Sundays

This post about the last 2 Sundays. I will tell what happened between in upcoming posts.

June 20
I entered Agnes' car on Sunday morning wearing dirt covered pants. This was not the first time. At the house where we are staying lives a 6-month year old dog named Bosco. He's brown, average looking, jumpy and overly rambunctious because during the day he is locked in a dog house. Many morning, they forget to control him and he likes me much more than Nick as I engaged him at the beginning of our stay. Because it rained Saturday night, his paws were extra dirty Sunday morning. I walked out the door. He jumped. I pushed him off. He went behind me and jumped. Both sides of my khakis became the color of Kampala soil - a little browner, darker than sand. I had to grab a new pair of pants and change in the car.

After a short drive, we arrived at church a little late, shuffled onto a bunch, and listened to the priest deliver his sermon. The church has a young following, which is reflected in the vibrancy of the music. At the end of the service, before and during the final song, everyone in the congregation turned to each other and said, "Peace be with you." I am glad I did not slip and say "Shabbat Shalom!"

Last Thursday, Alexis and Jeremy arrived in Kampala from Dallas with the first of visitors who will be trickling in until July 2. One of the benefits of having visitors is the EAC children get to spend more time at the EAC house. While I had met many of the older children, this was my first time to meet the younger. They were in attendance at church and greeted us at the end of the service with smiles and hugs. The children EAC serve are enthusiastic, confident, and mature. Creating a logic model to measure success would be much easier if we only had to collect qualitative data. The social abilities of the children are proof of the organization’s success. Unfortunately, quantitative data needs to be assessed as well.

From church, we headed to the EAC Children's home for the day. There was so much to do. On the yard, many of the children played games including horseshoe and egg toss. Inside, Jimmy, Nicholas and Moses - three of the older boys - taught Jeremy, Nick and I chords on a Ugandan string instrument called the adungu. My lack of eye-hand coordination was outmatched by the patience of my teachers. After a few minutes, I could play the first 4 chords of the instrument.

I took a brief break from music and went outside to watch the younger children play games. Moses stood with me, and we had a wonderful conversation about his experience in the United States, school, and sports. He is soft-spoken and one of the most genuine people I have ever conversed with. His demeanor exudes wisdom, a drive for knowledge, and love. When we heard song coming from inside the house, we went to join. While I only had the ability to watch, Moses enhanced the music by playing the flute. Jimmy has a beautiful soothing voice, which he used to lead the group in a composition full of call-and-response. I dubbed him the singing master.

Soon after, we ate lunch – a wonderful buffet of local foods including Aunt Sarah and Aunt Justine’s wonderful cabbage! Before eating, we held hands in a circle for song led by Joan – one of the children – and a prayer. I ate with Jimmy and Rajab. We had a very interesting conversation about school and caning. One of them missed the practice because the threat of the punishment inspired them to work harder. I thought this was an interesting view of what I think is a horrifying practice.

Following lunch, we played a series of fun games including a game where you run around until someone says a number and you have to find that many people to hold hands with or you are out, a staring game, a staring game, and Badu Badu – a game where someone in the middle says one of three words, which indicate where you put your hands. Rajab acted as the man in the middle. During the game, he would say a word while putting his hand in the wrong position. While this is what the person in the middle is supposed to do, I do not think anyone could have been trickier. He has a fantastic playful sense of humor.

Florence is one of the younger EAC girls. Somehow, we ended up playing with a red beanbag together in the late afternoon. She is mischievous in a fun way, which caused my goofiness to come out. We tried throwing the beanbag so the other couldn’t catch, as far as we could, and even to the sky. Our games were broken up by the departure of the guests and the approaching World Cup Match.

Jengo, the Bryans, Daniel, Simon, and a few other of the older EAC boys joined Nick and I to watch the Italy-New Zealand World Cup match at Cheri’s – a bar in Kabalaga at 5:30. On the walk back, Jengo and I developed a game, which we have continued to play. We switch names. Both of us get confused, usually fail to answer to our other names, and resort back to our given title; however, it can be pretty funny. We are still wondering if my passport will work for Jengo.

June 27

I arrived at the EAC children’s home by Boda at 8:45 on Sunday morning to learn about Ugandan cooking and help Aunt Justine and Aunt Sarah prepare lunch for the US visitors. My first job was to cut cabbage. I now know why my mom sometimes buys the pre-cut cabbage for coleslaw. It’s hard to cut – especially to the small size needed for the recipe. I may or may not have slightly cut one of my fingers as a result of the knife slipping on the very moist vegetable. My second task was to sort through the rice to remove all the “funny stuff” as Aunt Justine calls it. The most fun assignment involved g-nuts. G-nut sauce – a staple of Ugandan cooking is grounded peanuts with water, salt and other additives. This particular time we were mixing the paste with greens. My first job involving the sauce was to thin it out with water. The ground peanuts were placed into a pot with water, which I placed my hands into and kneaded until the water and paste became one. After this mixture was heated, the greens – Gobi (I think they are Collard Greens) – were added. I stirred for about 5 minutes until the sauce was allowed to rest on the charcoal stove alone. One of the benefits of cooking instead of going to church was I got to eat a plate of peas (my favorite), beef stew, and rice at 10:30.

Guests arrived around 11 from church, and the children performed at 12. I will go into detail about the children’s performing in a future post. For now, let me just tell you they are amazing.

Following the performance, we ate lunch. Because Donna was turning 10 on Monday, we sang happy birthday to her. Then, the children received gifts from the US visitors who they would not see again. In thanks, they sang two beautiful songs. I have found singing in Uganda to be powerful because it is seen as a gift not just something to entertain. As they sang, I became sad for the first time since arriving in Kampala because I began thinking about how we only had 3 more weeks until we returned home. While it’s easy to say I will return next summer, the reality is I do not know when I will have the opportunity to hang out with my new friends again.

After the guests hugged the children goodbye, we departed to Taibah to drop them off for a week at school. Moses and I walked from the lower school to the upper school together. We dropped off his stuff in his room. He is learning how to play guitar and plucked out all of the chords for me. Somehow, I ended up in the school office with a teacher who thought I was there to sign Moses in. It was very humorous because the teacher thought Moses was Willington – another EAC student. Moses was just trying to show me the computer lab.

We then went to the dining hall to check the score of the Germany-England game. I met Moses’ English teacher and explained to him how the US Congress works. Moses joked as we were walking to our next destination – the football (not American) field – that we shouldn’t go check the score again because the teacher will ask me too many more questions. At the soccer field, I said goodbye to Daniel and Jengo. As we were walking away, Daniel scored a goal, which was cool to see.

Our time at Taibah ended with Nick and I playing an intense game of monkey in the middle with Sharon – another EAC student. I was so proud of myself. When I ended up in the middle, one of the girls joked I would never get out. I proved her wrong by catching the ball the first time Sharon threw it.

As we were leaving the children’s home for Taibah, I told Aunt Justine that I was going to come by to say “hi” at night. She didn’t believe me so after dinner I returned to prove her wrong. I think she was shocked.

In the “special” (the word used for a private taxi) on the way home, I witnessed an exciting fit of road rage. The road that leads into our neighborhood is currently being reconstructed, which makes it difficult for the traffic dance, which I talked about in one of my early posts, to happen smoothly. My trustworthy driver exited his car to tell someone to backup after about 6 minutes of waiting. When the people finally did what he said, he entered the car. Unfortunately, he forgot to put on his blinker when he re-entered the car. The people he corrected earlier took the opportunity to start yelling at him. The only words I could decipher were “you are stupid.” Although everything happened in Luganda, I knew exactly what was happening. David, my driver, was right. These people were being ridiculous. At least, I was entertained!

The reason I started this posting with the story of Bosco is because with the exception of my pants, nothing about the last two Sundays needed to be changed.

