Blogs from Western Region, Uganda, Africa - page 4

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Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Rwenzori Mountains June 6th 2019

Hello Bloggers and Family, We are now in Rugazi, we arrived June 4th in the afternoon and have settled in as best we can. We are staying in a dorm style facility that is part of the Rugazi health centre. It is very basic accommodation but we have clean beds to sleep in and flushing toilets, so no complaints here. Two upper year Ugandan students have accompanied us Canadian students, they have already completed their community placement. So they already know the drill and are helping get us settled for this week, which has been such a blessing. The first day we hit the ground running, I chose to go to the maternity ward. From 8am until 8pm this small clinic delivered 8 babies, 3 of which were C-sections. I was able to do a few ... read more
another view of the crater lake
impromptu hike up a mountain
the cutest hotel in the middle of nowhere...

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Queen Elizabeth NP June 6th 2019

It is noon on our final day in Mbarara, it’s been pouring rain outside since early this morning, and Rayden, Brooke, and Angela have ventured into the rain in search of an authentic street-made Rolex. I think Ugandan food has grown onto us since we’ve arrived in the country… Rolex is definitely a favourite of ours. Today, we head out to our community health placements, and boy, what a ride has it been to get to this point. I should start with pointing out a major theme of this trip: African time. Granted, this is a generalization, but this term describes the common attitude towards schedules, meeting times, and life in general in Uganda. While Westerners (especially North Americans) have a tight grip on their time and look at it as minutes and hours that make ... read more
Ukulele by the lake
What a beautiful wedding!
The Nutrition Gals

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Mbarara May 31st 2019

Welcome back, fellow traveler! I'm sniffling a bit, partly because I am just so overjoyed that you're still following this blog, and partly because I think I have a cold (mostly the latter). Where did we leave off last time? Oh yes, our rendezvous with the Michigan crew. Our Ugandan friend, Marius, had brought over some delicious mangoes and fried grasshoppers the evening prior, and we brought the little "critter fritters" over to share. I daresay the little 'hoppers weren't exactly delicious, but they were palatable enough if you didn't stare at them too hard and gross yourself out. Anywho, we didn't exactly scare the Americans off, but they have since left (ie. fled) to a week of community placements while we continue to pass the time with no fixed itinerary. Since we had a very ... read more
Warm welcomes and wedding invites
First home-cooked community supper!
Another land of living skies

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Mbarara May 29th 2019

Greetings from Mbarara! What’s new? After six days in this new city, we managed to flood our bathroom, subsequently run out of water, and get invited to a Ugandan wedding! But first things first: Mbarara is a busy and bustling city. My first impression: wow, there are so many boda bodas! These Ugandan taxis on motorcycles are as numerous as cars and are way more reckless on the road (which is saying something since vehicle drivers are notoriously reckless). They also can carry up to three passengers behind the driver or transport large bunches of bananas, parcels, or even goats on occasion. Mbarara has held nothing but surprises so far. While some things may seem similar, in reality, almost everything is different. For example, the toilets in our house: we didn’t know that the toilet handle ... read more
Enjoying a lazy afternoon at the pool
Shrimp or Grasshopper?

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Mbarara May 28th 2019

We made it to Mbarara! This past week we finished up touring in Entebbe and set out for Mbarara. We drove from Entebbe to Mbarara (about five hours) through the countryside, stopping at the equator on the way. We took our picture at the circle denoting the equatorial line and there was supposedly a display demonstrating The Coriolis Effect on water, but since it was raining we decided to stop for it on our way back to Kampala. It rained the whole drive but the countryside was still picturesque. After leaving the cities (Entebbe and Kampala), the landscape became rolling, lush, green hills and constant communities. Unlike Saskatchewan, we were never driving on a stretch of uninhabited highway for more than a few minutes. The communities were so frequently occurring that the drive was never dull ... read more
Eating grasshopper
Our first family meal in Mbarara

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Mbarara May 23rd 2019

Hello again, Ki kati! Time seems to pass slowly as we meander through the days in Uganda. And yet, looking back on these past couple of weeks, it amazes me how the days have blurred and flown past faster than a reckless boda boda driver (motorcycle taxis that we are strongly discouraged to take rides from). So here we are now, third post of the trip, and already approaching the end of May! We spent the weekend on the Ssese Islands, where we did typical "island/resort" things like sunbathe, swim, and eat delicious food. Since it is the end of the rainy season we had to wait out quite a bit of rain, but we were still able to soak up some rays (and vitamin D!) during our time there. We even went for a run, ... read more
We've crossed the line...
Time for takeout!
Snack attack: kit kat edition

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Mbarara May 23rd 2019

Hello blog world, its been a week since my last blog and I am wanting to update at least once a week, since my last post… I have been and gone to Ssese islands, we ended up going to the biggest of all the islands Bugala Island. We stayed in Kalangala at the Brovad Sands resort. It was so beautiful, we stayed 2 days and 3 nights, unfortunately the ferry to take us across from Entebbe was supposed to leave at 2pm… but we didn’t leave Entebbe until after 6pm, so it was dark by the time we reached the islands, so we just ate and crashed hard from the day of hanging out in the sun. I wouldn’t complain though as we got to lounge in the grass right on the edge of lake victoria, ... read more

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Rwenzori Mountains December 12th 2018

Repeat Hike of Karangora Peak: Hour 1: The ranger station moved from in town to on the edge of the national park. This is WAY out of the city and vehicles cannot transverse. We turned back towards town because we couldn’t believe it right. We met Richard who guaranteed us it was the other way and he escorted us (on a sprint ) to the station. · Epiphany 1: I would make a killing selling signage in this country for tourists. Hour 2: We had to hike basically straight up through people’s farmland to reach the park. People were leading cows and goats down to town; a woman hoeing a field with a crying baby strapped to her back; kids picking crops. I was dying as the elevation quickly rose and from the hot ... read more

Africa » Uganda » Western Region » Fort Portal December 11th 2018

While we have spent time in other people’s homes and experiencing a bit of typical Ugandan life, today was particularly difficult. Chan and Derek have acquired a rural clinic from the ministry of heath which employs one doctor and nurse. The hope was to provide their organizational members easier access to healthcare. However, two major problems exist: the clinic is quite a trek on poor roads and difficult to navigate in rain, second the nurse and doctor only come and open the clinic 2 to 4 times per month because the government is 6 months behind in their salaries. Therefore, people show up everyday hoping to receive treatment and medications only to sit all day and not be seen. They come everyday because they are unsure which days the staff will show up. In the mean ... read more

Africa » Uganda » Western Region December 10th 2018

In honor of my Willaert farming background, today is about Ugandan farming on the journey to the “Top of the World.” Five years ago, we tried this on bikes. We made it to the top covered in mud, drenched and couldn’t see a thing due to mist and call for a rescue. Today was more successful. Here is some information on Ugandan farming: A hectare (2.5 acres) is selling around $4,000 in the Fort Portal area (a steep increase). A large family farm is 12 - 20 hectares Families farm tea and coffee but don’t produce enough for factories to buy from them. Instead, they sell to larger tea and coffee plantations who then sell to the factorits for profit. Tea is handpicked because you only want the top 2 leaves. A machine will take at ... read more




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