rain and progressing work!

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Things are going well here in Kampala, our two first interviews with the nurses are done and today we started transcribing the interviews. Everyone who has been to Africa knows the special African-english accent which can be difficult to understand and in combination with a noisy public hospital environment we realised that its not always easy to transcribe. The nurses stories were very interesting and tomorrow we are going back for two more interviews. Even if nothing turns out as we plan, it still works out, but just in another way. Flexibility and patience are golden catch words here. Åsa is used after sex weeks field study in an Indian hospital (itchy itchy dear indianfriends ;-) but since we don’t spend that much time in the hospital its okay and almost charming.

Yesterday we visited Colline, a friend of Åsa from the first time she was here. Colline was one of the participants in the drama workshops Åsa and Roosa held here 2006. She is making her living by making necklaces from paper beads, very beautifu!. See the picture we attach. They are very cheap if you want to order😉 (20 kr/each). She made us some traditional local food, tomato boiled fish and matoke - cooked smashed food bananas. These bananas are big and green and not as sweet as the smaller yellow ones. Matoke is probably the most common dish in this part of Uganda.

Today Kenge, Åsas boyfriend, finally arrived from Sweden after a 48 hour trip (it normally takes about 10 h)! He was flying with Etiophian airlines and there was a problem with the airplane at Arlanda and they had to fly in a technician from Addis Ababa to fix it! (what is the reputation of the Swedish technicians? 😊) Kenge will also do his thesis (in environmental science) here, and will stay with us in the house for the rest of our time.

The last two days has been quite “cold” . People here dress with warm clothes and are worried about us when we don’t bring jumpers when we leave home, but for us it is refreshing, and are still comfortable in a skirt and t-shirt. Except for when the heaven opens to pour down rain. Then it is best to stay indoors and avoid the muddy and flooded streets! But the rain, and even the water on the ground, disappear as quickly as it comes! We hope for sun tomorrow again!

Kampala is a nice shopping city! There is something for everyone! Traditional African styles, modern clothes and a lot of very glamorous dresses! And the market for local craft is wonderful, there are all sorts of jewellery, nice wood carvings, drums, scarves and toys. It is a paradise if you like earrings, which we do 😊!

We never got to the forest we wrote about last time. Terese tried the compulsory stomach disease and was busy at home…. We hope to go there this weekend together with Kenge.

Yesterday we watched Obamas inauguration on TV, as maybe many of you at home. Obama is huge here, both because he is black and because he derives from the neighbouring country Kenya.

Tonight we are going to a nice local restaurant nearby to celebrate Kenges arrival.

Hope you all are well!

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Photos

no shelter is to small to become a fashion store!
Åsa is trying on some clothes in a tiny tiny fashion shop. The owner had en improvised dressing room behind the counter.

diabetic nurses
The nurse to the left is josephine, head of the diabetic clinic, who have been helping us with everything. She is very nice!

Victoria lake
Sunday leisure at the beach. Apparently the parasite does not attack the t had locals. We were very jelous but had to stay on shore.

Comments

[Ida]

avokadoträd!
oj! avokadoträd. det är grejer det! här i stockholm har vi lite snö vilket är skönt. annars är det mest jobb och matlåda och du vet "det vanliga". har styrelsemöte i helgen. du ser så glad ut på bilden! lovely! det är så det ska vara. sköt om er! kram ida

[Anna]

Hälsning från Onsala
Hej! Vad roligt att läsa om era äventyr! Lite annorlunda från vardagen här med snoriga näsor, gråmulet och kallt... Annars är läget bra här i Onsala och vi hoppas att allt är bra långt där borta också! Kramar från Anna, Johan och Axel

[Klara]

härligt!
vad spännande allt låter! jag och malin sitter på kåkenhus och har börjat söka artiklar till vår uppsats idag. vi tänker på er! kram från oss. ps jag beställer gärna ett av Collines halsband.

[Jasmina]

Heeej =)
Hej tjejer, tar tid och komma på hur man kommenterar här men nu hoppas jag att jag har kommit rätt! Vill bara skicka en hälsning och hoppas ni har det underbart!! Njut av värmen för mig också =) Kram

[Åsa]

Hej Tirren! Kul att se att Ugandatrippen blev av! Det verkar jättespännande! Själv har jag en degig söndag hemma i Göteborg och längat efter mer sol och värme. Hoppas att det går fortsatt bra med skrivandet. Kram // Åsa P.S. Tack för julkortet :-)