- Feldman

A Letter in Honor of Jonathan's Birthday

The second time I took a boda boda - motorcycle taxis - the driver turned to me and said, "You look really scared." I was. Nevertheless, on Saturday, I hopped back on one to go to the Kampala Rugby Park. For the first time, I relaxed and really enjoyed my ride. There is no better way to see the city of Kampala than in the open air with a driver who takes you through little used side roads. Also, as long as I ask the driver to go slow and be careful, I will be safe. Over and over again, other bodas passed us - a clear sign the driver was taking my direction.

We were meeting another of Aggie's cool friends, Patrick, to watch Uganda take on Zimbabwe in rugby. This is where my blog takes a turn. Instead of writing for everyone I have a note for a particular person. . .

Dear Jerry,

Last year, you opened the most expensive stadium in the world. I haven't been. Yet, the jealously I felt toward my brother Jeffrey for having the chance to see my favorite team play in their new palace washed away at the Kampala Rugby Park - a venue less sophisticated than many of America's high school stadiums. A bar, some stands, chairs, grills and a score board controlled by person with a stick-like thing (forgot the technical word) was the extent of the physical structures needed for people to be spirited and have fun. The spectators didn't even need a clock to keep time. They kept it themselves.

In terms of the game, I had no idea what was going on. Uganda won. How? I don't really know except that somehow they scored touchdowns and extra points (terms you and I understand, but again probably not the technical terms). What went on in between teams scoring seemed chaotic with men grabbing, tackling, and shoving each other while a ball was being kicked or thrown for no apparent purpose.

The good news is that not knowing what was going on really didn't matter. I had the best time because the people at the game were having the best time. There were chants, playful arguments, high fives, horns (the annoying kind plaguing the World Cup) creatively used by Ugandans, waves, and yells at the referee ("Referee, Who is your mother?" or something like that). All of this happened between complete strangers. At the end of the game, the crowd did not rush out of the stadium as they do yours. Instead, they stayed to continue having fun. I went to games at the old, now demolished Texas Stadium, which was more complex than the Kampala Rugby Park, and the spirit was never as high.

I learned something very important on Saturday. Structure is less important than passion. Next season, I think one of the Cowboys' games should be re-located to a field with makeshift stands, score boards, and not even a 1 yard screen. I am sure there are many fields in Arlington like this. If that is too extreme, simply move your team back to its city at the Cotton Bowl for a game, make the parking and tickets cheap. I think you will find true fans who don't need a 60 yard screen to watch their team and might be able to match the spirit of Ugandan Rugby fans.

Send my regards to your favorite "bum" - Wade, and please return to my blog in the next few days for an update on Sunday - one of if not my favorite day since arriving in Kampala.

Best,

Feldman

"Baby, Are You Ready to Come Home Yet?"

That's the question my grandma asked me over the phone. "Uhhh....not quite." I said, not sure how to respond. Of course I miss car rides to Schnucks and Target with Mama, Daddy dragging me out of bed on Saturday to cut the grass, long chats with Olivia, Sherell rolling her eyes at my silliness, inside "buddy" jokes with Trevor, random bro-talks with Jonathan, and everything/one else that comes from home; but, I'm learning so much about myself and others in this beautiful place that I gotta soak it all in while I'm here.

It's been a while since I posted, so this might be a long one. Take a deep breath. Brace yourself. There are pictures at the end as a reward!

On Thursday, Michael and I went to Taibah to check on the children. It was the dreaded report mid-term report issuance day. The kids got their reports and presented them to Edith, the social counselor. We then proceeded to walk around to different stations and talk to each of their teachers personally about their reports. While most were doing very well in their classes, there were definitely areas for improvement. I went around with two very smart and sweet girls. It was strange for me to act as their "parent" checking on their progress. I understood the struggles of math and chemistry. They're hard! So, I tried to sound like a good, responsible, wise parent (of 19 yrs to a sophomore in high school lol) when I talked to the teachers, but the girls usually just giggled at me and shook their heads at my attempts. But, the teachers had such positive things to say about the students and their work. For many of them, they were leaders in the classroom and had great time management skills. My daughters of 15 ,minutes made me a proud father. Don't worry, Mom, I'm still in no hurry to become a father!

On Saturday, Michael and I went to a Rugby game between Zimbabwe and Uganda. Tightly seated shoulder-to-shoulder on wooden bleachers, we were in the middle of an intense group of Ugandan fans, giving us the best seats in the house. Hands down. With horns in hand, the field was ablaze with energy as fans cheered on the nation. Grills sizzled with muchomo (sticks of pork and chicken) and delicious smells filled the air, reminding me of the Tennessee State Fair. Having never seen a rugby match, I was thoroughly confused to say the least. It was still fun to watch. Seeing guys hoist their team mates high in the air, then watching a guy fly out of nowhere to tackle an unaware player, then following the oddly-shaped ball sail into the air was fun to learn about. However, the real show wasn't going on in the fields. Oh no, it was all about the fan stands. Hilarious chants against the refs with slightly inappropriate jeers at his mother made the evening exciting. No matter where you are, people love their sports. It was funny to watch one guy hop the fence, wave his flag with pride, and then get kicked off by the policemen as he argued intensely. Good times, great memories.

On Sunday, after church, we visited the EAC House in Kisugu, where all the kids were. Michael and I had met a few of them briefly at Taibah, but this was the first time we were with everyone for an extended period of time. And what a time we had! We started playing games, watching school performances, and just hanging out. There's something about youthfulness that brings so much joy. With high-pitched laughs, toothless smiles, and tireless kids running around, we had the time of our lives. Rajab, my new "best", taught us how to play Ba, Badu, Badubadu, a game where you have to follow what the leader says, not does. It was alot of fun. Ya'll know how much I love games, so I'm definitely bringing it back home to teach. Can't wait!

While there, I decided to learn how to do laundry. No, not putting it into the washer and dryer. Like, legit doing laundry. Jengo was washing his clothes, so I decided to help. Still in my Sunday clothes, I slipped off my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants and shirt sleeves and began to learn how to scrub the famous African clay out of Jengo's scrub. First, you soak the shirts in a bucket of water and begin scrubbing with a bar of soap. With soap suds covering the fabric, you rub the pieces together, while stringing out the water. It's a constant process, especially if there's a stain. After, you think you've gotten it all out, you rinse with clean water. Then, you make sure you didn't miss any spots. If you notice that you did (this happened a lot for me), then you repeat the previous step. Finally, you hang out the clothes to dry on a string across the yard. Whew, all I can say is, thank God for Whirpool. It was tough! Jengo laughed at me, and when we got to the jeans, he just shook his head and said, "Nick, you can't handle those. Stick to the shirts." Well, I'm pretty good at socks and shirts, maybe I'll progress to jeans another day.

I always talk about lessons I've learned while I've been here. One of the most helpful lessons I've learned is to listen. Sometimes, we're in such a hurry to share our world with others that we forget to learn. But in between playing games, doing laundry, and eating delicious food, I've begun to observe how others live. To step back and realize that this project is more than me and what I can provide. It's an opportunity to understand others. There's a quote by Dr. Cornel West that I always love to use that I learned at the Tavis Smiley Leadership Institute. "You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people unless you serve the people." In order to truly connect with people, there has to be a relationship, a common understanding. Growing up in America, I've always been taught to be efficient, to move, and be a mover and shaker. But, to be effective, you sometimes have to step back, listen, and wait. You learn so much about what makes a person happy, sad, laugh, cringe, or uncomfortable. Once you understand a group of people, then you are able to better serve.

Our service project may be to create logic models to show program success, but I think beyond that, it's just being present. Going to watch the World Cup, doing laundry together, shopping at the market, learning to play/sing a local song, going to church, and taking a walk all cause us to become connected in a way that sitting in an office deciding whether to use the word "psychological" or "psychosocial" for the model simply doesn't.

