We have been in Bundibugyo for four weeks now. Slowly we are getting comfortable with our schedules and slowly we are learning more about this culture and the way this place functions. As we see and experience and ask questions, we realize that there is so much new to us. New language, new way that people interact, new way of “banking,” new foods, and probably more than I haven’t even processed.
I’ll start with language - lubwisi is spoken here, by the bubwisi people. Ike and I are doing language lessons with our friend Clovis (who also works for the nutrition program and as a night guard on our compound). Interestingly there is a phrase that means “sorry” and “slowly slowly,” it is “bouquet bouquet.” We have learned greetings, numbers and some foods so far. Greeting is so very important here. Technically when visiting someone the greeting occurs once you are seated however it is used anytime you pass by a new person and most people here are so pleased to hear us greet them in Lubwisi. Language seems much more essential for me (Jessie) to get comfortable with since I am interacting more often with women at the nutrition program and the hospital who do not speak English. For now, There is an interpreter with us at the program and hospital.
Often as Ike and I walk down the streets, small children will yell “Hi, how are you?!” With such enthusiasm because they likely just learned this phrase in primary school. And often the even smaller children just yell “Mzungu” and wave and jump up and down - or turn that word into a song like “ma-zoon-gu ma-zoon-gu” ... have you inferred what it means yet??? Yeah, white person. And then of course there have been the few times when we are in markets or at restaurants and we hear “welcome doctors!” ...because all white people are doctors, right? I can’t blame them because there have been white doctors here since the early 90’s (from our organization and from France’s version of Doctors Without Borders).
A bit on “banking” here - we are learning that interdependence is most Ugandans method of banking. You have a big bill arise, you go to your family member or closest friend and ask for their help because if they were in need and you had the money to help, you’d do it for them or maybe they should help you now because you have helped them before and real friends depend on each other even in financial matters. This sounds so foreign and so intrusive to Americans - we prefer to keep money and friendships very separate and that is often because it could “ruin” the friendship. But here, giving/sharing money in times of need is seen almost as confirming the friendship is real and genuine. Plop a mission compound with white people (obviously perceived as having money) in a small interdependent rural town in Uganda and you get one sided dependence. Thankfully our team has a rule of not giving in the first 6 months in the field. Mainly because there will be so many asks and it is hard to tell who is in need and also because the first asks are often the same folks that have become dependent on the mission in an unhealthy way. This is not to say that the dependence is wrong but it does make us feel a bit better about having time to discern and learn before we make decisions to give when asked. Pray for that discernment for us.
Ok enough heavy things - more on life here in picture form.
I’ll start with language - lubwisi is spoken here, by the bubwisi people. Ike and I are doing language lessons with our friend Clovis (who also works for the nutrition program and as a night guard on our compound). Interestingly there is a phrase that means “sorry” and “slowly slowly,” it is “bouquet bouquet.” We have learned greetings, numbers and some foods so far. Greeting is so very important here. Technically when visiting someone the greeting occurs once you are seated however it is used anytime you pass by a new person and most people here are so pleased to hear us greet them in Lubwisi. Language seems much more essential for me (Jessie) to get comfortable with since I am interacting more often with women at the nutrition program and the hospital who do not speak English. For now, There is an interpreter with us at the program and hospital.
Often as Ike and I walk down the streets, small children will yell “Hi, how are you?!” With such enthusiasm because they likely just learned this phrase in primary school. And often the even smaller children just yell “Mzungu” and wave and jump up and down - or turn that word into a song like “ma-zoon-gu ma-zoon-gu” ... have you inferred what it means yet??? Yeah, white person. And then of course there have been the few times when we are in markets or at restaurants and we hear “welcome doctors!” ...because all white people are doctors, right? I can’t blame them because there have been white doctors here since the early 90’s (from our organization and from France’s version of Doctors Without Borders).
A bit on “banking” here - we are learning that interdependence is most Ugandans method of banking. You have a big bill arise, you go to your family member or closest friend and ask for their help because if they were in need and you had the money to help, you’d do it for them or maybe they should help you now because you have helped them before and real friends depend on each other even in financial matters. This sounds so foreign and so intrusive to Americans - we prefer to keep money and friendships very separate and that is often because it could “ruin” the friendship. But here, giving/sharing money in times of need is seen almost as confirming the friendship is real and genuine. Plop a mission compound with white people (obviously perceived as having money) in a small interdependent rural town in Uganda and you get one sided dependence. Thankfully our team has a rule of not giving in the first 6 months in the field. Mainly because there will be so many asks and it is hard to tell who is in need and also because the first asks are often the same folks that have become dependent on the mission in an unhealthy way. This is not to say that the dependence is wrong but it does make us feel a bit better about having time to discern and learn before we make decisions to give when asked. Pray for that discernment for us.
Ok enough heavy things - more on life here in picture form.
This sweet child’s mother passed away a week before we saw her. Her grandmother is taking care of her now and was able to start re-lactating to feed her!
We took a risk and tried a place that serves pork on saturdays. With cabbage on top and matoke in the peel on the right. So far (3 hours later as I type) so good.
This 5 year old boy came to the nutrition program 2.5 weeks ago with severe edema, lethargic, and no appetite. After two weeks in the hospital, he happily upgraded to peanut butter sachets and was discharged home - no edema, smiling when I flirted with them, walking on his own. We will continue to see him weekly until he graduates out of moderate malnutrition territory. Our area director, Dr. Jennifer Myhre, calls treating severe malnutrition “slow motion resurrection” because kids slowly come back to life after being so close to death - I think that phrase is so fitting.
The market in Fort Portal... that ground nut paste tricked my eyes for a split second I thought it was chocolate ice cream...
A week ago we travelled to Fort Portal to restock our nutrition supplies... somehow we got over 1,500lb of supplies in the car and back around the mountains with no issues! And now we are fully stocked at the hospital!
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