A Week's Journey

It’s Sunday night, and I am exhausted! This past week...today especially...has been jam-packed with hustle-and-bustle…late nights and early mornings! Let's see...The week started off good… but with exhaustion in the air simply because of Sunday’s graduation excitement. Then Tuesday came, and all us PROMETRAns journeyed back out to Buyijja forest… arriving late in the night. The next morning (Wednesday) I awoke bright and early to the sound of a rooster cock-a-doodle-doing in the brisk morning air. After enjoying breakfast, it was time to venture into the thick of the forest. First thing first...I was designated a garden plot. It is part of Buyijja forest school that all new trainees manage their very own garden plots and grow whichever herb/plant they desire. Well since I am volunteering with PROMETRA and will be visiting Buyijja every week as an observer and partial trainee, I am to abide by the rules as well! So a few PROMETRAns gathered around to instruct me on how to build and manage my own garden plot…the Ugandan way. At first I was skeptical but then realized...I am in the middle of a Ugandan forest learning about the life of traditional healers...why not embrace it and TRULY experience every part! :) So I began plowing my little garden! Two PROMETRAns joined in shortly after to help. It was definitely hard work… but also made me feel good to know that slowly but surely a garden will manifest and be sustainable after my departure. I'm still not sure the herb/plant I will grow...I'll keep you posted! So after the initiation of the garden plot, the traditional healer classes began. I observed different classes from the previous week...still having more to observe this coming Wednesday. After the day ended, us PROMETRAns drove quietly back to Kampala…arriving late…thankfully not as late as the previous Wednesday. Then came Thursday and Friday…good days at the office...full of editing scripts and bringing in my outside perspectives. Friday evening Zurah taught me how to make Matooke...yum yum yum! It is one of the staple foods here in Uganda....bananas cooked in water and oil with veggies and curry! :) Mmm Mmm Good! I then cooked it by myself (not too bad…hehe) Saturday evening after arriving back from Kampala City Center with Zurah...we had shopped a little in the packed markets of Nabukeera Plaza. That day I experienced my first ride in a mini bus taxi! These mini bus taxis are simply everywhere...a main way of transport...along with boda bodas. It was a fun experience...just a little bus that carried about 10, if not a few more, passengers...weaving through traffic as though it owned the rodes :) And lastly to describe today...Zurah and Najibu first took me to Kasubi...where all the tombs of the late kings of Buganda rest. A very spiritual place! After that, we drove to Mango (hope I spelled that right) and visited a 350 year old Tortoise (or at least the gentleman told us he was 350 years old)...he was gigantic...I mean gigantic!!! Then we drove all the way to Entebbe to walk through the zoo. There I saw…up close and personal…Uganda’s national bird the crested crane...a beautiful bird with colors that match the Ugandan flag! Then we visited Lake Victoria…oh so grand!...A massive body of water...you would think it was the ocean, if you didn't know any better! So that pretty much sums up my week! Sorry for having written a mini novel! :) So much detail…so little time! Hope you enjoyed!!! :)

Keep the spirit alive - Ann