15 May 2012

It is over a week since I left the USA for Uganda on my 15-week adventure to try and make a difference. I am living in town called Lugazi in a village called Nakazade. I am one of about 25 volunteers living in three small bedrooms in a house. Our group consists of three boys in the garage, a married couple in one bedroom and the other 20 girls are split between the other two bedrooms on bunk beds stacked three high.

Believe it or not, the 25 of us share one bathroom (One semi working toilet, and one semi working shower neither of which I use anymore because of water issues.) In the course of the last week that I have been here, I think we have only had electricity 2 of the nights and have run out of water several times.(but never fear, we have big basins in which we collect rain water for bucket baths and we have two squat-toilet ditches in the back yard) I have been amazed at how well things have worked so far in our house, all things considered. Everyone has really good attitudes about everything and it has been really fun.

We have a night guard named Joseph and a day guard named Sam. (who uses his homemade bow and gnarly jagged arrows to keep us safe:)


I could already fill volumes with what I have experienced so far. I was hoping to upload photos and videos today. However, I just realized that I left my phone cord at home. So instead, I will talk a little bit about my favorite part of Africa so far.

The Kids

It is mind boggling how many kids there are here. The weird thing is, most of them seem to be younger than four years old. They are on every front porch in our neighborhood, playing on every street, and they absolutely love us.

We white foreigners are known here as "Muzungu". What I am about to write may seem like an over-exaggeration but it really is true:

No matter what village we walk through, you cannot walk more than ten steps without hearing some little voice yell out "Hi Muzungu." We then look to see a little bright faced child stop whatever he or she is doing and wave frantically with a huge smile. Most of the time they come running toward us to hold our hands as we walk or do give us the bonga (that's what they call pounding fists here)

I really wish everyone I know could spend a day here just walking down the street in a village. We can hardly get to the places we are trying to go without being attacked by swarms little kids attack us with attention.

Funny Story About One Of The Kids

Melissa, one of the volunteers here told me about this story. Like I mentioned, while walking down the path, you cannot go more than a few seconds without hearing multiple "Hi Muzungu". As soon as they see you, children drop whatever they are doing and get supper excited as they wave and shout to get your attention.

Melissa related that while walking down the path recently, she saw a little boy who was in the process of squatting (taking care of biological business). The small boy looked up and caught a glance at Melissa and as if by knee-jerk reaction, stood up running and waving and running forward yelling "Hi Muzungu".

There are several awesome experiences with the kids everyday. I wish I could find a good way to remember them all. It makes you feel really good to have so many cute kids who absolutely love you even though they have no idea who you are.


Well, I'm about to run out of minutes at the ol' internet cafe so I'll have to save pictures and videos for later. I definitely need to take videos walking down paths so I can remember our neighborhood friends.

Till next time,

Lane