I've been busy. Really busy. In the middle of my busyness I am trying to figure out how to live in the western world Africanized. I'm trying to figure out how to survive a 45 minute commutes both ways, make it home to dinner with my family, and still manage to volunteer, have a social life, maintain an exercise routine, and find space to meditate upon my Holy Book. It is not working. And yet it is. In the midst of the chaos in which I have created, I am doing what I love.
I love working with Africans. I love that my boss is African. I love (and hate) that my program staff in Sudan have gone MIA from the internet and I am trying to write a grant.
I love that I live with family and can have dinner with them at six o'clock- like we always have, and always will. That fish Mondays will forever remain in my home. That I can become creative in what to cook with my mother and that my dad is okay in trying new things.
I love that my best friend lives minutes from home and that her children squeal with delight when I show up and teach them how to roll down hills, and splash in puddles, and read them bed time stories and tuck them into their bed at night.
Yet I am struggling to live in this western Africanized world of mine where I go from drinking tea and saying Insha'Allah it will happen and then going home to look at pinterest. Can I do that? Sometimes I think it is easier to live in one world or the other. Not this combination world of reading, writing, and knowing about the troubles of the horn of Africa while living this comfortable life. It is hard to do.
For a while, I had a loyal fan base of readers but then I got busy. Trying to figure out how to live in Africa while I live in the US. It is a complicated city. It is a complicated, globalized world. And Insha'Allah, I will figure it out.
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
17 June 2012
12 March 2012
The Reno: Part One.
Did I mention that my parents are remodeling their house? Well, they are. From 7:30 in the morning until 5:00pm we have a great team of construction specialists in our house. I think their mission is to make as much noise as possible. It probably is a man thing... or a construction thing. Anyway, they are all hard workers and it is amazing to see the progress they make every day.
This afternoon, after a respectful noon day break from the noise to allow me to have a phone interview without banging and pounding and jack hammers, I came upstairs and the electrician- who has a long pony tail, crooked smile, and jeans that proudly say "I'm a man's man- I work hard for my money"- opened his hands and said, "well- how'd it go!?" The four other men, none of whom I had met until that minute- stopped working, stared at me expectantly and wanted to know. This is shocking to me. Here are a group of men who have mastered a trade, who work hard for their income, and care about the people who live inside the house they are remodeling. Even the adult child of the people who are paying their salary for the day. In that moment, I felt proud. Proud to be a Minnesotan. Proud to be a citizen of the United States. Proud to know that there are people out there that know that finding a job today is hard, who are willing to take their lunch break so that someone can have an interview in peace, and then ask about it.
At the end of the day today, these men cheered because they got the gas line to work. They are proud of their work and I am proud to know them.
This probably will not be the last post about The Reno. It will be going on for another 80 days. Yes, I am counting. However today, despite the loud construction noises, I am thankful for a bunch of hardworking men who cared enough to ask me how my interview went.
This afternoon, after a respectful noon day break from the noise to allow me to have a phone interview without banging and pounding and jack hammers, I came upstairs and the electrician- who has a long pony tail, crooked smile, and jeans that proudly say "I'm a man's man- I work hard for my money"- opened his hands and said, "well- how'd it go!?" The four other men, none of whom I had met until that minute- stopped working, stared at me expectantly and wanted to know. This is shocking to me. Here are a group of men who have mastered a trade, who work hard for their income, and care about the people who live inside the house they are remodeling. Even the adult child of the people who are paying their salary for the day. In that moment, I felt proud. Proud to be a Minnesotan. Proud to be a citizen of the United States. Proud to know that there are people out there that know that finding a job today is hard, who are willing to take their lunch break so that someone can have an interview in peace, and then ask about it.
At the end of the day today, these men cheered because they got the gas line to work. They are proud of their work and I am proud to know them.
This probably will not be the last post about The Reno. It will be going on for another 80 days. Yes, I am counting. However today, despite the loud construction noises, I am thankful for a bunch of hardworking men who cared enough to ask me how my interview went.
