harsh realities.

Yesterday I got my head braided, or as they call it here, plaited.  This was simply for conveniences sake, because now I don't have to shower as often, and when I do I do not have to wash my hair, shortening my showers, and saving money on shampoo and conditioner.  The person who did my hair was a friend of one of the Ugandan volunteers who works with Empower-A-Child named Rita.  It was my first time using what the Ugandans call a boda-boda, which is basically a motorcycle taxi where you sit on the back a motorcycle and pay the driver once you have reached your destination.  Most of the volunteers here are scared of taking a boda-boda because the people here simply do not follow any sort of traffic laws.  The boda-bodas weave in and out of cars the entire way, without ever stopping.  However, I don't know what it is here, but I have had a sense of peace in every situation I have been thrown into.  The ride was incredible.  It was so cool to be able to see a part of this beautiful country in that way.  I felt completely free and adventurous.

This leads me to another thought that I may have mentioned before, my adventurous spirit is absolutely flourishing here.  Each time I step out of the gate there is a new adventure to conquer.  First of all, the gate in itself reminds me of a secret passageway leading to a strange and exciting place I've never seen before.  It is a sheet of iron with a tiny door in the center that you have to duck under to get out.  To get to the city you must wind through rows and rows of houses and shops, climbing the red dusty piles of sand and rock, jumping over potholes, bricks, or merchant's items.  I absolutely love it.

Backtracking now, after sitting with my head in Rita's friends lap for five hours while she plaited my hair, I asked Rita to show me her home.  I keep forgetting that our way of life is so different from theirs because to me, I do not see them as any different from myself.  So when I stepped into Rita's home and noticed the lack of electricity, the kitchen being the size of my pantry, the bedroom that once housed 4 boys at one time being as big as my brother's room, and each room only furnished with what was necessary (a mattress, some bowls, and clothes) I was shocked.  How quickly I forget that it is not only these children that are less fortunate than myself, but also the people I work with and love like brothers and sisters.

I know it has only been two weeks here, but something I'm struggling with is the fact that I cannot truly invest in every kid I meet.  We go to so many "projects" during the day and we meet so many awesome kids, each of whom I remember their names, and I may never see them again.  I think this is different for me though since in my first week we went to Gulu, and we will be leaving again for Luwero next week.  I have talked to a few people who have been here for a while longer, and they have been able to invest in the same kids at the different projects for a while, but they do agree that it is so hard to do this effectively when our time with them is so limited.  However, I have been reassured that I will see some of these kids many times again.  I long to see Lydia, little Josephine who I met today at church, Irene at the Remand Home, and Yella, but I won't have the chance to for at least a week, if at all.  

I think that will be all for now, but again, there is much going on in my mind that I have yet to sort out.  I will continue to try though.

In Love-

Emily