What an experience we have had in our first month together in Uganda. It is funny to think about our hectic, multi-tasking, prioritized days back in Minneapolis and how our lives were changed with a flight across the pond. It is a simpler life here, and tasks take longer, but there is also this laid back attitude that rubs off on us. It is nice to relax and take it all in - the sights, sounds, and smells (some better than others), the people, the culture, the experience. We have learned to conserve, to wait, and to do without. But one thing that I seem acutely aware of this time around, is the necessity to be aggressive. That midwestern passivity does NOT work here. There is no such thing as waiting your turn, if you have an opportunity to get ahead of someone, you take it. This concept is also seen on the road and being a pedestrian is dangerous. Grant was sure I was going to kill him crossing the street when we first arrived, but he has now become an expert at dodging matatus and land cruisers, all the while looking both ways for bodas down a one-way street.
Grant and I have begun Luganda lessons twice a week and have been practicing our greetings and numbers lately, which comes in handy with bodas and taxis. It makes such a difference in the way people perceive this mzungu when a local greeting comes out of my mouth. Although it is frustrating once you get past the words we know and end up smiling and nodding.
Mondays and Wednesday evenings are devoted to our Luganda class, and our other days have been gobbled up by social events. Last week on Tuesday I went out with the girls to a "jazz" event at a club, and it was actually R&B and spoken word. There is a famous (?) Ugandan musician, Maurice Kirya, who puts together these monthly shows and recruits local artists to perform. It was standing room only by the time we got there, but were able to enjoy the acts from the bar. We hosted Quiz Night at Bubbles on Thursday, and it was fun to organize and entertaining to watch teams strategize and concentrate, all the while drinking and trash-talking each other. Friday we went with a large group to the Protea Hotel, to partake in their buffet that our friend Martin has been selling to us with his chef-speak since we met. Needless to say, we were not disappointed.
Even though I brought Halloween costumes from the US, we still ended up walking around all day Saturday looking for final touches. Miriam, Sabine and I then got ready and headed to a great costume party hosted by Sabine's good friends Sybille and Charlie. I had a fabulous time admiring everyone's creations in Kololo while Grant was busy playing poker at Pyramids Casino. He ended up getting 4th and winning $800! I knew I brought him along for something :)
Ouch, Sunday was spent recovering. Grant paid me to go pick up Pavement takeout (even though I felt like death) and we stayed in sleeping and watching movies. Later on, our friend Pete had a gathering at his house in Ntinda where he served his famous chocolate beef and had a surprise birthday celebration for Veronica. He also had a Ugandan Women's Organization there selling bags and beads and I was happy perusing the goodies. Next weekend we are heading to Fort Portal with our roomie Sheida and friend Elena, to do some trekking around the crater lakes and see the chimps.
PICTURES!!!
Nichola, Rosie, Miriam, Sybille, and I
Myself, Tom (aka Billy, aka Jack Sparrow), and Sabine
After the Protea buffet, sipping on Gareth's favorite KLC drink...
Miriam, Grant, me, Sheida, Gareth
Pete, me, Grant at Sunday's soiree
And we do actually work, I swear...
Here we are working on database stuff at the IDI
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