10 March 2012
Kony 2012
This past week, Invisible Children's (IC) new video went viral. I watched it, followed a bit on twitter, and read a few blog posts and news articles. I originally did not want to post about the Kony2012 campaign. Mostly, because I have never been to Gulu so I feel inadequate to give you my assessment. That being said, it seems like everyone has an opinion on the topic and the lack of experience in Gulu doesn't hold anyone else back. Given that I have lived in Uganda and have been to northern Uganda (just not Gulu town), I feel like I should at least give you my opinion. So here it is.
First, if you have not seen the video, you can find it here: Invisible Children (IC). You should watch it. Now on to my opinion.
Joseph Kony is an evil man who has abducted children and used them for his benefit. He is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). For lack of a better, more concise overview, I am going to refer you to wikipedia's article here. With the LRA, Kony has destroyed countless communities and lives in northern Uganda. He is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and war crimes. If you click on the link, you will notice he is not the only one from the LRA that is wanted.
Which leads me to my first question, why does Invisible Children only name him in their video? I really have no idea. Except that it is easier to have a Kony 2012 campaign than a Kony/Otti/Odhiambo/Ognwen 2012 Campaign. Right? Not to mention that some of those names are kinda hard to pronounce by English speakers. And I digress.
So we have this man and his army who have done terrible things to the country. I can personally attest to the atrocities since I have friends who have been effected by the LRA. However, the worst of the LRA's destruction pretty much ended in 2005. Northern Uganda is rebuilding, healing, and moving forward. Which leads me to my next question, why is Invisible Children focusing on a war that has mostly fizzled out? On something that, yes, has destroyed the country, but is not at all the worst of the country's problems at the moment.
Perhaps I should list some of those problems out for you:
1. Lack of good health care and also a plethora of diseases such as: the Mysterious Nodding Disease, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
2.Economic inflation. Some of my friends who still live in Uganda have shared with me that inflation has increased by 25% in the last year. This article,which you can find here, outlines the inflation rate in the past year. Thankfully, it is slowly coming down.
3. Insufficient electricity. My dear friend helps fund a hospital in Uganda, and because of the lack of electricity, she reports that more than 100 people have died because they were unable to run the necessary equipment to help them stay alive. This is an extreme example of lack of electricity. It also inhibits businesses. Imagine if the electricity didn't work in your office for an entire week with absolutely nothing to be done about it.
4. The Karamojong people. Google it.
5. Finally, I am going to mention politics. It is my opinion that with sending US troops to Uganda to help eliminate Kony, you are also strengthening Museveni, his army, and his power within the country. For better or worse. President Museveni has been in power 26 years and will be for a total of 30 until the next election comes around. Museveni has advanced the country a great deal since the Idi Amin regime. However, there are also some things to question about him as well: Google "Museveni Crackdown" if you would like to learn more about him.
So why is the IC so determined to catch Kony when his capture, while surely significant, is not a huge development issue within the country currently? My list of five are only five, there are so many other things to be addressed as well! Perhaps it is because Jason Russell (founder of Invisible Children) and his co-founders made a promise to a boy in northern Uganda- to do everything they could to end the war. This is a noble promise and one that they have worked hard to achieve. However, is this the only reason why someone continues to promote this agenda? My other thoughts are negative. Again, I am hesitant to say them. Mostly because I have had friends who have worked for Invisible Children, of which none of them do now. Another reason why IC made the film was promotional for themselves. They will get a lot of money from this campaign. It will help drive their organization forward, rally a group of people in the US- and all over the world- to one single cause: capture the bad guy.
Some of you might question my thought about money. International Development is an industry. It finds causes, markets them, and gets money to help solve problems. However, these problems are so complex that is it very difficult to solve them by eliminating one person, or sending food to a group of people, or giving a box of toys to children who have very little. Humans are complex. Ugandan people are complex. The politics of Uganda and central Africa are complex. Eliminating one man from the mix of complexities will not solve everyone's problems. It will complete Invisible Children's mission, it will make American college students feel like they have done something, but it will not solve Uganda's problems. Only Ugandans can solve its problems. They can solicit the help of others, other aid organizations, churches, international politics, countries, and the UN for help- but it comes down to the fact that Ugandans must solve their own problems. They know the situation better than anyone else. They know the needs better than anyone else.
