The people of Uganda

Throughout my writing you may have noticed my frequent references to the kindness and hospitality of the Ugandan people. I really don’t know if I can communicate how wonderful they are. I grew up with two main cultures – the people of the American south, and the Hispanic community – both are incredibly generous, family oriented and so kind to others. But there’s something different about the people of Uganda – their hearts shine through their eyes and their hands as wave and welcome us into their lives. They know we come from a completely different world, but they have no animosity about our white skin, big bus and full wallets. There’s just something that touches them so deep in their souls when they see that we have come to their country. It gives them hope, value and honor. They are very proud of Uganda – very proud of the beauty of the land and the kindness of its people. They are also very proud of the progress they are making, especially the women. It’s so bizarre, it’s like for the first time in their lives they realize that someone other than the church is paying attention to them, and they are glad to be sharing everything with anyone who cares to let them.

A good concrete example of the friendliness is the greeting and introduction routine we have gone through a million times and will go through again as we meet each new person on the street or group of people at a center. In Uganda, there are 11 “pet names.” Four days after a child is born, the family holds a celebration to introduce the child to the community and give him his pet name in front of everybody. Each pet name means something different (I don’t have my list with me so I’ll just have to go from memory). Aboli, Atoki, Adreri, Apoli, Akiki, Amoti and the most common ones that I can remember. They mean everything from kitten and puppy to princess, king and queen. I believe I mentioned my name is Acaali (pronounced ah-cha-lee), which means dog, but there’s something else behind it because no one has the same name as me and I get great smiles and laughter when I introduce myself. I got the name because I noted how people in America people sometimes name their dogs Jake, and because of that country song “if I die before I wake, feed Jake.”

Anyway the point of all this silliness is how it builds community. Since there are only 11 names total, you immediately have something in common with someone in the community, instantly from the moment you are born. Most of the people go by and use the pet names instead of their regular names, and it’s so neat to see the people call each other just Aboli or Akiki.

So when you meet someone in Uganda, whether it is a small child or an elder, you say, “Ore ota,” which means “how are you/did you sleep well,” and the response is always “kurungi,” or “well.” Then you say “empako yawe” – “what is your pet name” (empako is the word for pet name). They tell them their name and they ask you yours, and then you finish with “ore ota Akiki” or whatever that person’s name is. It’s so simple, but from then on you have made a new friend.

Now since we are the “most welcome visitors”, we meet large groups of people and go through this routine one by one with 60 people a time. It is tedious but it is so wonderful and never gets old. Most of the people are just completely shocked that we know this, and laugh and even cheer at the introductions. I wish I could describe the look in their faces when they realize we have taken the time to not only establish pet names, but learn the introduction. They are just so honored. Anyone who speaks another language and has used it in another’s’ community knows a little bit about what I am saying. It is just an easy way to break down cultural barriers. Such a small gesture but such a big impact.

I wish we did this more often at home. Even though we have pet names it’s usually for one-on-one relationships, who give and receive the names amongst themselves, like a private joke, but here, it’s for everyone.

Since we are taking Rootro lessons we have learned quite a bit, and are able to get by with basic conversation. Even if we pronounce something wrong the people just cheer when we say hello, goodbye, thank you, etc.

As I said before, we are the most welcome visitors, and we are treated like royalty everywhere we go. This is very flattering, but to me it’s sometimes difficult because I see them as equal human beings, and try very hard to communicate with people around the world about the one-ness of everyone in the world. Even though I am “free, white and 21” as my parents say, I do not want that stigma attached to me here because I don’t want there to be such distance between the people we meet and our group. It’s not that they believe we are better than them, it’s more about wanting to show how honored they are for taking the time to be with them. They thank God every time for bringing us to them, thank both our governments for giving permission to travel back and forth between long distances, tell us they love them right after we meet them. One funny thing happened in the bush the other day…needless to say we take a lot of pictures, and this one teen-age girl said, “you guys really love Africans don’t you?” I said, “yes we do,” and she said, “good, we love you too.”

One thing I have to remind myself is that they probably don’t receive such a large group of Americans on a regular basis, (many of the people have never met a white person in their lives) so I guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet. Yes, if you can imagine it, for once in my life I don’t want to be the center of attention.