"What did you bring back with you from Uganda?"
It is always a pertinent question: which goodies do I bring in my bag, to enjoy in Juba?
It is always nice to bring foods that we either cannot find here OR that cost too much and are cheaper to bring from elsewhere.
The random selection of goodies In My Bag last week:
5 kg of cheese ( a fab treat!!)
lots of bags of mini-cheddars for snacks (it's hard to find snacks for kids in Juba shops)
cream cheese
2 kg of cereal
brown rice, to keep us healthier
South African salty crackers for my South African husband
fish paste (I was getting desperate for some variety from peanut butter on bread at lunch!)
pepperoni, for home-made pizzas or salads
the much-sought-after luxury of FLORA!
rice cakes
I was very thankful that my bag was not too thoroughly searched on arrival at the airport! Such a random selection of luggage would appear very bizarre next to our clothes and toiletries!
When we come back to Africa after trips to the UK, the items in my bag also comprise various contingency medicines. Enough to stock my home-pharmacy with the basic essentials for family health!
It is always embarrassing in England trying to source a year's worth supply of children's Calpol and ibuprofen, paracetamol tablets, malaria treatment kits, boxes of Lemsip, anti-diarrhoea pills, motion-sickness tablets, rehydration powders, sore throat medicines, indigestion relief, antiseptic creams, antihistamine pills and potions, inhalers, strepsils, lockets, plasters, bandages.... You name it, I've got it! And it all comes distributed among our suitcases!
It would look very suspicious to the uninformed, but is a lifeline to us. We just never know when/if we may need these medicines, so it is better to be safe than sorry. Better to have too many remedies to choose from, rather than running out of a vital medicine in the middle of a dark and dangerous Juba night.
My Juba medicine box:
This past week, my medicine box has been very useful. Last week, Joel ran a fever for 4 days and had a sore throat. Not to worry, I had Calpol, ibuprofen and throat lozenges. Just as he recovered, Ben came down with the same bug and needed the same treatments.
Joel, sleeping in the schoolroom last week while I attempted to carry on with lessons for Esther and Ben:
The day after Ben fell ill, Esther started being sick. After 9 bouts of vomiting. we knew she needed to keep her fluids up. Not to worry. I had these to treat her:
Today, I have also been busy making up these rehydration fluids for both Joel AND Ben. Joel started vomiting at 1am. Ben started vomiting just after I finished lessons with him in the schoolroom today!! They hate the taste of these rehydration fluids, but I'm not taking any chances in this hot climate!
I'm so grateful for the things I can bring back to our African home In My Bag!
Granddad and I enjoyed the contents of your bag which you sent us �� the little notebook with elephants is very special. The tea is refreshing and we shared some with the Birkdale Benges too celebrating Granddad's birthday. I expect your boys, all three enjoyed the contents of your bag also. Lots of love Nana and Granddad xxxxx
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