Email 4
Email Number 4
Kampala, Uganda
March 2, 2008
Hello Everyone,
We are well, and hope you are also.
We have been here a little bit more than a month, and besides things like the heat, the more than occasional lack of power and water, we have no complaints, but rather, much to tell you – about our accomplishments, challenges, and lots of funny little experiences, so without further delay, let us begin, (in no particular order).
Peter’s Luganda skills, both speaking and even writing are improving every day. He carries a little notebook everywhere and each day writes down a new word or two. We don’t know who likes it more, Peter, or the Ugandans, but both are very impressed. (Peter has always been good at picking up languages, and everywhere we go he can get along in at least the basics, if not more. On that note, we want to share with you an email from a work colleague which will once again show you how well we get along here and how much we like Ugandans, and they us: “Hello beautiful guys,
just love you guys you make the world go round for quite many. Be blessed”
When you see the accompanying photo, you will better understand this story. Especially in the poorer areas of town, milk is delivered in bulk by bicycle – not pasteurized. As the milk can begins to empty, the delivery person stops at whatever water source is nearby and “tops it up” – we are sure you understand. Needless to say, this added water could come from any sources (including open drains and the like), and is an important reason why so many children get sick. We are not kidding – this is a very serious problem along with other just as serious sanitation problems.
In our last blog, we told you the story of a young woman who is quite ill and who lives in one of KCCC’s patient houses. She is 18. Her name is Jacqueline. She has AIDS and a very serious case of TB which must be brought under control before she can receive ARV therapy for her HIV/AIDS. We have put a photo of her here, and even though she looks very sick, and she is, she is beginning to get better. We and others on the staff have been getting her food and encouraging her to take her meds and get stronger, and it may be working. We got her a thermos to keep her juice cold. She has been up and down, but those of us who are helping are determined to save this one girl’s life. It will not solve the bigger problems, but we say that “if you save one person, you save the world”. We asked you to help by donating a little money to start an emergency fund for people like Jackie, and so far we have raised a couple of hundred dollars. It will go a long, long way, but more money will go a lot further for Jackie and others like her.
We have been working very hard – long hours at least from 8 a.m. to 7 or 7:30 at least 3 days a week and the other 2 days we work from 8am to 5pm, and while it tires us, it is ok, we will only be here until mid May. Hinda is really doing a great analysis of the problems and some recommendations for the medical clinic. However, the only real solution is more space. Both of us participate in long meetings with the management staff, they are not terribly efficient but we can only help them so much, and when we ask to be excused because we may not know about a particular issue, we are asked to stay and contribute. We feel respected and wanted. Peter is still busy working with the fundraising staff, and has kind of become the staff photographer and is working with other staff to put together a slide show while teaching them how to do it. And of course, both of us are always pulled away to handle fires that crop up, the latest of which is getting the office internet provider to keep the internet up and connected.
If there is power there is no internet – when the internet comes, the power goes away.
A couple of days ago when we came home we were excited to see that the power was on and we did not have to be in the dark, but we were informed by one of the house workers here that the “water was over, but would be coming back tomorrow”. It did but we feel like we can’t win, either power or water but not both!
The papers tell us that in the month of March the “power shedding” will affect our area as follows: 11 days no power, 10 nights no power. So is this new? No, just normal. Last night there was no power and no streetlights, this morning there was power, and the streetlights were on.
The other day, the E.D. picked up Peter’s local newspaper and asked if Peter was finished reading it and was told yes. He then looked at it briefly and commented that there was nothing good about it, and if the locals don’t like it, then why should the foreigners?
For those of you who have lived or traveled to countries like Uganda, you know that most of the clothes that most of the people wear are second hand, although they look like new. Everyone dresses in clean, starched and pressed clothes every day, and many of them do not have running water, or power, (ever)! In addition, Ugandans are the friendliest most polite people we have ever run across.
While the cost of some things are high, some things are still inexpensive: Hinda bought a house dress (used) for $7, and today, Peter got a haircut, including tip for $3.50.
By the way, lots of people here are rooting for Barack Obama – wonder why? (we are too)
So, we will come to a close for now and wish you the best.
With love and hugs
Mr. and Mrs. Katende Peter
Kampala, Uganda
March 2, 2008
Hello Everyone,
We are well, and hope you are also.
