I cried yesterday. I was squatting over a hole peeing, with 50 ants swarming around me, and I cried. This past week and a half has been intense and emotionally draining. I figure if I can hold it together and keep my strength while I am interacting with the community, it's okay if I shed a few tears in the outhouse. But the amazing thing is, the tears never last long because there is always someone, child or adult, local or volunteer, to wipe them away and put a smile on my face.
My life could have never prepared me for these past three weeks and it would have been foolish for me to have set expectations for my experience. Thus, I came to Uganda as a blank slate hoping to absorb, learn, teach, and exchange culture, life and knowledge. I already feel fulfilled and satisfied. But more so, I feel gratitude towards the people that I have encountered so far and have opened my mind, heart, and soul to a world, a community, that I had heard so many stories about but, truly never knew existed. I think that may be my greatest struggle, trying to emulate life here through my words on this blog. It's virtually impossible for me to explain the rawness of my experiences, the kindness of the people I have met, and the reality of everday life. However, I refuse to give up, and each time I sit down to reflect and relive the ups and downs of each day, I will do my best to show you, to show what it is like here.
Often people view Africa as a land filled with mask wearing tribes who live in huts amongst wild animals like lions, elephants, hippos and giraffe. While I can't shed light on the mystery of Africa as whole, because I am in Uganda, which is just one of the many countries that make up this continent, I can shed light on my experiences which are so far from the percieved notions people have of this land. The only animals I have seen are the ones that are tied up and penned at our farm, despite the occasional monkey. In fact, if I wanted to see a lion or elephant I would have to travel to a closed in National Park and pay a ridiculous fee. As far as, mask wearing tribes, have not seen it yet. I have travelled to many villages and sat in the living rooms of many families, whose homes are built of brick and stucco. You may even be surprised to know that we have a computer center with internet at our school and everyone has a cell phone. This is Uganda, a civilized nation, with people who have hopes and dreams and struggle to survive just as we do in California.
I have reiterated what I have not seen. Now let me express what I have seen. We have continued with our family outreach and it is this work that I love the most. Yesterday, we visited three families, all of whom, were thrilled to have us in their homes. The first family consisted of nine children, a single father, and a mother who had passed to AIDS. The father is also sick with AIDS, but watching the 60 yr. old man digging in the field under the penetrating sun, not even breaking a sweat, you never would believe he was infected with this disease. None of the children have been tested for HIV. The next family was a single mother, living with her mother, who has 5 children. Her oldest daughter (6), who is in our program, is fatherless because the mother was raped. None of the children nor the mother have been tested for HIV. I suggested to the program head that we have a clinic sponsor HIV testing at our school for the community and that is something we will begin to work on in our next meeting. I have a meeting today with a local clinic to hopefully set something up. Ok, then the third family that we visited, lived in a large house with an extensive farm. There were 7 biological children and 5 orphans that the mother and father had taken in. They said their biggest struggle was affording school fees for all of their children and the children they have taken in. The mother expressed to us that it was just her responsibility as a community member to take in these children. In her eyes, God left her with no choice and blessed her with these lives. The kindness, mentality and the way of being these people emulate is extraordinary. This is what I mean when I say I feel saddened by certain experiences (1st two families) and then I feel enlightened by the smile someone puts on my face (this extraordinary woman). I'm Inspired, Inspired to be kind, Inspired to be selfless, Inspired to make a difference, Inspired to take social responsibility. The intensity of emotion that is evoked just from having one conversation with a complete stranger is like nothing I have experienced before. It makes me believe again in the power and strength we all hold inside ourselves, it is time to stop repressing it.
I have to end this entry on a humerous note and I will do that by retelling my latest "incident" on the farm. It's 6am and I'm awake. Everyone is awake because that's just how it is on a farm with 5 roosters. The roosters start crowing and they don't stop until everyone is awake. They even go as far as to stand outside your bedroom door crowing and pecking at the door with their beak (no lie!). Over morning tea I am informed that today we would be lanscaping, digging, and cultivating the land. I knew this was coming and was dreading the day it would actually happen. Embarassment starts to rise inside of me before we even begin. I start asking Fred questions or more excuses like, "Doesn't the database for the orphanage need to get done?" He just laughs and I say "F#$% It". I came to Uganda to do as the Ugandans, so I lace up my boots, mind you everyone else is in sandals, but I cannot be that local. I did keep my earrings, bracelets, and rings on though! We head down and 15 minutes into the "incident" I've already broken a shovel and am now being charged at by a bull. Inevitably, I start freaking out and three of the other guys runs over and grab the bull by the neck, kick him, and off he goes. I'm still shaking, all my morals on animal abuse fly out the window, and I'm thanking them profusely for saving my life. Typical response, the same I get when the turkeys attack, "he won't hurt you. Harmless. He's harmless." Yeah Right! We continue with our work and despite the three freshly planted trees (I thought they were weeds) I dug up, it was a success. I farmed and came out alive with only 4 blisters. I can't wait till 6am tommorow morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment