Days Like This: February 2012

When I was preparing to come to Africa, I think I had an idealized expectation of what I was going to experience. Maybe I was expecting to have a “mountain-top high” in every moment. Maybe I was expecting to be happy all the time simply because of the fact I was in Africa. But that’s definitely not true. As my friends have been reminding me, “life is still life, no matter where you go.” I still brush my teeth every day. I still hit my ‘snooze’ button on my alarm every morning. I still have moments of feeling overwhelmed with school work. I still become giddy when I see a sunset, and I still smile when I listen to my seasonal playlists. Life hasn’t changed in that sense. But it has become more difficult. I am accustomed to an American lifestyle, not a Ugandan one. When I first arrived here, I felt completely overwhelmed by the many changes. I was immediately faced with a hotter climate, a loss of routines, unfamiliar faces, a lack of electricity and running water, a language barrier, a new community, and strange insects. It would be nice if these adjustments came one at a time, but they tend to travel in packs, leaving me overwhelmed and emotionally drained. It takes a lot of perseverance and patience to push past the language barrier each day, relinquish my personal space, and make the effort to “break the ice” with my host family. But if I didn’t have these experiences, I don’t think I would be able to have an authentic experience.

A few weekends ago, we American students went on a retreat to Jinja, a town which is beautifully located on Lake Victoria at the source of the Nile. While we were there, I couldn’t help wondering about the other white people I saw vacationing at the resort. They would snap pictures of the grass hut hotels and admire the palm trees. They would take a boat ride on Lake Victoria to the source of the Nile or swim in the luxurious chlorine-treated pool. They would eat meat and drink a glass of soda at each meal. They could do all these things and think, “This is Africa!” But the truth is, that was not Africa. Not the authentic Africa. Granted, I definitely acted like a tourist while I was there, too. But while I noticed the other tourists, I couldn’t help but think about the Ugandans I encounter every day. My brothers who wake up early to feed our many animals. My father who teaches math to his large class of primary students. My little brother and sister who play games with the neighborhood kids all afternoon. My mother who grades exams by day and cooks supper for our family into the late hours of the evening. I could have come to Africa and lived the comfortable life in an expat community. Instead, I am diving into the culture with all its overwhelming facets. It is emotionally draining, but in the end it will be so worth it. By living with a family, I am learning to live a true Ugandan life, the way Ugandans experience it every day. In the end, these “authentic” experiences are the ones I prefer. These are the experiences that draw me closer to my family and closer to learning more about the culture I love.

And I am learning to love it. Life has gotten so much easier. I am finally feeling at home here. I am still trying to grow closer to my family, but many of them are quite shy or don’t speak much English. My brothers Kennedy and Isaac have moved away to boarding school, which has been hard since they are the family members I have connected with most. But I am definitely looking forward to the time I will have with the rest of the family. I am developing a normal routine and the things that used to feel unusual (like bucket bathing and using a latrine) are becoming second nature. I really enjoy being at home with my family in the evening. They are so laid-back and comfortable to be around. Even if I can’t understand what they are saying most of the time, the love they have for one another is evident and so refreshing to see. My mama has been asking me to help her run errands or assist her with household chores, which has made me feel more like a part of this family. My little sister started her first day of primary (elementary) school on Monday and she’s been really excited about that. We live in the middle of three primary schools, so there have been lots of children running around our neighborhood. On Sunday, my friend (an American student who lives down the path from my house) and I played with the kids who live in our neighborhood. We taught them games like “Red Rover” and “Down on the Banks,” while they taught us some fun Ugandan games. I really enjoy being part of a close community, which is a very important value in African life. My neighbors greet me every morning as I leave for school, and shout “Kulikayo!” (Welcome Back!) when I return home in the afternoon.

I’ve almost been here a month. It’s crazy how quickly the time has gone already! I find myself wishing time would just slow down. The first few weeks were hard, but God has been SO faithful throughout it all. Every once in a while, I have moments where I feel the need to pinch myself to see if this is really happening. Am I seriously in Africa?! Yes. I really am. And I am falling more in love with this country and this culture every day. Thank you all for your continued prayers - I can definitely feel them! And to all of you who have written me emails or sent notes of encouragement - THANK YOU! Even if I haven’t responded, they have meant the world to me and I’m not sure I could have gotten through the first few weeks without them. I am so grateful for your continued love and support.

Lastly, I have posted some pictures below so you can visualize some of the wonderful moments I’ve had since being here. Sending love to you all from Uganda!!

Hannah :)

My friend Samantha with some of our neighborhood kids - we taught them Red Rover :)

Aleda and I by Lake Victoria - Jinja, Uganda

Part of the group at the source of the Nile River.

Mukono Market Madness!

Part of an Introduction Ceremony - an event where the bride's family meets the groom's family for the first time before the wedding. So much color, dancing, and celebration!