Dance auditions

I can't believe that I have made two month's here already, they seem to have flown by real fast. I'm not complaining, I hope the rest can go as fast, especially now that winter is round the corner.

On Tuesday I auditioned for the Wharton Dance Studio, that stages a dance show for the school every year. I found three moms who got there before me, their babies strapped in strollers and I gladly added Mich to the bunch, they looked cute. Obviously Mich is not the kind to sit there while music is playing so he jumped out and was running all over the place, doing his own moves and making people laugh.
Everybody was assigned a number and we registered our names and email addresses. We stood in four rows, there was over 30 of us. The lady in charge taught us some moves and asked us to follow along with the music, I enjoyed that alot. The song we danced to was done by Fox, something like "she gives me money...." it was obviously not christian but I certainly smiled when I saw David pulling sophisticated moves in one corner. David can be compared to "the papa" of the Wharton fellowship.
There were two other ladies who seemed to watch and take notes, I believe they were noting who had potential and who didn't.
I had signed up for hiphop, salsa and lyrical, I dropped off the lyrical when I discovered it was pretty much like ballet and that is certainly not my thing. The salsa was fantastic, I really enjoyed it even though my bones were not making the smooth moves. I sincerely hope I got on to the list because I was dancing next to pros which definately made me look amatuer to say the least.

Nigeria's Independence - Party

Yesterday Sam and I were invited to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence with a party held by the Nigerians'at Wharton and hosted by Tolu.
Yeee! Another excuse for a party.
We got there an hour late because Mich had to take his nap but we were pretty much in good time, people had just begun to arrive, you know us and time keeping.
The lobby to Tolu’s apartment was pretty raw, it looked like construction was still going on, the cement had not been smoothed out and no final touches had been made. You could actually smell the cement as you walked in.
I concluded that he was in a hurry to move in and couldn’t quite find another apartment so he settled for this. We took the elevator to his apartment, yet again something really strange, the lifts were open until people stepped in. That was weird because it has always been the reverse, the lifts are closed until you press the button to use it.
We went three floors up but man! That was one of the most scary lifts, one side was made of just glass, so you could see everything outside, the cars, the roads, the buildings, got my stomach tied in notes.
We finally get to Tolu’s apartment, the sitting room was so bright, the sun was shining right in, and it hurt the eyes. Again, one side of the room was almost entirely glass, you could literally see into the middle of the city. Some one commented that if he was timing the bus he would know just when to leave his apartment because he would be able to see the it coming down the road.
Tolu’s apartment was like one big space which had been subdivided, the walls of each of the rooms didn’t reach the ceiling. I was just thinking, incase he got locked in or out of his room that wouldn’t be a problem he would just climb over. This was one of the most interesting buildings I had ever seen. The pipes for all the different house facilities where hanging from the ceiling. It reminded me of the houses I had visited back home where people decide to move in and do the finishing’s while living there. The only difference was that Tolu’s apartment was pretty much done; everything was as it should be. This kind of housing I’m told is called a loft, quite interesting I must say.
It was nice to hang with the Nigerians for a bit, brought back memories of home. The music being played was familiar, the food was not too far off, and it was a nice way to spend the Sunday afternoon.
I noted that the guys were focused, as soon as they arrived, they did their round of greeting and immediately headed for the food, then sat down to eat. Which is a little different from the other functions I have attended, where people stand around and talk endlessly, sitting is not necessary, if you need something to eat, get it and continue to chat.
I got to taste pounded yam for the first time, it looked like posho (maize flour) but certainly tasted different, it’s a taste you probably get used to over time. I was happy to see Emolokony (cow hooves) tasty as ever, the chicken tasted just like the one in my village and then there was some mixture of greens.
Just before we left Mich decided he wanted some more of the greens, then one lady commented “he likes pepe” , I thought I had finally got the name of the dish so I said, “oh, so that’s what its called?”, she didn’t seem to get me, she repeated “ it’s got pepe, he likes it that way?” and I said yes “is that what you call it?” she didn’t seem to quite understand my responses so we let it pass. As I headed to the elevator it finally hit me just what the lady was trying to say, her accent was a little strong so I didn’t get it but she was noting that the food was “hot” and wondering how Mich liked the “Pepper” duh!

Count your blessings

The transition continues as I settle in, even then I can't help but think about all the things I miss back home.

I miss listening to the 'morning show' on Sanyu fm, they have some really crazy topics for discussion each morning.
In the building next to Rwenzori House there was a guy who sold pancakes every morning. I didn't buy them but I knew he would always be there as I passed on my way to work. (I miss the smell of Pancakes not the guy).
Then there are those little boys who are in the mobile manicure, pedicure business. They are cheap, easy to come by and can do a great job if they mean to. I was looking at my toes the other day and thinking how miserable they are. I can't just walk out the door and get the job done for 500shs (less than a dollar) as I used to back home. I haven't yet ventured into these beauty shops but I doubt it would be less than 15 dollars (30k). I don't think I should even be trying to make the conversions because quite honestly it doesn't make sense.
Ofcourse nothing beats the bodaboda guys (motor cyclists) on Kampala streets, yeah I know they can be a pain, making paths where they were none and all but you have to give them some credit. They get you to your destinations in good time, I guess I can say that because I never got an accident on them.
In Philly there is no such thing, you either take the bus, the train, the trolley or you walk, or drive for that matter.
I certainly don't miss the dust and load shedding, I'm quite happy to put on my sandles and walk for miles without my feet looking like I came from the garden. Did I tell you how candles flow freely here? there are candles of all shapes and sizes, if my visit was shorter I would pack a box to last me a year.
Its getting chilli here, the summer is over and now we are in fall. The sun shows it's face less and less, and even when it's there you don't quite feel its heat. The days are still bright but its quite clear that we are headed for winter not too far from now, oh yeah and it rains alot. That's when I think about the fantastic weather in Uganda, and the so appropriate MTN jingle "yello sunshine, yello sunshine everyday...". By the way the other thing I miss are the MTN jingles, (Big Dawg I still have beef for you).
You know, when you live in a place for long there are always people you see on the street whose faces become familiar. You might not necessarily know them personally but you see them quite often that you somehow get the feeling that you know them. I miss seeing those faces, here its stranger after stranger on the street, I guess with time I will be saying the same things of them.