I can remember sitting in circle back at Vanderbilt during an Ingram discussion. I can't remember who, but someone said that service is just being. I didn't grasp that concept at the time, but slowly I'm beginning to understand that simple, but complex notion of being...

-Nick






All of us around the house playing games. A geography classroom at Taibah.

Me getting seconds for a newfound snack: GRASSHOPPERS. It was much tastier than fried ant. They seasoned it with onion. Actually not bad.

A Day at the Rugby match with our two tickets. By the way, 2,000 USX=1 US Dollar So, tickets are about $2.50/person

An In(complete) Post II

When we arrived at Taibah, we said goodbye to everybody on the bus and went to the dining hall. Teachers with signs that had their names and subject were on the walls and pillars of the room. They sat on benches at the long tables, which lined the room. Students with their parents sat speaking with a teacher or waiting in line for an update. Samali and I went with one of the EAC girls. For the most part, the teachers thought she was doing very well; however, they thought her potential was even higher than her already very good performance. This was a testament to EAC. The teachers think very highly of the children EAC sends to their school and believe in their abilities.

I was touched by the way Samali spoke with the students. She was gentle and firm as she asked questions about how the student intended to plan her time and live up to the teachers expecations. The conversation she had was almost identical to the conversations I have with my parents, which confirms my belief that any child if given the right tools and care can do great things.

After the first student, Samali and I split to go around with different students. The girl I went with was told by every teacher that she was excellent, easy to have in the classroom, and attetive, but could still work harder. I've concluded no matter how well a student does in the classroom the teachers at Taibah will always push their students.

Leaving Taibah was hard. The EAC students are so much fun to be with. Jengo and I bonded as we were trying to depart because he has a wonderful sense of humor. We joked around about the World Cup and my experience in Uganda so far. As we spoke, his hand was either on my shoulder or we were shaking hands. He is so friendly. I am convinced he is going to be a comedian. Later that week, we discussed this idea as I will in my next blog.

- Feldman

An Incomplete Post

I do not remember when they began, but from a young age, I had to attend conferences twice a year at Shelton. They all went pretty much the same way. I would introduce my parents to my teachers, tell my teachers, "I have taken the proper precautions to be focused so what I need from you is to keep class interesting or I'll be bored." and then each teacher would say what I was doing well and not so well (a limited category I like to think). Two times every term, Taibah - the school where EAC students go - holds what they call Contact Days, which are similar to conferences. Yesterday, we went with Edith and Samali to Contact Day - an experience which brought back memories and put me in a different role.

At around 3, we were picked up by a car full of EAC children we had yet to meet. They had just come from registering to vote for the presidential elections next year. Again, I was so touched by how welcoming they were to me. I sat next to Brian who just happened to be wearing a Dallas Mavericks t-shirt. We had a wonderful conversation about his experience with the Spirit of Uganda tour. His favorite city on the tour was Dallas. Like me, he is not a huge fan of roller coasters so when he went to Six Flags, he did not go on all the rides. Also, he told me about going to the top of the Empire State building, which I will have to do next time I go to New York. It sounds amazing to see the city from such a high place.

It's 4:23 here and the USA plays in the World Cup at 5. This means I have to run out of the office; however, I told both of my parents in emails I was updating the blog today so here is a partial update. Next time, I have the internet I will finish. Go USA!!!

- Feldman

There Are No Words...

...Ok, so maybe there are. But, that's how our new friend, Brenda, described the World Cup being in South Africa. With this being the first time for the continent of Africa to host the World Cup, everyone is abuzz with excitement! It's an international event that is bringing the world's focus on Africa.

Football (or soccer, as we call it) is the leading sport around the world. Though America is slowly catching on, the rest of the world is on fire for football! The World Cup is the Super Bowl of soccer with nations from around the world uniting to cheer on their teams to victory. It's bigger than the Olympics! Yeah, kind of a big deal.

Michael and I are so pumped to be a part of such a history-making moment for Africa. The first day of the World Cup we were anticipating the opening ceremony and opening match. We had made plans to hang out with our usual crew of friends and watch at Brenda's house at 5:00 just in time to catch the beginning. Brenda is a friend of Aggie. We all decided to make salsa, guacamole, and fresh tomatoes and cheese as party snacks. Being the star chefs that we are, Michael and I began chopping tomatoes, cheese, mangos, and onions away like a pair of Paul Bunyan twins. We got skills. We knew we had to rush. But, then a dreadful phone call came. "OH NO! YOU'RE KIDDING ME! WE MISSED IT?" exclaimed Aggie into her phone. Somehow, we had wrong information about the schedule of the games. We had missed the beginning of the most glorious event because we were cutting up tomatoes and onions. Womp, womp, womp.

No worries, we weren't gonna let a little schedule mishap rain on our parade. After finishing up, we headed over to Brenda's and began watching midway through the first game South Africa vs. Mexico. She greeted us by giving us two really cool yellow jerseys that the entire nation is wearing in unison. It reads, "Africa United. It's our time." They're fantastic! Once we all got food and settled, we watched an exciting game that ended in a tie. I actually really like soccer. It's exciting to watch, and the footwork and technique of the players is amazing. America needs to get on the ball with real football.

We ended up watching a re-run of the opening ceremony and a concert later that night. Filled with colorful fabrics, vibrant voices, and creative dances, the opening was a hit!The concert featured local African artists, Angelique, Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, and my fiavorite K'Naan. I'm telling you "Wavin' Flag" is amazing! Everytime it comes on, everyone immediately sings in unison, "When I get older, I will be stronger. They'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag. so wave your flag..." Ah, so legit. It's the new "We are the Champions" No kidding! Is it a hit in America too?

So, here's to the World Cup. An event that has no words, except 5 blog paragraphs...

-Nick

Wave Your Flag

An air of excitement spread through Kampala on Friday as the start of the World Cup drew closer and closer. In the office, Nick and I worked on a logic model for the Spirit of Uganda Tour. Narrowing down on the final outputs and outcomes of the tour was difficult because it acts as such a transformative experience for the children. Luckly, after some colorful/productive exchanges, we were able to finish a draft - a great feeling!

Early in the day, we mapped out our plans. We would leave the office, quickly stop at the market, prepare food at Agnes' home, and then go to her friend Brenda's home to watch the opening ceremony and first game at 5:30. Our execution seemed flawless at first. After rushing through the market to get mango, tomato, onions, and avocado, we stormed into Agnes' home. I was in charge of slicing the tomatoes and basil. Nick assisted by slicing tomatoes and cutting the cheese for the salad. Rose cut onions, and Agnes made the guacamole. Suddenly, Agnes' phone rang. I heard her say, "Oh no. Your kidding me. I thought . . ." It was Brenda. We had based our plans on a false premise. The game had already begun, and we had missed the opening ceremony. With feelings of slight failure, we finished our food preparations and headed over to Brenda's at halftime. Simon, Peter, Alex, and Francis joined us. Fortunately, after the game, the opening ceremony and Thursday night concert was repeated. This made Agnes happy. When K'Naan performed "Wavin' Flag," we all went crazy. Great song!

Brenda added to the trend of Agnes having cool friends. She is the only person in the country with a business that runs parties. Earlier in the day, she had been in charge of MTN's World Cup kick-off party in Kampala. She gave Nick and I "Africa United" jerseys, which are really cool.

Saturday was calm. After relaxing and running some errands, we went with Richard to watch the England-USA game at the Kansaga Pool Joint. Kansaga is the neighborhood we live in. The place was dark and big. In the back room, there was a giant screen with a projector set up. Seats with people filled the room. About half the crowd was for England and half made the right choice to cheer for the USA. Richard had told us before the game that he would be upset if the USA won because football (soccer) is our 5th or 6th most popular sport. I can understand his sentiment, and at the end of the night, a draw (though a win would have been better) seemed fair and good enough against the hardest team in the USA's group.

