Well people, the end of an era has come and gone. Sadly, I finally finished the 5th season of 24 today. I had never seen a single episode until I came here. It was a long journey with Agent Bauer and his 9 (to the ninth power) lives, dodging countless thousands of knives, bullets and rocket propelled grenades, thwarting biological attacks, nuclear annihilation, and the Apocalypse and Second Coming of Christ, surviving Chloe’s personality disorder, bringing down a corrupt and really whiney president, feigning death at least thrice, and all the while, always protecting the lovely ladies. (well, except his wife, but come on, it was his wife) Ah Jack, Chloe, Edgar, Audrey, Tony, Bill, President Palmer…how I will miss you all. You’ve been like family to me. Sniffle….

It has been raining like all hell here, so the unpaved roads are a muddy mess. There were drought conditions when I first came to Mbale, but not anymore. Fortunately, it doesn’t rain all day…just pours for about two hours. Driving a street motorcycle in the mud is not a pleasant experience. It’s like a string of mini back to back heart attacks. “Steady, steady, ahhh! Ok, whew! I didn’t fall over. Ok, steady, steady, ahhhh! That was close. Ok, I am going to make it…just one more mile. One more mile! Oh god…I am finished.”

But I haven’t ditched yet…

Now for some EXCITING NEWS (echo, echo, flashing lights, sirens, exploding volcano)

Cait Collins, the art teacher at Alta Loma, and her students have raised $200 for the paint and supplies to do a large outdoor mural here at the FDNC Vocational School where I live! Thank you Cait and students!!! My friend Conso in Kampala will be doing the mural. Thank you Conso for donating your talent and your time. I think this will be the first of its kind in all of Uganda. I will send pictures when it is complete.

The Troublesome Trio of Dave, Jason and Kerry will all be flying here in June to travel with me through Uganda and Kenya for a month! This may be the end of my time in Africa on this trip, and I can’t imagine a better way to part with my year here. Time off, Africa, good friends, banter…it’s Miller Time baby. Very happy about this one.

I am heading to Zanzibar for the holidays! I think I will take about two weeks. I will be with a woman I met in Mbale a month or so ago for one of the two weeks. She is a San Franciscan, and living in Kampala for six months. She and her husband were supposed to live abroad for two years, but at the last minute he could not go. But she knew she needed to have this experience, and decided to go on her own. Her husband has been very supportive. She understood exactly when I was telling her that this time in Africa was just something I needed to have.

A few interesting cultural tidbits I’m guessing people would want to know…

1. Ugandans are big on greetings. It is considered very rude to not greet people properly. An example of a standard greeting is:
· Person 1 – Mulembe Papa or Mai (Greetings Father or Mother – Papa and Mai are terms of respect)
· Person 2 – Same response
· Person 1 – Uryena? (How are you?)
· Person 2 – Indio (I’m fine) or boliye (I’m good)
· Person 1 – Kamahua? (What’s the news?)
· Person 2 – Casila. (Nothing)
· Person 1 – Watchanyala (Well done)
· Person 2 – Kale (Ok)

2. Traditionally, Ugandan women kneel when they greet a man. More modern women won’t usually do this, but women living in villages still keep this tradition. I see it quite often. Women do it for me occasionally, but not often because I think they know the mzungus don’t really go for it.
3. Ugandans go out of their way to avoid confrontation. The only time I have seen tempers flare here are when transportation is involved, such as on buses. But the roads are the only place that life really speeds up here…so it’s not surprising!
4. Circumcision Ceremonies – I think I have said enough about that. Did I mention that if you don’t do it by age 21 or so, they will track you down and do it by force? Yikes.
5. There is tension here between the people who call themselves saved, and don’t drink, and think the circumcision ceremonies are pagan and evil, and those who hold to some of the more traditional practices.
6. Men hold hands. It is relatively common to see two men walking down the street holding hands. Not associated with homosexuality in any way. In fact, homosexuality is extremely taboo here.
7. Traditionally, for a man, the more children he has, the more respected he is. I had to stop and get my motorcycle fixed down the road the other day, and the guy who worked on it had nine children by two wives. The father of one of the students here had 17 children by two wives. There are so many children running around this country!
8. The mother-in law taboo – a man is never supposed to enter the house of his mother in law. He is NEVER supposed to touch her, or even look at her. It goes in both directions. Ugandans who are saved have abandoned this practice, but many still adhere to it. Mai Jessica teased her friends in the U.S. when she visited, because she saw mothers and sons in law hugging and kissing, and she said she had to protect them from each other!

I hear a circumcision procession in the distance right now actually. I don’t know if anyone has done a good documentary on this, but it would be a great subject. I have tried to film as much as I can, but it is difficult because of darkness sometimes, movement, rain, etc. You really need professional equipment. But I did find a subject that I want to do a little mini-film on. There is a village about 30 minutes from me that has really beautiful traditional music with great singing. I was really moved by it and the energy of the people.

Since my last entry, a lot has happened. As I mentioned previously, I was beginning to take over a lot of responsibility for day to day operations of the organization. That process has continued. Sam has increasingly pulled back, trusting me to run the show. I am making most of the financial decisions, doing development for the Board of Directors, managing all of the employees, restructuring departments, etc. It has been challenging and rewarding in many ways, and I already see a lot of positive change. What had essentially happened is that about six months ago, Sam hired several upper management people and trusted them to run the organization smoothly, but they were incompetent and corrupt, and they were running the organization into the ground. On my recommendation, the Board voted unanimously on Thursday to fire the Director of Programs. This was not a pleasant thing for me, but I am trying to do what is best for the organization, and what I believe is right. I am reversing some of the damage done, and trying to put structures and professionalism in place that will help to ensure the success of FDNC when Sam and I move on to other things. I don’t know how this experience fits into whatever my next career move is, but I know it is a valuable experience. I have been working a bit too much though, and have been starting to feel burn out coming, so I am going to cut down on my work hours, and get out and start traveling more now that things are a bit more under control. I also want to start spending more time in the field with the Paralegal team, and the Community Development Officers that work in the remote villages. I’ll keep everyone posted.

So I was assumed to be a criminal by the web hosting company that I had purchased http://www.papajustin.com/ from because the order was placed from Uganda, so they refunded my money. But I am trying to get that straightened out as we speak. Stay tuned.

People have been asking me when I am coming home. I am not sure what the future holds for me after my time in Kenya with Dave, Jason and Kerry. There are times when I feel like the work I want to do here has only started, and I would like to stay longer. Other times I feel like I will be ready to come home by that time, and start whatever the next thing will be for me. Other times I feel like this period in my life is my chance to pursue my third big life goal of becoming fluent in Spanish, and that I should go to Spain or Latin America for a while. Whatever I eventually choose, I love the freedom of this whole experience.

So if anyone would like to ring me here in Uganda for the holidays, my cell number is 011 256 753222298. Dave knows about a dirt cheap calling card. You can email him at casuto@yahoo.com for details. I’ve only given out the number to a few people, but I’m opening the flood gates now. There are many voices I would love to hear!

So I know you’re wondering about the gorgeous woman pictured at the top. Yes, that is yours truly before a mzungu party on Halloween in Ugandan drag. The wig, dress and everything are Mai Jessica’s. Sorry this one is a bit tame…the racier ones from the party were out of focus. Hey, if you can’t be in San Francisco, bring San Francisco to you. Right?

As the Ugandans say, “Keep up the spirit everyone.”

Much love,

Papa Justin