December 13th, Wednesday meant another workshop for me. This time the workshop was in Bulende and surprisingly everyone stayed on topic!
I taught about money management. Then I answered questions on loans (how not to get yourself in trouble with them and how they work) and poultry production. They shared with me a real hate for the banking system which they perceived as unfair. The banks there are in it for pure profit that's for sure but there also was a lack of basic understanding of how a loan and interest actually work. For example, one gentleman lamented that a bank had deceived him because he had to back pay the full interest on the loan of seven years even after he payed back the initial loan amount. Oh, that's how a loan works... But they were eager to learn and at least it was something I had knowledge about and was interested in so a win-win.
However, with all this bank talk they decided to ask me to loan them money to start a micro loans sharing co-op. Sorry, guys, knowledge only.
The poultry questions were really fun because they were about eggs and incubation, my favorite poultry thing to talk about. Growing up, incubating goose eggs was one of my favorite spring time activities, and I must have hatched out well over 100 goslings from our small class room type incubators. So this was probably the most fun workshop out of the three for me.
They all had to clap at the end because they were impressed that a "Muzungu" (white person) would be able to stand up for 5 hours (the length of my workshop). Hmmm, I can think of few smart comebacks to that like, "how many white mid/working class people have you actually seen?" or "I am impressed that you actually _____" but of course none of those comments were appropriate so a smile and a "thank you" was what happened. I get a little upset when anyone, Ugandan or not, acts like I don't or can't do any work. Yep, that's me, just sipping my ice tea while I sit back and watch the horses muck their own poop.
On a side note, there is thought process in Uganda that if you have more expenses that you must be rich. Let's see, $12,000 of expenses, with a income of $10,000...no, that just means you are dirt poor. But they see the all the zeros on that follow that 12 and think this person is rich! And no matter how much you explain the difference in cost of living, expenses is a negative number, etc. they don't buy it. And since you earn more than they do, you have all kind of extra money that you should put to good use by loaning it to them. They will pay it back, someday, when they are rich. Wish that reasoning worked for my credit card company. But their heart is in the right place. They are not misleading you, they just have high hopes for the future. They also assume that since I own a small horse ranch/stable I must work in an office all day. "Wait, did I read that right," you might be thinking. Yep. Owning horses/animals = cozy office gig. I can't wait to inform my farm raised friends of this new development. ;)
Please note, the sarcasm I am using in my posts hopeful allows us all to laugh a bit as we all strive to understand another culture. After all if I didn't really love Uganda, why would I go again? But sometimes you will lose your mind if you don't laugh things off a bit. I imagine many travelers coming to the U.S. feel that same way. God has bless us as a nation but one needs only to mention "Trump" or "Obama" to watch logic leave and adults reduce themselves to less than mature words.
But besides many Ugandans' messed up perception on American economics, they truly are a warm, welcoming people and they have big hopes and dreams that make you feel alive like a when you were a kid.
Optimistic. And that is indeed a great quality to have.
continued below.
Cont.
After the workshop, Pastor Edube’s father treated me to a Ugandan
meal which the ladies prepared. I wish I
could have sat with the youth and young adults outside instead of the pastors
and elders inside, but I realized they were trying to make me feel special. I was tired and wanted to get home. I am an introvert and I was desperately
desiring some alone time to recharge. Once
the meal was over they had the children put together a special performance as a
thank you to my church for buying school uniforms for the House of Hope. (This was
not a House of Hope event, it just happened that some of the students who go to
that school are the children of the elders in that village). So “thank you!” to those who helped with that! The children and families appreciated it.
Pastor Edube gifted me with a beautifully patterned traditional
outfit and told me Dorcus, Joshua’s sister, would help me put it on. This outfit was typically wore by older women
to special events. The cloth itself was
lovely and modern, but the shape was traditional and for me, symbolized the traditional
mindset that devalued women. Ever have
one of those thoughts like “I would never be caught dead wearing that!”? Ever have anyone then present you with those
clothes in a public setting where it would be extremely rude to decline the
gift? Amazing how the one Ugandan piece
of clothing that I disliked was now the piece I needed to don. Oh, the ways God gets you out of your comfort
zone.
Thankfully,
Dorcus was there. She helped me put it
on and distracted me so I didn’t cry or throw a punch. Now, maybe you are think, “oh my goodness,
its just a dress, what is the big deal?”
But I think its safe to say that everyone has stuff that bothers them
and its difficult to keep a smile on if someone is pushing you to do something
you are not comfortable with.
The children were definitely the highlight of the day. They were so joyful.
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