The past couple days have been some of the best days of my entire life. I feel like I'm completely part of the family now, and I can't express in words how loved and accepted my family makes me feel. On Tuesday, Nalango, Anette, and Marion (3 of Mama's catering staff, Nalango being also a friend of mine) showed me how to peel a plantain! It was harder than it looked, but I had a ton of fun sitting and chatting with the ladies as they worked. Nalango really wants to speak in Luganda with me, so I have made it one of my goals while being here to learn enough phrases to have a short conversation with her. This will take time and dedication, but it is just one little thing I can do to show her I care. Later on Tuesday, I met my sister, Lillian, for the first time. She came home very late, so I did not get to talk to her much, but I was happy to add another member to our family, which now consists of Mama, Mark, Jonah, Joshua, Jennifer, Lillian, Anette, and various family friends.
Wednesday night was the first real time I spent with my new sister, Lillian. We spent over an hour shelling groundnuts and talking about anything and everything, and I don't know if I have ever bonded with anyone so quickly before. I instantly fell in love with my sister, and that night she became one of my closest friends here. However, that is only half the story. The other side is that my new best friend is leaving on Sunday for boarding school, along with my brothers Joshua and Mark. Then, Jonah leaves in two weeks. My emotions are racing back and forth between being excited and extremely sad. I'm excited for the relationships I've already formed with my siblings, but it's so difficult to think about all the things we could have done together and how close we could have become. You see, boarding school here is different than it is back in America. They attend classes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are NEVER allowed to leave during the 3 months they are there before break. There is 1 visitation day within the 3 months when I will get to see them, but that is it. It is one of the hardest situations I've had to deal with in a long time. Especially since I leave 2 days before their school gets out and won't even get to say goodbye.
Through this all, I have decided to make the most of the situation I've been placed in. I'm going to take advantage of every moment I get to spend with my siblings in the next few days, and I'm going to be happy for them and the wonderful opportunities they are receiving. Most of all, I am going to completely trust God in his reasoning for this situation, and I am going to grow from it :) Prayers would really be appreciated, as this is definately the most testing situation I've been in so far in Africa.
And as far as making the most of these last few days, well I'm pleased to report that I've already started. Yesterday (Thursday), I took my sister to town in Mukono for some girl bonding time, and we got ice cream, went shopping, bought here some treats to take with her to school, and rented a movie and watched it late at night. It was a wonderful day, and I already feel even more connected to my beautiful and loving new sister :)
1/23/2012
Just a Typical Ugandan Weekend
What an eventful weekend it has been! I am beginning to get used to the normal routine of the Ugandan life and am newly experiencing much of the Ugandan culture at the same time. This weekend has been full of ups and a few downs. Thursday was a major up, as I got to attend my first Ugandan party! It was a graduation party for my new friend Demali’s sister, Brandi. Mama Harriet was catering the party, and I got to tag along as a guest. The night was AMAZING. I made many new friends, including a little girl named Matilda, Brandi-the graduate, Brian-a music producer (who looks strangely familiar to Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air…), Edward-my brother Joshua’s tutor, and many more. The party started with a short service given by the reverend, which included a prayer for the graduates. Then, we ATE. We ate a LOT. It was delicious, of course, because my Mama is the best cook around. I am blessed J The night ended with a dance party! This was the most fun I’ve had in a while, as it started with the young guests and children dancing to some hip-hop music, but it ended with me, Mama, Nalango and Demali dancing together. And they all can move! It was a great end to a great night J
On Friday, I went to Kampala to visit the craft market and Garden City mall. Kampala is a crazy city, and the ride there in a matatu (taxi) is even crazier. The craft market was wonderful, and I found myself wishing I had more money to buy gifts for friends and family. The mall was surprisingly very westernized. Being in a coffee shop, watching people eating salads, and seeing pizza (all food…can you tell where my mind was at?) made me feel strange. I began to think about what I would be doing if I was in America at that moment, and that feeling continued over to Saturday.
