Ugandan Profundities Part Aryo (Two)

Welp, had a productive week this week:

1.  Distributed lots of supplies to my women.
2.  Drank an ant in my mango juice by accident.
3.  Speaking of ants...they infested my Musli this morning.  I ate it anyway.
4.  Moved from my wonderful room of the last four months into a friend's spare room (temporarily.)
5.  Bought a chicken for the family I've been living with as a thank you gift.  I carried it alive.
6.  Spent an entire day just trying to get cookies, popcorn and soda for an activity I was in charge of.
7.  Helped get a girl from my church congregation out of prison.
8.  Finally came up with a picking pattern I like for House of the Rising Sun.  It only took me a year....
9.  Killed a cockroach the length of my thumb.
10. Taught twenty young girls between ages 12 and 18 to make daisy chain bracelets.


That about sums it up.  And now, time for another installment of.....

UGANDAN PROFUNDITIES!!!

I have to say, it's getting harder to see the profundity of Uganda these days.  I'm just getting used to all the craziness around me.  I take that as a good sign really.  However, there is enough randomness and irony surrounding me, it's still quite possible when I think about it to come up with this stuff.  So here goes:

First: The Usage of the Floor.  People use the floor for everything here.  No table space?  No  problem, just do it on the floor.  This photo is of a couple guys at my office making coffee in the morning.  What do you suppose would happen if you just decided to plunk yourself down on the kitchen floor at work and start fixing coffee or lunch?  I dare you to try it! 

Second: Heavy Coats and Sweaters.  I know I mentioned before how people here think it's freezing now that it's rainy season.  Well, a few weeks ago my regular boda drivers (motorbike taxis) came to pick Fiona and me up to head to a village.  The sun was shining bright - in fact I'm pretty sure I got sunburned that day.  But Ray and Jerom were both sporting mid-winter wear.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes it gets cool here.  For like ten minutes.  Wait, what season is it?  Oh that's right....still hot when the sun shines season.

Meet Ray and Jerom....and Santa Mickey?

Third: Lawn Mowing, I Mean, Lawn Slashing.  Never seen a lawn mower since I've been here.  Just guys with machetes called slashers (both the guy and the machete) swinging back and forth, taking out weeds, grass, and whatever else happens to be in their way.  The tailors here use the old pedal Singer sewing machines, so I haven't figured out why guys here don't use the old 1950s style mower.  Either way, dad, just be thankful next time you have have to mow you don't have to go about it like this.

 

Fourth: Mis-Labeling of Everyday Objects.  Salt or pepper?  Vegetable oil or water?  Men's or women's bathroom?  Does it really matter, afterall?

Fifth: The Issue of Water.  It's one I clearly do not have a grasp on.  My first few months I was here, there was always water in our tap.  Then it started raining, and the water started disappearing.  More often than not I would wake up, go to the bathroom, go to wash my hands only to turn the knob without result.  Awesome.  We started collecting rain water to wash dishes and clothes in, and Amony would get water from the well.  So....this is often what my shower water looked like.  Before I showered.  Didn't always necessarily feel cleaner when I was done, but I generally smelled better at least....

Sixth: More on Animals.  I'll mostly let the video speak for itself, but just take note, my church is right in town.  Just a couple blocks off the main street.  Also, the guy at the end of the video was trying to ask for money.  People love to try to get money off anyone taking pictures of anything that remotely belongs to them.  The grass in the their yard, the over-sized speakers in their truck, their children.  It's pretty awesome. 

Ugh!!!  It won't load my video again!!  Anyone know why I have this problem?  It was a very amusing video of a heard of cattle causing a traffic jam on a Sunday morning right outside my church.  If I can ever get it to work, you'll enjoy it....

Seventh:  The Issue of Flies.  I watched Into the Wild last night, and the part where he kills the moose?  This was the first thing I thought of.  Walking through the market there is an entire metropolis of flies.  But no where worse than on the fish and other raw meat.  This picture doesn't do it justice, because everytime I'd get close enough to snap a shot, most of them would fly away.  But you get the idea.  To their credit, the women selling the fish have these little broom swatter things they're always waving around trying to keep the flies off, but, yikes.  I would just never ever ever ever buy this stuff.

Eighth: The "Supermarket."  That's what it's called, I swear to you.  So, think of your local CVS or Walgreens.  Think of how often you would consider going there for a legitimate grocery shopping experience.  Well, folks, that's what I have here.  Anything outside of the fruits and veggies I can buy in the market, I have these two little shelves to choose from.  Now there are several stores in town, about the same size, selling basically the same thing, though every once in a while you can find a gem.  But mostly they sell kitschy toys and super cheesy picture frames.  All I want are some chickpeas!! 

Well, folks there you have it.  I hope you've enjoyed this broadcast.  Tune in next time for another round of UGANDAN PROFUNDITIES!  (Well, probably in a few months....)