So are we, as US citizens, as global citizens, listening to their needs? Their desires to change their lives? Or are we following a bunch of wealthy southern California guys in fighting the big bad Kony? I would rather listen to Ugandans tell me what they need than listen to Invisible Children tell me what Ugandans need. What about you?
First, if you have not seen the video, you can find it here: Invisible Children (IC). You should watch it. Now on to my opinion.
Joseph Kony is an evil man who has abducted children and used them for his benefit. He is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). For lack of a better, more concise overview, I am going to refer you to wikipedia's article here. With the LRA, Kony has destroyed countless communities and lives in northern Uganda. He is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and war crimes. If you click on the link, you will notice he is not the only one from the LRA that is wanted.
Which leads me to my first question, why does Invisible Children only name him in their video? I really have no idea. Except that it is easier to have a Kony 2012 campaign than a Kony/Otti/Odhiambo/Ognwen 2012 Campaign. Right? Not to mention that some of those names are kinda hard to pronounce by English speakers. And I digress.
So we have this man and his army who have done terrible things to the country. I can personally attest to the atrocities since I have friends who have been effected by the LRA. However, the worst of the LRA's destruction pretty much ended in 2005. Northern Uganda is rebuilding, healing, and moving forward. Which leads me to my next question, why is Invisible Children focusing on a war that has mostly fizzled out? On something that, yes, has destroyed the country, but is not at all the worst of the country's problems at the moment.
Perhaps I should list some of those problems out for you:
1. Lack of good health care and also a plethora of diseases such as: the Mysterious Nodding Disease, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
2.Economic inflation. Some of my friends who still live in Uganda have shared with me that inflation has increased by 25% in the last year. This article,which you can find here, outlines the inflation rate in the past year. Thankfully, it is slowly coming down.
3. Insufficient electricity. My dear friend helps fund a hospital in Uganda, and because of the lack of electricity, she reports that more than 100 people have died because they were unable to run the necessary equipment to help them stay alive. This is an extreme example of lack of electricity. It also inhibits businesses. Imagine if the electricity didn't work in your office for an entire week with absolutely nothing to be done about it.
4. The Karamojong people. Google it.
5. Finally, I am going to mention politics. It is my opinion that with sending US troops to Uganda to help eliminate Kony, you are also strengthening Museveni, his army, and his power within the country. For better or worse. President Museveni has been in power 26 years and will be for a total of 30 until the next election comes around. Museveni has advanced the country a great deal since the Idi Amin regime. However, there are also some things to question about him as well: Google "Museveni Crackdown" if you would like to learn more about him.
So why is the IC so determined to catch Kony when his capture, while surely significant, is not a huge development issue within the country currently? My list of five are only five, there are so many other things to be addressed as well! Perhaps it is because Jason Russell (founder of Invisible Children) and his co-founders made a promise to a boy in northern Uganda- to do everything they could to end the war. This is a noble promise and one that they have worked hard to achieve. However, is this the only reason why someone continues to promote this agenda? My other thoughts are negative. Again, I am hesitant to say them. Mostly because I have had friends who have worked for Invisible Children, of which none of them do now. Another reason why IC made the film was promotional for themselves. They will get a lot of money from this campaign. It will help drive their organization forward, rally a group of people in the US- and all over the world- to one single cause: capture the bad guy.
Some of you might question my thought about money. International Development is an industry. It finds causes, markets them, and gets money to help solve problems. However, these problems are so complex that is it very difficult to solve them by eliminating one person, or sending food to a group of people, or giving a box of toys to children who have very little. Humans are complex. Ugandan people are complex. The politics of Uganda and central Africa are complex. Eliminating one man from the mix of complexities will not solve everyone's problems. It will complete Invisible Children's mission, it will make American college students feel like they have done something, but it will not solve Uganda's problems. Only Ugandans can solve its problems. They can solicit the help of others, other aid organizations, churches, international politics, countries, and the UN for help- but it comes down to the fact that Ugandans must solve their own problems. They know the situation better than anyone else. They know the needs better than anyone else.
So are we, as US citizens, as global citizens, listening to their needs? Their desires to change their lives? Or are we following a bunch of wealthy southern California guys in fighting the big bad Kony? I would rather listen to Ugandans tell me what they need than listen to Invisible Children tell me what Ugandans need. What about you?
