It's not an easy thing to live in a foreign country. I usually try to stay upbeat and blog about positive experiences. I would be untrue to myself if I didn't write about some of my challenges. This is a blog that is documenting my life and travels; the good and the bad. So today, I am writing about some issues I have been facing.
I have been a bit disheartened lately. April is a hard month for me. I am missing my family. I missed my son's (David) birthday, my daughter, (Kayla's) birthday, and Easter. I have been gone for 4 months. I feel isolated.
Living in Gulu presents some real physical challenges. There is lack of electricity. We can go for 4 or 5 days without it. There is often a lack of running water. Hot water is a rare luxury. There is mud, rain, heat, cold, constant mosquitos, fear of malaria (I am not on preventative medicine), hookworms, parasites, typhoid, infections, fungus, injury, HIV, etc. Sanitation is deplorable. Pollution fills the ditches and streets; used condoms, human waste, garbage. bags, water bottles. Sometimes after a rain, when it all piles up, the sun comes out and bakes the whole mess and the smell is horrible. Air pollution can be a problem. Open garbage fires mar the horizon. Tires burn black smoke in the air. Dust is in your nose and eyes. As for safety, I have been told to be careful after dark and NEVER to ride a boda home after nightfall (I live in the country). If I do, I risk rape or robbery.
There are also emotional issues to deal with. First, I am alone. I have no family to go home to and vent with or share my problems of the day with. Hence, friends have become very important for me. Uganda is a male dominated society. I have dealt with disrespect.. African women are very strong emotionally; I think they only cry when someone dies, really. American women are a bit more emotional and sharing. This is confusing to many. I am very isolated from my own kind here. It is amazing to me that we speak the same language, but we don't understand each other.
I am exposed to the sadness of extreme poverty, health issues, and sick people. I am expected to always have a solution. There is a constant neediness for money, medicine, school fees, etc. Death is accepted so readily; "It happens". Will I ever get used to riding my bike down the road and have children, young and old, say "Munu Munu" (foreigner)? If I reversed the situation and we were in America, and when this young black person crosses my path everyday I say, "black black", over and over, would he get irritated, or would he continue to smile and say, "Hello :)"? How can I teach them it isn't polite?
There are many things I am learning by living here. First and foremost is PATIENCE and TOLERANCE. Patience with my tongue, my thoughts, and my actions. I need to always THINK before I react in ANY way. That is a new thing for me to learn. Difficult too. I have a GREAT appreciation for my health. I appreciate simple living necessities such as electricty, water and basic sanitation. I have better health here and always lose wieght. There is simply no snacking for me. It is difficult to waste money on candy and cookies when surrounded by such poverty. I don't drink much soda and instead drink LOTS of boiled water. I don't have meals from boxes or cans. Everything cooked is freshly killed or harvested.
Just living here has caused the size of my heart to expand. To survive here, one needs lots of compassion and love and a charitable spirit. Yes, I am learning many things here and experiencing the good and the bad. Would I change a thing about my experience? No way. There is a lesson I need to learn in every new day that I live in Gulu.
I have been a bit disheartened lately. April is a hard month for me. I am missing my family. I missed my son's (David) birthday, my daughter, (Kayla's) birthday, and Easter. I have been gone for 4 months. I feel isolated.
Living in Gulu presents some real physical challenges. There is lack of electricity. We can go for 4 or 5 days without it. There is often a lack of running water. Hot water is a rare luxury. There is mud, rain, heat, cold, constant mosquitos, fear of malaria (I am not on preventative medicine), hookworms, parasites, typhoid, infections, fungus, injury, HIV, etc. Sanitation is deplorable. Pollution fills the ditches and streets; used condoms, human waste, garbage. bags, water bottles. Sometimes after a rain, when it all piles up, the sun comes out and bakes the whole mess and the smell is horrible. Air pollution can be a problem. Open garbage fires mar the horizon. Tires burn black smoke in the air. Dust is in your nose and eyes. As for safety, I have been told to be careful after dark and NEVER to ride a boda home after nightfall (I live in the country). If I do, I risk rape or robbery.
There are also emotional issues to deal with. First, I am alone. I have no family to go home to and vent with or share my problems of the day with. Hence, friends have become very important for me. Uganda is a male dominated society. I have dealt with disrespect.. African women are very strong emotionally; I think they only cry when someone dies, really. American women are a bit more emotional and sharing. This is confusing to many. I am very isolated from my own kind here. It is amazing to me that we speak the same language, but we don't understand each other.
I am exposed to the sadness of extreme poverty, health issues, and sick people. I am expected to always have a solution. There is a constant neediness for money, medicine, school fees, etc. Death is accepted so readily; "It happens". Will I ever get used to riding my bike down the road and have children, young and old, say "Munu Munu" (foreigner)? If I reversed the situation and we were in America, and when this young black person crosses my path everyday I say, "black black", over and over, would he get irritated, or would he continue to smile and say, "Hello :)"? How can I teach them it isn't polite?
There are many things I am learning by living here. First and foremost is PATIENCE and TOLERANCE. Patience with my tongue, my thoughts, and my actions. I need to always THINK before I react in ANY way. That is a new thing for me to learn. Difficult too. I have a GREAT appreciation for my health. I appreciate simple living necessities such as electricty, water and basic sanitation. I have better health here and always lose wieght. There is simply no snacking for me. It is difficult to waste money on candy and cookies when surrounded by such poverty. I don't drink much soda and instead drink LOTS of boiled water. I don't have meals from boxes or cans. Everything cooked is freshly killed or harvested.
Just living here has caused the size of my heart to expand. To survive here, one needs lots of compassion and love and a charitable spirit. Yes, I am learning many things here and experiencing the good and the bad. Would I change a thing about my experience? No way. There is a lesson I need to learn in every new day that I live in Gulu.
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