On Saturday, I woke up and helped make breakfast tea for the family. I then did laundry (which is quite the process!), washed dishes with Jennifer, and made lunch with Jennifer. I realized how life here is really centered on running a house and keeping a family alive. The days consist of cleaning and preparing for the next meal. I was very glad to be a part of this process on Saturday, as I was settling in to traditional African life, but it was a slightly hard adjustment. I realized that not only am I adjusting to a move from America to Uganda, but I’m adjusting to a change from independent, college dorm life to living in a home with a family to look out for again. And let me tell you, the latter adjustment is much harder to make. However difficult it may be though, I love my Ugandan family, and giving up much of my independent life is well worth it for the love and care I have received!
Sunday started off much the same way as Saturday, except we attended church as well. The other occurrence on Sunday was that I experienced my first African stomach bug…When you mix acid reflex disease with the flu, you get a horrible feeling L
No matter how bad I felt, however, I still cannot contain the joy I feel inside in knowing that I get to spend over 3 more months living an African lifestyle. This realization keeps coming to me, and I feel a rush of excitement every time. I cannot wait for the time when I am so used to the Ugandan way of doing things that I am forever changed and will not be the same when I go back home in the summer.
Oh and on Sunday I also got to attend another graduation party! When I wasn’t feeling sick, of course…This party was HUGE, and Mama catered the whole thing for around 200 people! I got to see two of my American USP friends there, and it was great to catch up with them and witness some of the different African traditions together.
So there you have it. My first true Ugandan weekend J And what a blessing it has been!
1/17/2012
Here are a few pictures that didn't make the first cut!
This past weekend our group went on a trip to Jinja. Jinja is on Lake Victoria, which feeds into the Nile River. It was a wonderful, relaxing little mini vacation!
1/16/2012
These are our dogs. They are both named Max. One of them bit me the other day :(
Potato Chips and Popcorn?
1/13/12
I came to Uganda with the mindset that the culture here would be completely different than American culture, and I am continually surprised when I am proved wrong. Yesterday my family served me potato chips (or crisps) for tea time, and then for breakfast this morning I had popcorn and a banana! (an interesting combination but delicious nonetheless). My brothers like much of the same music a typical American teenager would listen to. They love Kanye West, Ludacris, and they probably know more American hip-hop artists than I do… Jonah’s favorite movies are Salt, Too Fast Too Furious, Saw, the Bourne Series, X-Men, and more typical American movies. My brothers are way cooler than I am J
What surprised me even more than the similarity between the two cultures is the similarity between the worship styles of Ugandan Christians and American Christians. I almost expected to come here and be refreshed and renewed in my faith as I experienced passionate African worship and Christians who are so open and alive in Christ. What I have discovered, though, is that God is no different here than he is back home, and he works in the lives of the Ugandans just the same as he works in the lives of Americans. Ugandans worship the same way we do, and they struggle with having passionate, unswerving faith just like all Christians do. While I am slightly disappointed I have not been instantly lit on fire for God just by being in Africa (sarcasm…), it is slightly relieving and intriguing to know that God is present equally in all his creation, whether African, American, or any other nationality.
1/12/2012
Olyotya!
I have only been in Uganda for 6 days now, but I already feel like I belong here. The people are amazing, the scenery is beautiful, and the culture is so rich and full of life. On Sunday night, I met my new family for the first time. I live with my Mama Harriet, two 18 year old brothers, Joshua and Jonathan, an 11 year old brother Mark, a 28 year old sister named Jennifer, 2 sisters I have yet to meet, and a family of neighbors who I see often. On my first night at home, I settled into my room (which I have to myself! Such a blessing and a wonderful act of love shown to me by my family!), and then Mama took me to Mukono. She showed me a village she was catering in, and I got to spend some time with the children there and my friend Brenda (an intern from USP), whose father owns most of the village. The children kept playing around me and touching my skin. They called me Mzu (pronounced Mazu), or Mzungu. Mama told me Mzungu means white or foreigner. I think this is going to become my new name here! Next, Mama took me to her friends' house and I had my first Ugandan tea time with ground nuts (peanuts, but much more delicious than American peanuts!)
