Uganda Reflections

[Emily] My first trip to Africa was uniquely amazing. I was visiting Chris, who was finishing his second two month trip to the town of Gulu, Uganda. During this trip, Chris interviewed numerous fathers asking about the role of father’s in Acholi families, how alcohol impacts the role of the father, and how VIVO (the German non-profit organization Chris is working though) can offer support to fathers. Chris’ ability to seamlessly cross geographical and cultural boundaries with such grace and compassion continues to amaze me.  

Chris was wrapping up his research in Gulu the first week I was there so I busied myself with going to the market, cooking meals, cross stitching, and enjoying some downtime. Another student from Germany was also there working so she and I had a great time hanging out in the evenings if Chris was still busy. We went shopping for fabric and gifts and attended a yoga class. Chris (and now I) has a large group of friends in Gulu and one night a bunch of us went dancing at a local club and got to watch a world cup semi-final game with a group of happy Germans.

We continued training for the Twin Cities marathon while there. Running was a bit challenging due to the uneven roads, driving situation as described below, the heat, and the red dust filling our lungs. The great part was having kids think we were silly to be running but then running after us to get a high five.

During my second week in Uganda, we went on a safari. The experience was truly surreal; cue Lion King music and images of Jurassic Park. I highly recommend that everyone do this at least once in their life.

On the surface, things are very different than home but there are more similarities than you would think. Here’s a quick summary of my observations.

Driving

Upon arrival in Kampala, the first startling experience is driving. Cars, buses, semis, boda bodas (motorcycles), pedestrians, and animals of all varieties are apparently all equal in terms of priority. They drive on the left, but it really doesn’t matter since you drive wherever you find an approximately big enough space. While driving is exciting, walking is even more of a thrill. If you hear a horn sound, the vehicle is not going to alter course and you should jump!

Food

A rolex is for eating - it is essentially eggs and vegetables in a piece of chapatti, one of my favorites meals. A breakfast staple for Chris and I was chapatti, from Chris’s favorite local street vendor, with bananas and Nutella.

Animals

Roosters announce the day. And the afternoon. And the evening. And just about every other time in between. I’m sure African roosters are no different than roosters all over the world; I’m just not used to having them outside my window all the time. Ugandans are afraid of caterpillars and the counselors were extremely amused that Chris held them. Dogs are generally filthy, but I was missing Watson so I couldn’t help from petting all the puppies. Mosquito netting should have at least one hole to keep things fair.

Luxuries

Hot water and electricity are luxuries. Don’t plan to have electricity if it is raining. Toilet paper that is branded as “luxury” is not. Most bathrooms consist of a hole cut in a concrete floor but from backpacking experience I knew how to execute this setup.

Vernacular

If someone asks you if you want something and you say “it’s okay”, you are not saying “no thanks”. Instead, you are saying “yes, definitely, let’s do that”. Chris and I both unknowingly agreed to things we thought we had said “no” to. If you are getting someone from the airport, or if you are unplugging something, or if you are trying to listen, all of these actions can use the word “pick”. For example, he picked me from the airport and I tried to pick his words as I got used to his accent. Finally, you must always be passive. For example, you don’t say “come to the market with me,” you say, “maybe you could come to the market with me.”

People

The Acholi people I met are extremely friendly. Communities are tightly knit and the concept of an introvert seems foreign. Their balance is truly amazing; the women always seem to have their hands free because they can balance just about anything on their heads.

I had a wonderful time in Uganda and am truly grateful for the people who welcomed me with open arms and allowed Chris and I to be part of their world for a while.