Today I went out into the middle of Kampala (in kololo) because my friend needed some things. I was terrified at first, since I had no idea where I was going. While I realize this was not the smartest decision, it had to be done. I walked for about 3 kilometers and finally found a shopping center. After I was done, I found a boda boda driver and asked him to take me back to where we were staying. He must have thought I was either dumb or clueless because he charged me 30,000 shillings!! WHAT! I tried to get him to come down, but was not very successful (I'm learning, next time I'll be a better haggler ;)). Because I'm a foreigner (mzungu) they charge much higher prices. So I hopped on the back of his boda boda and off we went. It's been on my bucket list for quite some time to jump on the back of a random person's motorcycle (I didn't realize beforehand that this is how many people travel in Uganda) so this morning I finally was able to. It was pretty great. On the ride back the driver asked where I was from, and when I replied America, we talked about Obama. Many people here like to talk about Obama being the current president of the USA. It's funny to me. The man also told me to take him back to america with me (haha). He was a very nice guy, and I really love talking with the people who live here. They have been so kind to me. When I got off the boda boda he told me to buy him a soda (haha). I wish I could say that's the first time someone has demanded I buy them a soda, but at my job in the states there is a man that tells me basically every shift to buy him a soda, too. They both said the exact thing, just "buy me a soda." It made me laugh. :) that was my crazy adventure for the day. We're now off to Jinja!
Ok, so it took us 3 hours to get to Jinja because of rain and the crazy traffic in Kampala. But we made it! We traveled through the BEAUTIFUL forest between Jinja and Kampala. I fall even more in love with Uganda every time we go somewhere new. We're currently staying in a village in Bujagali and it has been a beautiful, wonderful, heartbreaking day. Bujagali is just outside Jinja. The drive here took us down many backroads, very bumpy and run down roads. And, due to the heavy rains, the roads are even bumpier and slicker and more difficult to drive. We are staying in a small cottage within the village. I made many village friends today, mostly children but also a few adults. Patrick is one of my new friends. Sharon, Eva, Purity, and Edith are my new friends, too. They are village children and were very wary of me at first, but after only a few minutes they were already sharing their drink packet with me. Their raspberry drink mix stained their tongues pink. They wanted me to stain my tongue too, but soon they were dumping the mix on my skin to stain ME pink! They thought it was the funniest thing ever. I'm sure they've seen many mzungus so I'm not sure why it was so funny to them, but I loved it. :)
We played and danced and they took many, many photos and videos on my iPod. They twisted and braided and tied my hair up, and laughed at my veins and the little hairs on my white skin. They laughed when the red dirt stained my skin and Stole my glasses and passed them around for everyone to try on. They were so goofy and silly and sweet. They clung to me and sat on my lap and climbed on my back and held my hand. They do not speak much English because they've received to little schooling, but we communicated well enough. They were such happy children, although their skin was coated in dried mud, their clothes in rags, and many of them coughed these terrible coughs. The four girls all had a different personality: one was the bossy leader, one the carefree giggler, one the shy reserved girl, and the other (the youngest) clung to me as if her life depended on it. But all so kind and beyond adorable. They were in rags yet didn't seem to care one bit. They showed me how to dance and sing, and when their brother Michael came, he taught me words in the native language here (it is a very complicated language). I hope to learn an Ugandan language someday. Soon. Maybe while I am here I can pick more up.
We also rolled in the grass and played in the mud and swung like maniacs on a large swing. I taught them how to make music from grass, and they were amazed. When one young boy finally got it he scared himself so much that he jumped!! Haha:) I truly think that when god created me he made a portion of my heart African, because these children and I would have been best of friends growing up. Although our cultures and lives and families are different, I think I would have fit right in.
My last friend I made today was an 18 year old villager whose name escapes me. We talked about our schooling and religion and our families and cost of living and marriages and differences in culture between here and America. He was very surprised at how large my family is. In Uganda, large families are very respected and the parents are seen as very important and are highly honored. But in America it is not so. He spoke so well of his family, and I could tell how much he loves them. He respects them so much. There are many things I love about Uganda, and the love and respect shared among family members in this area (Bujagali) is one of those things. At least among this boy and his family, it is very apparent.
He also told me about life as a Muslim. He loves his religion and lives it faithfully. I admire him a lot for that.
He makes and sells chapati, while his father has a boda boda he runs in Jinja. Jobs are so difficult to find here in Uganda. So, so difficult.
He also told me that many people get married ( in the villages) at 18, and some even break the law and marry at 14 or 16. Interesting, yeah? I've met many men here in Uganda, of all ages. 18, 27, 30. . . But the oldest were not yet married. There are many differences between the large cities and villages though.
I was supposed to go back to talk with him after dinner but it got dark quickly and I've already risked my life enough for one day. I feel terrible for not keeping my word though, so so terrible. But safety is most important.
Another crazy thing, tonight when I was walking back to the cottage in the dark after dinner, something came out of no where towards me in the dark. I was terrified at first because I had absolutely no idea what it was (a warthog, a dog, a goat, some other creature?!?!). I soon saw it was a dog, but one dog almost attacked me earlier today, so it worried me that this dog would also try to defend itself. It was an aggressive dog, but aggressive in that it demanded love and attention!! He was the most lovable dog I have ever met in my life. It walked right through my legs while I was walking, and threw itself at me so I'd pet it. It's demand for love and attention actually frightened me a little!
Each day is truly an adventure. I never know what to expect each morning I wake up. . . And even the days with no plans turn into something crazy. It's been a wonderful trip so far and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every experience.
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