The next two days I spent getting a grasp on Ugandan schooling/classes and bonding with my family. I already feel like I fit in with my family well and feel comfortable in my new home. We have been talking about American movies and music, and we have many of the same interests. One night I spent my time dancing with Mark and a neighbor, Ismah. We taught each other some great dance moves! I also taught Mark and another neighbor, Fiki, the card game Uno. They love it and want to play it every night!
The food here is delicious. I have had such a variety of things to eat, and I will never go hungry here! My favorite thing to eat so far is a banana cake my Mama made for me the other day. It tastes almost exactly like American banana bread. I have also eaten a lot of rice and beans (every day for lunch), matoke (plaintain mashed potatoes-this is the best description I have come up with...), chicken, pineapple, oranges, bread (for breakfast every morning), rolex (flat bread with egg in it), chipote (flat bread), and much more!
The most amazing thing that has happened so far is finding out that I have the same host family as my new sister, Melody Dickenson, from back home at Spring Arbor University! Melody came last year, and I ended up getting the same host family as she had. This has been such a blessing and an encouragement. God's hand was definately in the choosing of my family for the next 4 months :)
All in all, it has been a wonderful first week in Africa. I already cannot even imagine having to leave in a few months. Ugandans are full of kindness and love, and they are the most hospitable people I have ever met. I have enjoyed every minute with them, and I cannot wait to spend the next four months here!
-Kate
p.s. I will have pictures up soon I promise!
I have only been in Uganda for 6 days now, but I already feel like I belong here. The people are amazing, the scenery is beautiful, and the culture is so rich and full of life. On Sunday night, I met my new family for the first time. I live with my Mama Harriet, two 18 year old brothers, Joshua and Jonathan, an 11 year old brother Mark, a 28 year old sister named Jennifer, 2 sisters I have yet to meet, and a family of neighbors who I see often. On my first night at home, I settled into my room (which I have to myself! Such a blessing and a wonderful act of love shown to me by my family!), and then Mama took me to Mukono. She showed me a village she was catering in, and I got to spend some time with the children there and my friend Brenda (an intern from USP), whose father owns most of the village. The children kept playing around me and touching my skin. They called me Mzu (pronounced Mazu), or Mzungu. Mama told me Mzungu means white or foreigner. I think this is going to become my new name here! Next, Mama took me to her friends' house and I had my first Ugandan tea time with ground nuts (peanuts, but much more delicious than American peanuts!)
The next two days I spent getting a grasp on Ugandan schooling/classes and bonding with my family. I already feel like I fit in with my family well and feel comfortable in my new home. We have been talking about American movies and music, and we have many of the same interests. One night I spent my time dancing with Mark and a neighbor, Ismah. We taught each other some great dance moves! I also taught Mark and another neighbor, Fiki, the card game Uno. They love it and want to play it every night!
The food here is delicious. I have had such a variety of things to eat, and I will never go hungry here! My favorite thing to eat so far is a banana cake my Mama made for me the other day. It tastes almost exactly like American banana bread. I have also eaten a lot of rice and beans (every day for lunch), matoke (plaintain mashed potatoes-this is the best description I have come up with...), chicken, pineapple, oranges, bread (for breakfast every morning), rolex (flat bread with egg in it), chipote (flat bread), and much more!
The most amazing thing that has happened so far is finding out that I have the same host family as my new sister, Melody Dickenson, from back home at Spring Arbor University! Melody came last year, and I ended up getting the same host family as she had. This has been such a blessing and an encouragement. God's hand was definately in the choosing of my family for the next 4 months :)
All in all, it has been a wonderful first week in Africa. I already cannot even imagine having to leave in a few months. Ugandans are full of kindness and love, and they are the most hospitable people I have ever met. I have enjoyed every minute with them, and I cannot wait to spend the next four months here!
-Kate
p.s. I will have pictures up soon I promise!
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