It's been eleven weeks and I've lived to tell the tale. Last week was full of awesome moments, many of which happened on my safari. If you have not read about it yet, go to my blog: rachelwade22.blogspot.com. It will give all the great (and gory) details about one of the best days I've ever had.
Past vacationing in southern Uganda, we also actually did some good work last week.
I'll tell you about two experiences:
1. Orphanage.
The girl in our group have really been wanting to visit an orphanage before we leave. We went on Tuesday to one managed by a group of Nuns. This orphanage isn't necessarily abandoned babies or children that don't have any family... it's more like families that just didn't want to take care of another baby or didn't have the money to. Its nearly unheard to have a child that doesn't have any family to take care of it... there is always an aunt, uncle, grandparent, cousin, etc. The orphanage will take care of these babies for a few years and then place them back with their families. Many times the families think that if they hand over their baby to an orphanage it will be getting better food/care than it would with them, but that is definitely not the case. Once again, it comes down to peoples perceptions. The way people perceive what they could get out of certain experiences is always interesting to learn and hear about.
So the orphanage was sad and cute. The kids were happy. There was one girl that had a severe case of cerebral palsy. She was six but had the body of a two year old and can't move at all. Basically she lays in bed all day. It's things like that that are hard to see. I don't like feeling that helpless. And what I mean by that is I feel the same way I'm sure any other human being would feel; we want to give them the world and make their life happy but there is next to nothing we can do about it. Those moments are the ones were I take a step back and think about the lives we have all been given. I don't know why that little girl came to earth and was born with that disease. I don't know why people are given certain trials, families, or physical impurities. I don't know. But I'll tell you one thing, I am really glad to know that one day everything will be okay. That's so simple. But it's true. One day everything will be right and just with our bodies and eternal lives. REALLY glad I know that.
2. Mandela
I went to Mandela high school on Wednesday to teach my class again. For two hours I sat in a circle with S1 (equivalent to being a freshmen in high school) and talked about life as we sewed. My favorite moments here have all come from times where I have been able to see, hear, and ultimately witness their culture in it's truest form. I liked listening to what they had to talk about and comparing it to what a freshmen in America would be talking about in an instance like that one. It was extremely different.
The girls are really funny. They still like to make fun of the way I talk, act, and what I wear. Which is super hilarious. I love being there. After the class I was approached by two S5 boys (18 year olds). Besides their marriage proposals, we talked about some good things. Like working hard, money, America, goals, schooling, and business. Once again their are a lot of road blocks. These kids want to continue on with their schooling. They want good jobs. They want better lives. But they don't have the resources, money, or options. They could study their brains out but unless they have some way to pay for University (or get a scholarship) they will end up working as a boda driver, construction worker, farmer, etc. It's a little disheartening but that is life here. So many things to work through and figure out.
I'll close with one last funny story.
Our driver for our safari was Cosmos. Great name, eh? Well he was a great person, but his driving was like... Jordan on drugs. Like he was so stop and go, and was speeding like a mad man. Needless to say over the course of three days we had four popped tires, a dead battery... and he crashed the car because he was avoiding trying to hit a hippo. Yes, that is real life.
He was driving back by himself to where he was sleeping on the first night and a hippo walked out in front of him... so he swerved super quick and crashed into the side bank. The hippo was fine... but the front of the car was thrashed. But really... these stories... "Our drive crashed our car because he was trying to avoid hitting a hippo." Is that real life? Better yet, is this MY life?
Sometimes I still can't believe I am here.
But I am. And the people, place, and experiences I've had continue to amaze me every day.
Until next week,
xoxoxoxoxo
Ray
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