We knew we stand out here, but this is ridiculous!
On Saturday we went to the wedding reception of Jovan, an officer of the Diocese Planning and Development Department, to Annet. During the various announcements in Rufumbira we were suddenly aware that Malcolm, who was standing beside one of the tents, was being talked about and everybody was laughing. We realised why when someone translated that the MC was explaining that if people needed to find the toilet then they should walk past the white man. We never realised before that we were some sort of landmark.
The reception, after the service in the Cathedral, was a very happy occasion with about 300 to 400 guests. Unlike English receptions we all ate as soon as we arrived and had finished before the bride, groom, their families and wedding entourage arrived. They had been elsewhere having photos taken and refreshments and got to the reception over an hour later.
Malcolm particularly enjoyed the cake cutting ceremony where the bride traditionally kneels before the groom to feed him a piece of wedding cake. We are not sure how well that would have gone down with our children’s weddings – the grooms might have enjoyed it?
The main entertainment was given by a youth dance group with what we think is traditional Ugandan dancing. The most spectacular featured two men wearing long blond wigs taking up hunting poses and jumping to make their hair swirl around.
Talking of hair, it’s been over 5 months since we had a hair cut – and does Malcolm need one!! The choice of hair cuts for men here is either shaved, or extremely short (a number 1). Malcolm considered getting his hair braided, but decided it wouldn't look as good on him as Ugandan women. Fortunately David and Sarah had brought out some hair clippers so Irene had a go with them on Sunday – she thinks a vast improvement. (a number 6).
Malcolm needed to look his best as he spent the week working in the Finance Department at Kisiizi Hospital, about 70 miles from Kisoro. Since the previous Finance Manager left the Hospital chaplain has been doing a very competent job acting as Finance Manager, but it was felt useful if Malcolm helped prepare the Financial Statements for the year ending June 2011. Malcolm will return to Kisiizi in 2 weeks time to hopefully finish this job.
In the meantime Irene has been living it up in Kisoro, including an invitation from Jan (pronounced Yan), manager of the Travellers Rest Hotel, to the 80th birthday party of his mother, Miriam who is currently on holiday from Holland. It was a good opportunity for a celebration.
Malcolm returned to Kisoro from Kisiizi on Friday. To round off a good week, whilst waiting for a bus in Kabale, he got ‘splattered’ by bird mess, not once, not twice but 3 times within 1 hour– and each time he was in a different location! And the last time he had even taken shelter under the awning of a kiosk!!!! Falling bird mess here can go around corners. (Incidentally, one of the style of toilets here is called 'a Long Drop' being a basic toilet built above either a deep hole or over a tall base, where solids can collect, compost and be recycled. Malcolm just suffered from a different form of 'Long Drop'!)
Some people may call this lucky. Malcolm waits to find out, but the bus did break down on the way to Kisoro. (For those interested the birds were large, grey cranes roosting in tall trees around the bus / car park – and their mess stinks!).
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