Pictures in town

Let me continue up the hill from the last picture in yesterday’s post.

Koboko looking north, 2 blocks from the main road

I do not have to go a whole block for there to be a big difference in Koboko.  This street is paved.  There are still some tookels (left side of road) but it is mostly shops now.  The first bukiye (boo-key-ah, 6) shops on the right all grind cassava to make flour.  They also have other things like beans.  Sorry, I should have taken the picture before I crossed the street so you could have seen the shops.

Yesterday I showed you one picture 1½ blocks from the main road (looking west towards Small London).  Now let me turn and face north.

Koboko Tuesday market

It was Tuesday when I took these pictures, which is one of the market days.  A couple of the downtown blocks have shops around the block and a large open space in the middle.  These open spaces are for the market.  Two adjacent spaces for the Tuesday/Saturday market, and in separate block, a space for the everyday market.  This is the Tuesday/Saturday market, lower entry (1½ blocks from the main road; the upper entry [not photographed] is 1¼ blocks from the main road).

Koboko looking north, 1 block from the main road

On the left and out of the picture is a gas station.  There are mure (moo-ray, 2) more straight behind me on the other side of the street.  Like services tend to be grouped; however, there are exceptions.  The buses are not running right now due to CoVid-19 restrictions; however, there are musala (moo-saul-ah, 3) bus companies all together here operating out of the currently closed shops in the picture.  About 1½ blocks down, on the left, is the entry to the everyday market (not photographed today because I continued to the main road and then to the supermarket).  This post is getting long and data intensive with musala (moo-saul-ah, 3) pictures already so I will continue tomorrow.

Pictures in town

I walked into town Tuesday with my camera.  I made the round trip in less than mure (moo-ray, 2) hours instead of the normal musala (moo-saul-a, 3).  I was sweating when I made it home as a result; there is value in taking your time.

I shared pictures of Small London in another post a week ago Sunday, and pictures along the way to Koboko on Thursday of last week so let me pick up the journey as we come into Koboko and turn around to look at where we just were.

Looking west towards Small London, part of western division, Koboko

In the center of the picture there is a dirt road that branches off to the left.  It can be seen again at about ¼ of the way in from the left.  It continues up the hill moving left from time to time.  The top of this picture is where the hill’s incline becomes more gradual.  The top is just a little further and this branch road goes beside the house the Ray’s rent when it does reach the top.  I am gele (gel-lay, 1) block to the left and gele block back down the hill (towards us but off the picture).  The main road “straight” ahead goes to Small London’s center and the pictures from a week ago Sunday.  The picture of tookels was taken when I was on the dirt road just before where the pavement begins.  I was looking towards the left side of this picture, but you cannot see the tookels now because I am to far up the hill on the downtown side.  There are also tookels on the right side, behind the store fronts along this street.  This picture is approximately 1½ blocks (sorry I do not know how to say fractions in Kakwa yet) from the main road (from Aura).  Let me go back to some pictures I took coming up this side of the valley.

Koboko looking north, 3 blocks from the main road

The main road in Koboko (from Aura, to Oraba) is a mostly north (to Oraba) / south (to Aura) road.  I am walking along the road to (okay I am coming from) the region of town called Small London.  This road is musala (moo-saul-a, 3) blocks from the main road and it runs parallel.  Just beyond the future shops being built on the right you can see a tookel.  There are lots more on the left just beyond the future shops being built on that side.  There is power in this part of town.  It does not reach to where I am staying, yet.  The lights of Koboko are not that many, mostly stores, as witnessed by the musala streetlights along this mukana (moo-can-a, 5) block stretch of road (the second is mid-way and the third is at the far end).  Do not worry, I do not go out after dark, no reason to.  Sometimes I do look out at the lights of town and at the stars which are easier to see with so few streetlights and those 1¼ – 1½ km away. 

I will continue up the hill (to the right of the picture) in tomorrow’s post.

Animals

There are a variety of animals around Koboko; however, I have also noted the absence of some.  When the wet season arrived, people started preparing their gardens.  Several have since planted corn.  Eventually my thoughts got around to ‘do you have problems with the squirrels eating it?’  Then I realized, no squirrels.

