Happiness Is a Pillow and a Western Toilet

9/21/08

What is happiness? Right now, happiness is finding the perfect pillow and having a western toilet.

My living situation was getting a little worrisome; I didn’t want to be living in the Hostel my whole time in Uganda, nor, did I want to be spending that kind of cash. So, when I found out two Mizunga girls were willing to share their house I was absolutely thrilled to say the least. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, I had already been interviewed when they had stopped by Y.E.S. to introduce themselves. Amanda and Janis are both Masters students who are essentially studying public health in developing countries. They came back around the compound an hour later after discussing over lunch and offered me a room in their house. I told them I was more then happy to take it and set plans to drop in the next day to see the place. Now, I had very much looked forward to living with a host family, however, the feasibility of this had come more and more into question. Still, with a twinge of disappointment, I reassured myself that I will have lots of opportunities to see the typical home life while working in FP. Of course, all these worries just about vanished once I was able to check out my new digs. It is in a modern house on the edge of downtown. My roomies have affectionately dubbed it NGO road due to the fact that there are about a-half dozens signs to assorted organizations by our house. It does feel a bit auspicious to be neighbors with the FP Office of the Ugandan Ministry for Human Rights. The house itself is walled off from the street with the only access point through a large solid iron gate. The type that swings open for cars but also has a door built-in to walk through. Inside, sits an empty guardhouse. No doubt a not-so-old relic from the civil war days of Ida Amin. The interior of the house is a bit more inviting. There is a large enough living room, a dinning area, and a full kitchen. The rest of the house is made up of the three bedrooms. Behind the house is a courtyard surrounded by an old outhouse and some storage sheds, all in one continuous structure. Perhaps the greatest part of my new home, however, is the western style toilet in the bathroom. I literally jumped for joy when I saw this. The prospect of using a hole in the ground for three months was less then appealing but at least I had come to grips about the whole matter. Which is what made me all the more happier.

Today I spent the morning moving my bags to the house and settling in. After lunch I poured over my roommates newspapers for a while and was ecstatic to read the latest Obama poll numbers. Being a news junky back home, it was nice to get in my fix after a week without market numbers and campaign reports, albeit, the economic forecast is disconcerting. Afterwards, I strolled into town to find a pillow (the rest of my bedding is borrowed from the hostel) and found one. I am so happy with the pillow I just may bring it home with me. It is the perfect firmness. Not too hard, not too soft. While it may be a cliché its certainly true that when living in a country like Uganda it’s necessary to take pleasure in the little things. As soon as I got home I grabbed my newly acquired pillow and immediately laid down for a nap to awake only to the smell of dinner cooking. Amanda and Jamis had made a wonderful welcoming meal. We had a Kenyan tomato salad, ginger beef and peppers, and deep-fried bananas with chocolate and custards sauce for dessert. The whole meal was heavenly. Not only was it a welcomed departure from beans and rice but it was nice just to have some actual meat again as well. Perhaps the best part of the meal, though, was the company. I am sure I will get along with my new house-mates quite well. We have already started planning our trip to Kenya.

All and all, I am extremely happy to be in my new place. Now that I am settled I look forward to turning my focus on my projects with Youth Encouragement Services and the Manna Rescue Home.

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