03 March 2012
I have a pinterest account. Doesn't everyone? I like it. I like putting things I find online in one place. It is nice, easy, convenient, and the new google.
I also find myself feeling like I live in a idealist world when I am on pinterest. Does everyone's kitchen really look like that? Because mine sure does not! Does everyone have the picture perfect kids? Does everyone have the dream wedding and fall in love for the rest of their lives? I made this recipe and it, well, didn't look like the picture or taste the way they told me it would. But I will repin, because that is what we do now. We pin and repin and drool over opulent stuff.
Then there are other times when I feel amazing. I have one pin that has been repined nearly 3,000 times. That is almost 3,000 people in the world seeing this picture and putting it on their board. And then, because of this one pin, other people- that I don't even know!- started following me on pinterest. Talk about a self esteem booster, right? Right... because my value and worth now hinges on the fact that 2,899 strangers repined a pin.
Then I think of my time living in a developing country and cringe. Cringe because we waste time and energy and money on stuff. But then I don't want to sound or think like a communist, so I don't say it. But maybe I should. We do not need the dream kitchen, wedding, husband, kid, outfit, hair, body, menu, birthday party, and garden to be happy. Don't you know there are starving children in the world? *Gulp* Because lets be honest, I did excited when 3,000 people repind my pin. I did get happy when I found an amazing recipe. I. get. sucked. in.
Oh my countrymen, what will it take to wake up and realize that we already live in a dream world for the majority of the world? We have luxury that only people can dream about and it is not good enough for us. Will it ever be good enough?
I also find myself feeling like I live in a idealist world when I am on pinterest. Does everyone's kitchen really look like that? Because mine sure does not! Does everyone have the picture perfect kids? Does everyone have the dream wedding and fall in love for the rest of their lives? I made this recipe and it, well, didn't look like the picture or taste the way they told me it would. But I will repin, because that is what we do now. We pin and repin and drool over opulent stuff.
Then there are other times when I feel amazing. I have one pin that has been repined nearly 3,000 times. That is almost 3,000 people in the world seeing this picture and putting it on their board. And then, because of this one pin, other people- that I don't even know!- started following me on pinterest. Talk about a self esteem booster, right? Right... because my value and worth now hinges on the fact that 2,899 strangers repined a pin.
Then I think of my time living in a developing country and cringe. Cringe because we waste time and energy and money on stuff. But then I don't want to sound or think like a communist, so I don't say it. But maybe I should. We do not need the dream kitchen, wedding, husband, kid, outfit, hair, body, menu, birthday party, and garden to be happy. Don't you know there are starving children in the world? *Gulp* Because lets be honest, I did excited when 3,000 people repind my pin. I did get happy when I found an amazing recipe. I. get. sucked. in.
Oh my countrymen, what will it take to wake up and realize that we already live in a dream world for the majority of the world? We have luxury that only people can dream about and it is not good enough for us. Will it ever be good enough?
24 February 2012
New York Times
I like reading the New York Times. It makes me feel sophisticated. I usually skim the headlines and focus my reading on the op-eds and the world news section. Today, however, I got to read an article written by a friend. So if you want, jump over and read her story of giving birth to an American child in a Muslim country on the anniversary of 9/11.
You can find it here.
You can find it here.
19 September 2011
Jubilee!
Every fall the churches in the area get together for a Jubilee celebration. Jubilee comes from the the Old Testament, or Torah, in Leviticus 25. I'll let y'all look it up if you want to read it here Leviticus 25
Our modern rendition of Jubilee happened this past week. People in the community donate stuff. Piles of clothing, food, furniture, and toys. Individuals who have a need for anything can come and choose what they want to take home. In addition to the stuff, there are also bounce houses for the kids, dentists for a free check-up and booths advertising for various services. My dear friend Beth has been involved with Jubilee since its inception. I have heard about the celebration for years but was finally able to take part!
Here is a bit of the crowds. There were lines and lines of people! It was incredible!
Beth's child, Cora was so happy to see her Papa (grandpa) and get a balloon! We had a lot of fun together.
Finally, here is my Mom and her friend Marcy. They have a free ESL class for women who want to improve their English. They had a both to advertise the class.
