Ruhanga

This weekend Derrick and I went to Ruhanga in southwest Uganda.

On the six hour bus ride through Ugandan countryside our main source of entertainment was the view, this bag, and the television at the front of the bus. We spent too much time speculating what was going to happen in I Know What You Did Last Summer and the brilliantly named I STILL Know What You Did Last Summer. Our conjectures were correct most of the time.

We arrived at the Uganda Lodge (where we would stay the night) when it was raining, but the area was gorgeous once the weather cleared up.

Although my reason for going to Ruhanga was initially work related, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about an initiative to improve health conditions and education opportunities for the local community. The Uganda Lodge supports a school that rests just across the field, particularly by hosting foreign volunteers who donate their time teaching and looking after the students. We arrived on “Parents Day”, where children perform and are awarded for their academic achievements. They were also given a pair of shoes each, as many of them have to walk multiple kilometers barefoot to get to school.

The children are used to white people because of the many British volunteers who frequent the area. But a black guy with dreads? They just had to get a closer look. This little boy (wearing a skirt, but I promise he is a boy) was more daring than his staring peers.

The next day we went on a walk to see the pipeline being constructed in the surrounding hills to provide the community with clean and easily accessible water. Young children were typically sent to retrieve 20 Liter jerry cans full of water, often having to walk up to 4 kilometers. They had to do this about three to four times a day. And did I mention that they were normally barefoot? Because of the pipeline there are spigots scattered throughout the hills so that the children don’t have to trek as far. The clean water also decreases likelihood of malaria (mosquitos thrive on stagnant water).

On the walk we met the families and the children who are students at the school. Yes, this little girl is holding a machete.

Overall the walk was scenic and a very refreshing change from bustling Kampala.

To learn more about the community projects happening in Ruhanga check out the UK charity Let Them Help Themselves Out Of Poverty.

Wedding Crashers

Yesterday was the closest I have ever been to being a wedding crasher. Derrick and I were fortunate enough to have been invited to our friend's cousin's wedding reception. This cousin is a complete stranger to me. Although she is Ugandan, she normally resides in Chicago and was marrying a white American that she met while in the U.S. My friend tried to recruit me to act as a representative to the groom's family, since none of them could make it out to the wedding. And it is very important in Uganda that the bride is not married off to some family-less, American charlatan. I was too shy to give a speech on behalf of the groom's family, but Derrick (the next best thing to foreign after the white girl) was up to the task. You'll be able to read about that on his blog.

The ceremony overall was really beautiful and very well organized. It also gave me a chance to take some photos with my lovely new camera.

Multiple cakes are ordered so that each esteemed guest of the bride and groom can take one home with them.

While the cakes were very impressive looking, the taste did not match the looks.

Everything from the table settings to the ceiling lights were decorated by the theme colors: pink and white. Here you can see the wedding invitation, addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Carr." When our friend Bridget asked if that was okay, I hesitated a bit, my thoughts stammering to find a response. Derrick brought it up later "You thought it should be Mr. and Mrs. Diaz didn't you?" He knew the reason I hesitated wasn't because we weren't married, but because I couldn't decide if I liked his last name.

Doing the wave. Yes, the wedding party dances in while doing the wave. They even have nifty silver sleeves on their left arms to enhance the wave. I don't know if this was intentional.

The bride was very beautiful.

The head table where the wedding party sat was piled with drinks and flowers.

This is the gospel group that performed. But that's obvious right?

This little girl really liked to perch herself in the middle of the dance floor.

The MC reverted to a never ending list of terrible euphemisms and awkward statements, but no one seemed to mind.

Yes, they light the cakes like fireworks. They also set off bazooka-like poppers filled with graffiti.

The first dance, done to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On." Really guys?

Remember those cakes that go to esteemed guests?