Bye Muzungu!

Back to School

2009-03-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to narrow down what to write about in these blogs. . . Should I talk about my host-family? adventures? school? God? I'll just start writing and see where it takes me.

I have gotten to the point where I truly do feel at home in Mukono. Pieces of my heart are daily scattered throughout places I visit and with the people I meet. I know the community, I know the customs, and I am beginning to understand and long for what life could be like for me here if I stayed -- which is somewhat disheartening seeing as I technically only have a month left to explore and delight in this discovery. For instance, I was given the opportunity to work at the local primary school teaching P3 (roughly the grade 3 equivalent) every Wednesday. From my first steps into the teachers lounge to my first lines on the chalk board I have felt welcome and at peace there. The classroom is this small hole in the wall with roughly ninety bodies crammed inside everyday -- four rows of nine, with two to three students per desk. Each student is SO excited to be there and it is so humbling to be a part of that... no matter how small that may be. :)

(The other teachers have mentioned an open position on their staff as well as a position for a basketball coach to me... ah! It has been one of the hardest temptations in my life to have to say no to.)

Muzungu vs. Mutatu

2009-03-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Eek! It has been a month and I have not posted! Time has flown...

I promised a story from "Muzungu vs. Mutatu," but since I am quite literally about to leave for a weekend in Jinja (rafting & bungee jumping!) I am going to copy a conversation I had with someone earlier via email... (Pardon any editing errors!)

Friend - When you get a chance you have to send me a full account of your adventures in Uganda. I expect it to be lengthy, verbose, and full of adjectives. Ok, Go!

Me - Ha! A full account??? That would be impossible. I can't even keep up with everything that happens in one day let alone the past month and a half. But I will give you a story from one of our walks home... well, I'm getting ahead of myself already... Our walks to and from school take roughly 40-50 minutes. (I decided to live with a family instead of in the dorms this semester and it has been a BLAST!) Okay, walks... the university is at the top of this cliff so it's a barge to get up and down everyday. We start off by walking through town, then behind a back road, and finally up a cliff. The thing is though, the road is SO dangerous that we have to make sure to keep track of how close we are to traffic or else we would get run over and not even be looked at twice. There are absolutely no rules of the road here. Whoever is biggest gets the right of way... meaning pedestrians are basically goners if they get distracted.

But this one day in particular we were walking home after classes and were on the last leg of our journey through town when all of a sudden this HUGE branch comes flying at my face! I was like "what the!" and started looking around to see who had thrown it. It turned out to be this haggard guy across the street. He had no shoes, torn up clothes, and a ticked off look on his face. I just looked at him with a 'what's your deal man?' look on my face and continued walking because if I made a scene this guy could have likely been killed-- I am one of thirty muzungus (white persons), or one of fifteen female muzungus in Mukono right now. So if I had made a scene it would have drawn immediate attention. And the men around here are either very inappropriate of very protective, and if I displayed a sign of distress in any way, they would "fix" the problem without thinking twice. So I kept walking, but I continued to look back to see what this guy was doing when I noticed him beginning to crouch down on the ground (totally inappropriate! Oddly enough Africans are very picky about staying clean). He began to drag himself across the road, the MAIN city road -- no traffic laws remember -- towards his stick. I then realized that he had never thrown it at me, someone else had! Here, if someone is suffering with AIDS, or appears to be unhealthy in any way, they are treated SO badly -- superstitions with bad spirits and all. So this man had had his walking stick taken from him and thrown across the street in a gesture of disgust and here I was blaming him. There was nothing I could do as I witnessed cars honking and barely missing him, because if a woman reaches out to help a man here, especially a muzungu woman, it would be looked at as completely inappropriate. Finally, a man did help him, but I was so certain that I was about to witness this man get run over. There are so many humbling and mind blowing experiences just like this every single day. Everything that I know from home is completely useless here. I am relearning how to interact with people and basically live our life here in Uganda. We have no running water, no electricity, and a language barrier that I am just beginning to break through. Truthfully, I wouldn't trade any second of any day for anything though.

My friends could beat your friends at spoons!

2009-02-12T05:54:00.000-08:00

Geoff and I checkin' out the view (Tanzania) from the mountain top.