I am so glad to be in Minnesota and to be able to be part of our community's Jubilee!
Our modern rendition of Jubilee happened this past week. People in the community donate stuff. Piles of clothing, food, furniture, and toys. Individuals who have a need for anything can come and choose what they want to take home. In addition to the stuff, there are also bounce houses for the kids, dentists for a free check-up and booths advertising for various services. My dear friend Beth has been involved with Jubilee since its inception. I have heard about the celebration for years but was finally able to take part!
Here is a bit of the crowds. There were lines and lines of people! It was incredible!
Beth's child, Cora was so happy to see her Papa (grandpa) and get a balloon! We had a lot of fun together.
Finally, here is my Mom and her friend Marcy. They have a free ESL class for women who want to improve their English. They had a both to advertise the class.
I am so glad to be in Minnesota and to be able to be part of our community's Jubilee!
07 September 2011
Coffee Shop Watchin'
This morning I spent some time in a coffee shop in my town. While the majority of my time was spent job hunting, I did a bit of people watching as well. I love people watching. My main reason is because you get to know the culture of the place, the nuances of its people, and the realities they face. People's dress, body language, hair, interactions, drink orders, and companions all say something.
Minnesotans are funny people. They are fiercely loyal. They are usually quite nice but it will take years to actually get to know them. They take pride in their ability to live and thrive through four dramatically different seasons. They value family- not just your partner and a few kids- but the whole crew, grandparents to new babies and everyone in between.
I enjoyed watching the mama's in the coffee shop with their faded jeans and printed 3/4 length t-shirts gabbing about their kid's soccer practice and how relieved they are that school just started. I got a kick out of watching the insecure teenage couple who were trying so hard to act confident. The business men in the corner with their legal pads and serious discussions. The Baristas acting way to chipper and friendly while helping their customers feed their addiction to caffeine. Life in a Minnesota Coffee Shop is good. Comical in a way. Removed from the realities of the poverty of the world but still faced with daily battles of living.
So is my life in Minnesota. The routine of job searching, making lunch with my mother and sitting on the deck, followed by errands or reading before dinner must be made. Gone are the days of fearing for my life as I am pushed into an over-crowded taxi in Uganda. Yet I can not complain. Another adventure, I'm sure, is on the horizon in the form of a paid job. In the meantime, I will just sip my coffee, applying for jobs, and enjoy the culture of Minnesota.
Minnesotans are funny people. They are fiercely loyal. They are usually quite nice but it will take years to actually get to know them. They take pride in their ability to live and thrive through four dramatically different seasons. They value family- not just your partner and a few kids- but the whole crew, grandparents to new babies and everyone in between.
I enjoyed watching the mama's in the coffee shop with their faded jeans and printed 3/4 length t-shirts gabbing about their kid's soccer practice and how relieved they are that school just started. I got a kick out of watching the insecure teenage couple who were trying so hard to act confident. The business men in the corner with their legal pads and serious discussions. The Baristas acting way to chipper and friendly while helping their customers feed their addiction to caffeine. Life in a Minnesota Coffee Shop is good. Comical in a way. Removed from the realities of the poverty of the world but still faced with daily battles of living.
So is my life in Minnesota. The routine of job searching, making lunch with my mother and sitting on the deck, followed by errands or reading before dinner must be made. Gone are the days of fearing for my life as I am pushed into an over-crowded taxi in Uganda. Yet I can not complain. Another adventure, I'm sure, is on the horizon in the form of a paid job. In the meantime, I will just sip my coffee, applying for jobs, and enjoy the culture of Minnesota.
23 April 2011
Where have I been?
I've been gettin' around! Since returning from Uganda I have been to the following places and done the following things:
I spent half a week in Florida, watching my brother and his college baseball team. It was pretty fun! My other brother came down for the weekend, and for the first time in more than seven months, my entire family was together. Unfortunately it was short lived and a day later we all scattered. But I still was able to get quality time in with my brothers!
My mother and I drove to eastern Wisconsin to visit grandparents on both sides. It always amazes me at how different my culture and generation is than theirs. Despite our differences, I always love being with my grandparents. I spent a few days with my mothers parents. We went on a drive through a state park, stopped to climb the watch tower, and then over to meet the park ranger. My grandfather is good friends with her and we had good chat. She then let me hold bird seed in my hand and chickadees landed to feed. It was a thrilling experience to feel their delicate bodies on my fingers.
