So, more pictures!
This is Dokas on the left and Teddy on the right. Dokas is the one stuffing me full of fats and starches at the guest house. Of course she is naturally very thin and does not understand my life-long battle with weight. Also, to add to the misunderstanding, Ugandan view overweight people as attractive because they think it is a sign of health and wealth. If someone here says you are fat, they are complimenting you! The other lady, Teddy, is my language tutor and translator. She is 21 years old, finished school through level Senior 4 (10th grade), and has no prior experience with language instruction or translation. She just happens to be the sister of one of the clinic staff and knows fairly good English. Fairly good... I still have to speak very slow and in simple terms to be understood, so wish me luck! I really miss talking at a normal pace and being easily understood.
These are two girls from the nearest village, Kyarusozi. Every time they see me they run at me full speed yelling "muzungu, muzungu, muzungu". They are very cute. I'm not sure why they get so excited to see me. I think maybe they are hoping for candy or money; people here seem to think all muzungus (white people) give away money. I can only assume these kids have been taught that by their patents. I suppose most charity organization do give money to churches or communities, but the PC is not charity. We are here to teach them how to help themselves. I haven't given these children anything yet but they still run to me and want to hold my hand.
Well, I hope I can do something to help this village as a volunteer. Kyarusozi is what they call a trading center, not really a village and certainly not a town. They have a market every Friday, and there are a few shops, schools, and churches, but that's it. Overall, the people around here are terribly poor and they live in unsanitary conditions. The tea farmers are rich in comparison because at least they have a steady paycheck every other Friday, which, by the way, they spend on booze and women in Kyarusozi.
Side note - I think I accidentally volunteered to teach an empowerment/esteem class to sex workers next month. PC research reveals that prostitudes are pressured (offered more money) to have sex without condoms. They seemed to think I could give a good talk on not compromising your health for a few extra shillings per trick. Me? Huh? I guess if we can't convince them to not be hookers, the least we can do is convince them to use a condom every time. I'll let you know how that goes!!!
That's all the pictures I have on my phone, the others I wanted to share are on my computer. At least I now know I can post whenever I pick up the wi-fi on my phone.
Mwikara kurungi banywani bange!
(Stay well my friends)
I am familiar with the outlook that to be fat is a sign of health and wealth, from when I was a University student and met people from African countries. It actually makes sense, when you consider rampant poverty and illness, especially those diseases that make you very skinny. Well, roll with it (pardon the pun), then!! The fatter, the better? At least when in Uganda. You're still beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThose little girls are adorable! They probably just enjoy the attention that you are giving them. All kids like candy and new toys/things, but they love attention too. They might just be curious about you.
That's so sad, to learn about the sex workers. It breaks my heart. Goes to show not everyone can just pull themselves up by the bootstraps and live their best life possible. Any one of us could have been born in that life and ended up there. No one should ever end up in that place. Yes, they should use a "condiment" every time! You are doing good, valuable work. Don't lose sight of that! Even if you help one man, woman or child make some progress to a better life, your whole trip was worth it. If one person doesn't die a miserable death from HIV, your mission was a success.
Hang in there, my friend! :)