Monkey Brain Musings

 Hello, folks! It's Sunday morning here and we are halfway through the training. Time is flying! Here's a glimpse into my usual morning routine...I usually wake up between 5 and 6am, thanks to my bladder and the numerous roosters. I slowly get out of bed, stretching as I go, working out the kinks and pain from sleeping on a very firm foam mattress on a wooden slatted bed. I pull a dress on, open my windows and the front door, and start the kettle. Living in a hut with a grass roof means a thin layer of dust on just about everything, so I shake out my floor mats and sweep the floor, while I wait for the kettle. I have a filling breakfast of oatmeal, dehydrated strawberries and pumpkin seeds (brought from home), local honey and cinnamon, and a strong cup of Kenyan or Ugandan tea. During the week, I usually head to the classroom early to set everything up for the day, but on the weekend, I ease into the day. The midwives have been asking for more knitting lessons, so that's wh...

 Good morning/evening folks, How's everyone doing out there? I did not get much rest this weekend, but I did have a good time. Saturday was mostly filled with a (very large) group knitting lesson. It's a good thing you were all so generous, because I really plowed through the knitting supplies!  The group was a mix of knitters from last year, who caught up quickly, and new knitters. I still have a lot of yarn to pass out, but I usually like to see who really sticks with it, before handing it all out. The ladies all had a wonderful time, and it was as afternoon filled with a little frustration and a lot of laughter. In the early evening, some of the midwife students met with me to answer some questions and have a bit of a review.  Sunday, Rachel and I drove into Gulu to pick up supplies and run some errands. Those of you who have been with me for a while know how much I enjoy the market and also how I can't resist taking photos every time. :)  So, an enjoyable weekend...

 Hello, folks! I am starting this post early Friday morning. Considering the luck I have had this week with power and internet, who knows when it will finally arrive in your inbox! It's mind-boggling that we are already almost finished with the first week of training. Max and I are really enjoying this group, although except for a few exceptions, I have really enjoyed every group. They are eager, intelligent and very quick learners. We have also noticed that they are learning at a relatively equal rate, which makes the hands-on training a bit smoother.  On Monday, the first day of class, I arrived in the classroom very early to set up the projector. I had put everything together the night before, in a practice run, and worked out any kinks. But that was Sunday, and this was Monday. The projector was not connecting. I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Allan, trying to sort the issue, and we gave up and decided to try a new HDMI cord. Since coming to Atiak in 2024, I have...

 Hello, from the Yala Yala birth center! I thought I would take advantage of the calm before the storm and send you a Proof of Life post. 😁 As hopeful as I was to catch up on sleep in Entebbe, and in spite of my travel exhaustion, I was unable to sleep Thursday night. My brain refused to believe I was not in the US, so I eventually gave up, organized my luggage and prepared for the road trip ahead. Frank and his brother, Andre arrived shortly after 6am, we loaded up the car and hit the road. I spent most of the trip catnapping in the back seat, while they drove like a bat out of hell. Needless to say, we made very good time! I realized that I had spent the last few years flying up north and had not driven since they closed the main road to fix the bridge over the Nile. The bridge repair is complete, it was nice to cross the river again and the baboons were out, monitoring the traffic.  We arrived at the birth center shortly after 1pm and everyone came down to my hut to welcom...