We then went south a few hours to see my dad's mother. We spent the day going from one quilt shop to the other, looking at fabric. We also stopped at Starbucks where I was able to introduce my grandmother to the coffee chain for the very first time! Her opinion was that it was too expensive and the coffee too strong! Who can blame her when she can go to McDonalds and get a cup of coffee for 50 cents?
A few weeks after my Wisconsin trip I went to Chicago to watch baseball again. This time my wonderful cousin joined my parents and I. We had a great time hanging out, talking about life, and watching baseball!
Directly after Chicago I flew to Boston. I'm tellin' ya- I am getting around this spring! I impulsively purchased a plane ticket, at 2:00AM, with all my delta air miles. I couldn't sleep and I just decided to go for it. I woke up the next morning thinking- what the heck did I do!? For those of you who know me well, I do not buy things, that expensive, on a whim. Well, this impulsive purchase worked out well. I had major writing to do on my thesis and I needed to focus. I was at the school for 12 hours a day, primary working on my paper. It was a huge blessing to be able to just focus and write. It was good to be back in Boston, see friends, and remember that I am still a student despite not being on campus all year long!
This weekend I have been writing and putting the final touches on my paper. It occurred to me today that I successfully was able to take an exciting six months of living in Uganda and turn it into a dry, technical paper. Since I have been back I have been analyzing one particular school I worked with and the community in which it is located. I realized this morning that I got to the point where the soul of the paper had died and that it was just facts on a blank page. I never want to forget the incredible experience I had working and living in Uganda. The people, the smiles, the smells, the food, the passion, the drive to change things- that is what makes up this dear country. Not a bunch of statistics written by an expat.
So where to next?
Chicago in a few weeks for my brother's college graduation.
Boston to present my paper and celebrate my graduation.
Sri Lanka to celebrate a dear friend's wedding.
And then hopefully back to East Africa to continue working. This time it won't be with Fount, but hopefully I will land a job with an equally amazing organization. I will keep you posted!
I spent half a week in Florida, watching my brother and his college baseball team. It was pretty fun! My other brother came down for the weekend, and for the first time in more than seven months, my entire family was together. Unfortunately it was short lived and a day later we all scattered. But I still was able to get quality time in with my brothers!
My mother and I drove to eastern Wisconsin to visit grandparents on both sides. It always amazes me at how different my culture and generation is than theirs. Despite our differences, I always love being with my grandparents. I spent a few days with my mothers parents. We went on a drive through a state park, stopped to climb the watch tower, and then over to meet the park ranger. My grandfather is good friends with her and we had good chat. She then let me hold bird seed in my hand and chickadees landed to feed. It was a thrilling experience to feel their delicate bodies on my fingers.
We then went south a few hours to see my dad's mother. We spent the day going from one quilt shop to the other, looking at fabric. We also stopped at Starbucks where I was able to introduce my grandmother to the coffee chain for the very first time! Her opinion was that it was too expensive and the coffee too strong! Who can blame her when she can go to McDonalds and get a cup of coffee for 50 cents?
A few weeks after my Wisconsin trip I went to Chicago to watch baseball again. This time my wonderful cousin joined my parents and I. We had a great time hanging out, talking about life, and watching baseball!
Directly after Chicago I flew to Boston. I'm tellin' ya- I am getting around this spring! I impulsively purchased a plane ticket, at 2:00AM, with all my delta air miles. I couldn't sleep and I just decided to go for it. I woke up the next morning thinking- what the heck did I do!? For those of you who know me well, I do not buy things, that expensive, on a whim. Well, this impulsive purchase worked out well. I had major writing to do on my thesis and I needed to focus. I was at the school for 12 hours a day, primary working on my paper. It was a huge blessing to be able to just focus and write. It was good to be back in Boston, see friends, and remember that I am still a student despite not being on campus all year long!
