Monday, May 22, 2023

I'm back in Uganda, exhausted, but happy to see Uganda team. I have so much to catch you up on! Saturday was the graduation ceremony, which went very well. One of the many challenges to offering this type of training, expecting trainees to spend an extended amount of time in a remote location, is that the clinics must have staffing at all times, so we cannot train everyone from the same clinic at the same time. For that same reason, only the most recent trainees were able to attend the ceremony, the previous group having to stay at their prospective clinics to work. Every attendee receives a certificate of completion, and the current trainees were presented with the Ultrasound machine and equipment. The presenting of the equipment was ceremonial, because all of the equipment will be registered with the Community Health Program (CHP) before going to the designated clinic. The responsibility of using and caring for the equipment is heavily stressed by the trainers and the clinic directors. 

Not surprisingly, the kitchen staff at the training center set up an amazing and delicious luncheon, along with a cake of congratulations. 

Once lunch was finished, the trainees along with Twala and Wilter, said their goodbyes with hugs and high-fives passed around liberally. The only Kenyan remaining was Liz, who flew in with us from Kisumu, Kenya. Once everyone had left, Allan, John, Samalie, Sr. Angela, Liz and I took a collective deep breath and retreated to our rooms for naps and prepacking. Allan and I spent a few hours in the pool house, sorting through hundreds of photos to send to ITW and just enjoying our last beautiful day in Kenya. 

We all met up for dinner at the center, another wonderful spread from the kitchen crew, before tucking in for the evening. Breakfast was served at 6am and we were loaded into the jeep, heading to the airstrip by 6:45am. James shared breakfast with us, then took us on our last scenic drive through the Maasai Mara. 

Our final drive with James.

Sunrise at Maasai Mara.

Never tire of zebras! 

By the look on his face, you can tell he is NOT a morning person!

A few nights ago, James had seen two lionesses who had just killed a buffalo. This morning we saw a jackal at the kill site and then nearby we found three hyena fat and full from cleaning up the leftovers. Two of them could barely be bothered to lift their heads to look at us, while the third was gnawing on a jawbone. James planned well with our departure, being sure to give us plenty of time to stop and enjoy these moments. 

 

As we approached the gate to the airstrip, we were temporarily blocked by a large family of giraffes, including three babies who ducked into the nearby trees upon our arrival. James told us that when they see a group of Giraffes that are moving, they call them a "Journey" of Giraffes, when they are standing still, they call them a "Tower". 

"Are they still there??"

We were the first to arrive at the airstrip, before the plane and another group of travelers leaving the Mara. Last minute photo opportunities ensued, then a ranger hopped onto his motorcycle and raced down the airstrip to chase away the zebras so the plane could land. Another Kenya moment that I will always remember and a possible future job for me if I decide to move to Kenya! :) 

James and I

A hippo skull and the reason why this giant herbivore is so dangerous!

We thanked James and loaded into the small plane for our ride back to Uganda. We picked up another small group of passengers at a nearby airstrip, stopped in Kisumu to go through customs and drop off Liz, then an hour flight to Entebbe, where Picho was waiting for us. We navigated the busy Ugandan traffic, dropping off Sr. Angela, John (who had another 6-to-7-hour bus ride home!), and Samalie. We stopped by a local favorite bakery for Samosas, then back to the office. Allan took his car back home, Picho headed home, and I took a much-needed shower and unpacked. Rian was especially excited to see me, his mother and sister are here visiting, so I was able to meet them for the first time. Eddie made a delicious dinner of fried tilapia, rice, matoke, avocado, tomato and G-nut sauce, a nice end to an exhausting day of travel. 

It's incredibly hot here, no breeze across the Mara plains, so in spite of the large fan, I did not sleep well. I am glad that I took Allan's advice and not make plans for today. Renny and Picho are here working, Rian is studying with his mom on the back patio, and I am sorting photos and catching up on my writing. People with chronic insomnia are not supposed to nap, but I am tempted to lie down in front of the fan for a rest. Tomorrow and Wednesday I will be a guest lecturer at the Ultrasound school in Kampala, get a tour of the school and have a meeting with Dr. Joyce to discuss my next trip and the needs of the school.

Thursday I will pack and spend the day at the office, meeting with Allan, Picho and Renny, to discuss my next trip in 2024. If my days at the school are longer than expected, I will write again on Thursday, before flying to Dubai on Friday. Wishing you all a good week!

Much love, Jo (MB)

Boarding the Kenya Air flight back to Uganda.