Shifting Gears

I've been a little MIA on the entry front--sorry about that-- for those of you who actually check this from time to time... (Mom) haha

Things are rolling along—in more ways than one. For starters, I bought a bicycle last Saturday. It is a “Katakura Silk” brand steel frame, probably from the early 80s, with hybrid tires and straight handlebars (I was pushing to find dropped, but my options were highly limited.) I bought the bike for the equivalent of about $100, and rode it home through the overcrowded, polluted, chaotic streets, grinning giddily like a 10-year-old on Christmas morning—equally terrified as I envisioned flying through the air, helmetless after an unfortunate meeting with a matatu (taxi bus) or boda-boda. I managed to make it to the main dirt road to my place, where locals gawked, visibly (and audibly) reacting to seeing a muzungu—a female muzungu no less—riding a bicycle, in a skirt, through their neighborhood.

Though it’s still annoying to be constantly stared at, I somewhat enjoy upsetting the local balance in terms of what a female should or shouldn’t be doing—even if they think they are laughing at me, instead of with me, I can pretend, right? There's a good story coming along those lines from yesterday... involving me changing into soccer gear in a sport club's urinal at the national stadium... stay tuned.

I’ve been venturing out of my comfort zone more and more. Meeting up with locals to go out dancing, playing soccer at the airstrip with all boys, haggling down to the last 500 shillings at local markets. I’m using my fragmented Luganda to impress the occasional boda guy or merchant.  The children of neighbors in my building keep walking in the apartment when I forget to lock my door, squealing and running around, then I have a hard time getting them to leave. The kids here go crazy when a muzungu pays attention and plays with them. I went for a run through a rural village last weekend and started a game peek-a-boo-style by running behind some shacks then stopping to hide as the throng of kids thought they were gaining on me. I surprised them as they came around the corner, and a couple stopped in their tracks, frozen instantly in shock and fear, then realized I was playing with them, started  hysterically laughing and screaming, which resulted in about 30 children chasing behind me through the village as I continued on my run, and the adults watched, bemused. 

I went to my supervisor’s house last Sunday to organize a facial party. It was nice to be presenting my Mary Kay products and doing something I used to do regularly at home. I ended up selling almost all of the skincare products I brought with me to Uganda. It makes me wish I had brought more. I’m still trying to figure out how to build the perfect life, which for me could entail being in Portland during the late Spring, Summer, early Fall, then running away to somewhere sunny and beautiful for the rest of the year. Sales allow certain flexibility as it can be done remotely, or moved to new markets then maintained. I'm now trying to figure out how to get more product here. 

I just got completely distracted while trying to finish this post reading back-n-forth commentary on the new Kony 2012 campaign being publicized by Invisible Children via Youtube and Facebook.  The video and a critique embedded here...  And another critique...  And another response to the critiquing. 

This is something along the same theme of what I’ve been noticing and thinking about while living here. There are a lot of nonprofits and NGOs in place that seem to mainly breed dependency, and perpetuate the need for aide. If these deeply imbedded problems ceased to exist—such as lack of access to education, water, food security and basic human rights—these organizations would also cease to exist.  Their employees would cease to be able to pat themselves on the back for changing the world, and make inflated Western salaries while living abroad... and I wouldn’t have such a huge potential market of muzungu women, with money to burn, to sell skincare and make-up to at Western prices.

That being said, I don’t think sitting around and complaining is a solution; nor is choosing to be overwhelmed by the problem, or refusing to support nonprofits based on "principle" or lack of clarity about their entire financial distribution scheme.  Is it better for these organizations to spread awareness and intent to mitigate horrific situations than do nothing?  No question.  Can we demand transparency and clarity of their finances so donations and expenses are better managed? Of course.  But at least modern media allows the ability for a full circle conversation about these issues.  As long as those of my generation choose action over apathy--which is something I wrestle with as well.

We as humans have a responsibility to help others and contribute to bettering our world.  For some that means protecting their family, making a good living at their day job, providing food and shelter and love to their children.  Others use their careers as a means to propel change, petitioning governments to protect the environment, drafting legislation to improve healthcare, or teaching children to read and write in poor neighborhoods….

I certainly feel I should be doing something to help others, and feel completely uninformed and ignorant about the multifarious political and social problems in Uganda, as well as in the rest of the world.  I think fear is a big part of what prevents me, and others, from making more of a difference. It's overwhelming, and difficult to know where to start. 

So it's easy to criticise the inefficiencies of others, but I wonder if we should take a look at the individuals' behind the pointed fingers.... myself included.