Week 3 - Expectations

This past weekend we traveled to Busabi to participate in a music, dance, and drama performance with a group called Hatagote. The purpose of the performance was to educate the audience about sanitation. Around 100 or more people turned up to see the show, and I felt that it went really well. Everyone got a good laugh out of our singing and dancing, and they received an important message about maintaining a clean living environment in order to stay healthy.

When we were heading back to Kampala on Sunday, Dan and Centurio decided to take us on a quick detour to see the area in Eastern Uganda that had been affected by flooding. By now the water had receded and if I hadn't been told about the flooding, I probably would not have even known that the area had been effected. That's not to say that no damage was done. We picked up some local people to show us where the flooding had the greatest impact, and they pointed out places where homes used to be. We saw skeletons of new houses being built, and the trenches that had been dug to help divert the water. If you looked more closely, you could see where the water had risen on some homes and washed away the mud that once formed the exterior walls.

At one point, we pulled off of the road in this remote area and got off of the bus to look at the river. When the bus stopped, everyone from the homes nearby came to see who we were and what we were doing in their village. People kind of kept their distance and watched as we took pictures of the river. Dan talked to us about how high the river was and told us that relief had to be airlifted to the people in the area. After a short time, we got back on the bus and drove further down the road.

It felt strange to get off of the bus in this village and to interrupt the daily activities of these people with no explanation. The feelings I had reminded me a lot of the feelings that I had when we toured Mulago Hospital. It felt like we didn't belong. We were parading past people who needed help, and we had nothing to give.

This feeling was amplified when we drove back through the same part of that village. One woman called out to Dan, and he stopped the bus. Immediately, people crowded our open windows. Dan told us that these people had lost everything in the floods and they thought we brought relief. He explained that we didn't have anything for them, and he said maybe some aid would come later. One man looked at me and asked, "What is your problem?" I understood his question to mean, 'Why are you here?' because he followed his statement with, "Just touring?" I said, "Yes." I felt terrible as we drove off, leaving these people with unmet expectations.

I see poverty and need everyday here, and I know I am not the only one who struggles with this. Some days it comes closer than others. We have been told that it takes time to fully understand your place in this new society and to figure out how you can give back in a meaningful way. It's just very difficult in the meantime.

Location: Busabi