Stars and Stripes

With a backpack on my back filled with one change of clothes and drinking water and a live chicken in hand, I hopped on the back of a truck headed for the villiage in "the bush" of Africa. We got off the truck and walked to our destination: a compound surrounded by fields of crops and trees. There we met our new family Joseph and Kristine and their three little kids Rebecca, Alfred and Sara (pronounced with a rolled r). They welcomed us with much excitment as they showed us which hut they sleep in, eat in, and cook in. Kate and I were excited to begin cooking as we hadn't eaten all day. So we chopped fire wood and started 3 fires on the cround outside. With Kristine's instruction we learned the tricks of the trade in African cooking. We started cooking at around 6 and did not finish cooking until 10 (which is a pretty typical dinner time for an African).

A few days in the villiage will change your life. That night I killed the chicken that thought I was his friend. With only the moon to light the compound I cut the chickens neck with a dull knife, rolled it's body in hot water (to make the feathers pull out easier) plucked all of the feathers off, chopped him into smaller pieces, cut out all of the intestines.... and boiled him for what seemed a few hours.

Yes, then it was dinner time. Now let me tell you... I have never experienced a dinner at someones home that made me feel more welcome. Not only was cooking a huge meal like this out of the ordinary... but very special. We ate rice, beans, posho, cabbage, vegetables, potatoes and chicken. Rice is very expensive so it was a real treat that they would prepare rice and posho for us. Then off to bed. We brought a little tent and tried to sleep. I thought Africa would be a quiet and serene place... not true. The sounds of night are unreal. Lots of cattle right next to our tent... crickets, hens, snakes... you can probably imagine knowing how little noise a tent can drown out.

That night I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw a sky like nothing else I had ever seen. Stars that popped out of the blackest night. No city lights to dull the stars.... it was a sight. The next day was filled with daily chores. We walked for a mile or so to get water and carried it back on our heads. (we wanted to get the full affect). We prepared a huge lunch, washed dishes, peeled casava (looks like a potato, they grow it on their property) and were covered in dirt from head to toe. It was awesome. I will never forget life in the villiage... or how good a shower felt once we were back in Soroti.

So it's almost July... that means fireworks, stars and stripes.. right? haha. Well for the few Americans in Uganda we will be having a get together in Mbale to celebrate America's independance. Mbale is only about an hour away and where some friends of ours live. Wierd to say it's already going to be July that means three weeks.... crazy.

SO on the fourth eat an extra hotdog with lots of ketchup for me! We'll be celebrating on the other side of the world.

Kelsey Joy