much flavor. We ate with our hands in the traditional manner.
We then had a lovely adventure on a boat launch around the Kzinga Channel where Lake Edward & Lake George connect. There are 840 species of animals there there. We saw many hippos, elephants, Uganda Kob, Warthogs, Jack Pig (rare to see), Cape Buffalo, and Crocodiles. We also saw a variety of birds such as: cormorants, ocpeckers, pelicans, Ibis, Kingfisher, Maribou Storks and more.
After that we drove to the UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) offices to say hello and go with them for a drink at the Uganda Safari Camp Lounge. We listened to scary animal stories. Gladys had a conference call and we played with Ndegho and Tendo.
We skipped dinner but had a slumber party with Ndegho, who slept through the night.
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