Kampala Bound - Kayla

Well, we're almost a month into our stay in Uganda and so much has happened I'll try to shorten it up! I made the trek from Masaka to Kampala about 2 weeks ago. I'm now living with a former student, Carli Travers, who participated in the first Uganda Project. She has since moved to Uganda, married, and now is a mother to 16 amazing children. Some of the kids are former street children or ones that have come from vulnerable home situations. However, you would never be able to tell this as the kids are all very close to one another and are very happy. It just goes to show once again how resilient the children of Uganda are because despite some terrible (a vast understatment) situations they've been in, they still wake up everyday with a smile on their face.

To be honest, this trip has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. I have just recently began my practicums in Kampala so there was about a 2 week period where I was floating around to other placements since I wasn't in Kampala and beginning my own. That was a really difficult time for me because not only did I feel really unsettled but I also got pretty sick. This led to me spending a couple days trying to recover and gave me a lot of down time to think about and miss home very much. I remember my low point was bribing my mom with $5000 to come visit me.. needless to say, she declined my offer. Since meeting Carli, Robert and their children, I'm happy to report that not only am I not homesick, I don't want to come home at the end of July! The children are so vibrant, smart and fun that I have formed an attachment to them already. I'm thankful that I have been placed here and that they have opened their doors to me and made me a part of their family.

I have just started my practicum at Wakisa Ministries which is a crisis centre for pregnant teen girls. I've only had a few days there so in my next post I will talk more about that. For now, I just wanted to list some things I've soaked in since the beginning of my trip. A lot of them have been real eye openers for me and although they may be hard to understand, they had an impact on me.

Things that are unique in Uganda:

- If you've been here, you'll get what I mean when I say that there's a settled chaos to the road. The road is shared by boda's, matatu's (van taxi's), taxi's, buses, cows, goats, bicycles and people. I swear the first time I drove into Entebbe, I didn't breathe for the first 5 minutes. I feel like I owe my boyfriend an apology for all those times I would hold when he drove, as I now know what feeling unsafe in a vehicle really feels like. I'm much more at ease and enjoy car rides as I realized that everyone here is aware of their surroundings and there's an understanding about the rules of the road.

- The people here are very generous and giving even if what they have is not much. The people of Uganda are exceptional hosts and have welcomed me since the moment I've been here. In the village, if you are at someone's place they will take the best care of you. Even if someone only has 2 pineapples left, they won't hesitate to cut one up when you're visiting and send you home with one. The hospitality here has been incredible in that way. Also, the culture is strongly rooted in tradition, song and dance. Even though individuals may face hardships often, they hold a strong faith and are just happy people.

- It's easy to get caught up with the beauty of Uganda but there are a few times where I've had quick reality checks that remind me that this isn't like home. Having our vehicle searched for bombs and weapons when we enter parking lots of supermarkets is not something I'm used to. Also, it's been a time of political unrest here and when the people are trying to carry out peaceful protests and exercise their right to freedom of speech, they have been met with resistance. It's been difficult to be around when peaceful protests occur and have been met with teargas, live ammunition and violence. When that happens, my rose coloured glasses are smashed and I remember that this is a true reality of the people that live here.

- Something I can't get over about the people of Uganda is how hard they work everyday. Everyone of all ages will take responsibilty for doing some kind of labour from washing clothes to digging in the fields. I'll admit, I can't keep up with their energy, it's endless ! I admire how even children take accountability to complete chores and are always helping out around the house and with the younger children.

- One of the harder things that is very different from Canada is the amount of street children that are scattered throughout the city. For here, it is very normal to see children under the age of 12 congregating at the city dump, alleys or markets where they eat, sleep and live. It's been heartbreaking for me to see these children so vulnerable and helpless with no where to go.With living expenses being so high many people can barely afford to feed themselves let alone children that aren't theirs. It's a sad reality that many of these children grow up without a real home. The street children that I've met are some of the strongest individuals I've ever encountered. They are resilient with smiles on their faces and always happy to see me. Also, the loyalty they have to one another is admirable, they become their own family.

Things that are the same in Uganda and Canada:

- A mother's love for her child can't be measured and if faced with an problem, she will do anything to protect her children and give them a better life. This is evident by the women in Uganda working long days in the field or in the market to sell their goods to earn money for food and school fees.

- The bonds of siblings are so strong and they remain a united front whether it's against other children, parents or other adults. In Uganda, the older children care for their younger siblings in a lot of ways Canadian siblings generally don't. However, when it comes down to it, I've noticed that they stick together when the times get tough and at the end of the day, realize that they always have each other.

- No matter who it is or how old they are, every single person has a dream. Whether they vocalize it or not, we all hold some kind of dream for ourselves and our families in our heart.

- Finally, even if the worldview of the two cultures is different in major ways there is still one huge connection between the two. We are all human beings and naturally crave respect, love and understanding. This is one of the lessons that I learned that I hope I can continue to offer the individuals in my personal and professional life.

Although it's been a time of happiness and sadness for me, I don't regret my decision to come to Uganda. I keep reminding myself that as a learner, I'm receiving an invaluable learning opportunity. I'll always be grateful for that in the end, I'll be able to expand my worldview and my understanding of humanity.

Until next time,

Kayla