We have been here a little bit more than a month, and besides things like the heat, the more than occasional lack of power and water, we have no complaints, but rather, much to tell you – about our accomplishments, challenges, and lots of funny little experiences, so without further delay, let us begin, (in no particular order).
Peter’s Luganda skills, both speaking and even writing are improving every day. He carries a little notebook everywhere and each day writes down a new word or two. We don’t know who likes it more, Peter, or the Ugandans, but both are very impressed. (Peter has always been good at picking up languages, and everywhere we go he can get along in at least the basics, if not more. On that note, we want to share with you an email from a work colleague which will once again show you how well we get along here and how much we like Ugandans, and they us: “Hello beautiful guys,
just love you guys you make the world go round for quite many. Be blessed”
When you see the accompanying photo, you will better understand this story. Especially in the poorer areas of town, milk is delivered in bulk by bicycle – not pasteurized. As the milk can begins to empty, the delivery person stops at whatever water source is nearby and “tops it up” – we are sure you understand. Needless to say, this added water could come from any sources (including open drains and the like), and is an important reason why so many children get sick. We are not kidding – this is a very serious problem along with other just as serious sanitation problems.
In our last blog, we told you the story of a young woman who is quite ill and who lives in one of KCCC’s patient houses. She is 18. Her name is Jacqueline. She has AIDS and a very serious case of TB which must be brought under control before she can receive ARV therapy for her HIV/AIDS. We have put a photo of her here, and even though she looks very sick, and she is, she is beginning to get better. We and others on the staff have been getting her food and encouraging her to take her meds and get stronger, and it may be working. We got her a thermos to keep her juice cold. She has been up and down, but those of us who are helping are determined to save this one girl’s life. It will not solve the bigger problems, but we say that “if you save one person, you save the world”. We asked you to help by donating a little money to start an emergency fund for people like Jackie, and so far we have raised a couple of hundred dollars. It will go a long, long way, but more money will go a lot further for Jackie and others like her.
We have been working very hard – long hours at least from 8 a.m. to 7 or 7:30 at least 3 days a week and the other 2 days we work from 8am to 5pm, and while it tires us, it is ok, we will only be here until mid May. Hinda is really doing a great analysis of the problems and some recommendations for the medical clinic. However, the only real solution is more space. Both of us participate in long meetings with the management staff, they are not terribly efficient but we can only help them so much, and when we ask to be excused because we may not know about a particular issue, we are asked to stay and contribute. We feel respected and wanted. Peter is still busy working with the fundraising staff, and has kind of become the staff photographer and is working with other staff to put together a slide show while teaching them how to do it. And of course, both of us are always pulled away to handle fires that crop up, the latest of which is getting the office internet provider to keep the internet up and connected.
If there is power there is no internet – when the internet comes, the power goes away.
A couple of days ago when we came home we were excited to see that the power was on and we did not have to be in the dark, but we were informed by one of the house workers here that the “water was over, but would be coming back tomorrow”. It did but we feel like we can’t win, either power or water but not both!
The papers tell us that in the month of March the “power shedding” will affect our area as follows: 11 days no power, 10 nights no power. So is this new? No, just normal. Last night there was no power and no streetlights, this morning there was power, and the streetlights were on.
The other day, the E.D. picked up Peter’s local newspaper and asked if Peter was finished reading it and was told yes. He then looked at it briefly and commented that there was nothing good about it, and if the locals don’t like it, then why should the foreigners?
For those of you who have lived or traveled to countries like Uganda, you know that most of the clothes that most of the people wear are second hand, although they look like new. Everyone dresses in clean, starched and pressed clothes every day, and many of them do not have running water, or power, (ever)! In addition, Ugandans are the friendliest most polite people we have ever run across.
While the cost of some things are high, some things are still inexpensive: Hinda bought a house dress (used) for $7, and today, Peter got a haircut, including tip for $3.50.
By the way, lots of people here are rooting for Barack Obama – wonder why? (we are too)
So, we will come to a close for now and wish you the best.
With love and hugs
Mr. and Mrs. Katende Peter
posted by Peter and Hinda Schnurman at 10:23 PM
1 Comments:
My dear papa Peter and mama Hinda
You are the most beautiful people in the world, I love you both so muchhhh, I wanna meet you again as soon as possible.
Please take care of yourself and kiss each other for me :)). You are always in my heart.
Love and hugs
Your daughter from Turkiye
Aylin
PS: I hope your boys dont mind it! :))
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