Mpola Mpola…

Slowly slowly… I am getting to know Uganda, its culture, its people, its music, its food, and so much more. This is the country where I will be spending the next six months. As an ESC volunteer, I will work for Mondo NGO with the local organisation Ugandan Pioneers Association (UPA). My work will be split between two workplaces. One is Masanafu Child and Family Support (MCAFS), which is in Kampala, and the other is Kikooba Infant and Primary School, which is in the countryside about 2h from Kampala. My home will be Villa Mamu a long-term residence in Kampala.

                                                           

So far, being here has been a fantastic experience. Every day I learn something new, meet new people, hear new stories, try new foods, visit new places and experience new things. Kampala is a city full of colours, sounds, smells and people. It is a fantastic place but sometimes it feels like a system overload.

When preparing for a 6-month experience in a different country, you try to imagine everything that could happen or affect you. But honestly, not even the best preparation can give you a real understanding of a different culture and country. However, it can make the transition easier. This was the case for me. Knowing which things might be the biggest struggle for me before I left made it easier to deal with them once I arrived in my new surroundings.

Before I left for Uganda, I had two main concerns: one was the Bodaboda driving. Bodabodas are motorbike taxis, the most common public transport means in Kampala. Having been on a motorcycle only once before I left for Uganda, I didn’t feel so comfortable thinking that I would have to sit on the back of a motorcycle being driven by a random person every day. My solution was to get my personal bodaboda driver, someone I could trust to drive safely. Because, in all honesty, traffic in Kampala is insane. Bodabodas form every direction - left, right, front, back. If their lane is blocked, they will drive on yours or the sidewalk. Oh, and what they can transport on their bodabodas. That’s a whole other story. You will see up to 5 people, 2m long tree logs, wooden boards, bags of potatoes or even a bodaboda, to mention just a few.

The other aspect was food. I have lived as a vegan for many years and was unsure how I would adjust to being unable to keep my vegan diet. I know that in many cultures, it is a practice to slaughter animals to prepare them for an honoured guest. So, before I left, I asked myself: “What will you do when this happens?” Honestly, I am still not entirely sure about the answer. So far, though, I could tell people before I was invited to eat with them that I only eat vegetables and fruits. I tried to explain to them that for me, it is a belief that I do not want to eat animals. Many don’t really understand it, but all of them respect it and make me feel welcome. They prepare their traditional dishes: Matoke (smashed Bananas), Posho (cooked maise flour), G-Nuts (sauce of grounded peanuts), Chapati, Beans, Peas and many more.

I have only been here for a few weeks now and have yet to experience so much more. I am looking forward to everything that I will encounter, the adventure, the challenges, the good and the bad times.