1. A few weekends ago IMME went to Lira, which is a district up North affected by the war, including one of the IDP camps. What surprised me the most was now that everyone has been moved back to their homes and the IDP camps are completely are gone is that the war is basically unmentioned now. There are still visible and deep rooted consequences of the war, like many orphans, etc. However, we saw 3 awesome ministries that were completely different and talked with peace corps volunteers. It was awesome and I would love to talk about it more i just havnt had time to blog all my thoughts.
2. I LOVE my family. Especially Alex, we are now in the process of recording our own version of Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol. Maybe I'll share it with you all since being here has made me used to not being embarrassed.
3. We have started playing volleyball on sundays with our ugandan siblings and its been super fun.
4. Today is election day! It will be really interesting to see how things play out. This is looking like it will be the first free and fair election Uganda has ever had... but then again, who knows. Lots of people arnt voting and are fine with Museveni, but in my personal opinion, I think they need a change of leadership or Egypt is going to happen in another 5 years.
I have lots more to say but if you want to know more about these just comment and ask questions! Also, what are people interested in hearing about... let me know so i dont bore you!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Its Destiny
Part of me feels like I am doomed, I mean destined to be in the food business. Not only has my American family been involved for basically ever, my host family here does outside catering on the side for some extra income.
I didnt get to go because the event was far away and my brothers stayed over night, but I got to help wash all of the dishes the next day! Some neighborhood women and the little boys helped too.
I didnt get to go because the event was far away and my brothers stayed over night, but I got to help wash all of the dishes the next day! Some neighborhood women and the little boys helped too.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Its not easy being Mzungu
I really had no idea how white I was. It doesnt matter if I'm one of the tanner people at home, here I am a mzungu (ma-zune-goo). Mzungu just means white person, and its not a derogatory thing at all, just a statement, something to call the random white person to their face or just in conversation.
Its interesting though, all the different reactions you get from people wherever you go. I think there are three main camps when it comes to opinions on mzungus and then a special category.
1. There are the people who think you are funny and something to make fun of when you pass them on the street (usually a group of guys my age or a little older). Its easy to make fun of you because you obviously have absolutely no idea whats really going on even when you are getting used to things. So the interaction looks something like this: they you see you coming and start smiling, then when you pass they start laughing and talking, sometimes you catch the word mzungu and you definitely know they are laughing at you. But really, its normal and nbd.
2. Then there are the people who think mzungus are the coolest people in the world. Their mindset is that if you are white you must have money and connections to visas in the US. This group includes the boda-boda drivers who shout "mzungu I love you!" "mzungu, marry me!" (decoy rings are great!) to the girls who come up to you and say "Hi, I'm Betty, I've always wanted a mzungu friend, can I have your number?" Out of all people, this is the most annoying group because its actually great not knowing what people say when they make fun of you.
3. Then there is the group of people, mostly children or at least age 16 and under who are just in shock that there is a mzungu in their community that I basically have celebrity status. Let me tell you, its such a great ego boost walking to school hearing "mzungu bye!" over and over again from all of the cute kids I pass in the morning.
Then there is the special category of people, mostly older, but this group is only discovered when you start to speak Luganda. People don't really expect much of you until you greet them in Luganda. It feels like magic when that happens because their faces instantly light up and are so excited and appreciative that you are willing to learn their language. Its great.
I now greet two older women (who are friends of my maama's) on my way too and from school everyday as they are sitting out by the road selling their produce and charcoal. There is also a little girl, probably almost 2 who sits with her dad/grandfather? everyday while he is selling his produce. She has the cutest voice and its fun to great her in Luganda because she is totally not expecting it.
So at first, being a mzungu was a little awkward - I had never felt so different in my entire life. But there is also such a freedom in the fact that I dont have to try and fit in because no matter how hard I try I never will.
p.s. its the weirdest thing when you are in town and you see another mzungu and your thought process is "what? a mzungu? what are they doing here?"
Its interesting though, all the different reactions you get from people wherever you go. I think there are three main camps when it comes to opinions on mzungus and then a special category.
1. There are the people who think you are funny and something to make fun of when you pass them on the street (usually a group of guys my age or a little older). Its easy to make fun of you because you obviously have absolutely no idea whats really going on even when you are getting used to things. So the interaction looks something like this: they you see you coming and start smiling, then when you pass they start laughing and talking, sometimes you catch the word mzungu and you definitely know they are laughing at you. But really, its normal and nbd.
2. Then there are the people who think mzungus are the coolest people in the world. Their mindset is that if you are white you must have money and connections to visas in the US. This group includes the boda-boda drivers who shout "mzungu I love you!" "mzungu, marry me!" (decoy rings are great!) to the girls who come up to you and say "Hi, I'm Betty, I've always wanted a mzungu friend, can I have your number?" Out of all people, this is the most annoying group because its actually great not knowing what people say when they make fun of you.
Then there is the special category of people, mostly older, but this group is only discovered when you start to speak Luganda. People don't really expect much of you until you greet them in Luganda. It feels like magic when that happens because their faces instantly light up and are so excited and appreciative that you are willing to learn their language. Its great.
I now greet two older women (who are friends of my maama's) on my way too and from school everyday as they are sitting out by the road selling their produce and charcoal. There is also a little girl, probably almost 2 who sits with her dad/grandfather? everyday while he is selling his produce. She has the cutest voice and its fun to great her in Luganda because she is totally not expecting it.
So at first, being a mzungu was a little awkward - I had never felt so different in my entire life. But there is also such a freedom in the fact that I dont have to try and fit in because no matter how hard I try I never will.
p.s. its the weirdest thing when you are in town and you see another mzungu and your thought process is "what? a mzungu? what are they doing here?"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I'm a Ugandan Woman!
Last week, Alex sat Megan and I down and explained to us that the family had given him the responsibility of giving us our Ugandan names, which is normally reserved for the father. He explained to us the whole history of our tribe, called Buganda, which is the largest tribe in Uganda. There are 4 origins of our tribe, which all happened and its a long story....
But within our tribe we are a part of a clan (the father's side). Luganda names dont have meaning but they identify people with their clan. Within your clan there is a list of names for boys and girls which can be used (which I'm sure dates back to the original members of the tribe, keeping the ancestors as part of the family is VERY important here!... but there is no ancestor worship, contrary to popular belief).
So, my Luganda name is: Omumbejja (Princess - yep, I'm royalty!) Ndagire Mawanda.
To cement this, my mom made us try on the traditional dress, worn to all ceremonies and even church sometimes!
But within our tribe we are a part of a clan (the father's side). Luganda names dont have meaning but they identify people with their clan. Within your clan there is a list of names for boys and girls which can be used (which I'm sure dates back to the original members of the tribe, keeping the ancestors as part of the family is VERY important here!... but there is no ancestor worship, contrary to popular belief).
So, my Luganda name is: Omumbejja (Princess - yep, I'm royalty!) Ndagire Mawanda.
To cement this, my mom made us try on the traditional dress, worn to all ceremonies and even church sometimes!
Please note: these dresses are great on large African women... but not so much any American body
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Fun with Alex
Here are some pictures of my brother Alex that I didnt have before, which were taken amidst lots of laughs and fun...
This is maama "beating" Alex for doing pushups, but her favorite thing to say is: Yakukuba ("Im going to beat you")
He was doing push ups because he asked me out he can be stronger for when he plays soccer, so we all did some
This is also my sister Megan, who is a USE student who joined our family for her two week homestay
And, I also chopped off my hair.... waay nicer in this climate and washing in a basin!
He was doing push ups because he asked me out he can be stronger for when he plays soccer, so we all did some
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