I have seen signs of several animals (or the animal itself).  Geckos (I don’t like their pooping habit but that is minimal, and they do eat mosquitoes), field mice (only one has tried to visit my place and we chased it away), ducks, and various birds.  Some of my neighbors raise ducks, which I find to be surprising since they do not have a water source for the ducks.  Still they can raise them just like and along side chickens.  Chickens are typically allowed to roam freely so they can gather their own food.  My neighbor’s chickens visit periodically which I do not mind because they eat ants (including termites).  They are welcome to any ant that ventures onto this property.

Other animals I have seen neighbors raise in their yards are goats and cows.  I frequently see young boys taking the cows (and the goats) down the street to an open area and tying them to a fence or a clump of grass to graze.  These are status symbols.  They can also be part of the dowry that a future husband has to pay to the family of his future wife.

Unlike India, I have not seen any monkeys.  They may be around, but not in Koboko.  Other animals that I know are around but not in Koboko are Elephants, hippos, and other large game animals.  There are preserves in the country that many tourists visit (obviously not currently).  I have not been there.

Pictures in Koboko

I was asked if I could provide pictures of town.  Yes.

I took these as we walked back from the radio station on the south side of town.  The guide was showing me some of the roads and trails (short cuts) I can use instead of always going to the main roads.  As a result, I did not enter downtown on this trip (future blog entry).  These pictures are in the Bugutu region of town.

Koboko ahead

The radio station is on the right and just behind me.  Ahead of me on the right (behind the compound wall) is the mayor’s office.  Ahead and on the left (behind the sign and the trees) is the hospital.  Just beyond the hospital, still on the left, is the police station.  A new gas station is on the immediate left.

Bugutu region

One block off the road from Aura, still looking north.  The back side of the hospital compound can be seen on the right side of this picture (compound wall behind the trees).

Bugutu region

Two blocks farther down the hill, still looking north.

On the radio

Today the prison ministry team* was on the radio.  We were the team asked to lead the worship service for the 3^rd Sunday in Easter (26 April 2020).  The Arch Deacon for the Church of Uganda, Koboko region, presided and I delivered the message.  The scripture was Matthew 25:31-40, which includes the famous verse on visiting those in prison (verse 36c).

* A portion of the prison ministry team was present; however, we could not bring everyone.  I am happy to report the team is larger than 5.  Unfortunately, the current group size limit (per CoVid-19 restrictions) is 5.  We were not able to bring a new member who would like to join the prison ministry team; nor could we bring back previous members of the prison ministry team that have been inactive and have expressed renewed interest.

Part of the CoVid-19 restrictions is a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.  As soon as the curfew lifted, we began our walk down Urya road into Koboko.  (Unlike the US, we can’t use vehicles during CoVid-19 restrictions – it was allowing too much movement resulting in group size violations and social distancing violations so it was restricted to medical use under the direction of the district health officer.)

Spirit FM, 104.5 Koboko is on the South side of town, next to the main road (to Aura).  We were expected at 7 a.m. so we could practice the songs one more time and go over how things would work.  At 8 a.m. we were ready, thinking we were due in the studio for our 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. service on the radio time slot.  Someone forgot to tell us the news comes at 8 a.m. and we were immediately afterwards.  Here the news is 10 minutes if there is little, 15 minutes if there is a lot.  No commercials, no stay tuned for news about …  They just do it and they are done.  We moved into the tiny studio at a quarter after and began with praise music.  I wish I could offer you a link; however, Sprit FM web presence is a Facebook page.  Since I did not know about and therefore have not paid my social media tax, I cannot access Facebook.  I do not know if there is a recording out there or not. 

Just like we do in the prison, we do not translate the songs or the prayers, everything else is offered in both languages, English and Kakwa.  Even with pausing for translation, my message was 27 minutes.  That will sound long to those of you in the US; however, here the standard is 40 minutes without translation.  I new radio time was limited so I aimed for 30 which turned out to be exactly what they wanted me to do.

Those in the studio with me said it went well.  We also received favorable comments as we walked through the Bugutu region and Small London regions of town.