Alrighty, this week has flown by! Last weekend we went on a trip to Rakai to visit a community center (check out the Kibaale Community Center online!) --It took us six(ish) hours on the bus to get there. We did stop at the equator though which was pretty cool. Once we arrived it was a complete relief to know that we were going to spend the next couple of days in a rural area as opposed to a metropolitan one in Mukono. It was so relaxing and beautiful! Oh, we also played the most epic game of Spoons (well, bottle caps) that I have ever played--no joke; people left bleeding.

Geoff and I being silly on the bus.

Our 'we made it up the mountain' faces!

I'm pretty sure that this was not considered an appropriate, lady-like activity, but we did it anyways...

The gang.

. . .

We have been flooded with a ton of cross-cultural information and have learned even more from first hand experiences with our families, communities, etc. But my favorite lesson so far has been the gesture of just being present with one another. At first, there was a lot of awkward "nothing" time with our families, but those moments seem so precious now because as the African saying goes "presence is the debt we owe to each other." The other day for instance, Mama and I had tea alone (oh! Africans take tea-time very seriously around here! ha. Once before lunch and once before dinner) and we just laughed about nothing and everything. It was absolutely ridiculous but awesome... I can't even begin to explain what our connection is like through a blog. She--along with everyone else in my family--has such a kind and genuine spirit.

William - Mom, Dad, found my husband in Africa. Gettin' hitched next week...

...ha, joke. ;)

Up next! Part one of "Muzungu vs. Mutatu: A Retelling of Near Death Experiences on the Road"

...Coming soon!!

Ode to a Washing Machine

2009-02-05T01:18:00.000-08:00

Sittin' here thinkin': "Why was I so cruel?"

When I mocked your abundant, soapy pools.

I must apologize for I am not too proud,

Your spin cycled love I just wouldn't allow--Oh but we're far past that now.

I take it all back, those spoiled thoughts of

mine,

(Dude, washing in small tubs really does KILL your spine!)

I toss and turn, dreaming of your shiny exterior,

I'm so sorry if my abuse and ridicule ever made you feel inferior.

You washed my clothes, sheets, what have you, without complaint,

But now my bloody knuckles are a symbolic reminder of our laundry day war paint.

Sweet mechanic perfection, you are my hero.

Washing tubs - won; Muzungu - zero.

Ha ha ha!! Wow...

Liz & my torn up knuckles.

"My life be like, oooh ahh!"

2009-02-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

'I heart Uganda' - Monkey Hill '09

"I believe there's a pride that's stunning,

And I believe in the kingdom coming

I believe if you seek the truth,

You don't need to look far cuz it's gonna find you!

...

My Life be like Oooh aaaah ooooh!"

-Grits

Check it out!:

http://www.uspspring2009.blogspot.com/

Who let the Muzungus in the Kitchen?!

2009-02-01T22:44:00.001-08:00

The chefs -- Me, Liz, Kaia, & Geoff.

So, this past Friday friends and I made our families an American meal... ha ha. Well we attempted at least. There is very little you can accomplish with a charcoal fire and two pans. But it was so much fun! They ended up loving the food -- spaghetti & meatballs with banana splits for dessert -- and the company was great. Good times. :)

Jammin' with Jeffrey

Boys bein' boys.

Jeffrey, Sadik, Me, Mama Robina, Liz, Silvia, & William.

The fam!

2009-01-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

This one's for my Dad!

Here is a group of guys who asked to play the guitar after the church service in Jinja. They were awesome!

Left my heart in Jinja.

2009-01-28T21:13:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple Jinja pictures!

Liz, Me, & Megan in front of the Nile!

Yep, those are live chickens strapped to the top of that Mutatu.

Ew, okay. So we went on this crazy devotional tour and wound up at these trees... there were HUNDREDS of bats in and around them. Bleh.

Apparently this is my Nile face?

Up the nose.

Booooats.

Geoff with his hand in the NILE!

Charles and my tourist pic.

This woman gave a whole new meaning to the word graceful.

Kaia. :)

Liz checkin' out the view from our hut.

We were SO excited to find out that we had electricity and running water in our hut for the weekend!!

The IMME girls.

The Fisherman's Village.

