Weave, dancing, and friendship

What a weekend.

Saturday began bright and early; leaving the house at 8 AM, I was getting ready to say goodbye to my hair. My friend Cassie’s host sister has a salon, and wanted to ‘plate’ it (we call it a ‘weave’ in the States). I was game! The whole process took about 5 ½ hours, and let me tell you, was it painful! I now don’t have to wash my hair, though, for however long it’s in! I actually can’t get it wet at all, so I plan on getting it out in about a month when we go raft the Nile. It was really heavy at first—when it was done, I actually struggled against the weight to keep my head up! But by Sunday I was used to the weight... still getting used to ‘doing’ it though; when it’s in a ponytail, I can’t even fit it all in one hand! Try that one on for size. Definitely much more hair than I had before!

When I got home that night, my sister was so excited about my hair that she squealed and hugged me! Then my cousin, basically brother David, hugged me when he saw it as well. They really liked that I got it done! Even my brothers and neighbor boys who were giving me a hard time about it the night before, saying that it was only something that old married women do to their hair, said it looked good. (Yes, the night before, I was in the kitchen with my 2 brothers, 19 and 20, and the neighbor who is about the same age, asking for hair advice after they told me I was going to look like an old married woman with kids. HA! It was a priceless moment asking for hair advice from three guys. Come to find out, they thought I was doing something else to my hair. What a relief!)

Saturday evening, I stayed at Cassie’s house for the graduation party they were hosting. Not gonna lie, most of it was pretty boring—just a bunch of speeches to the graduate in Luganda, so I couldn’t understand a thing. However, the party ended with a bit of a dance session. (Oh yeah, so people here listen to country music! Say what?! It’s awesome. During the grad party the DJ played some country songs during transition times!) It was mostly just the kids dancing, but let me tell you, my soul was coming alive. I have never felt so at place before! Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but seriously, I never wanted to leave that African dance party.

When Sunday rolled around, I remembered that one of my new found friends from the jerry can crew was going to be leaving the following day for boarding school. SAD DAY! I had written her a letter the day I found out she was going to be leaving, and I wanted to give it to her. I went to go find her, and when I got to her house and she saw me, she ran up screaming and jumped in my arms, feet off the ground. It was so precious! I’m seriously sad that this girl is going to be leaving in a few days. We hung out for the remainder of the evening at my house. I had homework to do, so I brought my book out on our porch and read to her a few chapters, and then she read to me a few. I’m sad that she’ll be leaving, but I’m glad that not all of the kids are leaving! 

The watering hole

I am going to be outside as much as possible from now on. 

Saturday afternoon, I decided to take my homework out on the front porch. While I was out there, I watched a handful of boys, some barefoot, rolling tires through my neighborhood; I wanted to jump up and follow them so badly! I stayed, but just a few minutes later, a group of kids with their jerry cans walked by. As they returned with water, they stopped behind the bushes in front of our house and giggled. I heard the word "Muzungo!" (sorry for not having clarified earlier, means "white person) and more giggles, and eventually heard my name "Jessica!", and they ran away. A few minutes later they walked by again, shouting out my name and peeking out from behind the bushes. I laughed and asked their names, still unsure how they knew mine, but figured word must have got out about me. They then asked if I would go with them to get water, to which of course I went! I ran inside to get shoes, and when I returned they all whooped and hollered, almost as if they were shocked I really was coming! 

My family has a big water container on our compound, and is really easy to get water, so I had no idea where we were going. I guessed that maybe there was a water container for the neighborhood, because I know some of my other home-stay friends have to walk a bit to such. But there was no container in sight. After walking through what seemed to be some people's yards (which isn't the case here, they were in fact common footpaths), we began a short descent to a field. It was then that I saw a creek. Were these kids really getting water from the creek?? They weren't, in fact, but instead they were getting water from a 'watering hole' for lack of a better description. It was a small, muddy and mossy hole which the creek actually began from. I noticed there was trickling water that fed it coming out of the ground near the hole. 

