Week 9 - Reminiscing

All of the Uganda study abroad alumni told us that time would fly by here, and they were right. These past nine weeks have been so much fun, and we've all learned so much. As our program comes to a close, it only seems appropriate that I recount some of my favorite moments from our study abroad experience.

I think it was the second week that we were here in Uganda and our group was still getting to know each other when we decided to order four large pizzas and a red velvet cake from a restaurant called I Love New York Kitchen. It took a very long time to track down the phone number on-line, and even then we didn't have a menu. In the end, the wait was worth it, though. I remember all of us sitting in the flat eating, laughing, talking, really just getting to know each other. This past weekend we ordered pizza from I Love New York Kitchen again, and it made me smile to see all of us back together, eating, laughing, talking - just like that first time.

I remember when we visited Mulago Bright Standard Primary School, and after the children had performed for us, Centurio chose three people to give speeches. The last student to speak simply said "Mwebale" (thank you in Luganda), and the entire place burst into applause.

And the sad tale of the rooster at Busabi. This rooster at the hotel where we were staying woke all of us up very early in the morning and then wouldn't let us get back to sleep with its incessant crowing. The next day Centurio joked with the hotel staff that we would like them to cook that rooster for dinner. But it wasn't a joke when the rooster wasn't there when we got back and we had chicken for dinner. Sure enough we had eaten the rooster. The hotel staff claimed that that was always the rooster's fate, but we still felt guilty. We did sleep better that night, though.

When I was trying to accompany the Butabika staff on an outreach event, Centurio accompanied me on the mutatu rides across Kampala. When we finally got to Ntinda, where I was to be picked up, I remember being so relieved that I gave Centurio a hug. It was in that moment that I truly realized how dedicated and kind Centurio is that he would take hours out of his day to take public transportation with me.

Ah, the frustration that came with trying to learn a Buganda dance. My hips do not move that way, but I tried.

In the first week, Dan told us at breakfast about the tiny antelope called oribe that we would see at Murchison Falls. This was my first experience with Dan's great story-telling skills.

In Zanzibar, I learned that I am not very good at bargaining. Me: "I will give you ten thousand shillings for these sandals." Salesperson: "Oh no. Fourteen." Me: "Okay." I still have not really improved upon this.

Seeing the Rakai Community Cohort Study was just really amazing. It's difficult to describe how fantastic it was to see such a large research project operating in conjunction with health service provision in rural Uganda.

This last week one of the students in our group organized a cookout with a refugee population that he had been working with. It was a powerful gathering, and I was so impressed that one of the students in our group had organized it and even more impressed that this refugee population remained so strong in the face of adversity.

There are so many more stories and experiences, but these were a few that first popped into my mind. I've truly had a wonderful time here in Uganda. I have made so many friends and experienced so much. I will never forget the time that I have spent here.

Location: Kampala, Busabi, Zanzibar, Rakai, all over Uganda

Week 2 - Video

Week 2 - Video from PublicHealth Uganda on Vimeo.

Jay and Rachel demonstrate Ugandan dance moves in this humorous instructional video.

Week 2 - Photo Slideshow

Week 2 - Photo Slideshow from PublicHealth Uganda on Vimeo.

A look at our second week in pictures.

Week 2 - Meeting People, Dancing, and Getting around the City

This week we started classes, began our dance training, visited the NGOs and other organizations where we will be interning, and took our first ride on a matatu. Needless to say, it has been a full week. I know last week a lot of us were feeling like tourists, and I think this week we have started to find our place in Kampala. We are not experts by any means, but we have met some new people and visited some new places.

In meeting people, I have noticed differences in the ways that Ugandans (versus Americans) greet people. Although variable, handshakes here tend to be longer than those in the United States. Usually, you clasp hands, rotate them so that your still grabbing hands but your thumb is pointed toward your own body, then rotate your hand back to the customary hand shake position. And don't be surprised when the other person continues to hold onto your hand for a prolonged period. This seemed strange at first, as I am most familiar with the brief, firm handshake that most people use in the United States, but I have become accustomed to this greeting now. This is not to say that this is the only way that people greet you in Uganda. I have also received quick handshakes and hugs, as well as handshakes accompanied by "Hello" and "Praise be to God." The commonality in all of these greetings, however, comes in the form of warmth. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming.

Dance training has been fun but frustrating at times. The traditional dances of the Buganda region involve a lot of hip movements and footwork. Olivia (our dance instructor) started us out with the footwork (step left - one, step right - two, step left - one, etc.). Then she added leg lifting (step left, raise right leg from the waist - one; step right, raise left leg from the waist - two; repeat). And then she added the "shake it." (I think that one is self-explanatory.) Some in our group caught on right away, but I would say the majority of us tried with occasional interjections of, "My body just doesn't move that way." Olivia has been supportive, and I am sure with practice we will get it before our performance next weekend.
When we haven't been doing traditional Ugandan dances ourselves, we have seen many performances. Last weekend we saw an amazing performance by the Ndere Dance Troupe. This week some students at Mulago Bright Standard performed for us, and so did some children at Peace for Children Africa. The integration of music and dance in Ugandan culture is really cool. It serves as a means of communicating cultural and social messages, and it seems to bring joy as well as a source of income to many dancers. It's truly amazing to see children who do not have parents or any possessions or who have come from the streets embracing performance and using it to explain their situations to other people.

Getting around on mutatus has not been too bad so far, but then again, Centurio and Olivia have either been accompanying or organizing most of these rides for us. I have learned a few things about riding in matatus, though. 1. Be prepared to get very close to the person sitting next to you. 2. Pay around the time you are about to get off. 3. Watch your head upon exiting the matatu. I have hit mine several times now. 4. Make sure that a matatu driver who has been hired to take you to a specific place actually knows where that place is located. He will get you there eventually, but expect some pauses for directions. 5. Sometimes matatus get pulled over by police for inspections. I'm not exactly sure what these inspections are about, but again your ride might take a little bit longer than you originally expected. (Believe it or not numbers 4 and 5 happened on the same matatu ride.)

Overall, it has been a busy and enjoyable week. Remembering to have a sense of humor and to stay open-minded has made everything easier. Plus, it doesn't hurt that everyone has been so welcoming and helpful.

Location: Kampala