Trees

I became familiar with mangoes and papayas in the Peace Corps in 2002.  Sure, I had them before then, but that is when I saw them growing on the tree and knew them as something other than some exotic import in the supermarket.  To my surprise, I have not taken a picture of a mango tree yet.

Papaya tree with fruit

This 10-day old picture from my back porch shows several types of trees.  (I am happy to report progress has been made on cleaning up the yard since this picture was taken.  It is a work in progress; not ready for a new picture yet.)

Starting on the left, there are two teak trees, one inside the fence, one outside.  Teak has been planted by various people because it is a fast-growing tree.  It is also resistant to termites, so it becomes the builder’s friend when looking for wood, whether it is poles for the roof structure of a tookel or for cutting (see the chain saw post) beams.

Inside the fence (yard) there are banana trees.  There are at least four varieties and I am not sure which one I have.  Some banana trees are tall; however, a lot, including full grown trees, are short like these.

There are still a lot of trees I do not know, including those to the right side of the picture, inside the yard.  In the background, across the creek, there are pine trees (variety unknown).  They were probably planted because they are growing in rows.

Banana tree that is taller than a person

Some trees are big enough for climbing. R**** is our climber. I do not know what kind of tree it is.

We do have palm trees.  Locally it is called a woki tree.  I have been cautioned not to stand under it because it is that time of year when the fruit falls (something like a coconut but not hollow and no milk).  It takes the fruit a full year to grow so new shoots with next year’s fruit are already appearing and the trees have not finished producing this year’s crop.

Here is a close-up of a mosero tree.  There is also one in the left center of the picture from my back porch (beyond the creek but before the pine trees).  Later in the wet season it will produce more leaves.  Currently it is mostly flowers.

Mosero tree

Animals

Thank you for your questions.  A couple of you asked about animals, one was specifically asking about dogs and cats, so I am going to start there.  I will come back to animals next week to talk about non-household pets.

There are a couple breeds of dogs around, but only a couple.  I have been told which ones, specifically but I do not remember.  I do remember that German Shepard is not one of them so the dog the Ray family has is unique (for the area).  Dogs are frequently outside household pets.  Especially at night.  It helps deter those who would wander at night.  Dogs are generally feared although a couple of my neighbors have dogs that come to me to have their ears scratched.  We do not have many who wander at night in our area.  The CoVid-19 curfew may be part of it.  I think the near-by divisional offices and the homes of local leaders have something to do with the security of the area.  Also, several neighbors do have dogs.

There are also cats.  The Ray family cat, huntress, lives up to her name.  She is good at finding field mice and eating them.  She likes to play with them first, dare them to try and escape, then she bites their legs and dares them again.  When she gets tired of the game, she kills them and eats them.  Huntress also likes to have her ears scratched.  Huntress lives in the house and roams the yard freely. 

Going to town

Lately I have been walking to Koboko and back. It usually takes me about 3 hours, in three relatively equal parts.

Walking to town.  I have explored three routes now.  I probably will not use the route closest to my house very often.  The road goes down to trail size and crosses a creek and then comes up to a cross street which ties in to one of the other routes I take which ultimately joins with the third route, the road to Small London, to cross the river.  I have been taking about an hour to walk the 1 ½ kilometers to where the supermarkets are located.  There is no hurry under the African sun, just wear a hat and go slow to keep from getting your yourself too hot.

Tokels in West Division, Koboko

I meet many people along the way, so I get lots of practice greeting in Kakwa.  Some, particularly the younger grade school kids, greet me in English.  “How are you?”  After answering, the same person asks the same question. Obviously, that was how they practiced in class to make sure they would remember, but with no discussion on needing to ask, and be answered only once.  I cannot go beyond a Kakwa greeting and response unless the conversation is specific to something I already learned – with no variation in the wording.  When walking, people understand and do not expect anything more than a greeting. 

Most of my trips have been solo.  My first trip was with Asoni, a local who helps the Ray family.  He was learning some computer skills before I came (typing), but the online tutorial was available on a “sometimes” basis.  I was able to find in my backup files, the computer skills materials I wrote 10 years ago in India.  Now he is studying computer skills with me.  He showed me around town.  It is different on foot than by vehicle.  I had time to “see” things and I am beginning to know where some types are shops are located as a result.