WOW. This was in fact their family's source of water. I couldn't believe it! 

Once they all had their various sized jerry cans (based on the child's size) filled, we began the trek up. I helped carry of few of the jerry cans for the smaller kids, to which they giggled when I offered. 

OH! I forgot to mention. Those tire-boys I previously saw, we passed on our way down. Seeing me, they ran to join us in this task. So now, not only was the group of jerry-can kids there, but also the tire-boys-- I loved it! While we were at the watering hole, they were all talking in Luganda and I had no idea what was going on. I think they were talking about me occasionally, but that's not surprising. Something bit me, though, and it stung. Come to find out, there are flies down there that carry diseases... (mom don't worry, I'm probably fine ;) )

Anyways, on the way back (of which there is a gnarly hill to conquer), the kids stopped in front of my house as if to drop me off. "Can I go all the way with you?" I asked. They were so excited that I wanted to! They took me to meet their grandma, and come to find out, I pass their house (and potentially shop??) every morning on my way to school! I wasn't sure where I was going to be on Sunday during that time, but I told them to call for me as they passed and maybe I would be able to join them again!

On Sunday, I heard what sounded to be my name and found them waiting for me. :) My mom, however, upon hearing where the watering hole was, didn't want me to go because of the flies. She said it would be ok if I put on a sweater and bug spray though! So I was able to go again; this time, we 'collected' other kids along the way with jerry cans who joined us in getting water. 

When I walked all the way home with them, this time I met another kids' mom (well, aunt) and sat and talked with her for a few minutes. The kids then showed me the secret paths back home and everything!

Now that I think about it, it's about now to 45 minutes to now that they will go! 

Nearly every morning on my way to school, I have passed by a girl in the field right across from our house who greets me by name. Having no idea who she is or how she knows me (again), I've just smiled and greeted in return. But yesterday, I realized that she was one of the girls in the jerry-can crew! So now I know her name, Jarriet. :)

I found my answer in the village

The following was a journal entry that I had to turn in for a class, and wrote with some intention of posting it here. I thought it would be relative to share.

I found my answer in the village. As I was walking home from school today, I knew which choice I was going to make. Over the last few days, I have been debating whether or not to drop my Cross-Cultural Creative Writing class. It would not transfer as anything I needed at Simpson, however it was one that struck my interest. Based on the course description, it seemed like it would be a great personal enrichment course, especially because I want to work in ministry, with a great chance of that being overseas. I could see how this course would help me to better communicate my experiences with others. My problem was that I was worried there would be too much work involved that would keep me from relationships here; and since it was not count as anything towards graduating, I was debating the cost. Originally I had signed up for Luganda 1 with the premise that I would drop it if my family spoke a lot of English, because I wanted to have minimal homework and maximum relationship time. Apprehensively, I dropped Luganda but added the writing class. In the beginning, it sounded like it wouldn't be that much work. Upon receiving the first few assignments, however, I wasn't sure that would be the case. The frustrating thing is that, because of circumstances unknown, our first class session isn't until after the drop-class deadline. This left me with having to make a decision before ever even attending a class.

But what I contemplated on my walk home today (or, on the 14th) was a prior realization from a week ago. I realized that since my primary love language is quality time, while two of my top strengths from a strengthsfinder test are input and learner, I am in a constant battle with myself for how I spend my time! On that walk home, I crossed paths with Edith, who remembered my name and asked how I was doing. (I met her last week on one of my walks and we walked part way to school together; she works in the dining hall.) Then, the kids on the corner who always run to see me called out my second name here, "Muzungo! Muzungo!" (which means white person, by the way) and were just as excited to see me as I them. In that moment, I made the decision to choose relationship over input; because when all is said and done, building relationships and experiencing the culture is an experience I can never have again.

