June 20, 2007 Ntenjeru

The pinapple is delicious=Ana-nasi a-wo-ma
I would like to buy water=n-ja-ga-la-koo-goo-la-ma-wa-zzee
too expensive=o-ser-a
good bye=weh-la-bah
I don't understand=sta-ge-day
we go=tu-gende
princess=mwo-mbe-ja
my ugandan name=nantongo (nan-toe-n-go)
monkey=n-chema
I belong to the monkey tribe=ne-dee-da n-chema

This morning before we went to work, Joe and I were "named" (meaning were received our Ugandan names) I was really excited because that meant that Festus considers us friends/family, and that we belong.

Joe was named first. He was named Mwanje of the Leopard tribe.

Then I was named Nantongo (Nan-toe-n-go) of the Mkyema tribe (the Monkey tribe!).

Everyone here in Uganda belongs to a different tribe, which is passed down through the father (except the king, in which case it is passed through the mother. The king is from the Monkey tribe too!!).

Festus has a pet name for me apparently. He calls me princess (everyday on our way into the village we pass a sign for the "Princess Diana Nursery School") and for some reason he decided I was a princess like princess Di. At first I thought it was because he thought I was prissy or something, but Erin says it is a good thing and means that he likes me, so I don't mind. :)

We dropped Joe (Mwanje) off at the hospital so he could assist the doctor for the day. While we were there I met a small boy named Ntale. Lydia told me he was an orphan who had been dropped off at the hospital. They decided to test him for HIV and it turns out he is positive. Although treatment for children is free here, transportation to the city to get it (especially in the beginning when you have to make several trips a month) is very costly.

He is so cute and it is hard to believe everything he has been through and everything ahead of him. I later saw him again when we were done with work. He had been placed overnight with a lady in the village (of no relation), they still don't know what will be done with him. But we sat together for a while and I butchered a lot of Lugandan trying to talk to him. I had my journal with me so we drew pictures together too. He was doing really good, and his only possessions were the clothes he was wearing and an empty black garbage bag (although I don't know why). So I gave him my journal and pen, I just ripped out the pages I needed, he looked like he would put it to good use.

Today we got ready for the school presentation we are giving tomorrow. I am very glad I took that HIV class at school. It turns out I know a lot more than I thought I did. I'm also glad I was a STARS team leader (surprisingly) we are using the same basic concepts.

Then we went on the longest hike of my life to go see Bilinda. We brought him different kinds of food, but we had to carry it all. The walk took over an hour each way (no joke) in the hot sun on a windy dirt path through the hills.

Needless to say, not only was it the ONE day I decided to wear a tank top, but I got totally burnt to a crisp. They've been calling me "red lady" all day instead of Mzungu.

It was very sad to see Bilinda, he is totally confined to his mud hut, and he is so sick he cant move without assistance. I wish we could have done more.

The walk back was super long, so when we got back we went straight to lunch at the restaurant with no name that we go to everyday. I had matoke and bean broth which is actually pretty good.

I visited outside with the girls while we waited for Festus to get back (we were basically locked out until he came back from the office). I told the girls about Ryan and they thought it was amazing that I had a boyfriend and shocked that I left him for so long (sorry Ryan).

I took a shower and am waiting for dinner. My sunburn is pulsating if that's possible. My arms, neck, and chest are bright red and hot. I really wish I would have brought some aloe vera. :(