“All these problems just disappear because I have other things in my mind now.”

I know, I know, I haven’t updated in a month and a half. I could try to update you, in-depth, on everything that’s happened between then and now, but we just don’t have that kind of space here. So take these quick briefings along with a sincere apology. The bulk of this post is about the incredibly educational experience I had in a small village in Awach sub-county.

I started volunteering for the Pincer Group International, Ltd. They have a GREAT team, both in Gulu and Kampala. They’re basically a research think-tank. Jay and I were working on transcribing their focus group interviews and analyzing the data. Though we aren’t necessarily qualified or trained in analyzing data, our insights were earnestly offered as a possible fresh perspective to the situation. Though I learned a lot from this work, I soon realized it was distracting my from my research and other projects and that I needed to take a break from it. I haven’t been working there for a week or so now, and I’ve felt extremely freed up.

The cartoon project is well underway. We had a meeting with everyone a couple of weeks ago, and we all agreed on the need for a deadline. We are now working on producing the first cartoon, which will then be published and presented to organizations (along with the concept paper I’m writing) that could possibly provide funding. I’m REALLY excited to see this project continue. There’s so many steps it could go through, it could honestly keep me busy for several years. Major funding anyone? Job after college? Possibilities....

Speaking of time after college, in building my schedule for next semester, I discovered that I could graduate by May if I build my schedule correctly. (Which means I graduate on time!!!!!) I’ll take 18 hours this semester, pray that I can fit in my last gen ed requirement next semester and then fill in the rest of my distribution requirements while writing my thesis! After that I’ll..... come back here to find a job? Work on the cartoon project?

There’s a possibility I could come back here with a group of UT students. While Dr. Hackett and Dr. Hepner were here, they got things started for a summer program at Gulu University for UT students. Around 12 students would come over, go through an intensive 2 week course at the university with various, top-notch professors. Then the students will volunteer with various organizations for four weeks. The idea is international service-learning. They will be working in areas pertaining to their respective majors, offering the help they can, and learning a great deal from the experience. I had considered applying as a student, but I’ll be graduated by then, so maybe there would be an opportunity as a group leader? We’ll see. Right now, though, I’m pretty sure I’ll come back here to get a job for a year or two before I go to grad school. I don’t feel like I’ll be ready to go to grad school as soon as I get my Bachelor’s. I don’t know what I’d study. Plus, working abroad for a few years could give me the upper hand on the whole application process.

The UT/GU meetings were only one small part of the Profs’ visit. We also met with Dr. Betty Udongo, Tom and Milton from Pincer, all of the GU staff, and the Anglican Bishop. We can’t forget the great trip we had to Kitgum to visit Bishop Ochola or the meeting we had with Norbert Mao, LC V Chairman for Gulu District and 2011 Presidential Candidate. It was quite a busy week, to say the least. It all just seems to be a fast-forwarding blur in my head of meetings and dinners and car rides in the small backseat with everyone’s stuff. But we got a lot accomplished and came away with a new focus on our projects and new angles to research.

We’ve been learning Luo lately, and it’s going surprisingly well. If I just study my vocab more intensely, I could actually hold a conversation with someone. We’re driving our friends nuts because we’re constantly stumbling over pronunciations and verb tenses trying to talk to them. Or, they say something and we immediately ask them what they said and how to say it. Their patience so far has been remarkable, which is great because we need to practice to be fluent. I’m just imagine one day putting on my resume, can speak fluent English, Luo, and conversational French :)

For the important part of my trip for now, the research is trucking along. I met with a girl at the cultural institution and she’s making a meeting for me with the Paramount Chief. I’ve also been talking with a close friend of JfJ, George Piwang, who has his hand in some cultural revival programs. Recently, I went to a village in a sub-county of Gulu District and conducted some really interesting interviews. The villagers had almost all been abducted at some point, and now they have returned to this village and formed this dance group from their own initiative. When asked how the dance makes them feel, every participant responded with something along the lines of the title of this post. Everyone felt that they forgot their trauma while they danced and interacted with others in their village.

Everyone was really great and participatory. I was warmly welcomed. But I left with a feeling of guilt because everyone put more hope in my ability to help them than I could explain away. No matter how many times you say that you are simply a powerless university student, you are from the outside. And that means that people outside their village know that they are there and suffering. And that knowledge brings with it a certain expectation. How am I supposed to stand in front of a group of 30 people and explain to them that I actually don’t have the power or the money to bring them to U.S.? That I probably can’t rally the support or funds at home to pay for the orphans’ education? How do you answer those questions?

I need to go to other villages that have had something to do with cultural revival programs because their opinions are invaluable. Their opinions are the deciding factor for the results of the project and for the future of their community. But at the same time, I’m afraid because I don’t want to have to sidestep any more requests for visits to America. Because when this happens, I can literally see that so many people have placed so much hope in my visit, but only I know that that hope is misplaced. That I actually have very little power to help them out of their situation. That no matter how much I want to pay for their kids’ school fees, I know I can’t. But I have to go to other villages. I have to get more opinions. I need to document their existence in this entire web of post-conflict reconstruction that encompasses every aspect of life here.

Change of topic: I need to say APWOYO MATEK to my parents for sending me the care package!!! It arrived on time and in good condition. You should all copy their example and do the same :) Or you could just send me an email telling me about your life. I would really love to hear from you.

Other news: I now a master crafter of spiced African tea. Our house still has a lot of cockroaches and no water. Rainy seasons means it’s blazing hot all day and rains in the evening. We have some very mischievous, 3-foot tall peeping toms running around our compound. I have 4 months left, yet I feel my time is running short. We’re planning a trip to Rwanda soon to renew our 90 day visas, and we want to be tourists in that beautiful country. I need to brush up on my French. I miss chocolate chip cookies. Our friend is opening up a real café in town. I want to adopt one of our neighbor’s kittens. I’m sad I couldn’t watch the livestream of K’naan’s concert last night. His song, Wavin’ Flag is starting to be realllly popular here. It’s almost mango season, and it makes me really sad to see the mango tree they cut down outside our house to make room for the fence. I miss everyone at home.

Apwoyo matek. Wa nen!