Bobbing for Apples and Pumpkin Seeds

I know I know I know...you all think that I have simply ran away to another country and just forgotten about you, but that could be further from the truth! I will leave this short (I feel like I always say that) and just give you a few snippets of what's been going on, as I woke this morning at 4am to reach Kampala and it is 12.30pm now and I have only had 2 cups of coffee, a fruit leather thingy, like 4 cubes (size of dice) of mango, two fingerfuls of peanut butter and a bite of a nutrition bar. Although that seems like a lot, it has put me in to a frame of mind where work is not priority in my mind...food is! So anyways, now I am lost, I do not know what to say, other than I am going to put a few pictures on here now. Honestly the highlight of the past few weeks was the election though! Such an incredible experience. I had spent it with a number of other volunteers, watching and staying up and it was a surreal expereince to see so many faces identical, tearing up and a look of star-struck awe in their eyes! Unbelievable! Anyways remember these few sites to check out if you really miss me:
http://danielkoza.blogspot.com/ <
http://biology.science.oregonstate.edu/
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=617-045 <
http://www.cheese.com/ <
So again no new lengthy letter from me, but here are a few snaps which I have deemed significant over the past few months...

Hot Water Bath: Well coming back from town one evening we got caught in torrential rain, got soaked and rather muddy...My first though, I am going to boil some water and soak my feet in it for some 20 minutes! Aww, luxury I tell you...
OBAMA!: Sharing a congratulatory coffee and cheers with Brett, we took to the morning with broken sleep to the screams and cheers of President-Elect Obama taking the stage for his speech! Imagine if the opposing side had succeeded...these coffees might have been replaced with some other sort of stimulant?!

My Onion Harvest: Harvesting my onions with one of the village children Salif, we uprooted, gathered, cut the greens and began to dry the onions in the sun! So in total: my carrots were amazing but not enough, my onions were amazing and could still probaby have more, and my tomatoes failed! Next year maybe an apple orchard?!

Ugandan Halloween: Lisa and I spent Halloween evening teaching Agnes' family about Halloween and carving pumpkins. Although they thought we were crazy at first they definitely enjoyed!

Pumpkin Seed Roasting: Teaching Agnes' family abouy roasting the pumpkin seeds! So earlier in the day at my college I had the staff-or at least those willing to take a leap of faith on me-at lunch participate in 'Bobbing for Apples.' Let me tell you that the sight of a dozen grown Ugandan men laughing and playing bobbing for apples was an amazing sight! I only wish that I had had my camera with me!

Bugs Jackfruit and Carro

Dysfunctional Carrots: So the 100+ tomato plants perished (I was able to harvest about 30 green tomatoes before they rotted), and the onions are doing amazingly well, but my carrots, although a good harvest, were clearly too close to one another, so a few of the bunches turned in to this...
Stoning of Stephen: In our Guidance and Counseling Office (to-be) this piece of art? educational material?...I don't know...was come across. Maybe Stephen did something terrible, but this is a clear example of still to this day means of retribution...Scary thought...

Bugs on the Nile: Don't really know what this is, but maybe if you do then let me know. This was a bug that I found just down at the source of the Nile...

Inservice Lectures 2: This was a photo of me and my students from my second stint of Inservice teaching.

Jackfruit Bigger than my Head: The title says it all.

Munchin' Grass and Burn Piles

Donkey Eats Grass...I Eat Grass: Found this guy just hanging out in a soccer field eating some lunch. I had yet to eat lunch, so decided I'd sit with him for a chat and partake in some nutrients.
Postman at Work: Here at our fine Postal Uganda in Kaliro, our PostMaster George is hard at work...

Burn Piles: My first burn pile, and a terrible one at that, was still quite a joy. Here we have a friend Simon and myself admiring the work...

TASO at Bumanya: Escorting an HIV/AIDS group from Kaliro, here we have a Doctor from Taso Jinja instructing some of the locals on proper use of ARVs.

Life: Waiting to depart to Bumanya, one of the typical sights: A man carrying a large oil bin (sans the oil) to somewhere?