This weekend I have been writing and putting the final touches on my paper. It occurred to me today that I successfully was able to take an exciting six months of living in Uganda and turn it into a dry, technical paper. Since I have been back I have been analyzing one particular school I worked with and the community in which it is located. I realized this morning that I got to the point where the soul of the paper had died and that it was just facts on a blank page. I never want to forget the incredible experience I had working and living in Uganda. The people, the smiles, the smells, the food, the passion, the drive to change things- that is what makes up this dear country. Not a bunch of statistics written by an expat.
So where to next?
Chicago in a few weeks for my brother's college graduation.
Boston to present my paper and celebrate my graduation.
Sri Lanka to celebrate a dear friend's wedding.
And then hopefully back to East Africa to continue working. This time it won't be with Fount, but hopefully I will land a job with an equally amazing organization. I will keep you posted!
19 February 2011
State Side
So I am back in the states. I cried as the wheels lifted from the tarmac in Entebbe. Uganda is a home and I'm not sure when I will return. However, I will tell you that I will return someday.
The people at the airport in Entebbe refused to check my bags all the way through. Which meant that I ensured their safe arrival by checking my bags in every time I got to an airport. This lead me to have to go through the London customs to retrieve my bags which lead me to miss my flight! Not to worry, I was put on the next flight and I was fine. Besides that, my flights were normal and somehow went very quickly.
Re-entry is a bit different this time.
I made dinner last night and you know what I made? Beans and rice. As I was chopping the onion and garlic I realized that everything going into my meal I could get in Uganda. It was at this point that I realized I might be missing my life there a bit more than I knew. Did I really just sub-consciously make a meal that I could and did eat on a regular basis in Uganda? Uhm, yup- I did.
Besides that- the normal re-entry of being a bit overwhelmed with the amount of choice Americans have (I mean- how many types of cereal do you need!?) and the gluttony of my culture. Yet I am enjoying it too! Real cheese, clean roads, a car (!), fast internet- all things that I didn't get in Uganda.
I've decided to keep up the blog. So keep following if you wish. The next three months will be full of a few domestic trips (Florida and Boston) while I also work hard on my paper. Should be an interesting season of life but I am looking forward to it.
The people at the airport in Entebbe refused to check my bags all the way through. Which meant that I ensured their safe arrival by checking my bags in every time I got to an airport. This lead me to have to go through the London customs to retrieve my bags which lead me to miss my flight! Not to worry, I was put on the next flight and I was fine. Besides that, my flights were normal and somehow went very quickly.
Re-entry is a bit different this time.
I made dinner last night and you know what I made? Beans and rice. As I was chopping the onion and garlic I realized that everything going into my meal I could get in Uganda. It was at this point that I realized I might be missing my life there a bit more than I knew. Did I really just sub-consciously make a meal that I could and did eat on a regular basis in Uganda? Uhm, yup- I did.
Besides that- the normal re-entry of being a bit overwhelmed with the amount of choice Americans have (I mean- how many types of cereal do you need!?) and the gluttony of my culture. Yet I am enjoying it too! Real cheese, clean roads, a car (!), fast internet- all things that I didn't get in Uganda.
I've decided to keep up the blog. So keep following if you wish. The next three months will be full of a few domestic trips (Florida and Boston) while I also work hard on my paper. Should be an interesting season of life but I am looking forward to it.
27 November 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
I had a wonderful day celebrating this American holiday. While the Ugandan society continued on in the rhythm of life, I paused to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year.
I watched youtube videos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my housemate. We laughed about old trends, how the announcers always tell you how many people it takes to pull a balloon and what its size equivalent it is so that you have an understanding of how big snoopy is or sponge bob.
We moved to the kitchen where we listened to Christmas music and made stuffing and glazed carrots for our Thanksgiving celebration. It truly felt like I was home (minus the cold weather and the family). Oh- and there were political parades that went down my street banging drums, blowing their horns, and screaming.
The morning passed quickly and soon I found myself with five Americans, two Ugandans, and a three-year-old Indian boy in a car on the way to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, I didn’t cross the Mississippi river but the Nile! We went over the river to “the other side” where we drove an hour, through dirt roads, past the sugar cane to get to an orphanage where we celebrated. I joined twenty-two missionaries* and their children and we feasted! I am sure that our dinner table looked very similar to yours- except my turkey was killed in my backyard, my pumpkin pie came from boiling real pumpkin for hours, and the onion rings on the green bean casserole were deep-fried at home. However, it was the same and tasty! The grand prize went to a non-traditional dessert of chocolate mint cookies. Yum!
