Rafting and Loving Life in Uganda!!!

Rafting this weekend was insane!! There were 9 of us in a raft, plus a Ugandan guide. We were out on the Nile all day, during which we went down about 8 rapids. Some were calmer than others, but we went down 3 class 5 rapids (to demonstrate how intense class 5 is: I’m not sure you’re even allowed to do class 5 in the States!). One that we went down was literally a 20 foot plus waterfall – straight down. It was awesome!! Our boat didn’t flip until the last rapid of the day. It was a huge rapid and really long. We got out of the raft and carried it past the first part of the rapids, because it was a class 6 and looked insanely dangerous. Then we started on the last part of the rapids, with our guide warning us that the raft flips 95% of the time. Before setting out on our journey we had been trained in what to do if the raft flipped, how to turn it back over and get back on. So most of us were pretty pumped about going down the final rapids, with a couple a little wary. We set out, paddling hard to the right. The boat went down the first wave sideways, and we found ourselves at the base of a huge wave, at least 20 feet high. At that moment it was instantly clear to me there was no way we would get through without flipping, and sure enough the wave broke over us and flipped the raft. It all happened so fast, and I guess mentally I was prepared because somehow I managed to hold onto my paddle! The current was really strong and jerked me around under water for a good 5 seconds at least, though in my mind it seemed like sooo much longer because I hadn’t had a big breath before going under and I really had no control over my body because of how strong the rapids were, and I couldn’t see where was up. I just told myself to relax and that I would surface soon, since I had a life jacket on. Sure enough I did surface, and took the biggest breathe of my life! I looked to my left and saw what looked like another series of rapids, which turned out to be the current leaving the rapids. But my thought was “Oh wow, I don’t want to get tossed around in that!” so I swam to my right as hard as I could, where one of the rescue guys in a kayak found me and I swam to the raft and was pulled back in. It was sooo much fun! Though my arms are still pretty tired a couple days later – we rafted all day. We stopped for lunch on a small island in the middle of the Nile where they had awesome cold cut sandwiches with lots of vegetables and potato salad prepared for us! Something else funny was that as we rowed down the Nile there were many local people on the side either washing clothes, swimming, or bathing in the river – and many were stark naked!

It’s hard to try to convey all my experiences to you here in my blog, because there’s so many new things and experiences. One thing I forgot to tell you is really important – my tribal name given to me by my family! My family is of the Kobu clan of the Baganda tribe (the largest tribe in Uganda and located in the central area), and my name is Naiga. It means a certain type of grass. My family occasionally calls me Naiga, and I’ve encouraged them to do it more often, especially because last week Momma was teasing me that I don’t remember my name, and I insisted that I did. This may sound silly, but one night last week I said goodnight to Momma, who in reply said “Goodnight Joelle.” Without even thinking, my response was “My name’s not Joelle, it’s Naiga.” I marked in my calendar the exact date and time I said that – October 18, 2007 at 10:28 PM, mostly because it was so symbolic to me. I really do feel like I’m part of the family and like I belong there, and I think that moment was the point where I completely felt that way and acknowledged it.

Last Wednesday we had dinner at the home of one of the mzungu missionary couples. He is an American and she a Brit, and they have two young, adorable children. Their home is pretty Western looking – one of the nicest on campus – and they ordered pizza and mac and cheese from NY Kitchen and…..BROWNIES and COFFEE!!! What a treat that was! We sat around and talked, played board games, and watched some of The Lion King because we’d been singing the songs all weekend on our safari. It was so much fun and a great get-away, which is definitely very necessary sometimes.

Something which I’ll definitely miss when I go home is chicken on a stick. You’re probably thinking, “what?!?!?” – when you pass through a town there are tons of men carrying cooked meat on a stick who run to your windows to sell it to you if you stop your vehicle. It’s so cheap – usually 500 shillings for beef or 1500 for chicken (a dollar is 1750 shillings, so they cost less than a dollar!). The meat is so juicy and tender.

