Seen on the way to the office...

I'm frankly shocked he stayed still long enough for me to take his picture.

See the little guy under the bush?  There were two more galavanting just out of frame; I couldn't capture them.  The building is the old library, and Theology is still there.  My office is upstairs, and one of the large rooms has been turned into a classroom.

Just a Monday morning at UCU...  :)

Welcome to my flat!

I moved into my flat Thursday!  I'm still getting sorted out, and would like to get a small dresser and some bookcases, but otherwise, it's good to get started!

The place is small - though it looks smaller on the outside than it actually is.  I'm guessing 400-500 square feet?  Definitely no more than 600.  The bedroom windows are on the side, which is great for not getting blasted with sun.  There's still that fresh-paint smell, but the walls look great.

As you can see, the yard needs help.  I have a small plot (marked by the fence) that runs around my three sides of the building, and didn't take many pictures because it's all this sad.  Helen had a smashing idea to retain Felix to work in the garden, and she's plotting to pull up the remnants of whatever's on the fence and plant Bougainvillea (sp?), as well as have a small garden for lettuce, coriander, basil... yum!  I am highly amused that I have the brownest thumb on the planet, and now I'm going to have the makings for a nifty plot of land.  Granted, I'm not doing the work, but I'm glad Helen's thinking.

So, when you enter, the first room is the sitting room.  The first door to the right is the spare bedroom/study, the second door on the right is the master bedroom, and the third door is the bathroom.  The door to the left is to the kitchen (which should be obvious from the refrigerator in the cutaway).

I enjoy the sitting room, especially while the sun is setting, though there's no room for a proper dining set.  I think this will do just fine, though.  The furniture, art, drapes, and 'carpet' (that's what they call it - you can barely see it in the first sitting room picture) were all provided by the University.  I can upgrade as I see the need.  Helen and I are planning to remove the carpet and just go with the bare floor.

Before the curtains went up, look who was on the back door to greet me!

The spare room/study.  Yes, my hair dryer is on the bed.  

Here's a closer look at the desk - I'm so grateful Vanessa moved out the extra bed and added it.  The books here are just some light reading to tide me over until my boxes of books come.

Here's an early shot of my bedroom.  Yes, the carpet is hideous.  This is the mosquito net that the University provided, and yes, it has a skirt.  I found it difficult to get in and out of, so I've since swapped it for the one I brought.

One thing that's funny is that this is the exact pattern sheets I had when I was a student!  Helen said she picked them out for me - she did well.

The bathroom's fairly tight.  And yes, the carpet is also, umm, vibrant.  The shower curtain to the left is what the school provided, and since it's rusting a bit at the grommets, I bought the one on the right, as well as the bathmat.  I like the punch of yellow to brighten the blue.

The kitchen is interesting - aside from the color, it's small, and doesn't have a pantry.  I'm going to have to look for something to make shelves, and most of what you see is provided by the university, aside from the food, vitamins, and towels (they gave some; I bought others).

Thanks for taking the grand tour!  

Sunsets from my porch

From my time in the Honours College, I knew that my front porch (and my sitting room) would be front-row seating for sunsets, and I have been very much looking forward to this.


We're heading into the rainy season, and there was a lot of cloud cover this afternoon, so much so that I thought that there wouldn't be much of a sunset.  Boy, was I wrong.


I've had issues uploading photos, so please click here to see three shots of tonight's display.

So, Wednesday, I had flu symptoms again (fever, chills), and a trip to the clinic ruled out malaria.  The dean decided I was fatigued, and banned me from work until Monday.  Hallelujah.


I moved into my flat on Thursday!  It looks tiny from the outside, and while it's not large, it has two bedrooms (one a guest room/study), sitting area, kitchen, and bathroom.  


This morning, I went to Kampala and supported the economy by getting the basics for the kitchen and life.  Then the rod for my closet came crashing down.  Pity I can't unpack more... really.  I'd like to get settled, but the carpenter is coming back on Monday to fix the rod.


I'm having issues with uploading photos, but I'll get them posted as soon as I can.

Temperatures

It isn't often that the temperatures in my two homelands matches.  And for the record, I'm sitting at my desk, about to put on a jacket.  Brrr.

Great news!

My flat is supposed to be ready today! Vanessa tells me that I can move in on Tuesday "when the smell of paint is over."

Hallelujah! As much as I have enjoyed the guest house, I've not enjoyed living out of my suitcases.

Pictures to come once things look decent!

Let the visa games begin!

Today, I sent my work permit/visa application packet off with Peter, the gentleman that UCU uses to expedite the process.  He makes the treks to Immigration, making sure the paperwork is in order, and is where it should be.


One of the Americans told me that his fee is a bit steep, but one trip to Immigration, and you'll be willing to pay three times that.  Amen.  One thing I'm not terribly fond of is that when he was explaining his fee structure, he has "friends" in the Immigration office, and he sees to it that the paperwork is processed on time, isn't lost on a desk, etc.  While I get that this is normal business in Africa, I don't have to be happy about it. 


But let the record reflect that I'm not displeased enough to tackle this on my own.  Oh no.  Even the conversation in which he told me the different things I needed, and that he waited on campus while I got them is worth the fee, as that probably saved me two trips into Kampala.

