FISCHEGUCKEN // IRENES GESCHICHTE

20. Oktober, 2011 (siebte Woche) 

am Donnerstag gehe ich mit Irene, einer Freiwilligen aus der Branch auf einen Ausflug zu ihrem Onkel, einem Bischof. Claudius sollte eigentlich auch kommen, aber er muss seinen Fuß und eine Mittelohrentzündung auskurieren. der Bischof hat eine Fischfarm, die ich mich auch angucken soll, und hat früher in der Kirche in Bugembe gepredigt, die wir ja schon kennen. William mag den Bischof sehr gern und meint, dass er richtig gute Predigten hält und ein kluger Mann ist. Irenes Vater ist der Bruder von der Frau des Bischofs, als ihre Mutter gestorben ist wurde sie von ihrer Tante und ihrem Onkel aufgezogen.

für den Trip bekommt Irene von William transport money, weil sie mich mitnimmt. ich weiß dass sie nicht viel Geld hat, und den Ausflug auch als Gelegenheit benutzt, ihre Familie zu besuchen, weil sie es sich selbst nicht leisten kann. bis zu dem Dorf, in dem der Bischof wohnt, kostet es 5000 Schilling (~1.25 Euro).

ich mag Irene sehr gerne. sie ist sehr sanft und angenehm, aber auch lustig. sie ist ziemlich 70s disco fabulous mit ihrem Afro und ihren Baumelohrringen.

hier ist der Report, den ich darüber geschrieben habe:

Report on the Visit to Bishop Bamwoze

on OCT 20 2011 – Clara Noeschel (German Volunteer 2011/2012)

On Thursday, OCT 20, Kagoye Irene took me to see her uncle, Bishop Bamwoze, and his fish farm. The trip had been planned in advance, and both Claudius Lütke Schwienhorst and I were supposed to come. He could not, however, because of an illness. Irene and I left Jinja around 10 AM and travelled to the village. 

I had never been in such a rural area before and enjoyed looking at Uganda's beautiful nature. We arrived at the village at around 12 PM and met Isabirye Charles. We needed to be picked up at the main street, because the Bishop's home is located 4 miles from the village. The Bishop was sitting on the terrace of his house when we arrived. He greeted me and Isabirye Charles warmly and asked us to sit. We also met his wife, Naomi, who was just as forthcoming. Irene greeted her aunt and uncle in the traditional way by kneeling down. I felt insecure about not behaving appropriately. Since we were visiting elderly people in the country, I expected them to think me insensitive that I did not know the appropriate behavior for women. However, the Bishop and his wife were very accepting and open in their thinking. The Bishop told me over tea how he had travelled to Germany a lot during the 1970–90s and how he had made a lot of friends there who he thought of as brothers and sisters. They served groundnuts and sesame with the tea, and I was offered a spoon immediately because they knew I was still learning how to eat with my hands. Mr. and Mrs. Bamwoze were both speaking a very British and articulate English. I noticed because it was somehow different from Ugandan English and because I did not expect elderly people to speak English perfectly. 

The Bishop seemed to me like a travelled and intelligent man who had seen much outside of Uganda, and was therefore accepting and kind about my differentness. Mrs. Bamwoze as well seemed like a wise and confident woman. I noticed the relaxed and contemplative atmosphere on the terrace, which was surrounded by green trees and bushes. The house and its surroundings were quiet and peaceful, and I liked that it was so far away from the noise and commotion in Jinja, with just nature around for miles.

Some chicken were moving around and trying to get on the terrace which made everybody laugh.

 

After tea, Bishop Bamwoze took Isabirye Charles and me to see his fish farm, which is located close to the house. We met the two workers there, Irene and Lydia, and Irene showed us around the premises. 

