"Enchanting Africa" says the tire cover on the German safari van, where a mother hen and her chicks scavengefor food dropped by folk who have stopped for lunch at this outdoor restaurant.
And enchanting it is. It feels like home so quickly now, on this fourth trip to Uganda. This time my son Ben is with us, and it wasn't long after arriving at Canada House that brothers Willis and Michael had persuaded him to push them around the garden on a huge bicycle owned by their father. Hoots of laughter amidst the sounds of warm welcomes and ever-present birdsong. Our travels to Uganda went fairly well, all things considered, and now we are settling in, unpacking all the sewing supplies we brought with us, organizing the new teaching materials, and beginning our meetings with many of the Ugandans we have come to know here. Yesterday Rose was here, the same Rose that I first talked to about the feasibility of a sewing project (together with Perez) four years ago. Sheilla, one of the Bitengye students came by to greet us. And Dinah, maker of table napkins visited. She has had a tough year for a number of reasons, and had become very discouraged. We were able to tell her how well her napkins have sold, and after we heard her story we took her to buy new fabrics in the market so she can continue with this. And, of course, we were able to choose some new fabrics for Kitambaa and for the Bitengye ladies. Today we continue with preparations, hoping to find a converter in town for the Singer featherweights we have brought with us, as well as finding interum glasses for me. I managed to break them, sadly, this morning!! But it will be "somehow OK", as the Ugandans say.
And enchanting it is. It feels like home so quickly now, on this fourth trip to Uganda. This time my son Ben is with us, and it wasn't long after arriving at Canada House that brothers Willis and Michael had persuaded him to push them around the garden on a huge bicycle owned by their father. Hoots of laughter amidst the sounds of warm welcomes and ever-present birdsong. Our travels to Uganda went fairly well, all things considered, and now we are settling in, unpacking all the sewing supplies we brought with us, organizing the new teaching materials, and beginning our meetings with many of the Ugandans we have come to know here. Yesterday Rose was here, the same Rose that I first talked to about the feasibility of a sewing project (together with Perez) four years ago. Sheilla, one of the Bitengye students came by to greet us. And Dinah, maker of table napkins visited. She has had a tough year for a number of reasons, and had become very discouraged. We were able to tell her how well her napkins have sold, and after we heard her story we took her to buy new fabrics in the market so she can continue with this. And, of course, we were able to choose some new fabrics for Kitambaa and for the Bitengye ladies. Today we continue with preparations, hoping to find a converter in town for the Singer featherweights we have brought with us, as well as finding interum glasses for me. I managed to break them, sadly, this morning!! But it will be "somehow OK", as the Ugandans say.
glad to hear that you arrived safely, and looking forward to photos and stories.
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