A new everyday

I’m starting to get used to being here everyday. Everything is starting to become the norm for me. Just when I start to forget that I am in a new environment I encounter places like this…

These pictures were taken during staff day at King Fisher Resort. An event I had to plan.

Here is my new staff...

Rachel holding a couple of bird's nest she found

Brendah and I. She is moving to New Jersey for the year to work at an organization. I guess we both switched places.

Later during the week I was reminded that I live really close to the Nile… well an hour drive away.

On the canoe heading to Hairy Lemon

The place is called Hairy Lemon. It is a rustic resort. My cabin was about 50 meters from the Nile. It is really beautiful there. Hairy Lemon is located on an island on the Nile. We had to take a canoe to get there. I went there as part of an “American” retreat. Basically meaning just Americans from the University went there just to get away from the weekend. I was happy to go since my director paid for me to attend. I was able to float on the Nile and lay in a hammock while journaling. I can get used to the benefits of my job.

Drinking tea and laughing at I don't know what while in standing in the Nile

(photo courtesy of Rachel)

After floating in the Nile. The water is quite warm.

Well the down time is over. The students arrive early on the 21^st. This week is going to be very busy. On Friday we leave for 10 days in Rwanda. I’m really excited to see Rwanda. I remember it being such a beautiful country the last time I was there.  I have read that Rwanda has developed so much in the past decade. Being in Rwanda is going to be a mixture of beauty and reflection since a fair amount of the time will be spent learning about the genocide, which is always a hard subject.

Alright, I’ll write in September. I’m sure I’ll have interesting stories and semi great pictures to share. Wish me luck. The real part of my job working with college students is about to begin!

How to be a Ugandan 101

I’ve been here for almost three weeks so far. As the days have gone by I have started to adjust to life here. Being on campus the food is still the same: rice and beans, greens, matoke, potatoes, and posho. Outside of the dinning hall I have had chapati, samosa, rolex, fried chicken and chips. One day I’ll explain what all of this is. Just know that this is all the same food I have had the last time I was here. Adjusting to the food change is not as challenging this time as it was in the fall of 2006. What I am adjusting to is how to fit in as a Black American in Uganda.

Finding my balance on having dark skin, but not being a Ugandan, was something that was difficult for me the last time.  It’s not so much a struggle this time around... or so I thought.  This time I have discovered that by trying to blend in, I am actually sticking out. Such a strange notion. As munzungus (white people) visibly stick out, I stick out in my own way. Since the day I landed back in Uganda many Ugandans have looked at me like they know I am not from here. Once I speak their assumptions are proven correct.

Within the first week of being in Uganda on the university campus I somehow stood out from the other students. One person who works the library desk wouldn't let me enter the library because I was wearing shorts. I was wearing capris that went past my knees, but in Ugandan culture they were considered shorts. A week later I went into the dinning hall wearing a skirt, but had leggings underneath. I was told that leggings are only meant for the weekend. My attempt in trying to blend in has currently been failing. I have decided to compile a list of things I need to learn how to adapt to in order to blend into Uganda. So please join me on my top 10 personal observations of how to be a Ugandan. 

1. Talk in a low soft voice that only Ugandans can magically hear. 
2. There are three ways to say "yes" in Uganda. First is answer by saying “mmm,” but make sure it is drawn out. Second, raise both of your eyebrows. Lastly, which is the most challenging way for me, is to answer by saying “it’s okay.” 
3. Dress nicely everyday.
4. If you want something, push your way forward in the line. Unless you are at the dinning hall, lines are arbitrary.
5. When something or someone has fallen or an accident has occurred, it is not proper to laugh. What is proper to say is "sorry."This one will be an adjustment for me. 
6. The proper phrase to say to someone when you or they have not seen each other in awhile is "you are lost." The first time I heard this phrase I proceeded to tell the person that I understood my way around and I knew where I am going. This time I was more prepared when I heard the phrase and knew exactly what the person was referring to. 
7. Walking on the red mud after it has rained without getting mud on the back of your legs or skirts is an art form that Ugandan women have mastered. This is a skill I need to develop.
8. A general way to say no to a boda-boda (motocycle) driver when offered a ride is by keeping your mouth in a straight line and gently shaking your head "no."
9. Learn to love posho (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posho) and matoke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matooke). 
10. Love African milk tea.

Out of all of observations, the one only I have mastered is loving African tea. Tea time is my favorite time of the day. Since I have been told that I like a little tea with my cream and sugar, African milk tea is right up my alley. I thought about learning more of the language, but I think this will confuse Ugandans more when they realize I don't speak as much as they thought I would. It will take me awhile to learn how to be a Ugandan, but I have the next 1-2 years to figure it out.

Just some pictures

Since I still don't have facebook and I haven't set up an online photo account, here are some pictures I wanted to share with you all. These pictures are of my time at Ssezibwa Falls. With a few staff members and friends we hiked around this fall last Sunday. Ssezibwa Falls is located east of Mukono (where I reside) and about 30 minutes west of Jinja (where the mouth of the Nile is located). Here they are...

 Brendah (co-worker) and I on a boda boda (motorcycle driver) on the last leg of our journey to the falls

Ruth (another co-worker) on a boda boda heading toward the falls

Ssezibwa Falls

 Me in front of Ssezibwa Falls

Brendah, myself, Lisa (co-worker), Eddie (Lisa's husband), Jamie (new friend), and Ruth

Ssezibwa Falls park

Trying to be creative with the black and white mode on my camera

Walking back to the main road to get a Matatu (14 passenger taxi van) back to Mukono