Health Check-Up

I’m heading into Week 8 (out of 10) of Peace Corps Training.  My past blog entries have covered all of the big news (site announcements & visits) – and now I’m just finishing up my classes and studying for the proficiency tests.

But I figured I could give you an update on my health, since that is also a big part of the experience.

I have not had any stomach problems or diarrheal disease . . . yet.  I’m one of the lucky ones.  But one of the PCVs in the West Nile region told me that I will definitely get Giardia at least once during my service.  (*Giardia, also referred to as Traveler's Diarrhea, is a parasite that lives inside the intestines of infected humans or other animals. Individuals become infected through ingesting or coming into contact with contaminated food, soil, or water.)  My host family provides plenty of boiled water for me and we are given bottled water at the training center.  And because I don’t eat meat, I think I’ve avoided some bacterial issues there too.

I have, however, been suffering from a few head colds.  (A cold?!?!  In Africa?!?! What?!?!)  Yes, as soon as the kids went back to school, the germs started to spread.  And due to lack of hand washing in Africa, everyone gets sick.  My head cold has now turned into some kind of bronchitis, and I don’t expect to get rid of it until I leave Wakiso.  I walk 6 miles a day on dusty roads, inhaling the diesel exhaust fumes/smoke from every vehicle that passes.  I come home to the toxicity of the bug spray that my host family uses to kill the flies & cockroaches (but the vermin are somehow always still around).

I take my weekly dose of Mefloquine to prevent malaria.  This is the medication which side effects include hair loss, moodiness, hallucinogenic dreams, and in extreme cases, psychosis.  I’m happy to report that I have not had any night terrors.  :)  Some trainees have experienced the vivid bad dreams and were allowed to switch to a different malaria prophylaxis (which has other wonderful side effects).  But the medical office starts us out on Mefloquine because it is the one that works the best against malaria.

My overall health is good.  I’ve blogged about the food before and that still hasn’t changed.  I eat a lot of starches and limited vegetables each day.  I did ask my host family for apples (which are expensive and usually just a special treat) and they have been giving me an apple as part of my breakfast almost every day.  Protein is no problem for a vegetarian in Uganda.  I eat eggs a lot, beans, groundnuts (Ugandan peanuts), peanut butter, and soya (soy protein powder).

I try to sleep at least 8 hours a night (I go to bed between 8:30pm-9:30pm and get up at 5:30 am).  But there are always strange sounds in the night: a pack of stray dogs fighting, rain pounding on the iron roof sheet, motorcycles passing, very loud birds outside my window at 3:30am, etc.  Earplugs are essential for a good night’s sleep.

If you couldn’t tell from my other blog entries, my mental health is great!  I’m still so excited to be doing this.  But I’ll admit that there have been ups & downs during training – it’s an exhausting 10-week schedule, with little time for relaxation.  And some days my brain just does not comprehend Lugbara.  For those rough days, I have my iPod (Simon & Garfunkel are currently playing), my internet modem (Brad Pitt said what?!?!), and the local convenient store that sells Snickers.  YES!!!

Arua Town, Kuluva School of Nursing, and My House

When I signed up for the Peace Corps, I knew without a doubt that it was my life path – a calling, if you will.  Everything in my life aligned perfectly to give me this opportunity.   And when I heard that I was being placed in the West Nile region, I was nervous and concerned – mostly because I was headed into the unknown and the current PCVs have a tendency to exaggerate their stories a bit.  But I knew in my heart I was going there for a reason.

After spending a week in Arua and at my site, I can assure you that it is the PERFECT place for me!!!  I’ve been talking to other trainees around the country and it sounds to me that Arua is one of the nicest, cleanest cities in Uganda.  It’s a lovely small town with paved roads, tall trees, and enough stores to buy everything I need.  The Kuluva School of Nursing is very successful and I can't wait to start working there.  The staff was so welcoming and friendly – I immediately fit in.  And my house has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen, with electricity and running water (shower & toilet!).  I feel that I am the happiest Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda.  :)

Here is the breakdown to answer all of your questions:

Arua Town

• The 8-hour bus ride is a straight shot from Kampala on a paved road the entire way.  (I heard horror stories from other volunteers going to the southwest region and driving along rocky/dirt roads, buses breaking down, and driving on the edge of steep cliffs.  Aaaa!)
• Arua is a small town with approximately 55,000 residents.
• The town is very clean and well maintained – we met the mayor and he told us about the “beautification program” he started in an effort to improve the city.  He’s done a fantastic job, and I’m definitely going to volunteer during clean-up week in October!
• There are several supermarkets (for when I need some chocolate) and also the LARGE outdoor vendor market, where I can practice my bargaining skills in Lugabara.  Ha ha.
• Last weekend we discovered the best restaurants in town: good Ugandan food, an Ethiopian restaurant, an Indian restaurant, and, of course, a hotel that serves American food (burgers & pizza).

Kuluva School of Comprehensive Nursing

• Kuluva is a tiny village outside of Arua.  There is not much there – just a few market stands.
• My site is actually 6 miles from Arua Town and there’s no public transportation.  So I’m going to get a bike asap.  It’s going to be a good workout going to town, but there are also shops all along the main road; so I won’t have to do the full 6 miles there & back every time I need to buy something.
• The Kuluva School of Nursing was established in 1985 and is a nonprofit institution owned by the Church of Uganda, Madi and West Nile Diocese. 
• The hospital compound is 80 acres and contains the hospital (which is numerous small buildings/wards), the nursing school (about 10 small buildings) and all of the staff houses.  So my neighbors are the other teachers and my supervisor.

