Life in Lukodi

Life has a way of slowing down in Uganda. Almost to the point of standing still. The days have been long and hot, and I often go into my hut to cool down and read. Although I feel that I have not done much here yet, there is so much to tell.

Sunday morning I went to the church service at the center. It was two hours long and included lots of singing. There was also a lot of crying from the babies. There was an interpreter for some of the message, but not all of it. Through most of the service, I was just thinking, “I can’t believe so many people are squished into this one tiny classroom!” In the afternoon, I went with some of the girls to the farm and picked sweet potatoes in the field. Their sweet potatoes are not like American sweet potatoes. They are white and not so sweet. I do not really like them. Other foods that I have had here include: rice, beans, posho (a mashed, dry sort of grits- I don't like this either), eggplant, and other cooked vegetables. In the morning I can have tea and a bun, but I do not usually have this. After working in the fields and getting really muddy, I took a “shower”. This consisted of filling a basin with water and going to a small enclosed area where I use a cloth to wash my body and pour a cup over my head to wash my hair. This is difficult with long hair and I can see why most Acholi women have short, cropped hair.

I have done some activities with the children and with the girls. I taught the kids Ring Around the Rosy. They thought it was hysterical when we all fell down. I played Uno with the girls one night before they danced. They dance pretty much every night, except when it rains, which it is starting to do more often because it is now the rainy season. Any time I interact with the girls, I feel that it is a big success because it is so hard for me to communicate with them. Sometimes I have to force myself to go out and sit with them on the verandas because I find it very tiring to try and talk to them. I do not feel the same way with the children. I am very comfortable sitting with the children, letting them crawl over me or play with my hair and not having to talk at all. Even though I can not speak with the children, I seem to be able to communicate with them easily.

The other day I was talking with Mr. Akena, the Center Director, and he was telling me about the history of the Acholi people and when they were under Britain’s control. He also told me about his education and teaching experience. He said one thing he likes about America is that we get out and experience the world, unlike the Acholi, who live in a cocoon. He said we train our teachers better too. Most of the teachers in northern Uganda are not very good. They need better, or in some cases, even any training. I realized that I really am very lucky that I have had the chance to experience so much of the world that I have and that I have had the educational training that I have.

Once I asked Kristen, the other American staff member, if she fears the LRA. She said she fears the IDP camp community members more of stealing and rape. There is a gate around the whole center that is guarded by a couple of soldiers, so I am not too worried, and I am not supposed to be outside of the gate after 6:30 p.m. The only times I go outside the gate are to get water with the girls. We go to the borehole (a well with a pump) or the spring. The girls all carry the full20 liter jerricans back on their heads. I tried this one day but had to hold on to it with my hands. I could not do this for very long. Acholi women are so strong! I carried a 5 liter jug of water in each of my hands back to the center yesterday and can still feel it in my shoulders and back today. Who needs weight lifting here when I can just fetch water every day!

Something that really struck me the other day was how little the children in Uganda actually have. I knew that they would not have much, but I was still shocked that there was nothing in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) classroom. There is not a single toy inthe room, not one object for the children to hold or play with. In America, a child has dozens and dozens of toys at their home; a classroom has many, many things for children to play with. Here, kids run around with sticks and pieces of garbage. They put dirt and leaves in their mouths. I am still getting used to how dirty the kids get.

The other night the other mzungu (white people) staff and I were eating in one of our huts and they told me some of the girls’ stories. I know that I am working with formally abducted girls, but when I heard some of their personal stories, it was very surreal. I was afraid of having nightmares that night from some of the things they told me. The girls at the center are from the ages of 14-22. It is so hard for me to think that these girls, who are the same ages as my sisters, know more about guns and tanks than Army soldiers.