You Are Very Welcome

I am currently so over-whelmed with all that has happened since last Thursday that I am not even sure where to begin the telling of this, my crazy life in Mukono/Buguju, Uganda. There is so much to say and so little time to write it all down. However, I am going to do my best to help you experience at least a small taste of what it is like to live in Uganda.

I first arrived at the Entebbe International Airport last Thursday night at around 9:30 Eastern African Time (which in nine hours ahead of CST). The first thing I noticed was the immediate heat that basically attacked me as I walked off the plane. Though Africa is usually thought to have dry heat, the humidity here on the equator came as a surprise and was quite shocking after leaving Omaha at 15 degrees. The second thing I noticed is quite possibly one of my most favorite aspects of Africa…the wonderfully, smoky air. So perfectly Africa.

After an hour drive northeast, I arrived at Uganda Christian University, my home campus for the next four months. After two-three hours of sleep, I was up and ready to see this new “home” of mine. Campus is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by large tree-filled hills (or mountains as they call them), red dirt roads, and the town of Mukono. Along with many other Uganda Study Program (USP) students, I went to a number of orientation classes that first day. Then that afternoon, I moved in with a Ugandan family who I would be living with until May.

Oh my goodness, I can’t even begin to tell you about what it’s like to live with an African family. It’s so completely different than anything I’ve ever experienced before. Our house (pictured here) has five small rooms, a seperate building for our kitchen, and a seperate building for our shower and squatty potty (awesome...) We don't have electricity or running water so we use kerosene lamps at night and buckets of water for showers and laundry. The first night was not easy, but I am so thankful I have the opportunity to live with them because now, just a week later, I am so blessed by my family.


First, I am not the only American living with this Ugandan family. Cyndi is from Oregon and is my American “sister.” It’s wonderful having her with me, for she knows what I’m experiencing and is able to share the joys and struggles with me. As for my Ugandan family members, I have a father and mother, though my father is a teacher in another community and I have yet to meet him yet. My mother’s name is Mama Toto. She is wonderfully kind and loving. One of my favorite things she says is “you’re welcome.” This sounds strange to Americans, but here in Uganda saying “you’re welcome” means that they are welcoming you…into their country, their home, and their life. She is always looking out for what is the best for us. Cyndi discovered last night that she often comes into our room in the middle of the night to check up on us. A little awkward, but I know she’s doing it out of love and concern for her American children. I also have two brothers, Sam and Joshua, and two sisters, Sarah and Kevin. Sam and Sarah are the easiest to talk to at this point, being the closest to our age and have the best knowledge of English. Kevin spends a lot of the time watching and smiling at us. I know she thinks our habits and mistakes are funny, for she laughs at us more than anyone else. Joshua almost never speaks to us. I wonder if it’s because he doesn’t speak English as well as the others. Kevin and Mama are in the picture above.

While at home, it’s an interesting mix of family time and awkward alone time. Ugandans, being colonized by England, love to have morning and evening tea. My family upholds that tradition, though for some reason they do not take tea with us. When we get home from school at around 7:00 pm every night, Cyndi and I often have tea by ourselves in the living room. We also eat breakfast alone. A little awkward and we haven’t figured out why they do that yet, but we’re getting used to it. After tea time, if we’re not showering in our outdoor bathroom with a bucket of cold water, we stand with the family as they cook supper. They have let us cut up tomatoes and onions a few times, but other than that we have not been allowed to help.

Supper, which happened no earlier than 9:00pm, is probably one of my favorite things to watch at my home. Though the food is sometimes less than appealing (we eat rice or matoke (steamed/smashed plantains) and beans at almost every meal) it is just so fascinating to watch the respect that is shown through a meal. We eat in our living room (pictured here) and the food is placed on the large coffee table in the middle of room. First, one of our brothers takes a dish and pitcher full of water to each person (always to Mamma first) and basically kneels before us as we wash our hands. After the prayer is said, Mamma Toto stands and dishes up her food. When she is finished, either Cyndi or I go to the table next and get our food. We are then followed by our sisters, and then our brothers. I have never seen more than one person go to the table for food at the same time. It’s just so fascinating to me to watch the respect and love they show to each other, and to us.

I still have so much more to tell…so much I have experienced that I have not even mentioned. However, this blog is getting quite long so I think I’m going to end here. Keep checking, though, because I plan to tell you lots more about my family, my school, and my travels in this wonderful country.

P.S. Katie A. is the bestest person ever...