Adventure? Or perhaps just life...

So, in my most recent message from my friend Renee, she asked about my newest adventures. Well, I couldn't really think of anything so just replied by telling her all the "normal" stuff going on. I reflected on my response and realized it was something worth sharing!

Now, my nearest town is Jinja so I head there for all the essentials. Essentials meaning food, toilet paper, yogurt (yes, it has it's own category), candles, internet, friends, etc. It's just a 27km trip via public transport. You might be thinking that's a breeze, but those 27km take about an hour. Yes, an hour. 27km = 16miles. Ridiculous, right? Let me paint the picture for you...

So, I hop into a taxi (a minibus, which seats 14 people). I'm one of the first on board, so I need to wait for it fill. No big deal, I'm a patient person. Within ten minutes, we're on our way. Let me start off by saying, why Ugandans add speed bumps to roads here will forever remain a mystery to me. The roads in and of themselves are speed bumps. That partially explains why traveling 27km takes an hour. But to add to that, the taxi obviously stops to let people off and take more people on. They honestly shouldn't be taking more on though...

Today for instance was decent. We only had about 20 people on board. Sometimes there are up to 24. Yup, outrageous. So yes, today was manageable. Oh yeah, also, often there are hens all tied together hanging out by my feet. I always forget they are there until someone disturbs them accidentally and they start squawking and wiggling around...like today. And there are always always always babies on board. So many babies in this country. Either they are mesmerized by my white skin or terrified. I prefer the former. Otherwise, they are likely to start howling. Yikes.

It's amazing what people can fit into/onto a taxi here. A huge basket of fish on back, for example. Today, some dude had a massive, outdated satellite dish INSIDE the taxi. Ugandans are great at packing things in.

Now, for the kicker. It's really not that big of a deal, I'm used to it. But not everyone in the world considers deodorant a daily necessity. Or a necessity at all. Again, I'm used to it, but I'm just painting the picture. Before I put it all together, let me tell you that Ugandans love playing music on their cell phones. No matter where they are or who else is around ALSO playing music on their phone. So all together now, imagine Ugandan heat, 24 people in a small minibus, babies crying, hens scratching at your feet, at least one large random item on board, three cell phones all blaring different songs, annnnnd a road that is literally a giant speed bump.

So, does that mean I have a weekly adventure ooooorrr can I just consider that life?

Ryan's Baptism

Last week, Ryan (my neighbors' son)was baptized. I'm so so happy I was invited to the intimate ceremony. There were just a handful of family members and no other friends. My neighbors and I honestly think of ourselves as a family. Again, I can't imagine leaving here in a year and a half. :(

Since a picture's worth a thousand words, I'll just add a few photos to share some of the day with you all :) 

 Ronnie (middle) and Rachel (right) at Ryan's Baptism.

Post-Baptism feast at Ronnie's father's house

Favorite picture!! Ryan after Baptism being super cute as usual

Rachel in the traditional dress--called a "gomezi." I'll be getting one soon haha

Family photo!!

Cultural Roots

As an American, when I'm home in the states, I tend to take things for granted. However, whenever I am abroad and am living within a different set of cultural standards I find myself feeling the utmost pride and gratitude for my upbringing.

Now, I want to preface by saying that I absolutely love Uganda, its people, and many of the cultural traditions. However, this whole patriarchal society thing is really killing me. The men here use the Bible as justification for controlling women; saying that women ought to be submissive to their loving husbands. Okay, well if that's the case, why are women meant to be submissive to all men? Why do they claim it is part of the culture and it has always been this way when missionaries have only been here for a half-century or so? Does women being submissive mean that they are inferior to men?

When I shared my opinion of the topic in an appropriate setting with Ugandan men that I know well, I found that I was literally being laughed at when I said that men and women are equal in America. Their response was, "I could never imagine women being of the same status as me." I also got, "when I go home, I make commands from my chair and things get done." Or, "if my wife is not behaving properly, I can beat her and she will thank me for showing her my love."

You've got to be kidding me! As a catholic, I don't think that the Bible condones abuse and gender hierarchy. Maybe the Bible has outlined different gender roles, but they do not imply superiority or inferiority based on one's biological make-up, right?

I also don't think that the way America runs things is the way that all countries should run things. I appreciate and respect cultural differences. I cherish them. So, I suppose after saying that it's not appropriate for me to follow by saying that I think equality of race, religion, gender, etc is the purist way to live.

So this is my most current struggle. I've known that this is the way of life here, but hearing it from men that I truly respect and consider my good friends is difficult to deal with. I keep telling myself that it's just a cultural difference (which it is) and we need to respect one another (and I do) but it's just not enough to help me sleep at night.

The purpose of Peace Corps is not to change anybody based on my cultural beliefs, but I think that awareness is important. Just how I am sharing my Ugandan experiences with all who read my blog, I am also sharing my American upbringing with Ugandans here. Again, not to force change upon people but solely for awareness. Culture of a people adapts over time due to its own circumstances for biological and societal survival and it is awareness that contributes to this evolution.