It's not just a matter of knowing what to ask

This week the second hospital quiz night was held, this time with a series of musical items between rounds.

‘Pub’ quizzes are a novel event to staff and students at the hospital as it is not something familiar in the culture. This time two American visitors, Dr Jim and Suzanne set the questions, and Irene’s task was to be the attractive lady to circulate and collect the answers from the teams at the end of each round.

 

 At the last quiz Malcolm’s team (with Irene) won. This time, Malcolm’s team (without Irene) only came second. We wonder why!! 

One lesson, though was that the winning teams were made up of a mix of Ugandan and white people. Malcolm was lost when it came to who is the Prime Minister of Uganda – but, who won the 1966 World Cup!......... Unlike another American visitor, (who could have sung it) Malcolm did know the name of the American National Anthem.

This is a 4 minute video with samples of the music from Staff and Students .

 

One of our friends here, and home group leaders, Dr James and Milly, gave birth to their first child a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t long before Irene went round to ask if she could have a baby cuddle with Susan – who seemed very pleased to oblige.

 

We again visited the field that the Hospital Medical Director and wife own as their escape about 2 miles from the Hospital. We were offered drinks and popcorn, but clearly when Malcolm asked for some more popcorn he was not going to be successful on this occasion.

 

When it came to cooling off in the pond both of us left this to the younger visitors.

 

 

This week’s African proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Sudan:  “Ask for a camel when you expect to get a goat”

Some Jiggery Pokery

Pest of the Week!

An occupational hazard her, especially if you walk around in open sandals or bare foot, is to pick up a tiny flea, called a Chigoe, or ‘Jigger’. These charming, 1mm long, insects bury themselves under the skin on your toes, feed on your blood and grow a large sac of eggs.

 

 

 Irene had the ‘pleasure’ of hosting a Jigger this week.

The good news is:

-         they always leave their ‘bottom’ sticking out, (which shows as a black spot) so that they defacate outside your body, not inside

-         when the eggs hatch they fall back to the ground so that the larvae do not feast on your feet

-         they are easy to remove with a safety pin

 

The other 'pest' this week was in a sketch that Irene put on in morning chapel. It was based on a mother (Irene) having to put up her 4 disruptive children, or which Malcolm was the eldest boy. (For the record the children were not based on our own family, although there were 2 ‘boys’ and 2 ‘girls’ and the eldest daughter enjoyed reading books). Needless to say Malcolm played himself – the naughty big brother who tormented his clever sister. Nothing changes.

 

But, she got her own back.

October 9^th was Independence Day in Uganda and there was a parade on the local football pitch. Various schools and the army paraded with children singing and dancing.

 

 

 

 

This week’s African proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Sierra Leone:  “There's no bad bush where you can throw away a bad child”

Con-graduations, and Celebrations

On 4th October there was the Graduation for students from the Nursing & Midwifery School and the Medical Laboratory Training School.

 

This was the first Graduation ceremony for 3 years and so there were about 300 students waiting to receive their certificates.

 

 

The ceremony was held in the open air – fortunately this week the rain had decided to finish about an hour before the ceremony.

 In addition to the Guest of Honour, (a University chaplain) there were speeches by 6 other special guests.

 

 

The entertainment was singing and dancing by current students.

 

In addition to receiving their certificates graduates had to make an oath to serve patients faithfully.

 

Everybody had to dress up; including Malcolm!

 

 

A 3minute video is avilble on Youtube by clicking the link at: http://youtu.be/PtStyWsfWdU

 

This week’s African proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Zambia:  “The wise create proverbs for fools to learn, not to repeat”

Overwhelmed by Blessing

A few weeks ago we were told that if it rains at a wedding it’s a sign of God’s Blessing.

 

Last weekend we went to the wedding of one of the Hospital Board members. Livingstone, a sprightly 80+ year old marrying a young bride of about 60.

 

 

For the event women had new outfits made. Irene made a suit from local material while Joyce made traditional tribal dresses, called Gomez, for Denise and Mairaed.

 

 

The wedding was held in the St Marks Cathedral, and the reception in its grounds.

 It was a delight to see the (not so) young couple so happy.

 

One of the local traditions is for the bride and groom to enter the reception through a decorated arch – a sign of honour.

 

At the end of the formal speeches the blessings came - in bucket loads.

 

 

 

The wedding breakfast was a traditional Ugandan meal - rice, matoke, potato, meat and a pink groundnut sauce

 

 

 

Irene found another serving area in a tent

 

 

 

However, getting served was not straightforward.

 

 

Fortunately there was enough shelter around the Cathedral and in tents for the wedding food to be eaten.

 

 

This week’s African proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Uganda:  “A tree that does not give shade when the sun is hot cannot give shade when it rains”