miss.ann Uganda: December 2010

Christmas Eve in Uganda

Over the past couple of weeks before Christmas things were getting a little crazy because The Providence Home received donations from the previous Peace Corps Volunteer for Christmas.

This meant that we need to buy the 6 nuns, 45 children and 9 elderly residents gifts and food for a party.

At first I thought great I’m still going to be doing Christmas shopping and worst of all in Uganda, but as we start the journey of buying toys, food and all other types of things for the home I really got into the Christmas spirit and out of my Christmas Grinch mode.

Overall getting ready for Christmas Day was a lot of fun.

We purchased fabric and had Mama Betty the best tailor in town sew 46 Christmas bags for all the children. She was so happy to do them and even more happy to receive payment for them. She told us now she would have the best Christmas ever.

Purchasing food Yikes that was crazy, we bought 40 kilos of potatoes, 40 kilos of rice, 80 kilos of cooking oil, and six bunches of matooke so we one day we went and purchased everything and load the truck it was total different then just heading to Kroger’s and purchasing everything we need in one place.

Christmas Eve started out different we need to bake cakes for everyone in the home and since the bakery was going to close for a couple of days we only had a short window to use the ovens. So Dulcie the English woman volunteer and I took the challenge to bake the cakes. Christine and Nat had to go out and buy 20 kils of pork and beef and then go an pick out chickens for the Christmas Day Fest. So Dulcie and I were on our own with the cakes.

We found this process extremely easy because we got to use the industrial size mixer. It was a great time we had some of the children come and help us it was really funny having them lick the industrial size mixer handle. They loved it.

Cakes here in Uganda are way different then back home for a number of reasons. They do not use milk or eggs so the cake is like a sugary piece of hard bread. They don't use those ingredients because number one it is way to expensive and then the cakes won't last that long.

After three hours of making cakes for 65 people. I went and meet my very good friend Dan at he taxi park I was so happy to see him and to be able to spend Christmas with him and to show him my new home. After relaxing with Dan and we tired to frost the cakes it was hilarious watching us try to frost these huge cakes. Then we went and decorated the hall and some of the children came and helped us blow up all the balloons. Watching the children hug and laugh with Dan was perfect.

We then made dinner which was awesome. We had a the restaurant in town prepare fried chicken. I made mashed Irish potatoes with green beans, oh yeah I also made kick ass chicken gravy.

I set up my courtyard like a dinning room. With one large table and room for six with pretty napkins, new glass wear, and Christmas lights hung around the area to set the ambiance. We all sat around the table gave thanks and cheered for the wonderful day.

After dinner was done then the party started Nat and Dulcie the English couple purchased a crate of beer and we had cheap gin with fresh passion fruit juice with toxic. We sat around and played card games and dance to all types of music.

Then around 11:15 Nat and I decided we would go to midnight mass, which was absolutely beautiful. The big church they have been working on since I have been here was finished so we were able to see then big well light church. We walked in to mass, a little late and all the sister were dressed in white singing the most beautiful Christmas songs. It really made me less home sick to go to church with my new family. All the Sister were really happy I came and joined them.

Of course mass didn't end until 1:30 a.m but I didn't care I got to walk back with all the Sister from the home and Sr. Seraphine who is always back and worth with me, held my hand the whole way home.

It was the best Christmas Eve ever.