Ha! Bye!

Plant a thought and watch it grow.

2009-01-28T06:05:00.000-08:00

Oh the weather ain't so fine today

Darling it's just right for me

Cause I've been thinking of you

Got these far away blues

Oh the water's mad

She's been fighting with the wind

I've been thinking of you

Got these far away blues

So please don't take me the wrong way

Things are fine and people are great, but

I've been thinking of you

Got these far away blues

- Joe Purdy

Hey Everyone! Sorry about not writing for a while. Things have been great, rainy today, but great. We just got back from our trip to Jinja (source of the Nile!), and it was incredible. I'll post pictures later... ha, well maybe. Later being like a month from now.

One thing that really impacted me this trip was personally being asked to lead worship for one of the churches there. It was so intense and wonderful. I have never felt so alive before in all of my life. (Yes, I finally got my hands on a guitar!) It is great to know that no matter the distance, no matter the language, worshipping the Lord is cross-cultural.

Love you all, and I think of you everyday.

*If you haven't already, rent the movie 'War Dance'. INCREDIBLE! Specifically love the song Makambo by Geoffrey Oryema in it.

Mmm, A little life with a side of Matoke please.

2009-01-21T03:16:00.000-08:00

Alrighty, that last post was intense... ha.

I want a burger, or Pinkberry ha ha. Everything we eat, EVERYTHING, comes with a side of Matoke -- a staple dish consisting of plantains. It looks like mashed up bananas but tastes like ...Matoke. ha ha! I've asked six different people how they would describe the taste and the facial expression describes it more than any words could:

*Tori (bottom left) is the only one who likes Matoke. :)

(Don't worry. I'll make sure to get the recipe broseph!)

... And Josh, in response to your saying of choice - Afya! Vifijo! Unalipa?

"We can do no great things, but small things with great love."

2009-01-21T01:53:00.000-08:00

Warning! The following is a somewhat intense look into the complicated thoughts bouncing off the walls in my head and ostensibly making their way onto my blog ... (You've been warned.)

Missions, what's the purpose? God will fulfill His redemptive intentions with or without me, so why bother?

I do not claim to know everything. I don't even pretend to know a lot when it comes to my faith and my God. I am still learning which is why I continuously love seeking the Lord. Those moments where God is revealed have been the most surprising and impacting of my life.

... "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."

I find myself here in Africa in the middle of a call that I never intended to really be a part of truthfully. By choosing to live with a Ugandan family I presumably was also agreeing to be a part of the USP Missionary team for the semester. This means: preparing and giving messages in the local churches, attending classes designed for future missionaries, and participating on trips and community outreaches with my fellow missions peers. Needless to say, prayers would be GREATLY appreciated.

I understand, and truly believe, that being called to missions is a privilege, not a chore. We all have specific gifts--whether you believe they are from God or not--that make each of us unique and ideal for certain activities and outreaches. For example, some may have a way with words and speaking in public settings; others may know how to really listen and relate. My gifts apparently extend beyond the classroom--or at least they do for now--which is something I had not initially thought.

*God equips the called, not calls the equipped. I can do this.

How am I going to handle things when it's not perfect anymore--when I move out of the optimistic, "I'm in Africa" stage? I also do not mean to romanticize life here. Meaning, I'm just living a normal life in another part of the world (normal being relative to the ways of thinking in Uganda). There are challenges, similarities/differences, and joys. Miraculous things do not happen all the time as presumed of the missionary's life, but one thing has been certain so far: love is cross-cultural. The relationships that I have already made are so real. The love that my Ugandan family has for Christ translates into the love they have for us (my roommate and I) and it is is so humbling.

... "I'm sorry for the time that I have wasted ... Oh me of little faith."

I heard a great analogy in class today--Following God is like following a GPS (ha, I know, stay with me) ... if you fall away from the path, He is willing and waiting to guide you again. In a previous blog I stated being worried about my intentions for going to Uganda in the first place, "Is this where I want to be, or is this where God wants me to be?" Well, I definitely got my answer.

Argh! Where to start...?