On Sunday, we went to the children's home for lunch. Aunt Justine cooked a delicious meal of fish, matoke, cabbage, rice, and beef stew. The company was great as always. We ended the night at Agnes' watching Australia get shut out by Germany. She prepared African tea for me, which is like Chai. It was really tasty, and better than the Chai I get at Starbucks.

- Feldman

A Special Note from Teddy

Wow!!! i do not know where to begin but here it is!

First i thought Nick and Michael were boring to hang out with but they really proved me wrong. when they came to my graduation party, they danced as if they were Ugandans. The night ended up really well with lots of laughters and hugs. Michael is the goofiest and he is always smiling. Nick is always dancing in his chair while half way sleep.... Honestly Nick who does that?

i have had so much fun with you guys and i will not forget all the great times we have had with everyone. your parents should be very proud of you for coming to such a great country UGANDA.. i have so much to say so that means i will be blogging. i love you guys, Always Teddy!

Yee, Tusobola

Yesterday was Heroes' Day - a Ugandan public holiday similar to Memorial Day. Nick, Rose, Agnes, Teddy, and I spent the day at the American Recreation Association swimming. I acted as Rose's swimming instructor - a tough but rewarding task. By the end of our time in the pool, she was able to float and glide in the water. I told her, "There is a man who you believe in that once walked on water. I promise you can float on it!!! Believe in Yourself." I look forward to our next outing to the pool and further improvement. We went to dinner with Agnes and Rose's wonderful priest - Father Joe. He is a fun, engaging, and spiritual man. We talked about some of the sites we had both seen in Israel, Judaism, Catholicism, music, the US, and Martyrs' Day.

In contrast to last week, Nick and I have spent more time in the office this week. We are beginning to synthesize information and compose logic models for EAC's Spirit of Uganda, holistic care , and US Scholarship programs. We realized the need to speak with more people, and have spent time speaking with a student going through EAC's resettlement program and Peter Kasule - the artistic director of Spirit of Uganda. Both interviews were very helpful for me to understand some of the intricacies of the programming.

The resettlement program provides assistance to those who have reached an age to transition into employment. EAC helps their students find a home and provides them with necessities. After 6 months, students are no longer on the payroll but are free to come in for support. In Psychology 1630, we learned about attachment styles. Secure attachment - the most healthy- is when a person is attached to their parent but able to be their own person. For example, an independent college student seeks their parents - whether over phone, email, or face-to-face - for advice and support. EAC is acting as a parent with a child that has a secure attachment style! We met with Dora today. She has recently gone through resettlement and is now living on her own and working as a hair stylist. EAC's staff was able to push her in the right direction and then let her soar.

When I was a child, I was diagnosed as having a non-verbal learning difference, which would make socialization difficult for me. My brilliant parents pushed me to do drama as a way to express myself. I learned eye contact, important communication skills, leadership and discipline from my time in the theater. EAC is employing the same strategy with the Spirit of Uganda tour. Speaking with Peter today was powerful. Through training, the children aided by EAC gain confidence in their ability to ask questions and have conversations. They became disciplined and are forced to manage their time. Talents are recognized and leaders emerge. An understanding of team work emerges and friendships form leading to EAC children sharing their tough, often similar stories with each other. On tour, performance after performance ends with a standing ovation. For a performer, there is no better feeling. When audiences rise, its a sign to a performer that their voice matters. Performing is freeing, and the use of it as a sort-of therapy is one of the most exciting concepts I can imagine.

Unfortunately, I write this post at a time when an amazing American is being unfairly criticized for matters out of his control. Being in a foreign country furthers my deep appreciation, gratitude, and liking of President and Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama. In Kampala, there are stores, hair salons, restaurants, Internet cafes, and more named after him. Furthermore, talking to Richard - the British house manager where we are staying- I have learned that around the world, public opinion is changing about the USA because of the man. He told me, "the USA is the only country that could create such a public figure." So I say, Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can! Yee, Tusobola! Yee, Tusobola! Yee, Tusobola!

- Feldman

Kiki Kino? (What is That?)

Monday through today have mostly been spent in the office. Michael and I began creating drafts for our logic models. We realized it would take longer than we thought! With two very different working styles, it's always a fun day trying to figure out how to merge our ideas and thoughts together. We've done well, though.With one rough draft completed, we're working to articulate our thoughts in a concise manner.

We interviewed Dora, who is in the transition program out of EAC. She discussed life after EAC. Because academics were difficult for her, she got involved in the vocational training aspect of EAC. She went to cosmetology school, and now does hair at a local salon. In addition, she has some magazine spreads as a hair model. The pictures are really cool. EAC helped her. She said she would be a farmer digging trenches in a village if she didn't have the support of Empower African Children. But, now, she says, "I have a job, and I can provide for myself. That's success to me."

We also interviewed Peter, the artistic director of Spirit of Uganda. Spirit of Uganda is the American tour that the EAC children go on to spread awareness about issues in Uganda, get exposed to new cultures, and raise funds to sponsor EAC events. It's a vibrant cultural experience. This Sunday Michael and I are cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids as they teach us some moves. Watch out, I'll be the next Michael Jackson! Anyway, Peter. He told us how the arts become a way for the students to express themselves. They learn so many skills aside from just performing. Confidence, communication, professionalism, etiquette. It's such a well-rounded lesson outside of the classroom. Plus, they have so much fun traveling around America and seeing different people and places.

Outside the office, we've continued to be in great company. On Monday, Agnes invited Teddy, Rose, and us over for Italian. Michael and I helped cook. I chopped the veggies and made the garlic bread, and Michael made fresh tomatoes with cheese and basil. It was quite delicious. We make quite an exquisite pair of chefs We even had an exciting scavenger hunt for bell/green pepper...but that story is way too long to write about! It'll definitely be a great story to share once we get back! The food ending up being delicious. We had great laughs, vibed to Joe, Jill Scott, andU2, and stayed late into the night before Aggie drove us back home.

On Wednesday, Uganda celebrated yet another national holiday, Hero's Day. It's kind of like America's version of Memorial Day. We decided to teach Aggie and Rose how to swim. We went to the American Recreation Club to practice. The place was beautiful! Before swimming, we had a Mexican buffet. It was great because Mike and I had both been craving Mexican, especially since having Uncle Julio's back in Dallas. After eating, we hit the pool for some intense lessons. Rose and Michael paired off, and I worked with Aggie. Though I don't think we taught them much, we had a great time doing so. One lady gave us the thumbs up, and proceeded to tell us how important swimming lessons were because she knew a NFL player who drowned because he couldn't swim...RANDOM! It took all we could handle to not burst out laughing at her! That's the last thing a person should say when teaching other people how to swim. We splished and splashed (especially Rose, while she was learning to tread! haha) throughout the afternoon.

Later, we went to dinner to celebrate Hero's Day with Father Joe the priest at Rose and Aggie's church. He's such a relaxed, friendly guy. He's traveled all over the world including America. But, he hasn't visited the South. So, Mike and I both formally invited him to come on down and get some good ole' southern hospitality when he gets a chance. Should be exciting!

Uganda is gearing up for the World Cup, which starts tomorrow. Michael and I have been laughing at a friend's facebook message asking if we were going to watch the World Cup. DUH! haha The World Cup Song, K'Naan's "Wavin Flag" is a hit! Everytime we hear it in the car, we automatically turn up the volume and sway to the beat! We're excited to watch the Opening Ceremony tomorrow night. It's sure to be an exciting time for all the true football fans here in Uganda.

