another day another dollar...or 1000 shillings

For the last week or so Doug and I have been focusing our efforts toward consulting for the International Lifeline Fund and trying to help them as much as possible with their business. So far we have been modeling distribution possibilities as well as costing forecasts. We have met with the leaders of ILF multiple times and are getting very good feedback on the work we’ve already done but much still has to be done. Some of the insight we got today came from the 2^nd in charge at ILF and he was relaying to us some stories about different transaction models he’s used in different parts of the world and told us to put a huge focus on the logistics of the actual cash transaction. This was great advice and not to say we hadn’t considered it but surly we hadn’t put as much weight as it probably needs. Needless to say everything we’ve done has well received as well as well critiqued which is actually very helpful. At this point we still have a lot to do in terms of refining everything and building some marketing campaigns as well as operating a pilot distribution program. Most of our days have been spent working through analysis and consulting work in the morning and meeting with ILF and doing more cultural research in the afternoons. Most of the last few days we’ve lost power for portions of the day with or without storms. The storms here are amazing and as much as I complained when finding out that I was leaving Eugene to come to the rainy season but Uganda puts Eugene so to shame that it actually is fun. In Eugene the rain is just a hassle and obnoxious. Here in Lira the rain comes like clockwork, luckily after we finish working, and is so torrential that you can’t help but stand on the porch and marvel at the sheer power of nature. The most recent big storm Brian and I went into the yard and both did the Shawshank Redemption arms wide soaking up the rain pose. I’ve been getting more and more used to the living situation but I doubt I will ever adjust to the food. It’s not bad, it is just incredibly bland (shocking for Africa) and there is no variety. For as much agriculture as there is, everyone grows the same 5 things and so you cycle through about every 2 days. I will be sleeping in Safeway my first night home. More on everything soon. Hope all is good back home.