UgandAshis 45 Three birds

UgandAshis 45

August 6, 2009

Three birds

As I came home yesterday three brown ibises were perched on my roof. I stopped and admired these flying creatures. No bird can top the marabou and yet this one gives it a run for its money. Their conversation felt like the muppet show’s old grumpy men. Haa haa haa aaa – aaa haa haa haa. In Uganda it is whispered that these majestic birds can put children to sleep with their loud yet remarkable sounds.
While observing it was as if one of the birds wanted to fly off while the other two wished to remain longer. Finally after a long discussion – 15 minutes – with decreasing daylight they flew off to their nesting place.

My home in Kansanga also has a kite swooping near the balcony and then a bit further off are the marabous. The birds are in my mind as Bob Marley just sang his ‘Three little birds’ on the computer. Often I have patience for slow Internet connection – these last days however – I have lost it.

Trying to send an e-mail to interested people about my forthcoming tour has been a near impossibility. Let us forget downloading power point presentation or articles on the two topics I will be teaching classes on starting August 17th. Culture and health is class 1 and class 2 is control of communicable diseases. Over the last weeks I have been plodding along to make sure I have some information on a power point format so the long distance students can also learn along.

It seems so easy – Internet is a world-wide phenomena yet proper broad band does not really exist in Uganda. Yesterday’s newspaper did not make matters better. As parliament reviewed the budgets they were astonished to see that the cost of extending the cable that runs under the ocean is three times as high as in Rwanda despite the equivalence in distance to Mombasa. The following was decided as long as the costs are not clarified the budget will not be cleared. This leads to a delay in Internet connectivity.

The digital divide is clear and evident. One of the current things PGHF and its volunteers are doing currently is making video interviews with people who are making a difference in Uganda. There is a website on hold in the USA because uploading information is such a hard pain in the neck.

Complaining does not add to suffering – it can however explain to people why simple things on the World Wide Web are just not simple.

On a high note this time tomorrow we are off to Kisooro and eventually Rwanda to see gorilla’s. It feels like a good time to take a break. A lot of good things have happened over the last months and it is time to appreciate the beautiful nature and landscapes of Uganda. Now things are settling I can plan more trips around this phenomenal country. Beware I may be able to upload some nice photos.

Namaskar,
Ashis Brahma