Because Michael and I are having so much fun and so many great laughs with our new friends, we have started a list of jokes and stories. We already have a notebook page covered front and back with hilarious jokes. We learned a new phrase, Kiki Kino. You use it when you see something crazy or funny. We've been using it a lot lately! It's so amazing to come to this foreign place not knowing anyone except Michael. Now, I have friends that I feel so connected to. I literally love being around them! There's never a dull moment. I'm always bent over laughing at Aggie's sassy remarks, Teddy's ridiculous comments, Betty's hilarious phrases, Rose's excited greetings, Alex's warm advice. They are my friends. There are so many negative stereotypes that come out about Africa and its people. Honestly, I even had them before coming! But, those walls have been torn down. Aside from geography, language, and some cultural practices, we share so much in common. We all want to be successful, laugh, enjoy life, and have friends. At the end of the day, there's more that connects us than that divides us. It's a simple lesson I've always been taught, but never has it been more manifested in my life than in these few weeks in Uganda.

-Nick

99% Ugandan, 1% Mzungu

In Kampala, 5:00 am is when the day begins. Birds begin their singing and the prayers from the nearby Mosque begin to radiate into our bedroom. On Thursday, we, with thousands of devout Christians in the area, woke the city up an hour early. At 4:00 AM, our alarm clocks went off , and we dressed at a zombie pace so we could participate in the National Holiday - Martyrs Day. With Galvin (the caretaker of the place we are staying), Rose, Agnes, Betty, Teddy, Drake (Agnes's friend), and members of Rose/Agnes' Church, we set off like thousands to Namugongo where the shrine for martyrs stands.

Early in our journey, we were seperated from Rose, Agnes and the members from the Church because we wanted to walk while they wanted to run. Walking on the streets of Kampala can be tricky. The roads are not well paved so you have to pay attention to where you walk. This is not a strength of mine. My foot may or may not be sore because I tripped more than several times. After a few hours and 3-4 miles, Betty and Drake made the executive decision for us to take a taxi (more like a bus) down the main road to shorten our journey. I think this was a good decision because we would have been walking for the longest time. When we got off the taxi, we walked 2-3 more miles. We ran into Rose and Agnes on the way. They had already arrived and were running back to find us.

As we drew closer to the Shrine, the numbers of people walking increased until we were surrounded by a sea. President and Commander and Chief Barack Obama's Inauguration is the only event I have been to with more people. The streets were bustling. Agnes and Betty were wearing running clothes, but they insisted on taking us down to the shrine. The combination of my skin color and their clothing caused us to recieve a bit of attention. To quote Agnes, "They need to get over it. My prayer for the day was done while I was excercising so this is what I'm wearing." Galvin, as am I, was very impressed with their bravery to be who they are. At one point when we were walking a man tried to take Agnes' sunglasses off her face. She punched him on the shoulder - a hysterical moment I will never forget. Seeing so many people in one place for their faith is a powerful experience. Despite hardship, there is hope through faith no matter what religion one follows. The journey for many to Namugongo was much longer than ours. They had spent days walking for communial prayer - what a beautiful sight!

The rest of Thursday was spent relaxing, seeing some of Kampala's malls, and going to hear the same band we saw Tuesday night (and will be seeing tonight again). They are so good!

On Friday morning, we went to Taibah - the school EAC sends their children to. They are so lucky. The school has an amazing philosophy toward education, which emphasizes critical thinking and freedom. One of the schools administrators told us she wanted to see if she could find one of the EAC students for us to speak with. She came to get us and there were a whole group of 6 students waiting. For some reason, both Nick and I thought we were speaking with non-EAC students. I thought because she had not been able to find one EAC students, she found six non-EAC students. Nick explained what EAC was and we asked many questions about Taibah. Everyone spoke about how the school allows autonomy leading to opportunity and learning. At the end of the discussion, one of us asked how many were EAC students. All of them raised their hands. I'm so happy Nick was the one who explained EAC to them! They were all so friendly, welcoming, and willing to take our questions. I wish we could have spent more time with them, and I cannot wait for them to come to the EAC house one weekend.

After seeing Taibah's primary school, we went to St. Jannan Secondary School to meet with the headmaster. What an interesting guy! Nick and I asked two questions, and he spoke for an hour and a half. Nick asked "How do you measure success?" and he said, "Personal or for the children?" to which responded, "Well... both... I guess" Needless to say, I could tell you this man's life story. Despite his talkitiveness, our conversation was interesting. An interesting fact I learned was that the government funds some of the more expensive, well performing schools not those in need of assistance. In contrast to Taibah, the instruction style at St. Jannan was very traditional. Each child has notebooks, which they copy material into from the board.

Friday was a fascinating because we were able to see two extremes in secondary education - Taibah and St. Jannan. EAC is a special organization because they recognize the importance of providing their children with well-rounded educations, which encourage analytical thinking, even if they sacrafice the quanity of children aided. A thousand children attend St. Jannan, which has a relatively reasonable tuition; however, as the headmaster admitted, "For most of our children, this will be the end of their education. I can think of maybe a hundred children since we began who went further. " It's hard to grapple how we allow education to be so unreachable and intangible anywhere in the world. Moreover, when a school focuses on quanity over quality, what are the consequences?

After seeing the schools on Friday, we went to the office for a few hours before going to Agnes' home with Rose for dinner. We had so much fun assisting her with the cooking of the delicious food. We had rice, potatoes, mushrooms, plantains, tomatoe/basil/mozerella salad, beans, and the best avocado. The vegetables are so fresh here - no steroids or chemicals. The avocados are so big and flavorful. Better than the food was the company. Rose and Agnes are so much fun to be with and have the best humor.

Late Saturday afternoon, Agnes and Betty picked us up to go to an art street festival. There were some beautiful paintings of Kampala and pottery. The only thing I bought was a t-shirt with the title of this posting. When it got dark, there was a concert, which we went to for a little while. There were several acts, but two really stood out. The first was named Richie (I think) and had a John Legend vibe and the second played a classical Western African instrument. We left the concert early before going to dinner and dancing. Teddy and her friend - Claire - joined us for the dancing. We had a great night.

On Sunday, Nick and I used public transportation to go to the mall. We rode boda-bodas to avoid the confusing taxi system. At first very scary, riding on these motorcyles is actually fun when you tell the driver to be slow. My driver stopped because he saw a jacket on a tree, which I found to be very humorous. I certaintly won't make a habit of riding these machines as my anxiety tends to be high sometimes!

Mzungu - the word used in my title - refers to the color of my skin. Everybody here is so friendly, and I truly feel 99% Ugandan and 1% Mzungu.

- Feldman

TGIF!

The Chora, a West-African instrument Taibah Mission Statement, sorry it's sideways

Qwela Band: They are GREAT! A familiar scene, and, yep, Nick found his beloved Tobasco!

After a busy week of interviewing different people and touring various institutions, Michael and I were glad to finish up our first exciting week of work. On Friday, we were slated to visit Taibah Schools and St. Janan Secondary School. Taibah, the school where all the EAC students attend, is a private college prep school with high school fees. On the other hand, St. Janan Secondary School was established by an NGO, PEAS out of Britain. In fact, PEAS is the sponsor of the volunteer house that we live at. St. Janan has low school fees and is located nearby the slums.

It was very interesting to see the difference between the two schools. Taibah had an emphasis on student needs and making sure that they succeeded. When we spoke with administrators, they discussed how the students felt. At St. Janan, there was more talk about how much help they needed. We met the principal, who was an interesting character. He discussed his involvement with the school from the onset and talked about its development. He talked about the importance of quality in education. In order to improve the quality of education, school fees must go up. But, because of the area that his school serves, any rate changes could cause a child to not be able to attend school. You may be wondering, "Why don't they just have free public schools?" The issue is taxes. Right now, much o the business that takes place is independent and street vending, which is difficult to tax. Thus, there is a lack of government funds to provide free public education for all communities. So, the only way to get supplies, pay salaries, and maintain schools is through individual fees. Never in my life have I appreciated the American tax system! Because of lack of resources, much of the education in Uganda is based on memorization and discipline. There is a lack of critical thinking. Children simply regurgitate what they are taught in classrooms of 40-65.