I didn't mention "Katunda" (passion friut juice), and "dodo" (greens), "Kalo" (millet), "ebyenda" (cow intestines'), the list goes on and on.
I hope Ugandans are counting the blessings.

Strange sights

I took the bus today to meet up with some friends in Centre City. I was supposed to take a tour of the Kimmel Centre with them but unfortunately I was late and Mich didnt help much with all his running all over the place and trying to get into every hole. I was able to meet my friends after the tour so we decided to go to the library, not a good idea. Mich was not about to read or keep quiet for that matter so we had to leave.
I have been thinking and one of my friends suggested that I should get Mich a stroller. That might make our lives less complicated in many ways, 1. I will not have to carry him on my back every where we go, 2. He will kind of be restricted in his movements and 3. We'll both be less tired at the end of the day, well I hope.
On the ride back home there was a girl sitting opposite from me, she was obviously pregnant, probably 15 years old and she was sucking her finger. Hmmm! talk about babies having babies, that was not a very happy sight.
Then the bus stopped to pickup some more people and this grandma about 75 years old gets on. She had supports to help her walk and the bus driver was kind enough to lower the bus for her to get on. Three quarters of the people on the bus were high school students heading back home so all the sits were taken. No body bothered to get up for the old woman to sit, I attempted to but was told not to because I had a child but all these other kids were just looking on. I thought that was out right disrespectful, none of these kids even butted an eye lid, they were so cold. There is a sign on every bus that says "please reserve these sits for the elderly and disabled" if there is none, people can sit but if someone gets on and clearly needs the sit then you give it up. So I'm wondering, is it that they couldn't care less or that nobody has taught them to give respect to their elders? Is life so hard that every one has to fend for themselves no matter how old you are? Honestly I think its crazy.

Washington

Judging from my previous postings it must be obvious that this Ugandan girl is getting settled. Atleast I haven't written anything dramatic, these past posting have pretty much been journeys within my mind and heart. You get to do alot of that when you are placed in unfamiliar sorroundings, thus the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.

Last Saturday, we took a brief break from the life in the city of brotherly love and headed to Washington DC. It was 2 hour bus ride organised by the International Students Programme, that was cool, it was a cheaper fare, you get to go with other "green" people and that makes its all the more fun.
The best part about this trip was that a friend of ours Mercy, was going to be our tour guide and host for the day. Well there was nothing to write home about the journey but certainly lots to see when we actually got to DC.
We were dropped off at the National Air and Space Museum, I thought that would be really exciting but unfortunatly the physician in me didn't even raise his head. There were Old planes, Rockets and a lot of Science in there, Mich on the other hand was ecstatic, he couldnt believe there was a whole building full of big toys. We had to run after him, grab him, carry him, run after him, grab him again... you get the picture. He was pushing people away every time he saw something he liked and that was pretty much for everything. Sam was alittle too embarrased he decided we should wait for Mercy outside, he was not about to leave school and get a job to pay for the damages.
Within no time Mercy was there, it was a fantastic reunion, I hadnt seen her in months. The last time we had met was very brief, less than 2 minutes, so I was pretty much seeing her again after a year. We sat by the museum for a bit and then she took us to see some of the sites of DC. World War II Memorial,Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, that was good for the day seeing us we were walking and Mich was not too excited about that. We all took turns in carrying him however when we reached the World War II memorial Mich decided it was time to swim, he got aunt Mercy to take off his shirt, knowing that his mum wouldnt buy the idea. Aunt Mercy on the other hand thought he was just feeling hot until he began to take off his pants. No worries nothing happened, we saved the day, just to make him feel better we took him as close to the water as we could.
We later caught a cub and headed off to Mercy's condorminium, very posh place, God has definately been good. We managed to chat with her hubby Moses who is currently in Sweden over a system called "G Talk" technology is really going far, it was pretty much like an audio conference. She prepared assumptuous lunch, very tasty, we watched a movie, had wonder chapaties and were good to go. I know.... Wonder chapaties' is not the actual name they are called "Paratha", these are chapaties that are already rolled and all one has to do is heat them in a frying pan, no cooking oil and they are ready. They are fabulous, I think someone should introduce them in Uganda because honestly after the 45 minutes I spent the previous day making chapos, this was a piece of cake, less than a minute.
She fed us so well, supper was catered for we just got home and slept, that was about 10pm.