Monday, October 19th, 2009

Monday, October 19th, 2009
Today wasn’t all that exciting…I worked a LOT. We had our MMM (Monday Morning Meeting) with all the mentors. We discussed an organization that we’re trying to create called “Changemakers” whereby activists, social entrepreneurs and other people with altruistic life goals gather on a monthly basis. Basically we want to create a network where resources, people and ideas can come together. Cool concept and fun to be part of the group making it happen.
After the meeting I met with Solomon for two hours to discuss how everything is going with him.
Afterwards I met with Emma for an hour to discuss the generator research he’d done the previous week.
Then I sent out a bunch of emails to people I need to network with and bounce microfinance ideas off of.
That took me until 5:00. I had a conference call at 6:00. I decided to go for a run while I could.
I got back at 5:55 for my conference call but the person I was supposed to speak with must have forgotten about it. Sweet.
Yogurt and granola for dinner.
At night I was able to finally speak with Maggie’s friends Lindsay and Jodie who are visiting the compound for a week. Jodie is doing work in Kenya, but she explained that she doesn’t think she’ll stay much longer.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Its not safe. Like, every night I get home I thank God I made it safely. Its that bad.”
Sheesh.
I told her about the recent spree of kidnappings in Kenya. It has become a HUGE business to kidnap Western women. (See NYT article attached.)
“Kidnapping is our business and business is good.”
Kenya, once the apotheosis of a civilized African country has deteriorated into a complete mess. I am thankful that I chose Uganda. My obsessive-compulsive research paid off for once. There is a huge difference in safety between here and Kenya. I feel bad for Jodie – she’s in a bad place and wants to leave. I think there is a feeling amongst all volunteers that you stick to your commitments, but I told her it wasn’t worth it if she literally feared for her life on a daily basis. I hope she leaves…she’s a brave girl.
The other girl, Lindsay, who’s visiting from Colorado has some weird sickness. She has been getting very bad headaches, gets occasionally disoriented, has trouble speaking and altogether feels groggy. She thinks she might have malaria (she’s not taking malaria prophylactics) but I told her those aren’t the symptoms of malaria. She is probably going to the hospital tomorrow. I told her if it gets really bad, take advice from a guy that’s been to an emergency room in a second world country, and GET THE H*LL OUT OF AFRICA AND GO BACK TO THE USA.
The medical care here is basically non-existent. Another one of the girls here has a whooping cough for months and doctors cant diagnose that either.
So far I haven’t gotten sick. For one I’m obsessive about taking my malaria medication (I’m the only one here that takes it) and I am also obsessive about washing my hands. Despite that I’ve eaten in some dodgy places and still haven’t gotten sick. I am officially renaming my stomach the “iron fox” for its valor in the heat of battle. Keep going strong iron fox – the force is with you.
Somehow we started talking about the different adventures that our various friends were undertaking in Africa. When I say that I am the most conservative, least adventurous person on this continent…I mean it. Everyone here is crazy. I guess Africa attracts a certain type of person.
We were talking about Morgan and his cross-country trips on a motorcycle.
“Oh that’s nothing.” Lindsay said, “My dad and my brother rode their motorcycles around the world. From Colorado to California, to Japan, across China, through Russia, the middle east, Europe, Ireland, and then across the USA.”
WHAT?!
That’s a typical conversation.
Africa is a melting pot for wild stories and unbelievable adventures.