So, EAC chose Taibah, which is an amazing school located outside the city of Kampala, to send all their children to school. It's a weekday residential boarding school that involves one-on-one education styles. The school setting is beautiful. Students are assessed before coming in, and placed on academic tracks for instruction: A, B, C. Depending on one's learning levels, you can move in and out of categories. It's a cool approach. Another cool idea is separation of principal and headteacher. The principal deals with all business sides of the school (hiring, allocating funds, grants, etc), and the head teacher works to develop the academics and curriculum of the school. The division of power seemed to really work well.

I had an embarassing moment at Taibah. We were told that they" would try to connect us with an EAC student to talk to. Moments later, they told us that some random students were having a break outside and that they would be willing to talk to us. So, we all gathered around and began introducing ourselves. I go, "My name is Nick, and I'm working with an organization, Empower African Children, that works with orphans and vulnerable children to provide them quality education...blah, blah, blah" I go through this whole explanation of EAC. We start asking questions about the school, and I ended by asking, "How many of you are in EAC?" ALL of them raised their hands. My cheeks grew red. They laughed and laughed. It was a funny moment for all of us.

During the weekend, we went to an art show and concert. It was cool to see some of the local art here in town. Beautiful city scenes, decorated pottery, and colorful weavings filled the streets. I grabbed a few fun gifts and got a chance to practice my negotiation skills. Dad would be proud!

Night came quickly and we headed to the concert. We saw a great performer, Richie, who serenaded the audience. We laughed at one groupie, who danced alone in front of the stage the entire night. The funniest part was that her pants had split in half because of her intense dancing. We laughed so hard, it was HILARIOUS. Oh man...

We also rode bodas for the first time. After lots of urging, I finally convinced Michael to ride. It wasn't bad at all. We told them, go VERY slowly and carefully. They listened, and we had a pleasant ride and got to see the city streets up close and personal.

So, this week we are back to work. We'll mostly be in the office looking over our field work and putting it into logic model form. We only have a few interviews planned, so it should be a quiet week of office work.

-Nick

Tuesday night was a lot of fun. We went with Agnes and Betty to a bar and restaurant to hear one of Kampala’s most popular bands perform. The band was amazing, and I had so much fun dancing, talking, and discussing two particular people around us. First, there was an older European man sitting at the table next to us with the tightest pants hugging his body. Every time he stood up, we laughed hysterically especially when he started dancing. He danced with one hand because he had a cigarette in the other. Luckily, he had no idea we were laughing at him because laughter was coming from the table the whole evening as Betty and Agnes are so much fun to be with. The second funny man was a Ugandan who performed after Qwela, the band we were there to see. He had the most terrible voice and butchered Coldplay’s “Don’t Panic.” Next time you see me, I will do my imitation for you if you ask nicely.

On Wednesday, we went with Alex and Teddy to an orphanage on the outskirts of Kampala. Run by a woman referred to by the children as Aunt Penny, this particular orphanage is an example of an under-funded establishment. Penny told us that the facilities might be misleading in regards to the wealth of the orphanage. Each child has there own bed and the rooms are kept very neat. We asked if having the children keep the rooms clean was a challenge. The answer was no. They are so grateful to have a place to stay that they treat their space with the utmost respect.

Four children – Beatrice, Susan, Charles, and Megisha – came from school to spend time with Nick and I. After we toured the facilities, Penny asked them to bring chairs outside for us to sit in. The chairs were placed in a line. Penny, Teddy, Nick, and I sat while Alex stood in the corner speaking with the children. Penny called Beatrice over and told us to ask any questions we would like. There was something so strange about sitting in a chair while a child stood almost kneeling in front of me. I felt as if I was being categorized as higher status, which led me to feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Nick looked over at me and whispered, “Do you feel weird?” I did, and I was relieved to know Nick felt the same way.

Despite how uncomfortable I felt, the stories of the four children and the way Teddy – a successful woman with similar experiences – interacted with them was remarkable. Aunt Penny had told us Charles used to run away to rejoin his friends to participate in child labor so he could earn 500 Ugandan Shillings – 15 cents. Teddy asked if he missed the streets. He smiled and said, “no.” At this point, Aunt Penny said, “I should probably go so you get honest answers.” Previously, we had learned Charles sometimes served as a preacher to the community. Knowing Charles, a boy with such spirituality and opportunity, missed his friendships on the tough streets of Kampala was a powerful reminder of the emotional hardships faced by orphans.

Susan was the fourth child we spoke with. She approached, kneeled, and told us about her favorite subjects in school and dreams. Teddy asked, “Do you still have family on the streets?” Stillness. “It’s ok. It’s ok,” Teddy said breaking the silence, and tears began streaming down Susan’s face. Her raw emotions awakened me and caused a shift in our conversation with Susan, Charles, Megisha, and Beatrice from institutionalized to real.

In the previous 25 minutes, the children shared their big dreams. Beatrice wants to be an accountant. Susan and Megisha want to be doctors. Charles wants to be a judge. Teddy, looking each child in the eye, told them that she was once in their place, to take leadership roles, and be thankful for what Aunt Penny is providing them. Then Nick said, “You know what. Why don’t you come sit in the chairs and we will sit on the ground?” This was the most brilliant idea. We moved the chairs, and we sat on the ground. Right as I was taking my seat, Beatrice said "May I sing a song for you?" She began singing a beautiful religious song. Each child joined in. I do not think any song could ever have the power of this accapala powerhouse of passion. I was pleased when Beatrice asked to sing another song before we departed. I will never forget their voices.

Two important items relevant to the readers of this blog emerged as a result of this experience. Next year, Nick and I would like to start on Vanderbilt's campus a two fold partnership with this orphanage. First, we would like to begin a pen-pal program between Vanderbilt students and the children at the orphanage. Second, we would like to explore ways to assist Aunt Penny in the cost of maintaining the orphanage. Money for school fees and food is often hard to come by, and as a result, the children do not have some of the pleasures we take for granted. In middle school, there was a trend for students to make their uniform shoes sandles. We would walk on the back of our shoes. Teddy noticed Charles was walking on the back of his shoe. This was not his choice. He had outgrown his shoes and,there was not enough money for Aunt Penny to purchase a new pair. Charles has to explain to his teachers why he walks on the back of his shoe so he is not punished. I cannot imagine how that feels. If you have any ideas about how we can help, please contact Nick or I.

- Feldman

The March on Kampala

Sunrise on the highway Beautiful scenery of Ugandan countryside

Shrine that thousands of people traveled to worship together.
Nick and Michael surrounded by all the ladies! :) Rose, Nick, Galvin, Michael, Aggie, Teddy, Betty. Nick and Betty carrying bananas and water to police and bodas.

Thursday was a special Ugandan holiday, Martyr's Day. It's a day that remembers the persecution of 14 Roman Catholic priests who introduced many Ugandans to Christianity. Now, most of the population in Uganda and surrounding areas is Roman Catholic. On this day, people from all around walk and pray as they march toward a holy shrine to worship together. Since we were off work, most of the office decided to check out the ceebration. We made plans to wake up at 4:30 AM and make a 21 kilometer (a little less than 12 miles) trek to the shrine.

On Wednesday night, MF and I were talking to Galvin, the lady who manages the house about our exciting day ahead. Michael asked if she wanted to go, and she excitedly responded, "YES! I was going to go all by myself!" When we told her what time, she raised her eyebrows, sighed, and just smiled, "I'll be there!"

