This Week in Kayna

Just to give you an idea how isolated we are: This week I went to the bank. It takes 4 hours each way. This was the first time I had been out of Kayna since I arrived at the beginning of September. The bank is in Butembo, which is a fairly large commercial city. On the way back, I bought 4 cheeses (dear to the hearts of our French expats) and about four quarts of strawberries. These are two items we bring back each time someone comes down from the north; they are both on the roadside during the trip.

There was some pillaging in town again this week. The thieves steal mainly the items needed to live: food, livestock, clothing, and any money they find. They sometimes kidnap someone to carry the loot for them, letting them go after they are away.

There is some population displacement south of us, around Butalongola, south of Kanyabayonga, due to armed conflict between the regular army and a faction which doesn't want to be mixed in with them. We are going to set up a mobile clinic in Butalongola for the medical needs of the 1000 displaced families in the area.

I managed to set up a system of batteries in the house, so that we can have electricity after 9:30 when the generator is shut off. For the instant, one electrical outlet is functioning, so we can listen to music or watch a film on the computer without depleting its battery. Next week, we'll have light after 9:30 in the living room, dining room and hallway. This is luxury! Anyway, I'm usually asleep by 10:00 or 10:30, getting up at daybreak at 6:00, so it won't affect me much.

I'm scheduled for a one week break the end of November/beginning of December. I will be going to Kampala, Uganda. Some of my collegues have already given me information about where to stay and what to do. I also have some shopping to do: deodorant, razor blades, chocolat, video and audio CDs, some Christmas gifts for here, and some Swiss Army knives for our emergency evacuation backpacks.

Until the next update!