1) Rebekah: my roomie, new sister, skilled adventurer, and brilliant chemistry teacher. Bekah is gutsy and strong. She is all about trying new things and challenging herself (and consequently me!!). I am blown away by her ability to teach chemistry without books, a lab, or any supplies in a rural village school. I giggle every time I think about her “computer” class – which is mandatory according to the school administration- because not only are there no computers to teach with, but there is no power to run them off of either. I have been helping out in the class (JB- I am now an artist!!) drawing the full keyboard on the blackboard for students to copy as she lectures. We can share clothes and shoes, share a love of coffee and books and music.
Me and Bekah in our new outfits ready for church (our US clothing is already experiencing holes.... hand washing is not delicate here)2) Pineapple: and other fresh fruit. DELICIOUS. It rocks my socks off. Also enjoying passion fruit, sugar cane, various types of bananas, avocados, and the occasional watermelon.
3) Hugs: I get great hugs from great kids all day long. My favorite hugs come from the kids I have known since 2006. They are grown up but still are willing to give me hugs! I know, I know, you aren’t supposed to have favorites, but I can’t help loving the ones I have watched grow (even from a distance). [insert moment of pride welling up inside of me- my kids are sooo neat!! They are leaders at their school and they are hard workers and tons of fun to be with]
4) Random life events: I am concerned that I am becoming desensitized to all the randomness of life in Uganda. For instance; it is totally normal for me to expect to be able to purchase milk from a “diary”, rice and beans in the stationary shop, and wholesale eggs at the cell phone shop. African food only at a “Japanese restaurant”, eating without silverware, and having to pay to use public toilets. The gathering location for all JAM people in Kabale is a hardware shop (where we try not to upset piles of nails), when people ask for a hammer what they really mean is a rock flat enough to hit things with, and always remembering to tuck a few sheets of TP somewhere on my person when leaving the house. US events seem to greatly influence sign posts here- we have “obama supermarket” “yes we can bar and take away” and I am always smiling at signs heralding “friendly butcher”, “trustful salon” and other such descriptions.
5) Laughter: Bekah and I laugh consistently throughout the day. There is so much to laugh about. (I can’t decide if it is really because things are funny, or because laughing seems like a better option than crying). Most days though it is because things are just too silly not to laugh at. Case in point: one of our brothers was given precise instructions by Bekah to feed me when I got home one day…. He followed her instructions to the letter, much like Amelia Bedelia would do. I was treated to a slice of bread, with peanut butter, and salted sliced tomatoes. (a peanut butter tomato salt sandwich to be precise). Which I of course ate!
6) Soda: Krest- Bitter Lemon Soda and Stoney – ginger soda, are wild bursts of flavor in my mouth. The Krest is called “reverends drink” cause Christian reverends don’t drink alcohol, so they take krest. If you drink Stoney too quickly you get this crazy throat burn/head rush from the intense ginger. After staying in the village, the flavors and the coldness and the carbonation are fun and even shocking.
7) Rukiga Teachers: so many individuals are willing to help teach me the language. I have to be firm though, I want to learn the Rukiga spoken in my district, not town Rukiga, not Runyakore, and I want to learn the proper way of speaking, not the good enough way. I have a notebook filled with words and phrases I have collected. One of my kids from 2006 still faithfully revises my notebook and writes tests for me- he is a great teacher!
8) My Ugandan Family: I have three UG brothers who are awesome. (granted in this culture, lots of people in the church are referred to as “brother” or “sister”, but these three are legit). Sam, Pat and Wellen love Rebekah and me and take such good care of us. They are never ashamed to be seen with us, never get embarrassed when we don’t “get” certain cultural norms, and are such troopers, helping us shop for ANYTHING we need. They are silly with us (yes, its true, even your girl Leah has silly moments). They teach us practical skills like how to wash clothes, how to cook on charcoal stoves, and are faithful to look out for us wherever we go. I feel “at home” with them and I thank God for sending me three strong brothers to “have my back”. I am comfortable asking them anything and I feel confident in their wiliness to help me and Bekah whenever we need it. All three have at one time come all the way out to the village (even just for ten minutes after hours of travelling) to bring us things we need. I am blessed. Aunt and Uncle Twinamatsko were my hosts for the first two weeks in UG and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know them. They have made it clear that whenever I need a break I am welcome to come home to them.
Me, Bekah, and Pat on the Bus to Kabale
Bekah and Me, Wellen and Sam9) My “Boss” the Headmaster at KHHS (the school I work at)- he and his wife are two of our strongest allies in the village. Every time he goes to town he brings something back for us girls (fresh carrots, a green pepper, a few tomatoes- you get the idea). He is supportive and doesn’t treat us as outsiders or as visitors. I admire his willingness to hear our ideas and our concerns and to implement changes as needed. His lovely wife is ever trying to feed us and treats us as accepted members of the community, not as the “newbies”. He is quick to stand up for us and set strait the various “stories” floating around the community.
10) My US community / Family: I am truly loved. I am thrilled that (when conditions are favorable – ie: charged phone, money on my phone, and standing on the proper hill to get signal) I can text my sis to get advice about treating wounds, receive texts from my beloved friends and cousins, keep in contact with the home front, and send out emergency “prayer sos” messages. I am thankful for all the love and prayers from those back in the USA and I am confident that should a need arise; it would be taken care of.
so somehow this pic wont rotate, but Bekah and I on the way to the lake - hiking in skirts, carrying our backpacks about to head to Kampala
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