Yesterday, I officially dropped the Creative Writing class. On my way home, I knew I had made the right choice. Susan (my sister's friend who is often at the house) passed by me on a boda boda (the motorcycle taxis) and stopped and said hi, right before the corner house with all the kids who shouted to say hi to me (well, actually they say 'bye' because I think that's all they know haha), and just after I met up with my cousin David who was walking home from work and we walked halfway home together. It was absolutely wonderful!

Life in Uganda

“How do you find Uganda?”

This is question I hear almost daily, most often by people I have just met. How does one respond to such a question? There is so much I could say!

I have lived with my family a week today (or, when I wrote this on Saturday…).  I didn’t have any time to think before hand to have any expectations, or to prepare myself for what was to come. I can’t really say for sure that it would have helped, though. I do know that when I was dropped off at my home, I was unsure of everything. I felt so naïve to the way of life here; I had to ask how to do everything, especially the basics that I gave no thought to. For example, I didn’t brush my teeth for the first day and a half,  solely because I was unsure of where to do so! (It gave me great comfort to speak with other students in home-stays to find out I wasn’t the only one!) As each day has come and gone, I have learned and understood more and more. It is incredible what just 7 days can do!

Like I said above, it is very hard to describe how I find Africa, or, Uganda. There are so many things I could say; I have already written 30 pages in my journal alone! So I will try and stick with some basics, first, to try and help you understand my life here.

I have my own room and I bathe with a bucket shower every night; what an experience that has been! After my first night, I wrote in my journal “no promises on me ever being clean for the next four months, or smelling decent!”However, I can proudly say that I am actually clean every night. ;) It’s the things like bucket showers that made me feel like a complete idiot the first few times. It’s hard to describe exactly what was going through my mind the first (and second) time(s), but I can tell you that I was filled with utter confusion and ignorance. I didn’t know if the goal was to keep the water in the basin, or not to—which is kind of a big difference. There is also no running water here at home. And then there are the bathrooms or, toilets… well, they aren’t toilets at all, but squatty potties. And ours is outside (aka not attached to the house; don’t worry, it’s enclosed).  The toilets on campus are squatties also. And there is generally no toilet paper, so you have to bring your own. I thought I would take forever to adjust to using a squatty, but I am getting used to them already!  That’s without saying that yesterday we visited a place with actual toilets, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to see one in my life! *Edit since writing: Someone just discovered there are actual toilets (with seats!), with toilet paper, and soap, and hand dryers in the library bathrooms… I think I just found my favorite place on campus!

I live with a family of four; a mother (mama Hariet), a sister (Lillian, 18 years old), and two brothers (Jonathan  and Joshua, 19 and 20 years old). I have another sister, Jennifer ( who is late twenties??) but she doesn’t live here (she comes daily though). And lastly, I have a cousin, David, who is in his 20’s as well and comes every evening. I love them! It’s crazy how in just a weeks’ time, I’m already dreading the day I will have to say goodbye to my new family. They are absolutely wonderful, and wonderful to me!

Every night, my family comes together around 8:30 for an hour to watch “Mara Clara,” an Asian soap opera in English dubbed in Luganda. Yep. You read that right. It’s hilarious! So I have taken to watching with them since it is a family affair. This is usually when Jennifer and David come around, too. We normally eat dinner while watching Mara Clara. Apparently this is a famous thing to watch, because many of the other IMME students (in homestays) watch with their families as well; we often discuss the previous night’s episode together. It’s fantastic. haha

I walk to school every day, and was blessed beyond measure to be one of the closest to campus. It takes me about 12 minutes to walk from my home to class, but just about 4 minutes to get to campus. Many students have a 30-40 minute walk, one way, every day! There are three different ways to get to campus, and my favorite when I have time and on my way home is to walk through the village. There are always kids at a certain house that yell “Muzungu!” and wave to me. Somedays, I will come across kids that I have never met that will run up and hug me. I love it! A few days ago I met someone who worked at my school in the dining hall, and we walked to campus together.

I am already learning and processing many things, but I know there is much more of that to come. I won’t start sharing these things yet, but just keep this first post basic for you to be able to understand a little bit of my life here.