So, with the sky still pitch black, Michael and I dowsed ourselves in mosquito repellant, took our malaria medicine (Mom, I know those pictures with me in shorts probably worried you), left from a local church, and made off toward the city like a pack of wolves (I've added many to my pack haha!). Some decided to run ahead, but most of the younger group stayed behind and decided to chat. We told the others that we would catch up with them later. We promised we would walk/jog the entire time. We talked, joked, and laughed all throughout the morning. It was beautiful to see the sun rise early in the morning over the city. After about 4 miles, we all decided that our promise would be hard to keep. 5 minutes later, we were crammed in a cab. Oops! We stopped 2 miles outside of the city, and decided we'd walk the rest of the way so that we wouldn't be caught by the rest of the runners that left us. It worked. A few minutes later, we saw Aggie, who was with the runner group, already running back to catch up with us. She's so fit! She exclaimed, "Wow, you guys are good at powerwalking!" I think she was pulling our leg, but the rest of the group is convinced she doesn't know. I ran with a couple of other people the rest of the way, and it was great to see the city on foot in the cool of the morning.

We finally arrived after passing through the thick crowds of people. Since most of us were running, we had on shorts and t-shirts. For some traditional African Catholic followers, women especially should not wear shorts. Thus, many of the elders of the church and crowd gave some pretty disapproving looks. Finally, I know what women mean when they talk about "that look that girls give". We walked deeper into the crowd to see the shrine. With smells of matoke, potatoes, fresh fruits, and holy fragrances heavy in the air, the experience was one to remember. There were literally thousands of people lining the streets. We eventually stopped and took a quick snapshot before it got too crowded. Tired and sweaty, the whole group walked back to a van that had been arranged to pick us up to eat bananas and drink water. We had lots left over, so we walked around giving water and bananas to police officers, boda bodas, and traffic instructors. Oh, fun fact, everyone in Uganda LOVES to give parking instructions...reminds me of my dad when I'm pulling into the garage Haha!

Galvin, Michael, and I returned home with intentions to go to sleep, but Michael and I began discussing religion and race. It was interesting to hear our different cultures and learn how similar/different many of our beliefs are. I learned a lot from our conversation. We ended up talking so long that we weren't even tired any more! Michael's been a great guy to travel with. He's always ready with some funny story to tell me. He does the funniest impressions! We laugh at the different people and things we hear on the trip. We have tons of great tales and adventures already, who knows what's to come over the next few weeks?!

-Nick

On Monday, we began work at the EAC office. The enviorment is wonderful because everyone is so friendly and passionate about EAC's mission. We began the morning by walking to the office. This was a slight mistake as the sun was blazing causing my shirt to be soaked; however, I am glad we did as the streets are so energetic with people and animals. It's so exciting to see chicken coops, sheep, and goats moving alongside children in uniform and adults dressed for work.

When we arrived at the office we met with Agnes to explain our plans for the coming weeks. In the middle of the meeting, Teddy came in like a storm and said, "I'm bored. Give me something to do." We offered to have her come work with us, which Agnes thought was a good idea. Her assistance is going to be helpful as we consider methods for EAC to measure success because she represents the mission of the organization. Nick and I found many helpful readings in the office so we spent the day in the office doing research.

Tuesday was much more eventful. In the morning, we interviewed Teddy about being a part of EAC and the US Scholarship program. Her story is inspiring. Because of EAC and Alexis Hefley (founder), she went to a dentist for the first time, became stable, independant, and gained an ability to think critically. None of this happened without struggle. When she first came to the US, she did not speak English and found learning the language very difficult. She begged to go home. I'm glad she stayed because her acomplishments mean so much to her family and friends and showcase why EAC is such an important organization. She told us, "Without EAC, I would be married with five kids. I wouldn't have known what do do with myself." To think, we live in a world with so many Teddys whose potentials are never realized is heartbreaking.

After lunch, we went with Alex to visit with the mother of one of EAC's children. The home was situated in one of Kampala's slums. As we drove up, children played along and on our path. Bricked with what I think was a roof made from medal, the home was tiny and dark. I imagined what it might be like to live in such a dark place at night as a child. The two bedrooms were tiny with matresses pushed together. Clothing was stacked because there were no drawers. In each of these rooms, 3-4 children and the mother slept at night. I can never complain about the size of my room again or tell my parents the only reason they think my room is messy is because its so small.

Our conversation with the mother was sad with a strain of hope. She lost her husband many years ago and was left with 7 children and other family members to feed. Each day, she wakes up to make breakfast for the children, purchases food for lunch, and mends childrens' clothing as a way to make a little money. The time she arrives home depends on how well her clothing sells.
To complicate matters, she is HIV-positive. When the illness comes, her productivity is low and although HIV medicine is supposed to be free, often times she cannot afford it. Currently, three of her children are not recieving any aid. They are struggling in school and are in 4th, 7th, and 9th grades.

EAC is the reason for this family to have hope. The daughter recieving services from EAC is a "shining star" providing inspiration and pride for the family. In the community, people can tell she is taken care of. One of the ways is by her braided hair - a sign it is kept. "I can have mental peace knowing she is loved and treasured," she told us. One of the most important things she told us was that compared to her other children, the one recieving aid from EAC speaks reason and has clear thoughts - a sign she is developing critical thinking skills. EAC has also assisted the family when rain caused their home to collapse. This month when a few teenage boys from Dallas come, Nick and I hope to assist. As with Teddy, we asked where the family would be without EAC. She said, "I would be back in the village. Farming would be the only hope. I would have started a new life. The children would have dropped out of school."

I'm not sure I will have Internet connection this weekend so expect a few updates on Monday regarding Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Then, I will be all caught up. Also, if you see my Grandma in the next few days make sure to tell her Happy Birthday!

- Feldman

Saturday and Sunday were spectacular days full of celebration and wonderful conversations. On Saturday, we attended the graduation celebration of one of EAC’s scholarship students, Teddy. Nick and I walked the street near our residence that morning to find a gift and came with a bouquet of flowers. Going from vendor to vendor was fun and allowed us to soak in the city.

The graduation event was festive. Red and white cloth, the colors of the university Teddy graduated from in San Antonio, draped the home and the tent where the party took place. Rows of chairs were set up. Despite arriving late, the event had yet to start. In fact, the priest who would be conducting a mass as part of the ceremony had yet to arrive. Betty was seated next to me. She giggled and said, “You see nothing ever starts on time!” When the priest arrived, a beautiful service began. I could not understand the words because it was spoken in Luganda; however, the energy and spirituality of the prayer was contagious. I did not have to be the same religion or comprehend the words to be moved by the upbeat prayer music and how thankful everyone in the crowd was for Teddy’s success. For me, the most powerful moment was when Teddy’s mom bestowed a prayer on her daughter. I was reminded of important ceremonies such as my Bar Mitzvah when my proud parents bestowed a prayer upon me. We live halfway around the world from each other, but the vibes sent by parents are the same.

In the second part of the ceremony, several of the important people in Teddy’s life spoke. One particularly humorous moment occurred when Teddy’s sister, Rebecca, was speaking. I did not understand the language so throughout the ceremony I stood up and clapped when others did. During Rebecca’s speech, I clapped and then realized everyone was looking at me. Everyone began to laugh. She was talking about Nick and I!

Soon after, Betty whispered in my ear, “Teddy wants you to come sit at the head table with us.” While I was proud of Teddy and excited to be a guest, I was embarrassed by the notion of sitting at the head table because so many important people in Teddy’s life were in attendance. Agnes explained to me that I should not have these feelings because this was custom to honor guests. Teddy delivered an emotional and touching speech explaining to everyone where she had been during the past few years.