2009-01-16T00:31:00.001-08:00

Alright, I truly want to keep everyone up with the happenings here in Uganda along with the experiences I have had, but believe me when I say that this is impossible! There are so many beautiful differences with customs, foods, daily life, etc. here that explaining one aspect would take a very long time. Along with that, understand that even if I do attempt to explain the way we bathe here for instance, the image you may get in your mind is nothing compared to what it is really like, trust me. But let's start with introductions...

Arriving at the Washing D.C. airport was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. In my case, I took the red eye the night before, so I had a nine hour lay-over to fully psych myself out--did I make the right decision; what if I don't get along with anyone; is this really where God wants me to be right now or is this where I want me to be right now; what if my home-stay family kills me in my sleep, etc. (*ha ha, joke). Ultimately it only took moments to recognize the same expressions of terror and uncertainty in my fellow USP'ers (Uganda Studies Program) faces. *It's amazing how the spirit moves in moments of awkward first impressions :)

I can safely say, we all bonded and became brothers and sisters right off the bat because the differences between us have made our relationships so much deeper. We all have different gifts to offer and different experiences to draw comfort from, and the openness of being able to share this experience with everyone is such a blessing.

Jet lag... can't say that I've really had any trouble with it which is strange given the accumulation of a twenty-six hour flight not including lay-overs. It was a beautiful thing finally landing in Entebe, Africa though--we all learned by this point to not even bother getting off the plane first. The first thought I had when I stepped off the plane was, "we're on the equator?" The weather here is not bad at all! It is actually really nice, but I'll go into more depth later.

We made our way to the visa station and customs terrified that our various molaria medications were about to be confiscated. It turned out though that we never even went through customs...don't know how that worked out, so that's all I have to say about that. Next, we were all so exhausted and happy to finally be here that the whole freak out process of collecting our luggage was abruptly erased. We all just collapsed in a circle by the baggage claim and took turns grabbing bags with the blue USP tags on them--I did in fact get my bag.

The USP program is split into two groups: IMME (home-stays) and dorm living. So the bus was somewhat broken up into these two categories.

Driving through Entebe on our way to Uganda was INCREDIBLE! Never have I ever been so fascinated with anything in all my life. It was roughly mid-night here and everyone was still out and about. There are so many little things going on that I still discover new things on my walk to school everyday. (The walk to school is an entirely different subject.)

The first night here the dorm students were dropped off there and the IMME students were dropped off at guest housing. This was the scene of my first introduction to mosquito nets, bathing, and toilet use. . . ha. (Again, entirely different subject.-E.D.S.)

The following day was a blur of orientation lectures and rising pulses anticipating meeting our future 'mothers, sisters, and brothers' for the home-stays. We were sectioned off either in pairs or in singles and driven to our current homes for the next four months. I have been blessed with a beautiful roommate named Elizabeth who I have already felt connected to (E.D.S.).

We were driven through the town, but let me tell you, it is ENTIRELY different during the day than it is at night. And from the moment we stepped out of the van we were welcomed with heartfelt smiles. In fact, for the first hour or so they would repeatedly say, "You are welcome, you are welcome." Our brothers (E.D.S.) carried our bags to our room and we followed. When we entered the house--which is SO much nicer than I anticipated--it was filled with voices singing worship and praise in perfect harmony. Ah! I still can't get over how abundantly blessed I am... okay, our Mama Robina is in a choir and they sounded beautiful. I immediately felt at home.

Life is wonderful and I am so thankful for everyone's prayers. I have limited amounts of time where I can actually use the internet--not to mention finicky electricity-- so I hope to write more soon.

Wasibye Otyia - Good Afternoon! :)

Muzungu Movements.

2009-01-13T03:50:00.000-08:00

So, I have never done this kind of thing before--you know, displaying my thoughts online for all to see. But I have realized that this would be both the simplest way of explaining my experiences and making them available for everyone to read; so here I go:

"Muzungu": A name that both defines my image and character here in Africa. I hear it when I am walking down the street, I hear it when I am at school, and sadly enough, I hear myself saying it inside my own head. Muzungu is the Lugandan word for 'white person', and I have titled by blog "Bye Muzungu!" not only because it is the phrase being called out to me most often here in Uganda, but simply because that it is where my life is right now--on the move and drastically changing.

More blogging to come...I promise. :)