Dear David Montieth,

In honor of your addiction to books and to the beautiful gift you gave me and all of our classmates before we left for all corners the earth, I brought the books of poems you gave me along to Uganda. I have been marking my favorites and reading the poetry on my balcony looking overlooking Kampala is one of my favorite pastimes. I plan to share my favorites on my blog as I go.

I believe the first one that I will share is also one of your favorites...

"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field. I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other

doesn't make sense."

- Rumi

So I am pretty sure Rumi wrote this poem about our IPSPs. I mean I am sure he could foresee the Clinton School being established and its curriculum way back in the 13th century in Persia.

In an effort to add some kumbayah to my blog and life, I will try to share my thoughts and maybe even my feelings about it. Ryan Olson has spoken of interconnectedness many times and in the Class 4 graduation video, the beautiful Spirit Trickey said that when she returned from South Africa she had a better understanding and grasp of the interconnectedness of all people across the world.

I understood the concept. Duh, we are all humans, we all struggle in our own ways, and we are all equal. Check.

Yeah so I think I might have a different understanding or perception of this concept now. 

I know I have only been here two weeks and have a long way to go. But the differences in the lives of Ugandans from the life I am familiar and comfortable with is not definable, the closest word is opposite. I feel like an alien at times, my blue eyes, light skin, and loud accented English cause me to stand out, but I was expecting that. What I wasn't expecting as much, is the kindness of the people. They are kind even though they have nothing in American measures.

I am starting to feel more at home as I walk on the streets along with the vendors and boda bodas, along with the chickens and goats, along with the dirt and trash. I am starting to feel this way because of the people, their smiles, lingering handshakes, and quiet speech. How they are so curious how I feel about their country. I am starting to feel that although I have a car, iPod, laptop, and all the American "necessities", I might not be so different from the woman living in a one room shanty with her three children who has never been on the internet and will never leave her home country of Uganda.

I think this feeling will strengthen as I move from prison to prison in the coming weeks, meeting with people in prison, and hear their stories and their needs. Those conversations will not only be heart breaking, but also enlightening and maybe even uplifting.

There is my dose of kumbayah for the day, or even the week.

Sincerely and with love from Uganda,

Julie

It's Martyrs Day...

So we went to the Uganda Museum!

I should probably take a second to explain what Martyrs Day is and why it is being celebrated. My understanding, which comes from online sources and bits and pieces that Ugandans have shared, is that today is the day Ugandans honor the Christian missionaries who were killed while spreading the word of Christianity in Uganda. There were large celebrations in Kampala, but word on the street is large celebrations come with large number of police and the possibility of violence, and Joe says to stay away from potential riot situations.

So instead I went the safe route and went to the museum. Jonathan joined me. I like bringing him along for many reasons, first being that he is great company and second being that having a Ugandan companion brings a sense of security.

I had very low expectations for the museum, and those low expectations were definitely not exceeded. As I wandered through the not so tidy, not so organized, not so museumy museum, Jonathan kept lagging behind and I had no idea why. I turned around and he was making a video on his cell phone of everything! I mean everything! And let me tell you the museum was not worth documenting. I kept asking him why he was recording everything, and finally put it together. He had never been in a museum before, this was his first time. I just took for granted the fact that most Americans have been to many museums.

So I made the best of it. Taught Jonathan about the amazingness that are star jump pictures and had a good time! The best part was the huts from the different areas of Uganda!

"It's Uganda, chill."

These are the wise words of Lindsey, or as they call her here Kukunda. (People often refer to each other by their surname, but the Brits and the Ugandans seem to struggle with Meyer, so they seem to be sticking with Julie.)


Lindsey moved to Kampala as a teenager and explained to me how amazing it was to be in high school and not worry about bullies, or being teased, or some of the social abuses most go through. What you wear here doesn't matter and you won't be made fun of if you don't have enough money to pay school dues, instead everyone chips in to help.

Lindsey was basically trying to tell me to stop sweating the small stuff because in Uganda the small stuff just doesn't matter. This seems simple enough, but I am not sure what is small and what is not, considering that small stuff in Uganda and small stuff in America must be different.


Even if I am unable to identify the small things, I can confidently say that I can identify the big things that I should worry about, the things Ugandans worry about. Kindness, and security. Respecting those who have earned it. Not wasting, but reusing. Family. And making the most out of the little they have.

So while in Uganda, do as Ugandans do.

Its a goat.

Yes. That is a goat. On a guy's back.
On a bicycle, in the city.

I wish I could say I took the picture, but I did not. Olive, the APP financial officer, received it in an email.

Oh Uganda.

Don't get me wrong...

I love it here. And am having a great experience and am anxiously awaiting the coming weeks which will involve visiting with people involved at all levels of the prison system here in Uganda and in Kenya. APP is great. The people here are great. But I think I am starting to miss a few things...

My Clinton School People
Yes, you. During my first year at the Clinton School, my life literally revolved around school, but more importantly those at the school. My classmates became more than my classmates, but my friends, colleagues, and family. Now I find myself in a novel country with people who are kind and beautiful, but do not know me or the experiences I have had in the last year. I find myself explaining everything. I definitely take for granted inside jokes and ongoing stories and the social routines of the Clinton School.

Working Out
So I can't exactly go on a job in Kampala. Trust me, it wouldn't really work out so well. I would probably sprain my ankle in a pothole. Or the streets would be too crowded with people to navigate. Or I would be run over by a matatu or boda boda because I looked right instead of left. I haven't worked out in weeks and I'm going crazy. I feel like Erin O'Leary right before Becca kicks her out of the house because she needs to go on a jog!

Feeling Busy
At school, I always felt busy or a sense of urgency, knowing that there was something to plan or an email to respond to or a meeting to attend. Africa time is alot different from Clinton School time. Emails are not a priority. I have to call to schedule appointments, which is unheard of in the states. Meetings run late. People walk slowly. No one is rushed. And yes there are nice elements to this, but I am having a difficult time adjusting...

More to come. Trying not to dwell, but it seems as though today is my first "I miss home" day. I might need to watch some American television via casttv.com to make me feel better...

Meet Levi

I feel like I must introduce everyone to the Ugandan cast!

This is Levi! He doesn't usually wear a British judge's outfit that I think looks like a Santa Clause costume, but he was nice enough to humor us by putting one on! (The outfit is in the house because it was used in a play put on by death row inmates!)

Levi goes to school in Kampala and works on the grounds of the APP house, meaning that he guards the gate, runs errands, cares for the rabbits and dogs, and puts up with Alexander's daily lessons and quizzes.

Luzira Women's Prison

Yesterday I went along with Bea, an APP staff member, to solidify plans for a knitting course at the Luzira Women's Prison. It was my first real glimpse of how APP's relationship with prison staff works.

The dynamics of working in a prison is interesting anywhere, but when in a foreign country, you not only have to navigate the hierarchy and strict structure of prison, you must navigate the novel culture. In Uganda, prisons are run by the military. The guards live on the grounds in very modest conditions, wear military uniforms, and are trained in a military fashion.

The hierarchy in prisons is very strong and the word of your superior is very strong. Therefore, nothing can be accomplished without permission from those at the top of the hierarchy, which can be difficult to obtain.

Additionally, we are working in Africa where it seems as though things move at a slower pace with less assistance from emails. It can be quite frustrating and very trying.

Nonetheless, APP has accomplished great things in Ugandan prisons and continue to bring meaningful programs and resources to inmates. The knitting class is off to a great start. The women were enthusiastic and excited at the prospect of learning to knit, creating useful and possibly sellable goods, and learning a skill that may be helpful after they are released. Their energy was encouraging and their smiles contagious.