Firsts

This week has been full of firsts.

My first First: I experienced my first Traditional Ugandan Church Service at the local church. It was different; first, they have all the visitors come up front and greet the congregation, and in spite of my protests of not wanting to speak in front of the congregation, I greeted the people. Second, there worship was broken up into 3 or 4 parts with someone speaking in between each section. Then the associate pastor got up after 2 hours and preached in Rutorro for a long time, then he had a the first altar call. I have to confess that I left after the first altar call, but I could here the service continuing as I walked home, and it continued while we ate lunch (The church is so close to the house that we can hear everything). It was an interesting experience, but I'm looking forward to going to church in Fort Portal next week.

My second First: I started teaching this week. It was difficult teaching through a translator at first and the crazy man interrupting my class was a comical distraction. It was actually pretty funny to watch Arthur (my translator that day) run the man off with a stick, only for the man to return again, and Arthur run him off again. But I got the hang of teaching by the second day.

The girls are very bright and are excited to be working with electric machines this coming week. I'm excited about next week also. I have been practicing on the machines to make sure they work, and to make sure I know how they work...I've never encountered so many different types of machines, Italian, American, British, and French. And all but one without instructions. Some modern but most from the 60s. & 70s. Awhhh, the joys of sewing.

My third First: I was asked out by a Ugandan. Katie and I went to Kampala on Thursday to do some shopping. When we were catching the taxi, some guy named Geoff came up and asked me to go on a "stake-out" and go dancing. I politely said no, then laughed as the taxi drove away.

My fourth First: Being greeted by random people on the street. I'm told that Ugandans love muzungus (white people), and it's common practice for them to stop and greet muzungus on the street. It was so strange to be greeted by, "Hey muzungu! How are you?" or being stopped by a had shake from these random men. But it is common practice here so you shake their hand...smile and laugh and keep going.

My fifth First: Being called by names that would be offensive in the States, but are terms of endearment here. Many men in Uganda find shapely women attractive; and Katie warned me that they are not afraid of letting you know it.

So Katie, Magda (a new volunteer from Poland that arrived on Thursday) and I were walking through the streets of Kampala when a local street vender yelled out "Hey Big Mama!" I just laughed at and kept walking. Not even 30 minutes later another man called out "Just My Size, come here. " I laughed to myself and thought about how angry that would make me in the states; but I'm learning to adjust to the cultural differences.

My sixth First: I have a pet name. The Kyenjojo region of Uganda gives everyone one of 12 pet names. After 2 weeks of being asked what my pet name is I can now answer. My pet name is Aboli...now all I have to do is remember to respond when people call me by it.

It's been a memorable week and I'm sure there are many more to come. The pictures are from my class, which includes the girls from Dorcas and the girls who work at the craft shop. Talk to you soon!

Love,

Joyce...Aboli

La Gringa