UCU's guest house has a chef!

And he's amazing.  I just had the most fabulous dinner... and now I have to be productive?  He's only been here three weeks, and since I was so full and couldn't finish my fruit, he let me bring it back with me.  I'm in love.


I never thought I'd say this:  I had pork.  And it was fabulous.

"Do you eat grasshopper?"

This isn't the usual kind of question I have here, but it fit in the conversation.  I was in the HR office getting my appointment letter (offer letter) squared away so I can apply for my work visa, and the three in the front office were taking and early tea.


Irene shared with me some slices of her mango (OH MY), and a small banana.  This launched a conversation of whether I have ever cut a mango (yes, and badly), and the best ways to do it, and whether we have mangoes in the US, and their cost (ridiculous).  I explained that I don't like to eat pineapple, or mangoes, for that matter, in the US because I've had the best stuff here, and in the US, it pales beyond comparison.


And yes, my friend who inquired about the grasshoppers does eat them.  I don't know that I'm that brave.

Pulled to a conference

Thursday at Dean's Hour, the Dean announced that several of the lecturers were going to a conference to work on the liturgies for the Ugandan prayer book.  I went to the clinic for meds, and went to bed.


Then the Dean, Olivia, called to tell me that Rev. Omona was coming to get me.  They wanted me at the conference to help them.  Though I'm certain that they only wanted me there for my fingers and my laptop, it was an honor to be asked.  


The committee is chaired by Rt. Rev. Dr. Joel Obetia, Madi-West Nile Diocese, and there are also five canons, two priests, and me.  They committee is examining liturgies from the UK, Australia, West Indies, India, Nigeria, and Ghana for inspiration and guidance, and it's wonderful to listen to their discussions. There are fascinating conversations, such as naming ceremonies and the baptism service - the collision of culture and church.  Overall, there's a great joy and excitement at creating something that will be uniquely Ugandan, which is pretty cool.


I believe the work is scheduled to be complete in December, and published for use by Martyr's Day, June 3, so there's a bit of an aggressive timeline.  Next year is also the centenary celebration of the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, so the release date has special meaning on that front also.

Have an office! Have househelp! Have meds!

This week has been one of small victories:  


I have an office! This stuns and humbles me.  The upstairs of the old library is being partially converted to offices.  I have a small office at the top of the stairs (I think the assistant librarian's old office), and there's a larger room that other lecturers will share.  Canon Musiime told me he saw my office.  I don't know whether he has one, and he retired as the Diocesan Secretary of the Diocese of Kampala, and is a lecturer.  So, while I'm fairly embarrassed to have a solo office based on my race, it is nice.  Right now there's just a table and some chairs; when the desk arrives, I'll take pictures.


I have househelp!  Doug Fountain recommended Helen, a delightful woman who has worked for ex-pats for some time.  She will be coming three times a week to clean, do laundry, iron, cook some, and go to the market.  As she was telling me the vegetables available in the market, I never wanted a salad so badly!  She is better at cooking, and I am better at baking, so we shall be learning from each other when I am home.


I have meds!  I finally caved and went to the clinic to get meds for this "flu" that has been sitting in my chest.  I went to HR to learn how to be marked as staff, and they called to the clinic.  I filled out the staff form, and saw the doctor right away.  They've reconfigured the house a bit, and the logistical flow is much more smooth.


Of course, I've been on the meds for four days and I'm not sure how much they're helping, though it's good to know that I can go to the clinic.

"You don't think God's done surprising you, do you?"

That is the question that a wise friend posited to me Thursday night.  That statement is sufficiently profound that I am STILL pondering it.

Domestic bliss

Most people who know me now that I will never be confused with anyone who is domestically inclined.  I have a number of giftings, and domesticity just isn’t one of them.  I can get by, but that’s about it.

Thursday night, I was done walking, and didn’t want to go out for food.  So I decided to scramble the eggs that had been put out at breakfast.  That should be easy, right?  The cooker is there, the pan is there, the oil, eggs, bowl, and some veggies (onion, green pepper, and tomatoes) are in the fridge.

Except that I forgot that to work the cooker, it must be lit.  With a match.  When I was an acolyte, I loathed lighting the tapers because matchboxes and I don’t get along.  I can manage with a matchbook, but that’s it.  And what is staring at me on the counter?  A matchbox.

I managed to get the cooker into lighting mode, but it took three matches and countless attempts to get the match lit.  The match clearly has to be put close to the burner, and then it jumps with fire.  I then turned down the flame, but turned it down too low.  Like turned it off low.  Here's the evidence:

So, I did this dance three times, and the third time, I put the pan on the flame, cut up some of the veggies, threw them in, then the eggs.  I was concerned for how fast they were cooking, so I did what any sane person would do:  I turned down the flame.  Except that I extinguished it.  Again.  Fortunately, the pan was hot enough that it cooked the eggs (which are room temperature) through.

Now I’m really concerned for when I’m supposed to live on my own.  I wonder if they sell those lighting things we have that store the lighter fluid in them and eliminate matches.  If I can’t find them, I may have to acquire one or two when I come back in November.  Yes, I need to conquer my fear of close flame, but I also need to eat.

Sunrise this morning

The camera doesn't do it justice.