Getting A Taste of African Culture

Where do I start???

Kenyan Craft Market

About a week a half ago ( Sorry for all you faithful readers in my absence) I went to a Kenyan Craft market. They call it the Uganda Trade Fair here. About a 100 or so Ugandan and Kenyan craftman gather together for an entire week to sell services, clothing, jewelery and art! I went there a week ago Saturday and bought Maasi art, Maasi sandles, bracelets and earrings. I had the privilege of chatting with a local craftsman from Kenya. He had GREAT sales tactics. He first called me in, then told me about Kenya, and how I should visit there, then he proceeded to give me his business card...how could I not buy something from him??? I also had a leather key chain made by another man with the name : " Annette in Africa." It was neat to watch this man make it with a hammer, a leather piece and shoe polish!!! A great keepsake of Africa...I'll say! :)

Kakoge/ Enktangala Isn't he cute?

On Monday morning of last week, I went with my new friends Courtney and Wayland Colley to Kakoge. We were invited there by a missionary couple named Wayne and Mary. They have been living out in Enktangala for 12 years. We were asked to go up there and help to put up mosquito nets in the local villages. Every month 150 people have malaria. The mosquito nets are treated with a special formula to instantly kill the mosquitoes when they contact the nets. The supplier of the nets is USAid if any of you are familiar with that organization. We were there for 2 days and walked to many clay huts near and far. One house was so remote that it took us 40 minutes to walk there and back. I thoroughly enjoyed the villages and the people.
The people, yes, that is what I want to talk about. They were so grateful and they common sign of greeting here is kneeling at your feet. It was so touching and sobering. One lady that we brought a net to was hardly able to walk. She was quite old, but you could tell she was in pain. She still managed to stand up, walk into her house and extend her hand to thank us. It was so incredible. As I looked into her hut, I saw a torn mattress, faded sheets and scattered clothing, this woman had nothing ,but yet she was grateful beyond words. I tried so hard to hold back the tears, as to not show her my pity. :)
Another widow told us a story about how she had a lovely garden and while she was gone away for a week or so, some stray cows came in her garden and completely destroyed it.She didn't know what to do. When we entered her house, she knelt to thank us and began to choke up. I felt so helpless. What could we do for her??? Build her a fence, a strong sturdy fence. We are in the process of finding a way to finance and help her to build a fence.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience full of smiles ,laughter and impact. I learned quite a bit of Lugandan while I was there from local school children and Ugandan friends thus being able to properly greet the village people.

LUGANDAN:

Oli Otia ( Hello, How are you)
Jendi ( Good)
Webale ( Thank you)
Kale( Your Welcome)
Mukama aquay mukeesa ( God Bless You)

More Friends!

On Friday night, I was invited over to Gemma's house for pizza and a movie. I was able to meet more people!!! Do any of you know where Uzbekistan is??? Haha. Yeah. Same response. All I knew was that it was in Asia....SOMEWHERE. I meet Tamila, a beautiful green eyed girl from that country. She was spirited and spunky and her joy was contagious. I was so intrigued and asked as many questions as I possible could about her country. What was the culture like? Where did they live? What was the food like? If I were to visit, could she give me some pointers??? It was great fun! I also meet Irene, a young and beautiful Ugandan physical therapist who works at Kampala International Hospital. She was so sweet and I felt like I had known her for ages!!! I also meet Lindsay a red haired American who is here for a year! She and I talked alot about traveling and India! Also in the picture below is Karen. Karen and I become better friends every time we hang out. She is very fun to be around and is a teacher here for a year!!!





Tamila(Uzbeki) , Gemma(English), Karen and Lindsay ( American) and Irene (Ugandan)




I'll have to admit, that I took this idea from my blogging and traveling friend Suzy:

1 Number of injuries I have had since being here.
7 Number of times I have avoided being made into an African pancake by a bota driver ( motorcycle driver)
100 (feels like 140) Speed the bota driver goes before I practically yell (because of the noisy street) for him to slow down.
14 Number of African bracelets I have on my wrist
42-45 Number of mosquito nets that I put up in Enktangala the 2 days I was there.
6 Number of bags of dried pineapple I have had since being here ( my favorite snack!)
10 Number of hours I sleep at night. This country is very hot and humid and you are worn out alot quicker then in Canada. It's pretty crazy!

So the plan for next week Saturday is I'm heading to Rwanda for a week with my friend Gemma. I am hoping to see the genocide musuem!

Ok. There's my update. All my love....