Jan 26

It’s been a hard week. Processing so many things at once is difficult. I’ve found that I’m letting things pass by me to avoid getting overwhelmed. And I think that’s ok. Kristine and I were commiserating about that this morning about how it’s hard to take it all in. We had great meetings with the students of the centre. On Wednesday the primaries and their parents came. They presented an amazing concert. Their opening song, which made me cry, has now been stuck in our heads.
Our dear visitors,
you are most highly welcome.
We are very glad to receive you.
From the long journeys you all have come,
to come and be with us here today.

They had a little step that went with it. It was similar to the Uyai mose step. It was so great and their teacher had so obviously put so much work into it. On Thursday we met with the secondary students and on Friday with University students. The secondary students were very exciting. They were most forthcoming and articulate. They had many praises and lots of ideas for ways to improve things. William and Ronald sang us a song too at the end. Ronald had a great bass line which set me up nicely for teaching the Masooli-Kitetikka song. We organized a few guys to sing bass with Steve who led them all wonderfully so that I could concentrate on the other parts. It was so much fun. Many were clearly enjoying themselves and some added table percussion in near the end. I couldn’t imagine most secondary students at home being so open about learning and singing something new. After meeting with the University students on Friday we went into Kampala to meet a woman named Irene. She’s an Ashoka Fellow. She is a teacher and is dedicated to teaching students the skills to become entrepreneurs, self-confident, directed, able to use their strengths and recognize their weaknesses so that they can become successful citizens of Uganda. She says their education system has many difficulties but instead of working against it she works with it. Much of her work happens in schools as extra-curricular activities. I felt quite inadequate actually. She was very excited that I was willing to work in the next couple of weeks before moving on. She suggested in fact that I could stay the whole three months of my visa! I’ll see how it works out. Next week I’ll be able to figure out with the local committee of the Learning Centre what my role in Masooli could be when my TPC friends go back home.

Today was very cool. We were invited to a kaski. This is a celebration of a groom by his family the week before the wedding. The bride apparently has one too at her family’s home. It feels strange to be held in such high esteem. We’re being hosted by the Lubega family. They are so good to us and treat us royally. Sometimes it’s almost uncomfortable. Barbara knelt down in front of me the other day when she was returning some papers we’d forgotten on the table. Mr. Lubega is the chief of the county, a politician, an important and highly respected man. He is also very humble. The more we get to know him, the more we realize what a valued citizen he is. That’s how we got invited to the kaski. His wife was the caterer and she provided us all with basutis, the traditional Bugandan dress that women wear. It was hilarious having the girls all dress us; Vennie, Barbara, Harima, and Millie all participated. Our little room was like a bridal chamber with much chatter and hilarity. We were given Bugandan names. Mine is Namoli, Constance. I’m of the monkey clan. Steve thought that was quite appropriate for me. Buganda is the tribe of this area. It’s the largest tribe in Uganda and has 56 clans. The tribe/clan system is a very large part of who they are but it also means they are faced with prejudism when applying for jobs for example. It is difficult especially if you are not of the ruling tribe.

So we wore these basutis to the Kaski and Steve also was clad in traditional men’s wear and we were a big hit. Of course the fact that we are bzungus was already a hit. But apparently they were very impressed at how smart we were in the outfits. Although we all but crashed the party we were so greatly honoured. We were given front row seats and invited to be the first, along with the chairman of the county to get our food. Later as we were waiting to go we started dancing a bit near the food preparation area. Kids came and watched us, staring and laughing. Then the MC called us to the main area and had us dance in front of everyone which caused for so much laughter. It was so much fun to have them be so amused. We called others up to come and join us and soon there were many people on the newly created dance floor. There are many pictures and video footage of our dancing debut in Africa. We so wanted to help Betty with the dishes but Mr Lubega wouldn’t hear of it. Visitors are not made to work. He promises we can wash the wedding dishes next weekend. We don’t believe him.