I’ve become very close to my host sister Ritahh – we spend many nights up late talking. During our nightly prayers as a family after dinner we’ve prayed for her to get school fees, and I’ve noticed her crying a couple nights. When I asked her about this, she told me that her father was forced to close his shop a couple months ago. Her family has 5 children, 4 of which are school age, and this term her parents could only afford to completely pay the school fees for 2 of them. They could only pay half her school fees. Because of this she was refused entrance to school. She’s never treated me like a rich mzungu and I highly doubt would ever ask me for money (many other people upon first meeting me ask for money and have no interest in getting to know me or developing a relationship, which is hard to deal with and sometimes really annoying and hurtful). So, I only knew all this about Ritahh’s school fees because I asked her. Her school fees are 140,000 shillings for a term – the equivalent of $80, and she could only afford half!!! I was able to help her out, which was really great and felt a lot better than just sending money through some organization to a person I don’t know, especially with all the criticisms, problems, and dependence created by poorly-used development funds we’re learning about here. (I’ll post a thought-provoking update about poverty and our responsibility as Christians to address it in a few weeks; right now we’re reading “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” for a class, and I’m excited to share what I’m learning and how I’m being challenged with you.)

I’ve gone into Kampala 4 times in the past 6 days to do craft and dress shopping, since prices will probably skyrocket during CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in late November. CHOGM is a big deal for Uganda – the Queen of England as well as tons of other government heads will be here, and Kampala has undergone MAJOR renovations and tons of money has been spent. Roads have been repaved, the airport in Entebbe has had a serious facelift, and there’s signs all over Kampala that say “We’re ready for CHOGM…are you?” We all joke about being ready for CHOGM, and during rafting everytime we successfully conquered a rapid our team chant was “1,2,3…READY FOR CHOGM!!!” which made everyone on the other boats laugh. I bought the coolest dress in Kampala yesterday. It’s a Nigerian style dress – long wrap skirt and flowy shirt; it’s a deep blue with gold and white flower embroidery. The coolest part is the head wrap! My family told me I’m officially a true African, which is further validated by the fact that upon inspection of my just-washed clothes yesterday Momma told me I’ve conquered the task of washing clothes by hand! Phew!

My trip into Kampala yesterday was the most interesting by far. The shop where I found my dress was near the taxi park and hordes of people, which was interesting walking through. Then, Sarah (one of the other IMME girls) and I were sitting in a taxi waiting to leave Kampala and head home after buying my dress, and I was sitting by the window that was cracked open a couple inches. All of a sudden a hand was reaching in and grabbing my phone! I held on tight and tugged, and he eventually ran away. I know this probably doesn't give you warm fuzzies, but really that could happen in any city, and I've never had anything happen that made me feel in danger or like something would get stolen. Needless to say, my earring got pulled out of my ear, and I'm pretty proud of myself that I managed to react quickly and hold onto my phone!! Please, don't worry about me; I'm fine, and know better than to talk on the phone in public here - I usually wouldn't.

We leave on Friday morning for our rural homestays! We’re going to Kapchowra, about 4 hours from Mukono. It’s supposed to be very beautiful there – the village is on the side of a mountain and overlooks a vast plain! The village will be much more rural, as 85% of Uganda is, so we’ll get a taste of how most Ugandans live that we haven’t had yet. 85% of Ugandans are subsistence farmers, which I’m sure the family I stay with will be. We’re told our families won’t have electricity at all, and many may have never seen a mzungu (or very rarely), so we’ve been told to expect more stares than usual. (And people asking to touch our skin or hair – mzungu skin and hair is so different and they love touching it!) We’ll be gone until Sunday, Nov. 4th, so I won’t be on the internet until after then. Check for exciting updates about my experience living in rural Uganda after then!

I got an envelope from Mrs. Schreck and the children’s church at Faith!!! It was a huge banner with all their names signed and “God Bless You Joelle” in big letters. I cried when I opened it; it meant so much to receive that and made me feel so special and loved! It’s hanging on the wall of my room at home! Thank you so much Mrs. Schreck and all the kids!!!!

Papa and Judy – Glad to see you’ve visited my blog again; sorry to worry you after not having updated for so long! Thanks so much for your comments and your prayers; they mean more than I can explain. I love you and miss you!

I love and miss you all! Thanks for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement!