Uganda Global May

My STEP Signature Project allowed me to travel to Uganda, a country in the heart of Africa. Over the course of a month, my group and I traveled to many regions of Uganda, interacted with locals, and learned the history of Uganda along with its major challenges. We also were able to stay with a host family for some of the time in Uganda. This trip allowed me to live as a Ugandan for a month.

I have always had a love for travel, which is what initially spurred my interest in this study abroad. But this experience turned out to be so much more for me than just a travel opportunity. I learned so much about myself while also making lifelong friends and meeting influential people. One of the hardest ideas for me to wrap my head around in Uganda is the aspect of “culture”. My understanding of culture before traveling revolved around singing, dancing, and language. But, culture in Uganda is so much more than this.

Ugandan culture involves beliefs, practices, and even people’s actions. For example, in my home stay, the house maids would kneel before entering the TV room. This made me uncomfortable and guilty at first, but then it was explained to me that this is their culture. The house maids want to kneel because it is a sign of respect in their culture. Little actions like this made me realize that just because I grew up doing things differently than Ugandans, does not mean the way Ugandans live is wrong. It is not wrong for the maids to show their respect in this way, it is just different than what I have learned is “right”.  The way we live as Americans is not the right way to live, it is just the lifestyle we have developed. This interaction reminds me to not judge others because there is no correct way to live.

Another understanding I have gained about myself is that I am more adaptable than I thought. Before traveling to Uganda, I had people asking me left and right, “why Uganda?” This question began to make me question my decision and fear that I could not handle African lifestyle. I was scared of bugs, food, and bathing. But none of these things seemed to pose a problem to me while in country. For bugs, I wore bug spray and actually, I get more mosquito bites in America than I did in Uganda. For food, I made sure I was open to trying new cuisines and surprisingly loved it! As for bathing, I quickly learned how to shower with a bucket and learned that it saves a lot of water. Ugandan lifestyle is not as different from America’s as I expected. They bathe, they eat, they laugh and are happy with their lives. I thought the outdoors and foreign people would make adapting to changes challenging, but this trip has shown me that I am stronger and more flexible than I thought.

The main events that made me realize new things about myself is my homestay. I was very nervous about staying in a strange house and feeling uncomfortable there. It also did not help that 10 minutes before meeting my house family, I got sick. But my host mom, Gertrude, gave me the warmest hug upon first meeting and made me feel at home immediately. Our first night together she brought me tea for my sick stomach and checked on me frequently. For the remaining nine days, I played with my two younger siblings, Elijah and Martin, and watched soap operas with my host sister, Carol.

Living with my Ugandan family made me grateful for the small luxuries I take for granted in the US. Praying before meals reminded me to be thankful for my food. Speaking with my sister about Uganda’s impression on America made me realize I need to get involved in social movements to help America make an impact all over the world. Playing with my siblings made me remember that I don’t need a TV and a computer to have fun.  My homestay was an amazing look into how people live around the world.

Another amazing opportunity given to my group was visiting a high school in Uganda and speaking with them about sexual reproduction. Sexual education is illegal in schools in Uganda because they do not want their youth to know about sex until marriage. But the lack of education leads to women having too many children, which then leads to poverty and hunger for the family and the country. Being able to talk to these students and answer their questions was an amazing feeling. I felt like I was making a difference in these student’s lives. We encouraged them to finish their education, wait to have sex or practice protected sex, and taught them Ohio State chants. This interaction made me grateful for my education, which is something I often take for granted. My parents sacrifice a lot to send me to the best schools, and I often forget to thank them for it. I see school as a burden at times when it is a privilege.

Some lasting messages I took from this trip is that Africa is not some hungry, barren place. I had an amazing and relaxing time in country and saw beautiful foliage and waterfalls. People live happy, full lives in Uganda and it is important for Americans to not forget about them or stereotype. It is not just a spot for service, but it is also beautiful land with remarkable people. Another message I hope to never forget is to stay grateful for my life and to not complain as much. I hope to catch myself before I begin complaining about how my phone dies too fast or how my car is scratched. These things are small inconveniences and my concerns should be devoted elsewhere.

I encourage everyone who has the opportunity to travel anywhere, not just Uganda, to go. Every time I travel, I widen my perspective more and more. Seeing and experiencing new cultures has made me a more understanding and well-rounded person. So now when people ask me “why Uganda?” I finally have an answer. It is an amazing country with a rich history and kind hearted people who welcome you into their home. It is a country that is growing and deserves our help when they ask for it. It is a country where I made life long relationships and it is my home away from home.