Of Rain and Love

Three days in Uganda is a rather short amount of time with a whole lot of new experiences. I will attempt to share a few with you here so maybe you can get a feel for the craziness and the beauty here as I am trying to absorb it all myself. 

Day 1

I arrived in the airport of Entebbe around midnight. Darkness, but against the glow of the city lights you could make out the outlines of palm trees sticking up above the other plants. As I walked down the steps of the plane I was greeted by the muggy smell of Africa. The smell is a distinct one of earth and living things, similar to the one you experience when entering a greenhouse.   At the customs there was some confusion on getting my visa.  If you are every traveling to Uganda apparently they only take USD or English pounds and would not give me a decent exchange on my Canadian.  The ATM’s were on the other side of customs so I went out, was greeted by Amy who was waiting there for me, and then headed back into customs to retrieve my passport,  visa, and bags.  The power kept turning off and with it the lights and luggage belt. Welcome to Uganda!  I was here, a little tired but happy.

I woke to the sound of pouring rain. It is the dry season, but I guess not today! Someone told me that in Ugandan culture if a person arrives and then it rains it means that they will be a blessing. I hope so. In the morning I got to know some of the other people staying in the VH (aka volunteer house). Right now there is a family of three (they have a cute little guy they have adopted from an orphanage here) two other girls, and myself. Volunteers come and go so this will change over my stay here.  Am y tried to orientate me to the city and in the afternoon we took a bota to the street program.  A bota is a small motorcycle. They are the most common and probably the quickest way to get around.  I will later try to compose a series of pictures of things people carry with them on botas because it is a rather astonishing art around here.  It had been raining all day so there were fewer street boys than usual at program and the ones that did come were quite wet and shivering.  They were grubby and most of them barefoot, but friendly and eager to shake “Untie Rachel’s” hand. If only Auntie Rachel were better with names, but that will come…. Auntie and Uncle is a term of respect here, as well as friendship.  Everyone who is involved in a child’s life in a positive way is called this. I think it goes back to the African proverb – it takes a whole village to raise a child – mindset. There were over forty kids there that day and I was able to connect with a few despite the jetlag.

I will write more on the street boys and the slum area later.  For now, let me just say that the boys are beautiful despite the dirt on them.  And although the slum area is filled with garbage and grouse smells there is something that intrigues me about the resilience of the people who live there and I do not mind going there it at all.

 

Day 2

In the morning Amy and I packed out overnight stuff and headed for the land. Amy is not afraid to drive which is impressive! The driving is crazy here.  To start with they are on the left side of the road here. There are no lights or signs to be seen even in the city. Everyone accelerates, weaves to pass, brakes, and honks all in some sort of unspoken form of organized chaos. But no one seems to get too hurt.  I momentarily held thoughts of getting my own bota to drive while here, but so far they have been quenched by reason.  I am not Amy….

The Land is the name that is given to the property that the boy’s homes are built one. There are two homes and each home has 14 boys in them. The property is in a village outside the city and the last stretch to get to it you feel like you are 4X4ing! The road is red clay and rutted quite deep in spots. The bush grows up on both sides higher than the vehicle. People live in little brick homes beside small banana orchards or rows of yams. Goats and chickens wander their yards lazily. The children still stare and call “Muzungu” before cautiously waving, even though they see quite a few white people pass on the road. When I first met the younger boys they were shy at first, coming to shake my hand and say hello, but then wandering off.  I met Mama Joy who takes care of the boys at the home.  She is a very friendly and speaks English quite well.  She made sure to send one of the boys off to find a jackfruit for me to try. They grow all over and are in season right now. Amy told me they taste like a starburst.  She was not far off, although the texture is a little slimy. I think they may be a new favorite!

I spent a good part of the afternoon trying to learn all the boy’s names, playing cards and trying to have what conversations we could in English. They all seem quite eager to learn. Next week I hope to meet with all of them for a few minutes and try to place where they are in their ability in English –this will give me a better idea of how to plan their lessons which I will start the next week. A couple of them are doing quite well in their English studies, but the rest do not have much yet.  Most of the boys have not been in this home more than a few months.  It is hard to believe that not long ago they too were on the streets of Kampala doing what they had to do to survive.  They are between the ages of 7-12 and all definitely boys, but very sweet and thoughtful. They love to write notes. One of the boys, Solomon, wrote me a note and handed it to me in the morning before I left to head back to Kampala. He is one of the oldest and in the highest grade. I thought I would include a picture of it here because it is so sweet. It amazes me that these boys are still so trusting and loving even though they have been through so much. Amy told me that when he first came into the home and would write a note he would sign it “your grandson” because he thought it meant “great son” (I think son here is again a term of friendship). I think I am as eager to teach them as they are to learn. And I expect they will teach me a lot themselves.

Day 3 – today

It had rained hard last night and the mud roads were a little slick but we went slow and came back to Kampala in the late morning. I helped out at program again. By helped I mean mostly observed. They usually do some activities with the kids, a lesson, a bible lesson, and serve supper. Sometimes they hand out items for the kids (like today they handed out toothbrushes and shirts). I will become more involved with the program as I learn a bit more. For now I am mostly trying to connect with some kids and learn their names! Close to 70 kids came out today. I flagged down my own bota without too much trouble though I had troubles giving him the specifics of where to go to get to the part of the slums that the program is in. Amy had gone ahead to the clinic to treat a boy. She had offered to come and get me, but I figured I would be fine and I was. Fortunately Ugandan’s are very helpful and patient and with some asking of other bota driver we were able to get exactly where I wanted to go.

 

 

I could tell you of my adventures using Ugandan shillings for the first time, about the squaties and lack of running water out at the land, the huge spider I saw, or the random cow that ran though the boys soccer game today. I would like to tell you more about the boys and their beautiful smiles and share some of their stories. And I will. But three days is enough to just give me a glimpse and I do not know enough to give them justice.  But in time I will.

For now, let me say thank you for supporting me in so many different ways. You bless me so much. I am doing really well. I am making sure to boil the water and look right when I cross the road, and not call the boys pants” pants” but trousers (awkwardly enough pants means underwear here…) Thanks for your payers.