The World I call Home II

Music Students Cultural Dances: Although a few months ago, the students of NTC, Kaliro for their practical exam produced cultural song and dances, and I was given the privelage of sitting and watching it all. Although just being students and partaking in these activities for a mark to pass school, they all performed incredibly well and this was more than an eye-opening experience to the rich and deep cultures of Uganda.
Bigger than Art: An art student of NTC, Kaliro tries to decide how he is to arrange the lot of his art in order to show to the community his gracious talents.
Passing By: The view between two taxis passing by...
Gizmo and I: She refused to eat the ground nuts, but I still made a mess of my back porch, littering the ground with the shells of the tasty little morsels.
My Two Other Roommates: These two, currently pictured here on my table, not sit on a couple of shelves just near. Sculpted by an NTC, Kaliro student, the man in the foreground is entitled 'Man Taking Local Brew' while the other is titled 'Gorilla Eating Bana.' Although beginning to crack a bit due to the heat and many other factors, these are two notable figures in my home and I am sure if you were to visit, they would great you with their amiable poses!

The World I Call Home

Me and My Library: Sitting here in the NTC, Kaliro Library, I am filled with joy being surrounded by so many resources whether a classic novel or a volume of literary journals on some out-of-this world bird. Unfortunately the condtion of most of these books include feasting silverfish and mold, while the ceiling above my head would be pouring water all over if it was not for the pleasant day outside. Even with these resources though, the majority of the students lack a(n) understanding/reason to use these books...one of my tasks for these next years is to prove to these communities how lucky they are to have such a facility and to motivate all to take these resources by the reigns.
My Daily Walk: With my home just behind me and Gizmo meowing for me to return, I walk myself to work (not more than 500 meters) through towering trees and maize fields to find myself welcomed ever-so-warmly by the NTC, Kaliro community.
We Know We Look Good: Greg and myself find ourselves 'forced' to sit behind the families of the bride and groom at an introduction ceremony (a ceremony to introduce the bride and groom to the community prior to processing to the church for the official marriage) in Kaliro. Both wearing formal Busoga garments, and of course being bazungu, there are definitely more photos than this one circling around the town of Kaliro...
Me and My Work at IST: At our technical training in Kampala, I stand here with my proposed project to create a Guidance and Counseling Office at NTC, Kaliro. This project stems from desires by students and staff-prior to my arrival in Kaliro-to develop a Guidance and Counseling Sector to focus on HIV/AIDS awareness amongst a number of other topics.
Not Even Phased: I did not know this photo was taken (Thanks Lisa Robbins), but upon seeing I became amazed at the types of things that are no longer shocking...What other time in my life might I by non-chalantly picking my finger nails (or whatever) I am doing while a truck of armed-personel speed by...

Reporting: Bagisu Circumcision—Imbalu—Sends Boy to Manhood

Pre-Circumcision Procession: These boys—having been through hours already of processing—are making their last leg through the village after having been doused in yeast by the elders before they garner their last ounce of strength and courage to survive their fateful date with the elders to become men.

Jubilation Streetside: As the majority of the ceremonies are going on within the village on the opposing sides of this road, many of the village peoples are celebrating—with no end in site—by cheering on the candidates and consuming beverages with all their neighbors. This gentleman—one of the elders—carries this horn with him, and as a ceremony has come full-circle, with a boy having been circumcised and becoming a man, will blow the horn announcing to the people this event.

The Strength and Courage: Having just gone through a public circumcision with hundreds of villagers around, this young boy has just begun his journey to becoming a man. A condition of this ceremony is the strength and courage of the boy must be higher than one could ever imagine. By this I imply to you that to gain the highest respect and appreciation from your family and community, one must remain nearly motion and emotionless. Each candidate receives a 'percentage,' rating how well they showed strength, and courage, therefore each blink of an eye, each tear, each wince, each swallow of saliva and each little motion reduces this percentage...

Wisdomed-Tailor taking Local Brew: This elder sat, and spoke to us as we relaxed taking a bit of malawi bringing to the scene an outstretched-hand from the past. This old tailor was filled with story, after story, after story, in Lugisu unfortunately (though I was provided with rough translations), as the Imbalu processions passed by.

Bazungu Shrine

From Left (Muzungus): Tim, Greg, Me

Atop the Bazungu Shrine just South of Iganga on Nenda Hill
Our Journey to this location began with 8 individuals crammed in to your average sedan and ended with an amazing view from atop this shrine. These children as well as others from the adjacent village journeyed with us to the top.