We do not greet everyone when I am with Asoni or with the Rays.  I still have not learned who to greet and who not to greet so I end up greeting far more frequently when I am alone.  Greeting brings good will.  Not greeting can be perceived as ill will.  I prefer to err on the side of greeting too much.

I take my time going through the supermarket and / or market.  I do not know what they have and do not have yet.  It also leads to more interaction in the everyday market.  Several times I have gone back to the same stalls of the everyday market the next day because I did not see an item I needed and after I came home I was told where (which vendor to visit) to find it.  The “shelves” are packed tightly, and it is easy to overlook an item.

I have a knap sack.  If the purchases fit, then I carry them home myself.  Most of my trips to date have involved getting kitchen and household set-up items.  These can get bulky when I find more than a few items on my list.  One of the watchmen / guards for the Ray family is a boda driver when he is not working for the Ray’s.  If he is available, I call him, if he is not, then I hire one of the boda drivers that is waiting near the market to transport the items back home. Boda drivers can not take passengers during CoVid-19 restrictions, so I walk.

I tried bringing back my plastic bags to reuse them; however, with the CoVid-19 concerns the sellers want to use a new bag every time. 

The trip home is much like the trip into town, lots of greetings.  Sometimes I take one of the other roads just for variety.  One of the routes takes me through Small London.

Small London looking east

Laundry

Praise God missionaries in general are expected to ask for and hire local help.  It’s our place in the social structure.  It is part of my budget.  It means I don’t have to learn how to hand wash everything.  (I know how to hand wash some things because I did it when I went to Jamboree; but I don’t have Woolite here.)  It helps give me time to work on preparing for mission work, it gives an income to the neighbor, and it my increases community interaction.  Each community interaction is an opportunity to learn something in the local language and / or something about the local culture.

This week my laundry was done on Tuesday instead of Monday.  It was mostly dry Tuesday afternoon when I came back from shopping.  It was just beginning to rain.  It can be on the horizon and half an hour later it can be here.  It takes about 3 hours to walk to town, shop, and return.  I was able to get the laundry in before it was soaked.  Sometimes our rain can be heavy.

I tried to put the few damp items (sox and a towel) back out today.  Guess what.  Two hours later it rained.  Fortunately, I was home.

Currently the laundry hangs on the wire fence.  I got the idea by looking at what my neighbors do.  Eventually, when the shops open after CoVid-19 restrictions are lifted, I will get some angle iron and build arms on some of the fence post.  Then I will be able to string a laundry line about 20 inches inside the fence where it can get air on all sides and still be out of the way.

What follows is a beg: if you have topics you would like me to cover, please comment on this blog entry (or any blog entry).  Thank you.

Chain saw work

A couple of weeks ago I heard a noise that immediately reminded me of a chain saw, but I had neither seen nor heard anyone talk about chain saws in Uganda.  I was told by one of the children in the area that it was someone grinding flour.  I was skeptical.  I have heard the grinders and mistaken them for the sound of a helicopter.  This was different.

Last week the sound was just outside my new house.  There was a person out there with a chain saw.  I saw it.  He was cutting down a few of the teak trees.  After he fell one, he would limb it and then use the tip of the saw to cut lines into the trunk of the tree.  Later, when I saw the women come to carry away the finished product, I finally realized what he was doing.

He had cut beams for use in the construction project at the IPAD school.

It appears that some (I can’t say all, I just don’t know) make their own lumber with a chain saw.  No pulp mill required.  The other pieces have been picked over by the ladies of neighboring compounds and their children.  They are gathering firewood.  It’s expensive to buy so let them have it when it is right here and is being treated as discard material.  (I cook on a gas stove; there is no need for me to compete for the wood scraps.  I have even been giving away the wood scraps left in my yard after the work on my house was completed.) 

Over the last week I have seen them cut a 4×8 several 1×6’s and several 2×4’s.  All by chain saw, freehand for the entire length of the wood.  He only goes through 2 or 3 trees in a day and these were grown for this purpose.