Boda-Boda’s, Burial, and Theft – my third week in Uganda

It's hard to believe I've been in Bigodi over three weeks now! Here are the highlights from my third week...

1. What can you do about overcrowding in our schools, exam fees, lack of sanitary supplies, lack of text books, academics, etc.. - These are just some of the questions that the headmasters pose to me when I go to visit their schools. I'm in a tough position because the needs are so great but I am just one and was hired to do a very specific job of training teachers in conservation education.

2. God grant me serenity- When the above happens or when I just become overwhelmed by all the needs around me, the serenity prayer brings me a lot of comfort. "God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can & Wisdom to know the difference."

3. You're Obama’s people- This is how I am often introduced when I go into classrooms. It's interesting that all the children know that Obama is the president of the US, but seldom know who president is of neighboring countries.

4. Attending my first Ugandan burial/wake- My friends "auntie" (really her mom's cousin but many older women are called auntie here) passed away Monday morning so the burial and wake was Tuesday afternoon. I have never been to a wake with so many people, there must have been 200-300 all seated on benches under make shift multi colored tents. Turns out all the people from the village go to the burials and just like at an American wake there was lots of food!

5. Getting money stolen- I had prepared myself long before I left home that I would probably experience at least one theft while I was here. Let’s hope that by getting it out of the way early into my trip that the rest of my stay will be incident free. I had the equivalent of about $100-$150 stolen from my wallet; they were kind enough to leave my small bills. I have to carry a fare amount of cash here because the closest ATM is 45 minutes away in Fort Portal and I often need cash for work.

6. Transportation Ugandan style- Ridding my first boda-boda (motor bike taxi) and being crammed in a taxi with 7 others definitely makes this week’s list. Here most women ride boda-boda’s side saddle, I on the other hand couldn’t figure out how to balance that way so there I was in a skirt straddling the motor bike! It was quite a sight to see.

7. Do you go boozing?- What um booze, you mean drink, yes of course. This is how the conversation went when I was asked out to my first Ugandan bar by one of my teachers. There is a bar just about a five min walk from walk from my house!

8. Best Ugandan pickup line I’ve heard yet- “You’re very large, you must eat a lot.” If I was home in America and somebody said this to me, I’d think they were being rude after all it’s never polite to comment on a lady’s size. However, here being a larger woman is a sign of health and wealth.

9. Trying to help around the house- Sometimes when I try to help here at home, it becomes more of a mess. Turns out I'm not very good at washing clothing by hand or peeling green bananas (we use them to make matokee). In the time it took me to peel one, Sara (one of the daughters’) had peeled eight!

10. A perfect end to a good day- Many times after dinner, the girls will get out the drum and sing wonderful songs. There I am sitting underneath the most amazing star filled sky listening traditional African songs, thinking life is good.

11. Ash Wednesday service- I decided to attend Ash Wednesday service at the local Catholic church here in Bigodi. Good idea, except that is was entirely in Rwterra so I didn't understand a word of it!

12. I’m in love- Don’t worry, I’m not marrying an African prince. Leon, the 16 month old of the Tinka family, has a way of brightening my days with his big smile and beautiful brown eyes.

13. Calls and help from home- I continue to be blessed by amazing friends. This week I had a call from the states, an offer to mail me a care package and found out that one of my friends has organized 3 drives to send things that people need here (like sanitary supplies, playground balls, and books). Thank you!