The Giant's Causeway - a story

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland.

The story goes that the benevolent Irish giant, Finn McCool (mac Cumhaill), lived a good and peaceful life up with his wife, Oonagh, in what is today County Antrim. The Scottish giant, Benandonner, lived across the sea and was a great, bad-tempered, shouting giant. Because they lived across the water from each other, the two giants - one Irish and one Scottish - never did see each other but this didn't stop Benandonner from shouting insults over to Finn McCool.

One day, Finn McCool had had enough and all through the night he picked up strangely shaped rocks and placed them in the water, creating a bridge -- or a causeway -- to the Scottish side where Benandonner lived. In the morning, when Finn McCool heard Benandonner begin his daily hurling of insults, Finn challenged Benandonner to come across the causeway and to say these things to his face. At that, Benandonner began making his way across to Finn McCool.

Upon seeing Benandonner on the causeway, Finn McCool realized how much larger of a giant was Benandonner and ran back to his home in great fear where he told all to his wife, Oonagh. Now, Oonagh, being a clever one, told Finn McCool to calm himself and have his morning tank of ale in the other room, which he did. What Finn did not realize was that Oonagh had put a sleeping potion in Finn's ale and out he went! Once Finn had fallen asleep, Oonagh quickly wrapped him in a blanket and popped his thumb in his mouth and left him to sleep.

Just then, there was a great pounding and roaring at the door -- there stood Benandonner, shouting for Finn McCool. Oonagh scolded Benandonner and told him that Finn was out for his morning walk but for Benandonner to stop his shouting because she had just put the baby to sleep. She told Benandonner that he was welcome to come in for some tea and to wait for Finn but that if he woke the baby, there would be trouble to pay. So, Benandonner sat down to wait and quietly had some tea. And as he drank his tea, he thought and he realized that he had never before heard that Finn McCool had a baby. He poked his head into the other room to see if this was true and there Benandonner saw a baby fast asleep, wrapped in a blanket with his thumb in his mouth -- and the size of a full-grown giant and with a great ginger beard. Upon seeing this baby, Benandonner thought to himself that if this was what Finn McCool's baby was like, Finn himself must be a giant amongst giants. With that, Benandonner fled back to Scotland in fright and destroyed the causeway behind him with his great mallet so that Finn could not follow him.

Finn McCool woke up just as Benandonner crashed out of his home and stumbled out of his home as Benandonner was nearly back to Scotland. Finn McCool roared out after Benandonner and taking a huge great handful of dirt, threw it at the Scottish giant; however, still being groggy and disoriented from the sleeping potion, Finn's aim was terrible and he missed entirely, the handful of dirt landing in the ocean. This became the Isle of Man.

And this is the story of the Giant's Causeway and the Isle of Man.

    --- the version of the legend as told to us by our guide, Jack.

Reverse Culture Shock

After leaving Masaka, I went on a 5-day trip to visit two National Parks in Uganda: Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before heading back to Vancouver (details of that little trip to come). The flight was long and uneventful (yay!) and upon landing at YVR, I was greeted by my parents, eldest sister, and twin nephews who I discovered have learned to walk while I was away!!!

I will say, it's been a bit disorienting coming back the week before Christmas. When I left, it was still summer and with the weather in Uganda, it's just felt like I've experienced a 5 month-long summer. Also, the lack of big box stores that put up Christmas displays right after Halloween was also missing in Masaka, so it's a bit jarring to suddenly switch to winter weather with the holiday season of friends gathering in full swing.

Anyway, since arriving on Dec. 15, it's been pretty much a whirlwind of activity so while I've absolutely loved seeing people and catching up, I haven't had too much time to just relax and fully appreciate being back at home, yet. I'm anticipating some sort of 'reverse culture shock' to happen once the feelings of "I'm home! And having a REAL shower!" have subsided somewhat. I'm curious about how that will go since despite not having been gone for all that long, I feel I committed myself to the immersion experience in Masaka pretty well. I guess we'll see.

As my friend, Allison, told me:  "It's all about the journey! Endings and beginnings and everything in between!"

Weraba, Masaka

What I'll miss: the sunshine and the consistently warm temperatures.

What I won't miss: the heavy rain that turns the roads into rivers of mud. Mud that gets EVERYWHERE.

What I'll miss: the friendly and helpful people who just like to chat for a bit before continuing on their way and who really DO want to make sure you get on the correct matatu so you can get home.

What I won't miss: the constant use of the smarmy "he-ey, baby/sweetie" and weekly appeals for me to have Ugandan boyfriends because "they know how to love".

What I'll miss: the availability of fresh, directly-off-the-farm pineapples, avocadoes, bananas, guavas and other produce.

What I won't miss: the matoke and posho and general lack of variety of food at mealtimes. It's not that matoke is bad. It's just bland. Oh! The joys of having been spoiled by growing up in Vancouver, with it's plethora of food choices!

What I'll miss: the convenience of hailing a boda boda and zipping around Town.

What I won't miss: playing live action frogger while trying to cross the street.

What I'll miss: the sight of gorgeous and brightly coloured bolts of fabric for sale that line the streets.

What I won't miss: the sight of large piles of garbage lining the streets -- and walking through huge, stinky clouds of smoke when the piles are being burned.

What I'll miss most: my fabulous, animated and hilarious host family.

I've had a truly great all-round experience, met some good people, and learned loads. Despite my time in Uganda coming to an end for now, I'm hoping to stay connected with Kitovu Mobile and their work from home (I've also been promised accountability reports on the project I took part in!). So, now that my time in Masaka is wrapping up, I'm getting ready for my next short adventure and a little vacation before heading back to Vancouver -- Gorilla tracking!

Thank you and see you, Masaka!

Webale ne weraba, Masaka!

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