The crowd:
It was a wonderful time talking with everyone, learning about their work, and their lives. I even met a girl who was volunteering as a nurse from my hometown. It turns out that I know her sister! What a small, small world.
After our feast, we began to worship the Lord. We opened the hymnbook and began to sing, gazing at the amazing green vista. Here I was, with thirty or so people from different parts of the US, many of whom I had just met, and yet we worshipped. Then we gave testimony of why we were thankful.- one after another listing what God had done in the past year. I felt so blessed to be part of this group of people.
The view of the country side while we feasted.
After I came home from Thanksgiving dinner, I skyped with my family. I actually felt like I was home, sitting in the kitchen, with my cousins and brothers, helping my mom cook. It was such a good time of talking! When I finished talking with them, I called my Gram. This dear woman can probably relate to my life in Uganda better than any other family member I have. She grew up on a farm, she took care of the chickens, made soap, washed the clothes by hand, and wore (gasp) skirts. When I told her that we had turkeys in our backyard before they slaughtered them, she didn’t respond like my normal peers in the states- her response was to ask whether they were black or white turkeys. Apparently, their color plays a role in how they taste!
*Missionaries often receive harsh criticism from development practitioners. While I could easily write an entire blog on my opinion of missions and development, I will leave you with this comment: The majority of professional development workers and their NGOs have moved to the northern part of this country, leaving the south still in need. As a result, more and more missionaries have moved into the region, working with the people, and doing the best that they can.
I watched youtube videos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my housemate. We laughed about old trends, how the announcers always tell you how many people it takes to pull a balloon and what its size equivalent it is so that you have an understanding of how big snoopy is or sponge bob.
We moved to the kitchen where we listened to Christmas music and made stuffing and glazed carrots for our Thanksgiving celebration. It truly felt like I was home (minus the cold weather and the family). Oh- and there were political parades that went down my street banging drums, blowing their horns, and screaming.
The morning passed quickly and soon I found myself with five Americans, two Ugandans, and a three-year-old Indian boy in a car on the way to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, I didn’t cross the Mississippi river but the Nile! We went over the river to “the other side” where we drove an hour, through dirt roads, past the sugar cane to get to an orphanage where we celebrated. I joined twenty-two missionaries* and their children and we feasted! I am sure that our dinner table looked very similar to yours- except my turkey was killed in my backyard, my pumpkin pie came from boiling real pumpkin for hours, and the onion rings on the green bean casserole were deep-fried at home. However, it was the same and tasty! The grand prize went to a non-traditional dessert of chocolate mint cookies. Yum!
The crowd:
It was a wonderful time talking with everyone, learning about their work, and their lives. I even met a girl who was volunteering as a nurse from my hometown. It turns out that I know her sister! What a small, small world.
After our feast, we began to worship the Lord. We opened the hymnbook and began to sing, gazing at the amazing green vista. Here I was, with thirty or so people from different parts of the US, many of whom I had just met, and yet we worshipped. Then we gave testimony of why we were thankful.- one after another listing what God had done in the past year. I felt so blessed to be part of this group of people.
The view of the country side while we feasted.
After I came home from Thanksgiving dinner, I skyped with my family. I actually felt like I was home, sitting in the kitchen, with my cousins and brothers, helping my mom cook. It was such a good time of talking! When I finished talking with them, I called my Gram. This dear woman can probably relate to my life in Uganda better than any other family member I have. She grew up on a farm, she took care of the chickens, made soap, washed the clothes by hand, and wore (gasp) skirts. When I told her that we had turkeys in our backyard before they slaughtered them, she didn’t respond like my normal peers in the states- her response was to ask whether they were black or white turkeys. Apparently, their color plays a role in how they taste!
*Missionaries often receive harsh criticism from development practitioners. While I could easily write an entire blog on my opinion of missions and development, I will leave you with this comment: The majority of professional development workers and their NGOs have moved to the northern part of this country, leaving the south still in need. As a result, more and more missionaries have moved into the region, working with the people, and doing the best that they can.
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