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Published: February 2nd 2007
CAUTION: riddled with spelling errors, i think...i'm a terrible speller and this thing doesn't let you spell check!
So today we were given a partner and a subject to learn about in our an field study exercise called a drop-off. I was partnered with Kati and very intelligent, talkative girl from Ohio who goes to school at Sarah Lawarence. Our subject was Religion. We thought this task might be a difficult one because we were unsure of how open Ugandan's would be on this subject. So we headed out from our hotel and decided to walk towards a huge Mosque that I had seen on my very first morning out. I had asked one of our directors about this Mosque and she told me that it had just been built and was yet to be opened. It is quite striking as it sits on the top of a hill, which we come to find out is Old Kampala Hill (the very first site of the city of Kampala, as established by British Colonialists). Katie and I walked and walked up the hill through neighborhoods and markets until we got to the Mosque gates. We just wanted to have a look at it (from behind the gates) but I thought we should try our luck and ask the security guard if we could get in; he said "No, no, no" and laughed at us like we were crazy muzungus (travelers/white people). But then a man who was further back came forward and told the guard to let us in! The man was Kasmir, he was a Ugandan and I think he is in charge of overseeing the final touches on the buildings completion. There was also another man whose name I don't remember but he was from Egypt. So, the two men a very kind and take Katie and I inside the Mosque (we have to take off our shoes, although at this point our feet our covered in mud because it was rainy today, so I felt bad about dirtying the carpets when actual worshipers go through a cleansing routine before they can step foot in the worshipping hall). The hall is enormous; high ceilings, domes, wood carvings in the walls, intricate designs on the doors and ceilings. I can't give it justice, but as I had never been inside a Mosque before it was quite impresive. Kasmir and the Egyptian showed us around the rest of the builing; the separate chambers for women, a library, computer resource center, conference rooms...all brand new and beautiful! It was such a priveledge to be taken in to the Mosque before any of the Muslim Ugandans were able to. Katie and I kept saying how this was an example of "white priveledge", our advisor later suggested that maybe we were allowed in to the Mosque because we were assumed to be Christian and it would be a chance for our conversion...the Muslim community in Uganda is making efforts to elevate the status of the Islamic religion here through this new building (this information came directly from Kasmir). So who knows why we were let in to see the building, whatever the reason, it was an awesome experience. So next Katie and I walked down Old Kampala Hill and up Namirembe Hill. Kampala used to be known as the city of seven hills, today it has grown to encompas a about fourteen hills. So if you walk anywhere long enough you a likely to climb up and down a hill. The Protestant church was a long climb up and when we got arrived at its steps, talking loudly like Americans do, we saw that there was a funeral going on. Quite embarrassed we made dash for the side of the church where we ran in to two men, John and Joseph. They were there for the funeral but once they saw us decided that they wanted to take us to breakfast. We didn't quite realise all this until we had walked down the hill with them and when Katie finally asked where we were going they said to a cantina about 5 kilometers away! We kindly told them that we could not go with them, that we were busy with a school project and had to get going. So we left them, but not before they gave us their phone numbers to call so that they could take us out. Most of the men I've met here ask for your phone number or want to give you theirs so that they can go out with you. They do not do it in a rude way, but are very forward. It's different from the states, I couldn't get a guy to ask me out if I begged! Anyway, Katie and I decided to walk on to the Catholic church the next hill over. When we got there they were preparing for a wedding! But they let us inside and we got to sit and relax. Two young boys were playing outside and when I waved to them they came in and sat next to us. We tried to practice some of the Luganda we were learning, but they didn't understand us...I guess we haven't perfected the language over these past few days! They were very cute and very quiet but they wanted to be near us. It was so sweet. Katie took a picture of them and showed it to them and they just giggled and giggled. SO CUTE. From the Catholic church we walked a ways and found the Choice Quality Restaraunt. It was a little covered patio that served traditional Uganda food, so we had beans (for protein, we are both vegetarians), matoke (mashed bannanas), and pinapple. It was yummy. After lunch we walked back to Makerere University and gave our report to the group. What I have yet to mention is that throughout the day Katie and I were talking to people about their attitudes towards religion. Most people are very religious here, they go to church almost everyday. Some said that people of different religions get along, others said that was not the case; that certain religions did not like each other. It obviously varies from person to person.
This evening I went out with Katie and another girl, Curry, to an Indian restaraunt. I am loving that there is an Indian population here and that their food is popular.
Tomorrow we are going to a town east of Kampala, Jinja, to see the source of the nile and a waterfall. It will be nice to get out of the city and see some more of the country. Sunday we meet our homestay families and move in with them. I am ready to break away from the group and have more one-on-one interactions with Ugandans.
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Jackie
non-member comment
Awesome Day!
Britty- Oh my, what an amazing day! I am so happy for you! It sounds like you are seeing many cool things. Be safe out there with all those guys wanting your number! I miss you and I love you!