It's only been a few days, but I feel like we've done so much since we've been here. So far, we've met and gotten to know our Mbarara University counterparts (two bright students who are both studying a field of medicine), visited both our pilot and expanded projects in Nakaseke District, and done a LOT of...um, constructive criticizing of the program. It's been frustrating at some times, especially getting honest, thorough, and meaningful information and feedback from our stakeholders. But I think Amanda and I have done some good thinking about the program and its potential future here.
But onto the fun stuff--- KIDS KIDS KIDS! I spent the day with Stella, her sisters, and a very LARGE crew of kids. I decided to treat them to a fun day out on the town. They are always so preoccupied with cooking, cleaning, etc-- I didn't want them to work at all. So we went to Garden City, the most muzungu place in Kampala. A real shopping mall, complete with food court, movie theatre, and overpriced shops. I decided to take them to the food court to let them sample a variety of bazungu fare, and they got SUCH a kick out of it! Afterwards, we took the kids to a little playground that was in the mall, which also had a bounce house there. They had SO much fun! It was great. At the end, they were all passed out. I even took Stella on her FIRST escalator ride! (She was SO scared-- so cute!) After that, we all came back to my hotel where I gave them the gifts that I bought them (see pics for ADORABLE matching outfits!) After a long day, they went home. It was great, but a little bittersweet. I never know how Stella really is, or what I can do to make her life better, short of throwing money at her. And not just her, but her whole family. There are so many of them, and they all have problems. She just told me that her nephew-- a little boy who I met last summer because he was staying with her-- died last week. AIDS is the suspect. And she thinks his mom (her sister) has AIDS, too. It's so hard...
But it was nice to give her a day of laughs. To see her smiling watching her kids traipsing around the playground. Maybe it's not enough. But it's got to be something, right?
Until later...
2 comments:
you are such an inspiration for me... I have no words to express how much I admire your selflessness and how you go out of your way to put a smile on someone's face. So proud to call you and aarthi my sisters... we should make a phone date when you get back...let's try to keep in touch more often...
yes, it is something. smiles and laughs and little green dresses are something. whether they're enough, we'll no they're not enough, but you are only you and if you had more power and more resources you would use them to give more smiles and more laughs and many more little green dresses. what's important is what you do with what you've got. and you, whether you feel it or not, probably come closer to enough than anyone else i know. and that's something too.
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