May 15, 2005

Everyone, everything is going well, just not fast enough for us Americans who are used to everything being available and timelines met.  African time moves slower and of course the obstacles are not predictable, e.g., funeral attendance for workers, rain, transportation of materials, finding dry wood, etc.
 
Attached are 3 photos from my trip.  Finally was able to download and the clerk at the internet cafe was helpful for this neophyte.

 
1. Chuck on a Boda Boda (bicycle taxi).  This is a great way to get around the town of Lira and very common in East Africa.  It costs 400 Uganda Shillings (UGX) which equals about 20 US cents to go from our hotel to downtown.  It is so wonderfully quiet to ride and there aren't too many cars/trucks in Lira, so the ride is much safer than in the busy capital of Kampala.

 
2. Chuck with Mirinda Fruiti soda.  Mirinda is the East Africa soda label for Pepsi Company.  The fruiti soda is delicious and available everywhere, and there is Pineapple flavor too.  Of course the rival is CocaCola's Fanta label.  There is a Fanta Passion Fruit, but we've been unable to find it; supposedly another delicious local treat.

 
3. Stove assembled.  This is a photo of the stove we used for our demonstration.  The woman is putting Cow Peas in the pot to cook.  We are building these from 6 trapezoidal bricks and binding them together with galvanized wire.  Once in their permanent places, the stoves are packed with mud on the outside for stability.  Every demonstration is crowded and we have an interpretor to explain in the local Lual language.  The camps are full of mostly women, kids, elderly (very few due to disease), and the handicapped.
 
Enjoy,

Chuck