• My supervisor, Anne, is a kind & generous Ugandan woman, who is always smiling.  I think she is in her late 50’s and is well respected in the community.
• My counterpart, also named Anne, is from England and has been living in Uganda (with her husband) since 2007.  She is doing missionary work, as a teacher, and will be staying until 2013 – same as me.  I believe she is also in her 50’s and doesn’t speak a word of Lugbara.  *English is the main language in the school and in town.
• After getting a tour and speaking to both Anne’s, we decided that I would be best suited teaching social psychology (I minored in sociology), management communication (my BA is in communication), computer/technology, and I can also do some lectures in palliative care with my massage therapy background!  And because I have several years experience in government office work, Anne (my supervisor) is excited that I can help with school administration office work.  I think this is my dream job!

My House

• As I said before, it’s a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house.  But remember – these are Uganda standards.  There are no closets; the floors are concrete; the shower is just a showerhead over a drain in the bathroom floor; there is no refrigerator or appliances.  But by Ugandan standards, it’s a nice house and I’m so happy!  (Pictures will be posted after I’m settled in.)
• I do have electricity and water . . . most of the time.  There is no place in Uganda that has power & water 24/7.  The hospital compound generates it’s own hydroelectric power from the dam nearby.  But during the dry seasons (twice a year), the water at the dam is low and the power fails.  And I will have to carry jugs of water from the borehole to my house.  It’s just the way of life.
• The internet modem I bought for my computer will work at my house . . . most of the time.  It’s not 100% reliable and Skyping may be difficult.  I will try to find the spot with the best reception.
• The house is in a wooded area on the top of a hill and the view from my front porch overlooks the Congo.  AMAZING!

 

I feel so fortunate to have great living conditions and a wonderful job.  And as for the West Nile region, I get the best of both worlds – a house in a quiet rural setting and access to town is just a bike ride away.  :)  I love it.

P.S. This is one of my neighbors!

I'm in Africa.

Up until this week, my only exposure of Uganda has been Kampala (the capital) and Wakiso (the small town where training is).  It’s been an urban experience full of traffic, pollution, and crowds.  The 8-hour bus ride to Arua was the first time I got out of the Kampala district and saw the rest of the country.

Uganda’s countryside is stunning.  I watched the landscape change from the populated districts to lush, green forests; then to rolling hills; then to tall grasslands across the horizon.  This country is absolutely beautiful.  We crossed over Karuma Falls and caught a glimpse of the raging waters.  And then, as we approached the Nile River, we saw a group of elephants grazing on the prairie.  And that’s when I truly realized that I’m in Africa.

SITE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

 

(Me and the country director for Peace Corps Uganda)

 

When I got my Peace Corps invitation back in June, my assignment said ‘Community Health – HIV/AIDS Prevention.’  Well, it turns out that’s not quite right.  HIV education is definitely a big part of public health in Uganda, but there are 4 other major sections: malaria prevention, nutrition, water sanitation, and health management information systems.  So . . .

My official job with the Peace Corps is a Health Instructor at the Kuluva School of Nursing!!!  The nursing school is part of Kuluva Hospital, which is about 4 ½ miles outside of Arua.  After talking to my program manager, I found out that they’re looking for someone to teach technical/computer skills in the healthcare setting, as well as organizational/structure skills.  How perfect is that?!?!  :)  I AM SO EXCITED!!!  (And yes, if they have computers, then they have electricity!)

My group is leaving tomorrow to go to Arua – it’s an all-day bus ride.  We’ll be there for one week – I’ll get to tour the nursing school/hospital and hopefully see my house!

Homestay

I’m sure you are all wondering about the host family that I live with.  Well, for those of you who haven’t talked to my mom, here’s the info:

I live with a family of 5: Goodwin (husband/father), Agnes (wife/mother), Lillian (19 year old daughter), Zippola (12 year old daughter), and Obed (7 year old son).  They are very accommodating and are familiar with this experience – they hosted a Peace Corps Trainee last year (Ryan).  And everything I do, they compare it to Ryan – it’s kind of funny.  But my family really likes me because I don’t go out drinking . . . like Ryan did.  (They don’t drink alcohol either.)  So they are very pleased when I stay in and study.  Goodwin also likes the fact I want to watch the news and see what’s happening in the world.  (They have cable tv! . . . well, when the electricity is working, which is 5-6 hours a day, usually during the morning.)

Anyway, Goodwin is a delivery driver and drives all over Uganda (I think he delivers cosmetics or something to stores).  He leaves at 5:00am and comes home around 8:30 pm.  Agnes does not work – she stays at home with the house girl, Helen.  They cook and clean all day – remember: everything is done by hand!  Lillian is going to vocational school for fashion design.  I talk with her a lot – her English is excellent.  Goodwin speaks English very well, and then the rest of the family can speak simple English.  Zippola and Obed just started the fall semester of school.  They are very energetic and fight each other occasionally.

My bedroom is next to Zippola and Obed’s (they share) and everyone else is on the other side of the house.  There is a bathing room inside (basically a concrete room with a drain), but the pit latrines are outside (like an outhouse).  The entire property is a compound, with locking doors on the outside gates.  Helen, the house girl, has her own room in the compound and Goodwin just finished adding another room, so he can rent it out.  There is also a cooking room, which has several charcoal fire pits.

I’m very happy with my homestay.  They provided me with a desk & chair and a rack to hang my clothes.  (There are 2 steps that go down into my room, so that’s why the pictures have a downward angle to them.)  They give me hot water every day for bathing and a lantern for when the power goes out.   My family is very tolerant of my vegetarianism (meat is expensive anyway) . . . although my grazing-style eating habits confuse them.  Ha ha.  But we’re getting along just fine.  :)