Day 4

I enjoyed my yummy breakfast of oats and mango in the kitchen with the security guard. We got onto the topic of food, as you do. From what I learnt from my non-communicable diseases module in International Health, i don't remember much about what is specific to Uganda except that they are the 1st or 2nd consumers of alcohol globally. Anyway, the security guard was telling me how he like coffee for breakfast becHause it makes him feel 'strong!' and that if he takes porridge he usually has it with water because having it with milk can make you 'have a big tummy, big legs'. He went on to explain that if that happens, other diseases are more likely. He explained one was called 'pressure' and that it was what happened when a big person tried to walk or run and their heart went 'boom.boom.boom'. Then he explained that running and producing sweat was good because it 'gets rid of it and the diseases that might happen'. So, with a few changes in specific wording, sounds like what we think back in the UK. It was interesting that he said he didn't like the feeling of having a 'heavy stomach', and that if he had porridge in the morning then he wouldn't need lunch. Again, he was happy that his body was 'strong and light' and he could walk for 'kilometers' if he wanted to.

At Kawempe Home Care, the NGO im doing my study with, she mentioned that some patients cant afford the 3,000 UGX per month that they usually ask for, if, for exampe, they dont work because theyre too weak. This is less than £1. That put things in perspective for me. On the plane here, I met a S.African who said that, in S.Africa, if you don't have a job 'you just die'. As in, there's no social security structures in place, like we have such as benefits or job seekers allowance, etc. I remember reading Development as Freedom by Armatya Sen, and one of the core concepts of development that he put forward was social security, with many many examples of a lack of social security ending tragically badly, such as the irish potato famine. From what I remember, he put forward the argument that social security provides freedom FROM things, such as hunger, etc. In the UK, I have never given much thought the government, or government around the world. I never realised that, actually, the decisions they make can make or break populations. Cameron's actions with reducing benefits and social security structures, which caused uproar, is affecting lots of people, and perhaps they are experiencing the lacks of freedoms that armatya sen touched on, although i can't say to what extent this may or may not be happening. But i know that, from now on, when I vote for a party, Im going to be reading the terms and conditions!

I had a really lovely day today. I met a vet graduate, martin, who is doing a pHD here, and today we went to church together, watoto church in central kampala. In the month before I went to Uganda, life was particularly difficult. Some difficulties, when they are many and have gone on for a long time and you suddenly realise what's going on, can seem insurmountable. I lost a lot of hope. What could I possibly do to amend the situation?  Perhaps I lost hope in God being able to help me too.  It's difficult to remain hopeless in a country where the churches contain some of the most hopeful people i've ever met. Soon I was realising that even though my difficulties seemed insurmountable for myself, they wouldn't be with God. I realised that all I needed was faith that God can do it. This faith is a struggle to maintain. But I'm trying, each day. People sometimes say we use religion as a crutch because we're weak or need something to believe in. I don't need anything to believe in, but since I do believe in God, yes it's good to let him help me when I need it.  I'd say I'm so glad I have God to be my crutch for me when I need one. And it's not false. You know, crutches that are broken don't hold your weight and you fall to the floor. You'd know it if your crutch was broken.
The preach was relevant for me. It was on FAMILY. Some people have wonderful families and learn lots of good things. Some people have less wonderful families, and although they reject learning how to do families from their own family, they don't really see how to do family well. I'm one of the latter. It was good to hear this preach. Healthy families are all about planning, apparently. A vision, a strategy, allocating resources, and never giving up. Lots of points, in fact the whole plan, involves the couple making decisions together, agreeing together, unity. My parents split and I never saw this in action in my family. It sounds wonderful though, and I look forward to it.

I took Martin to the best restaurant in town. I did warn him he'd be surprised..it's the blue shack in the middle. It's called Nando's!!!

Ok, this plant my Phd friend, martin, found along the road. He's managed to study veteniary science whilst also learning about plants and being in a choir. My new inspiration for having a life whilst working hard. look what happens when you touch it..

 it closes! It called Mimosa.

I'm tired. I wish I could have a long rest before starting this study. But I have to be up early tomorrow and be at Kawempe at 8.30am to meet my translator and discuss working together. I'm glad that at least now I know how to get there!

I had an amazing supper. Well, the tin of ham wasn't so amazing. But I am on a mission to taste Uganda's food, so I bought passionfruit. I didn't think seeds could be so tasty. But o.m.g, my friends, o.m.g. I was only meant to have one, but they were so amazing having 2 wasn't even a hestitation. If passion had a flavour, it would definitely be passionfruit. I also bought yam. Apparently its like a sweet potato. It's very big, and i think it's going to provide all the carbohydrates I need for the next month! I'm looking forward to testing it out tomorrow.