Bye Muzungu!

So I know that I stole this title from Helen, but it was too good to go without repeating. Our internet data package expired almost immeadiately after the last blog was published, so we do not have much for the rest of our time here (which, luckily is not too long). The EWB-MIT team is back in Kampala with Daphne again. We were picked up this morning by the driver Daphne´s family sent. The private van is an experience as different from our matatu rides as pit latrines from toilets. It was nice to be able to watch the scenery by choice, and not because your face is pressed against the window.

It was definately bittersweet to leave Ddegeya. Bitter, of course, because we are leaving our newfound friends behind, the clinic staff and the minerva fellows and the local kids that chase us down the road shouting, "Hi Kate! Hi Scott! Hi Steven! Hi Leticia!" Sweet, because we know we accomplished the work we came to do. We built our prototypes, talked with the community, and laid the groundwork for implementation.

This afternoon, we met for a little with Dr. Musaazi at Makarere University. We discussed the work we did and talked about the technologies: ferrocement and clay tanks, first flush, and the pump. Dr. Musaazi was very excited about the pump. For the tanks he builds, he says the problem is always the pump. He cannot provide or create a reasonably priced pump. The pump costs $120 (300,000 UGX) and ours cost about 50,000 UGX and is easily made and repaired by the people who use them and with local materials.

A great end to our time in Ddegeya. We head back to the states on Friday, to return on Saturday, another bittersweet departure.