First we saw a building with large cement basins where the fish were raised, then she took us to the ponds outside where the fish grow up. She let me feed some mature catfish, who were coming to the surface to catch the food and made the water seethe. Irene told us that the Tilapia, who were in another pond and which we also fed, are bottom feeders and therefore do not come to the surface.It was interesting to see how fish farming in done in Uganda. What also impressed me was to be able to see almost untouched Ugandan nature for miles. I had not realized before that Uganda really is exceptional in how green and fertile it is. It does not look like how one typically imagines Africa. It is as green as Germany, but the kind of trees, bushes and grass here are much different. They trees grow wide, branching out horizontally, and bushes grow round and bulging, close to the ground.After visiting the fish, we also saw some goats, chicken and calves. They made me pick up a white baby goat and hold it, and I was surprised how clean and soft it was. We saw the goat barn and the watering system, and Irene showed us how the fish food is made. Isabirye Charles and Irene also showed me how to pluck lemons, and gave me some to take home.

The Bishop had stayed at the office in one of the larger buildings, but collected us to drive home. For the next visit, he said, he would prepare a goat for eating, but this time we were few. He had mentioned before how he wished that Claudius had also come, and took my promise to return for another visit. When we arrived back at the house, it was time to take lunch. Kagoye Irene and Mrs. Bamwoze had prepared Tilapia and chiapatti with beans and onions. The sitting room and dining area was so alike to how older people would have it in Germany, with similar furniture and decoration. In how kind they were and how welcome they made me feel the Bishop and his wife somehow reminded me of my own grandparents in Germany. After lunch we took tea and coffee in the garden. The Bishop asked me about my family, my parents' profession, my siblings, and also asked if they would visit me in Uganda. If they did, I should also bring them here. As a “new granddaughter”, he and his wife invited me to return for a visit any time. He also asked about what I wanted to do after my stay in Uganda. Many people have done this, but he listened to what I had to say – that I consider Philosophy / Psychology as a study – and advised my on my choice. He himself was fascinated by nature and its science. You have grass, he said, which humans cannot eat. But let a cow feed on the grass, and it will turn it into milk. He seemed quite philosophical about the workings of life and nature and it was a pleasure to listen to him. Bishop Bamwoze was very pleasant and friendly company. I not only enjoyed the visit, but I am happy to have met two such interesting and genuinely caring people as him and his wife. I believe I also liked them so much because some of their behavior seemed so European and therefore familiar to me. It made me feel like I could see a little bit of my home in their home. I am very thankful to Irene to have taken me to see her family and plan on returning with Claudius.

Tuesday, OCT 25 2011         Clara Noeschel


auf dem Heimweg lädt mich Irene ein, irgendwann mal ihre Tochter besuchen zu gehen. wieso, wo wohnt die denn? weiter weg, bei den Großeltern. was macht denn der Dad?

mit dem Vater war vor ein paar Jahren zusammen, und er hat sie geschlagen, auch als sie schwanger wurde. und dann ist sie von ihm weggelaufen, und weil sie nicht verheiratet war, hat sie sich nicht getraut zum Bischof zu gehen oder zu irgendwem anderes. 
und deswegen hat sie auf der Straße gelebt und draußen geschlafen. irgendwann hat sie dann das Baby bekommen und Christina genannt, und sie hatte nichts zu essen, und das Baby hatte auch nichts zu essen weil sie keine Milch hatte. und als ihre Christina so ungefähr ein Jahr alt war hat sich Irene gesagt, jetzt reichts, ich lass mein Baby nicht verhungern. und sie ist zu den Eltern ihres Exfreundes gegangen und hat gesagt, so liebe Leute, hier ist euer Enkelkind. bitte kümmert euch, ich kann es nicht.
„aber es sind schon alte Leute, die sind sehr angestrengt von einem Säugling.“
„wo wohnst du denn jetzt eigentlich?“
„bei einer Tante von mir. ich suche Arbeit, beim Roten Kreuz bin ich ja nur Freiwillige. wenn ich mal Geld habe, kann ich mein Baby auch zu mir holen. aber weißt du, ich lebe, mein Kind lebt, worüber soll ich mich beschweren. God is good.“
„ich würde mich freuen, deine Tochter zu besuchen, Irene.“