One Geek

I got a lift with Ian and Tash most of the way there, and caught a Pikie(Motorbike) the remaining distance down a small dirt road. I felt so white going through the back roads of rural Uganda. It also felt really good though because I had the wind in my face, the cool morning and the very beautiful country side. I arrived in time for the last hour and a half of a four hour church service at the PAG. I was made to introduce myself, except I neglected to mention my name, where I was from, or what I was doing there (OPS).

I had lunch with Sharon(the Manager of the project) and the chairman. It was quite nice to sit and talk and eat.

After lunch I took my leave and went to the “Divine Mercy Guesthouse” for the rest of the day. I thought I would be really intelligent this time and stay in a slightly more upmarket place then where they put me last time. The room was small but OK, except that the interior plumbing wasn’t functioning so I had to go to an outdoor bathroom. The staff also sat in the corridor between the rooms and seemed to talk all night. On the upside though I did manage to get breakfast and dinner there which is more then I ever managed at the previous place.

I was ready for three days of work when Monday morning came around. I ended up leading devotions with a message I stole straight from a book about the 4 people bring the man who was paralyzed to Jesus. I ended up talking about needing to have enough love and creative to work around the problems you are facing. (Look later for the irony in the message).

I had brought some new equipment (Voltage regulator, power boards, fixed UPS and good power cords) and set about getting everything ready. By about 9.05am I was all set and ready to go, but the managers who’s office the equipment was in was busy in meetings. About 10.20am she was free and I go the go ahead, but to run the generator they needed to buy more fuuuel. Why they could not have fuel on hand I do not know, anyway it was about 11am by the time the generator was running. In the mean time I got a second hand donated computer setup with an old monitor they had. The monitor lead for the newer monitor was missing. The first time the same group only sent the monitor with no computer, ops.

The UPS was not functioning correctly but everything else was working pretty well. I decided I’d try and get the printer running. This was all well and good except I forgot that the laser printer draws a lot of current and I ended up stuffing the voltage stabaliser. So they shut down the generator while I worked on option. I then worked to remove the old dodgy two pin European plug that didn’t sit properly in the Universal power sockets they use here with a brand new plug I brought in Kampala. However in the office they didn’t even had a screw driver and side cutters. Eventually I had some pliers with a cutter, and a screw driver so I set to work. Once I was ready to go we had to wait for a staff member to get back to start the generator.

Then once the staff membered started the generator it slowed down to a halt within about 10 seconds. One of the dodgy fuel intake pipes had broken off. It was now 1pm, and I’d only gotten to do 30-45 minutes of work. The manager and I went off for lunch at the church where I decided it was time to get the hell out of dodge. I discussed with the her and eventually got her to agree to let me go. She was disappointed, as was I but I couldn’t stand the idea of another two wasted days in the middle of nowhere. I promised to work on a proper solution to the power problem.

At about 4pm the generator was fixed and so I got 1 hour of training people in. I then worked to get the printer going again, except every time the computer started the power flickered on and off. Without a working UPS the computer just rebooted killing the print job and frustrating me. Around this time my driver arrived to pick me up and I left.

I didn’t really end up doing as much as I would of liked for my partner organisation in Kaberamaido but I did introduce two people to computers, and an accountant to Excel.

I must say that the more I travel, the more I am saddened by the level of racism and sexism that exists.

There is so much resentment of Indians, and Chinese in Uganda.
And for a country with so many women managing day to day operations of organisations there is still a lot of sexism too.

After being delayed in Kampala for a few days due to car troubles, I eventually caught a special hire(Taxi) with Ian & Tash’s friends to MBale. It ended up costing us 200,000 shillings which is about $126. On the way we stopped off at a supermarket and I was nearly blown away. It’s amazing how quickly you forget how good and big supermakets are.

With the delays in Kampala I ended up delaying some of my work on my presentations for the workshop on the Thursday(6th). Ian who was meant to be doing half of the presentations ended up stuck waiting for the car in Kampala and missed the workshop. So suddenly I had to prepare the entire workshop myself. During the day I had to prepare, I was also entertaining Ian and Tash’s guests. I was a little stressed that day.

When it came time to do the workshop the sessions on power, file organisation, Excel, Powerpoint and Word went pretty well. I really needed to a week or more of sessions, but I am happy with what I fit in. I would of loved to go more in depth and to split participants into smaller groups or individuals (I had three groups of 5 people), but with no one to help run the sessions I couldn’t really do so.

My favorite session was Excel, where I made people use Excel as a planning tool.

The funniest session was the Word Q AND A session where I didn’t know how to do half the things I was asked, (OPS).

After the workshop I relaxed for a few days before moving on to Kaberamadio.

City of treats and delight. What a horrible place to have an upset stomach.. It’s been good to have some R & R and catch up on some work related shopping.

In other news I am hopeful that I have unhacked my Blog now.. But we shall see…

Well here I am in the fantastic Kaberamaido, off the power grid, no phones 2.5 hours down what was once a good road and is a dirt track. This is a place that has had its infrastructure destroyed by war. This area has only been at peace since 2005. I am visiting a project here, that is quite good. Great people.. Anyway better get back to it the generator is expensive to run.

Today has been quite relaxing. Went to a pool in the afternoon and then a sweet sixteen party, and then a 30th birthday party. Having fun hanging with Ian, Tash, and Tash’s friend Lauren.

I’m a bit up in the air about what is to happen next week. I am meant to be visiting a project somewhere else but I haven’t received any contact back from them. So I will see what happens in the next few days.

test.

Aren’t they cute..

Hello, How are you? I am fine!
Hello, How are you? I am fine!
Hello, How are you? I am fine!
Hello, How are you? I am fine!
Hello, How are you? I am fine!
Hello, How are you? I am fine!

Is a very fun game the kids in the village I briefly visited today played. I love it, the children in the villages are very innocent and rather fun. They were so excited by the presence of the project people, and me the white man (Muzungu). They kept on yelling out photo as well. So I got over my dislike of white people taking photos of villages, and indulged them by taking some photos.

People here remain remarkably friendly and proud. It’s taken me longer to really notice the poverty here then in India as people hide it well near the towns.

I have meet many great people here, which has been nice.

Well I’ve made it to Mbale, after a 5 and a bit hour bus ride in an African bus. Whilst it was relatively safe, it certainly was not comfortable.

I am staying with some funky people here in Mbale, they are TEAR Fieldworkers. I am so thankful to Ian for meeting me in Kampala and showing me around. It made the whole experience so much easier. I probably would of been $300 poorer right now if not for him..

Get to visit the project tomorrow which should be interesting. Still not sure exactly what I’ll see there..

In Kampala I stayed at a funky backpacker resort that was fun, but a bit of an ex-pat central.

I’m here, it’s good.

Don’t have that much of a feel for the place yet. The city is a strange mix. Haven’t really processed it much yet.

Leaving the Kampala tonight for Mbale.

Internet on the train to the airport…So damn good and cool..

Even better received an urgent email using it.

Weird… Just checked schedule and it says the flight is direct and leaves at the scheduled time.

Just found out my flight tonight leaves at a different time and is via Rome.

Note that my flight to KL was via Brisbane and I wasn’t told about that either.

Love is a four letter word. Just like ….