Yesterday I arrived in Mbarara! After a short stop at the United Nations Development Project office, David and I headed out to the field and made it to three of the six villages before dark: Kabuyanda, Nyakitundi and Ntunga. We checked in with the midwives and photographed all of their maternity, ultrasound and antenatal logbooks to later be analyzed for a report. We hope that over time there will be a noticeable increase in women who have ultrasounds and thus make plans for follow-up antenatal care and delivery.
My favorite part of the day was the roads. I know I won't be saying this in a month but the roads were SO bumpy I had to keep my hand on the passenger side window so I wouldn't faceplant into it. Even though David was sitting in the front I think he got the brunt of the bumps. Note to self: sit in the backseat.
On the way to Ruhiira, which sits atop an amazingly steep mountain I took this pictire of the Matooke fields (aka plaintains). Supposedly, Ruhiira is the best place in the world to wake up and watch the sunrise.
This day went from 5:30a to 8:30p in the car. So by the time we returned to our hotel and had a quick meal, I was out! I was planning to travel north to Mpigi the following day with David to go to an Ecurei ultrasound launch but chose to stay in Mbarara and work from the UNDP office. After meeting a few other people working there, I had lunch at one of my soon-to-be roommates' mother's restaurant in town. It was delicious - Matooke, fried goat, grilled flat bread and rice.
My other roomie Henry and I have decided to go in on a baby goat. First as a pet, since our house has an enormous yard (with three dogs) and secondly as dinner - but only after I leave. Or so I have been promised. We visit the farm next week to pick it up.
And for the rest of my day I am doing this:
Hiding from mosquitos and transcribing the interviews I had taken while at Ecurei in Kampala.
Tomorrow David and I will make it out to the final three villages to record their logbooks. When we return, there is to be a huge wedding at our hotel in the gardens. I've told David we're crashing it when we come back from the villages. We'll blend...
