The Art of Being Human: D.C vs KLA or KLA vs D.C

"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good". Maya Angelou

While in Kampala, I boarded a taxi destined for the city center. As I waited for it to fill I looked out the window and tried to piece my day together. I marked which routes to take and how long I would be there when I suddenly realized my neighbor had been trying to catch my attention. It turned out that what I imagined a humm in the background was the lady greeting me "Wasuzotya?" This had been her third attempt.
I responded with a huge smile to make up for her insistent efforts. 

In D.C people are plugged-in most of the time. Wires hung out of ears and huge headphones clasp either side of their heads - everyone is linked to another world. Other times the poignant silence says it all - personal space.
I can always tell my fellow "maalo" folks by the way they look around and into peoples eyes.

That evening I hoped into a taxi headed to Ntinda and the driver was singing. He played his music loud on the car radio as is the norm. Passengers are subject to the drivers choice of music or radio station. He sang along to the vernacular church hymns probably reminiscing about Sunday services in his local church. The only problem was he was off key - I can not stress that enough. The beautiful thing was the passengers were oblivious. A similar stint on the metro or on public transportation in D.C would cause a whole other reaction. 
Like the morning one man forgot to plug his earphones in all the way and so his music filled the train cart. One upset passenger walked up to him and expressed how neither he nor the rest of the travelers were interested. Never mind that it was on for less than a minute.

I guess it is these differences that make cultures and people unique. We all need the courage to live out Maya's statement - do good and notice people because we all matter. 

Coffee and Free Things

Where I come from tea and coffee are served hot. So hot the steam makes waves in the air. Yes, Uganda has 25C/80F degree temperatures but we like our chai hot.

I got a coupon in the mail for free ice coffee at Dunkin Donuts and I thought pssh! Why not? ...Free things.

I got in line for my first ice coffee. I know, four years in America and this was my first ice coffee :-). Like I said, free things - my undoing. 

I took 2 sips, stirred it a little perhaps the sweetness had settled at the bottom. The ice cubes clinked. I took another sip. The cup was getting sweaty and I had to get to work. I imagined running to work with a cup of coffee clenched in one hand - just like in the movies. I thought, let me get to office and tackle this beverage properly.

The day came to an end and the ice coffee - cubes melted - the cup a little fuller, sat forsaken next to my keyboard. I think I need more practice, this African girl still has a lot of village.

So much for free things.

The Beautiful Girls of Karamoja

The beautiful girls of Karamoja.  During planting and harvesting seasons they travel several miles to Teso. Early in the morning they head to the fields, their voices carry as they sing and harvest crops. After they bring the early harvest in they stop for a break, gather together, sing and dance. They range from ages 14 to 17. Ideally they should be in school but they can’t afford it – the daily pay tides them over until the next job.

Once in a Blue Moon.

Here are some of the pictures I took of the 2015 blue moon. It's not blue in color but occurs once every 3 to 4 years.

Kampala's business mind; The Hustle of The Ordinary Ugandan.

"I'm not good at future planning. I don't plan at all. I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. I don't have a day planner and I don't have a diary. I completely live in the now, not in the past, not in the future." Heath Ledger

Steaming maize and yams in the early evening

Its not usual that one has to draw out a plan for when they go home. Its assumed one is going to what is familiar so there is no need for detailed plans - well not if one has been away for close to 5 years.

"Here's what you needed to have done in preparation", a friend said.

1.Send an email to 10 close friends and tell them you will be in town. Note: ask if they have a car that you can use during your stay. 

2. Tell them how long you'll be in town, what you plan to do and when you are available - so they can factor you into their plans.
I didn't have that sense of entitlement and as a result I hustled with boda-boda's and taxis.

I was soon reminded of Kampala's fast-slow pace. One boards a taxi that moves back, back, forth and forth in search of customers - 30 minutes gone. The person you intend to see has "just stepped out" another hour flies by but there are traffic jams all day long because everybody is rushing somewhere - the daily hustle of the ordinary Ugandan.
You've got to love Uganda for it's small size, I bumped into a few friends on the street - round certain corners, visit certain malls or shopping centres and you are bound to run into people you know - older, more prosperous but with the same personalities that made the friendships work in the first place.

  

Boda-boda ride - a fascination for my little miss.

I embarked on journeys that had me sandwiched between the taxi conductor and the next passenger. I carried little miss on my lap as she got wrapped up in the adventure - Alice in a different wonderland. I hoped the passengers in the seats behind me would travel further than my stop but that's when I would here "massaawo!" the conductor would slide the door open, I would instruct little miss to stay put while I disembarked but like clockwork she would follow me out and I would have to carry her back into the taxi.

Even though taxi's are a basic means of transport, they are also places for business transactions.

Hajat sitting one row ahead:

"Hello!"

"Mmm! Oyagala color kyi?"

"Eh! Purple ne white, egenda bulungi! Era kanzigye"

Man to my right:

"Hello! eh kyi kyi? Esimu ebuzze?!

"Kakati, muwe bisumaali - 2 boxes. Nina ebintu gyemaliliza"

Man in torn tshirt enters taxi while on phone.

"Eh mwana, oli ku facebook?"

"Kati noonya Catherine Nankya, ojakulaba"

"Eh! Omuwala antawanya nyo, naye she is the one"

"Naye sokon promisinge tojanbulira omunte yena - wadde enkoko"

At this point I chuckled to myself - it was a bit much but I liked the confidence with which each one engaged in conversation never concerned about the other passengers.
These three conversations represent some of the key issues in Kampala: Business;- Fashion, construction and relationships.

I agree with  Roald Amundsen "Adventure is just bad planning" and with Heath Ledger, it's good to live in the moment, you never know what the day brings. I certainly enjoyed reconnecting with Uganda's buli daily hustles thanks to my free schedule.