After an impressive dance performance by two boys and a modeling show by two girls including Teddy’s niece, dinner, traditional Ugandan food, was served. Again, I loved the taste of the food; however, there was also something crunchy in the rice. I said to Agnes,

“What is the crunchy ingredient is in the rice? I think it was in the rice I had yesterday too.”

She responded, “Oh. Really? What is the texture?”

I said, “Sort of like a rock.”

She smiled and laughed, “Ya that’s what it is. We don’t have the equipment to purify. You can just take it out.”

I spit it out , showed it to her and she said, “Yep. Rock.” I thought that was very funny.

The night was just beginning. After Teddy received gifts from her friends and family, the cake was cut and dancing began. It was so much fun dancing with the children and the people from EAC. At 10, we departed. We had arrived at 3.

On Sunday, we went with Agnes and Rose to a country club owned by one of their friend's family located outside of Kampala. The area was beautiful and lush. We saw all types of trees including an avocado - one of my favorite things! Everyone we met during are long meal was friendly and important too. One of the men we met was the Prime Minister for the biggest tribe in Uganda. He was so humble, and I feel honored to have been at a table with him. One of the exciting parts of the meal was eating a whole fish for the first time. I was more experiemental than Nick because I tried the gill of the fish, which was very crunchy and had little taste. The day ended with us drinking a nice hot cup of tea with lemon grass at Agnes' home. The lemon grass adds wonderful flavor!

The Bottom Line: Ugandan hospitality far surpasses even “Southern hospitality” when it comes to making guests feel welcome.

- Feldman

In the Presence of Royalty (Pt. 2)

Wednesday was a busy, productive day for MF and I. After a fun night listening to a local jazz band and laughing with Aggie and Betty, it was time to get back to business.

Alex and Teddy took us to an orpanage about 45 minutes outside of town. We met the founder of the orphanage, Auntie Penny (Auntie and Uncle is used as a respectful term of endearment). She introduced us to four of the students, Charles, Susan, Beatrice, and Mugisha. The rest of the students were off to school for the day. They were neatly dressed in their pressed, cotton blue uniforms. We were greeted by their shining, bright smiles and shown around the orphanage. Their rooms were spotless with tightly made beds and dustless floors. Each bed had a personality trait that reflected its sleeper. We asked if they were required to clean their rooms daily, and Auntie Penny said that they did it on their own without being told to do so. I'm sure my parents and roommates would appreciate that! Auntie Penny went on to tell us that the orphans were usually found on the streets or in the back allies. The orphanage became a home for them to recieve help, food, a safe place to stay, and a community of friends and support.

After we looked around the orphanage, the 4 students gathered around as we started to ask questions. They politely went to go get chairs for us to sit in, and then one-by-one they came before us to speak. They told us how much the orphanage meant to them and that even though sometimes they missed the freedom of the streets, they knew the value of education, and understood that the orphange was a place of refuge and support. They loved school and were trying to seek leadership positions in their classes. With the World Cup right around the corner, they are anxious to begin watching and rooting on their favorite football teams. They told us that they wanted to go on to University to become 2 doctors, an accountant, and a judge. The wierd thing is, when they were talking to us, I felt as if they themselves were being held in front of a judge. With us sitting in high chairs, and them before us, I had an uneasy feeling. I turned to Michael and whispered, "This doesn't feel right." At one point, one girl was literally on her knees as she spoke. When she talked about how she didn't know where her family was or if they were still alive , she began to softly whisper as small tears rolled down her cheek. Teddy reached out to her and hugged her. She briefly told them that she too used to be an orphan and she understood their situations. She encouraged them to work hard and to do whatever it takes to get a strong education. "It's your ticket out, your way to go back to your communities and help your families." The kids began to smile at Teddy's wise words and gentle smile. With that, I could no longer "sit above" these wonderful students. I said, "You all take our chairs. We can sit on the floor! You guys are kings and queens, and we are your guests! Come sit on your throne!" All the kids thought we were crazy as Michael, Teddy, and I moved out of our chairs and sat on the hot, dusty concrete. They reluctantly sat down, but soon began to gleam in their newfound thrones, as if they were wearing golden crowns and royal cloaks. It was such a great feeling!

Later they sang two songs, we danced, and decided to become pen pals. I can't wait to begin writing them and seeing how they are doing. Right as we began to say goodbye, Michael nudged me and reminded me that Charles didn't have shoes that fit on. He had the brilliant suggestion that we buy him a new pair of shoes. We asked Auntie Penny how much it would cost, and she said 30,000 USX, a mere $15. We reached into our pockets and gave enough. Auntie Penny called Charles over, and told him that he would be getting new shoes soon. You should've seen the smile on his face. Teddy grabbed a piece of notebook paper and a pen. Charles put his foot on the piece of notebook as Teddy traced the figure of his foot to show the shoe dealer. Charles inspected it, and approved. On that sheet of paper lay the makings of his new pair of shoes... shoes fit for a king.

-Nick




Simon, Michael, Alex, on top of Marimbe Hill, where you can see beautiful views of Kampala.

Nick dancing with Susan and Beatrice Susan, Beatrice, Nick, Charles, Michael, Mugisha


View from the orphanage. It was such a nice day!

In the Presence of Royalty (Pt 1)

On Sunday, Michael and I hung out with Aggie and Rose for the day. We went out to meet a friend of the EAC family, Jonathan. Jonathan is quite a funny guy. He had many clever remarks and hilarious stories of his neighbors and friends. His family owns an area of land that houses a beautiful country club. The 4 of us decided to sit at a large table outside and went in to grab our buffet plates. In the middle of lunch, we were joined by a couple that was fancily dressed. Soon, Jonathan's mother introduced us to them as one of the prime ministers of the Buganda tribe, an ancient group that owned much of the land that Kampala sits upon. Though they don't have any appointed power, they still hold much influence within Ugandan society. They were so friendly and talked with us about their families. It was such an honor to be seated next to them. In the end, the wife invited Mike and I to come to visit their place of entertainment! Should be exciting!

After, we ate our buffet plates, Jonathan's mother urged us to try their tilapia. I love fish, so I was quick to accept her offer. I'm so glad I did. Ah, it was soooo good. MF and I ate it together with homeade spicy chili sauce. It gave my beloved Tabasco a run for its money! Delcious! You can see pictures below of the scrumptious delight.

We began our first week at the office. Mike and I began with a meeting with Aggie, program manager to understand all the services that EAC provides from an administrative stance. EAC is amazing! They provide not only a quality education, but also holistic care (medicine, food, shelter, counseling, transportation, etc) and relationships that go beyond the norm. Mike and I are so blessed to be in the company of such great people. We interviewed Teddy and another EAC student's mother at her house. The house visit was touching. She lived in the slums of Kampala beneath a rocky hill. Her square brick house had many holes that leaked the remnants of the day's earlier rainfall onto the walls and floors. She pushed back sheets that served as doors and welcomed us to sit down in her cozy living room. She spoke Luganda, so Alex translated for us. We asked her about how EAC helped her. She told us how her daughter was the star of the family and gave everyone hope because she was able to go to school and have her basic needs. But, even beyond an education, EAC helped her when her house fell, when she found out about her HIV/AIDS diagnosis, and is currently helping her to construct a kitchen and a new toilet in the backyard. We toured her house as she explained how her children sleep 5 to a room in 2 beds on top of chicken cages beneath. Despite all of her trials, when we left, she had a gift of bananas to give to us. MF and I were astonished at her generosity in times of what we considered to be despair. But, then, before we left, she told us that happiness is not always what you have, but it's what you are able to see. It's the possibility of something better in the future. And, because of EAC, she had hope for a bright future for her family and for her community. She was happy. I went to her house thinking I'd learn more about EAC, but I ended up learning more about the true meaning of happiness.

BEFORE : YUM AFTER: DOMINATION

-Nick