Jinja

The air seemed to gradually get cooler the closer we got to Jinja. I sat in the very front of the bus next to the pilot so I had the full range of view of what came our way. I was quiet the whole way just taking in everything I possible could for the hour and half journey to the Jinja Nile Resort. The students went rafting on the Nile but I chose not to due to the cost and lack of interest. Instead another student (Jake) and I went into town with out knowing what we would get ourselves into. We had six hours or so until the rafters would come back and we could hangout together in at the resort over looking the Nile. Jake and I walked aimlessly around town, but made our way towards Lake Victoria where we hired a private tour guide to take us to the source of the Nile River, which I captured on video. After that we ate some American style food at resort near by which also over looked the Nile. We took Bota’s back to the resort (motorcycle taxi). To keep a long story short we just relaxed on the deck/bar area that was elevated 90 ft above the Nile until our group returned and we ate some foods there as well. In the mean time I got to know some of the Ugandan staff working there who we my age and doing well for themselves. At the resort I met people from all over the world. Australia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, London, Scandinavia, Canada and there were some more that we there that night all hanging out in one sweet location. The next morning is when some of the students went bungee jumping witch was featured at the resort we stay at that night. It was fun to watch them, but it again was not worth the money for me…maybe if it would have been 3 times as high or if I could jump twice. Backing up…I first woke up that morning to a stampede of monkeys running on our tin roof cabin. They were everywhere. In fact some us brave soles lured them in with crackers and bread and eventually they took food right out of our hands! A few of us hand fed them for about a half and hour which is one of my highlights to the trip. Over all it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience for me as others had fun as well doing extreme activities (and got really sun burnt). The area of Jinja is beautiful…full of lush green plants and massive trees. I am looking forward to this coming Friday (March 4th, 2011) I will be gone in Captura (that’s not how you spell it..I am not sure at the moment) Anyway we are doing rural home stays near the foothills of Mt Elgon! I will be living in an African rural setting for a weeks time. Pray for me not that it will be easy, but that I will learn from it. Life is not supposed to be easy. In fact how can you grow if there is no pain or suffering?

Election weekend

Aaron J. Fekete

2/25/11

Journal 5 – Election Weekend

Since arrival in Uganda posters filled the walls of buildings, fences, and corners of every street. As in every country presidential elections are a big deal for it may or may not determine the prosperity of the individual and the country as a whole. Before entering the country I was aware that elections were going to take place. This thought began to stir my imagination as to what could possibly happen during the election period. I have heard from movies and other sources of stories about much rioting and violence that has lead into civil wars in the countries of Africa. As much as I was pretending to be confident in such a matter not coming to light the thought still haunted the back of my mind. I began to wonder how and why such thoughts would be birthed in my mind? Could it be simply that I am uneducated about the politics and the people of Africa? I believe so. I believe now that I have been here and have seen elections first hand as to why violence may or may not erupt throughout the countries of Africa, at least in particular Uganda.
In short, the stability and peace of the economy is crucial for the lives of Ugandans to continue in their lives without disruption. In part it is almost life or death in politics. Previous wars have taken place in Uganda that has disrupted the lives and the advancement of the country. The other thing I was realizing to was that the country has never witness a peaceful transaction of power. This lead me to believe why the outcome of the election process went the way it did. In part it was for “prosperity”, which is part of the campaign slogan for the incumbent, but I feel prosperity can only be reached through peace in the region. The incumbent won a swift and clean election and life in Uganda seems to be as normal as it was I arrived. People are able to carry on with their lives without interference of divided nation.
As I mentioned before I had left to Uganda I had thoughts of possible uprisings in Uganda. A day or two before the elections people had dispersed to their home regions and an eerie feeling came about me as cities began to empty out and quiet down. Citizens had stocked up on supplies and went to be with their families for the results of the election and awaited the unknown. As results were being counted I had planned to come to school the following day the polls close and my brother mentioned that I should wait. It occurred to me that the elections I experience in the states have always been so peaceful that we can carry on without daily lives without considering their to be rioting or disruption. I had made plans, but had to keep in mind that they could easily be canceled if people were to flock to the stress in jubilee or anger. The incumbent won the election and life seemed to appear very normal, not to say that my personal experience was nothing close to the normal I experience at home during American elections. I had some anticipation for the results with the added ingredients of anxiety perhaps fear. Thankfully prayers have been answered. Now time for the chicken farm to start! Can't wait until it happens...i will keep you all posted. Thanks for reading

To Lira and back again

What a weekend. Our group of home stays students (American) traveled to Lira on Friday. It was a 6-hour trip, but was very enjoyable. We road in a coaster and the giant windows could easily slide wide open making it easy for pictures, air circulation, and scoping the landscape. We crossed the Nile River along the way where we found Baboons along side the road! We are all over joyed to them. Any how, we arrive in the evening for our first experience. We stopped at a Sankofa Café (Sankofa - means looking behind, moving forward.) A younger American man who lives in Lira with his wife owns it. It also is stationed three stories up where we can walk out on a balcony, but evening more exciting was the fact they served a variety of American foods! I ordered a BBQ burger and a large coffee shake…I was very satisfied and enthused to hear about the mans story and experience living in Uganda. After spending hours there relaxing and enjoying one another’s company we made our way back to the hostel where we continued to get spoiled! I had my own room with a large bed fully equipped with a misquito net and a conjoined room for bathing and an American style toilet…not a squatty potty ☺ We sang some praise and worships songs and read scripture before bed. Morning came and we had a great breakfast and my shower had some warm water that made my usual bathing time extended. Next we went to Otino Waa School for orphans and the “less fortunate” which is joined by the owners in Path ministries as well. http://pathministries.net/ The ones who started it are American and the placed is been truly blessed that to put it all on paper would be impossible! They have a few hundred orphans after starting out with around 50. It has expanded into providing a home with mothers for them, education, vocational school to train them to get involved in the community and a large church! Check the place out one child costs 100 a month to take care of and they rely fully on the grace of God to provide. It was very amazing and touching. They also have some orphans who were previous LRA members and some who were orphaned as a result of the 20 year war. We ate lunch there and it was also fantastic. Coslaw, sesame seed salad, pizza, cookies, and sodas, then topped off with ice cream. We visited there other location briefly and saw where he and his wife reside. The home was extremely beautiful and also a gift from God as someone who believed in what they were doing provided the funds to build the home. The home would cost at least $300,000 , but only cost 68,000 to build here…that is not enough to pay for the materials back home. I am tempted to go work for 10-12 years in the states and purchase a second home..who knows. After that we visited a lady, retired policeman, who started a home for women who have been victims of abuse such. This also was very inspiring to hear about and encouraging seeing someone trying to help those in need. We concluded the evening at our hostel where we had two Peace Corps members come and talk with us about their experience. We had another amazing meal with them; candle lit, and under the star lit sky. It was really pretty. Everything was…the places we visited, their stories, the food, and Gods manifestations! We left after going to church in the morning only after shaking hands with about 100 Ugandans, which was a fraction of the amount that were there. All was a good experience…PS my arm got sun burnt at the window seat I had. Check out my pictures ya’ll!