Wednesday 8th April 2015:
This blog is turning out to be slightly more sporadic than I
had intended. I aim to type a little bit every night about the day I’ve had but
I will only be able to post then when I’m in the diocesan office. The internet,
electricity and most importantly- water, all are quite unreliable. They cut out
at a minute's notice and can be out for hours. It amazes me though, how people
just deal with it and get on with life. They have back-up generators for lights
and they cook on fires. I’m so aware that when there is a power cut in Northern
Ireland we let it grind us to a halt but here life goes on! My western
privileges have really been a stumbling block in that way- I’ve realised how
dependant I am on my phone, internet etc.
Again on a practical level, I am learning why Ugandan women
have really short hair! Since Tuesday I have been learning how to wash my hair
with a jerry can of water, a basin and a cup, since there’s so functioning
shower. Rev. Alice had a giggle to herself when she asked how I managed it with
such long hair. ‘Practice makes perfect’, ‘think outside the box’ and ‘it’s all
about the experience’ have become the three mottos that we use frequently
together, in relation to lots of the practical challenges I’m facing.
On Wednesday morning I got the opportunity to meet some of
the Cathedral and Diocesan staff, who have all been so friendly to me. They
love to ask how I’m coping with the weather compared to Ireland. I can tell you
the two are very different climates!
My itinery had to be changed slightly because Synod is on at
the minute and Alice is the secretary so she has to be there! So I spent the
morning, as planned, working in the women’s office with Alice and Lynn- an
English missionary living here. The rest of the day was time to chill out as
our afternoon plans were changed, which has been nice to have time to adapt to
the climate and culture (slightly!) But I am raring to go and get my teeth into
something now.
With love from Uganda,
Danielle x
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