{"id":59,"date":"2017-08-01T07:18:50","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T07:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/?p=59"},"modified":"2017-08-01T07:18:50","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T07:18:50","slug":"a-letter-to-my-thirty-year-old-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/2017\/08\/01\/a-letter-to-my-thirty-year-old-self\/","title":{"rendered":"A Letter to My Thirty- Year-Old Self"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ki kati! (\u201cHi!\u201d in Luganda) from Kasana-Luweero, Uganda! Oli Otya? (\u201cHow are you?\u201d). It has been about six weeks since my research partner, Maggie, and I arrived in Uganda and started working for Shanti Uganda. Shanti Uganda is located in a rural village about an hour and a half (with no traffic-if there is traffic, it can take up to five hours!) north of the capital city, Kampala. It is no exaggeration to say that life is pretty different out here in what the locals call \u201cthe bush,\u201d compared to the hustle and bustle of the city life in Kampala. As one might expect, the speed of life is very slow. There are less people. There are latrine pits instead of traditional toilets. Electricity is not widespread. \u00a0Life is pretty simple. As I reflect on my journey thus far, I can\u2019t believe how fast these past five weeks have gone by. Before I left the United States, I was pretty nervous about spending six weeks in the field because I was not sure how I would manage being away from home for so long. I love to travel, but deep down inside I am a home body. However, we are approaching our sixth and final week here I admit I am not ready to leave. Although there are a few things I miss about home (my family, my friends, ice cream, and the beach), the simplicity of life in Kasana- Luweero is rather refreshing. But, whether I like it or not, in one week I will be on an airplane on my way back to the States. So much has happened during these six weeks and I could probably write a novel about my trip including the many different thoughts, feelings, and experiences I have encountered. In an attempt to summarize the most prominent feelings I have felt and memories I have had on this journey, I have decided to write a letter to my 30-year-old self, including the thoughts, feelings, and memories I hope to remember a decade from now.<\/p>\n

Dear thirty-year-old self,<\/p>\n

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Rolex. A friend egg omelet with tomatoes, green peppers, and onions wrapped in Chapati (a mix between naan and a tortilla). So yummy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whew! What an adventure it has been in Uganda. First of all, I want to thank you for letting yourself take on this once and a lifetime opportunity. It has expanded your perspective of the world, allowing you to deepen your understanding of the many different cultures this world consists of, and experience firsthand the current setbacks the developing world is facing, further motivating you to find a vocation that seeks to alleviate some of these disparities. That is priceless. No textbook nor summer internship can replace the knowledge you have obtained and vocational discernment you have begun throughout this trip. I hope you remember that traveling is a gift that enables human beings to realize how small the world truly is and how large our capacity to love and connect with others is. Since every chance to travel is unique- there are different highs and lows to each individual trip- there are a few distinct experiences distinct to this trip that I hope still move you and make you think the way they did in the field. Right off the bat, I am sure a few words ring a bell and maybe even make you smile and laugh\u2026Matooke (in case you forgot- a traditional, very bland Ugandan dish made of plantains that is eaten at almost every meal). Matatu (the name for a taxi, which is more accurately a vehicle in Uganda that is normally filled to the brim with people on each other’s laps going 75 mph down a highway). Rolex (another traditional Ugandan food that resembles an egg burrito that you had just about every day). \u201cSee youuuu Muzungu!\u201d (the way little kids shout at you as you walk through the village and then laugh when they get your attention).<\/p>\n

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Julie, a little girl who we saw on the way to Shanti Uganda every morning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But beyond these words and phrases you encountered on a daily basis, I hope that you remember the way the people made you feel and the opportunities you had to reflect on your own life throughout your research. These are the memories that have truly changed you.<\/p>\n

Here we go my thoughts, feelings, and experiences from the field…<\/p>\n

The People <\/strong><\/p>\n

Before I left Santa Clara, my friend sent me an article that described Uganda as \u201cthe friendliest country in the world.\u201d After some time meeting and getting to know Ugandans, I think it is safe to say that I agree with that statement. Every morning when Maggie and I walk to work we receive countless \u201cOli otyas!\u201d from locals in the village who stop in the middle of their work to greet us. It is also very common for children to run up to us with fearless joy and insist that we high-five them. Back home, it is not as common to receive a warm \u201chello\u201d from a complete stranger. I love how easygoing most people are here. They aren\u2019t caught up in the next thing to do, but rather they are very good about being in the moment and concentrate on one thing at a time. Especially when it comes to meeting new people.<\/p>\n

Beyond the surface level hellos, I have found that people here are also much more inviting and willing to let visitors into their homes on a whim. It is evident that for people in the village it is an honor to have guests, especially those from another country, and make them feel at home. The few times that we have been able to visit someone\u2019s home in the village, we have been welcomed in with many smiles and hugs, copious amounts of food, and simple, yet completely sincere gratitude for our presence- we even received a chicken from a couple!<\/p>\n

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Receiving a live chicken from a couple upon our arrival. Later that night, we were informed that our chicken had become our dinner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jackie making sweet potatoes and sauce for Maggie and I outside of her compound.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My favorite memory has been visiting the home of one of the Shanti Uganda beneficiaries, Jackie. Jackie is married and has two kids, a two-year-old boy named Junior and a 6-month-old girl named Brenda. She lives in a one-bedroom compound, which is located about five minutes away from the main road. I think the reason why Maggie and I are able to connect with Jackie so naturally is because she is twenty-two years old, only one year older than us, and speaks English very well. \u00a0I admire Jackie because although she has very little material wealth like most of the villagers, she sticks out against a majority of the mothers we have met. She is intentional with her kids and plays with them despite all of the cooking, laundry, gardening, and household chores she has to do. It seems as if there is a trend here in the village. During the day, men are nowhere to be seen (most of them are off in the city working day jobs), leaving the women at home with their kids. Since there is so much manual labor for the women to tend to, the children who are not able to afford school (which there are a lot because school fees are so high) are left unattended.\u00a0Despite this trend, Jackie takes time out of her day to be with her kids. While we were visiting Jackie at her home, it was the first time we saw a mother actively playing with her children. She threw up her daughter the air and her little girl immediately laughed. Although it was such a simple action, it made a lasting impression. That is not to say that all other mothers do not put their children first or attend to them, however the labor that is required for women and mothers to complete on a daily basis is not conducive to the constant overseeing of young children that is commonly seen in the States. There are no babysitters or daycares here, and as a result children learn to grow up and become independent very quickly.<\/p>\n

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Jackie playing with her two kids, Junior and Brenda, and her neighbor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I bring up Jackie and my time getting to know her at her house because I hope you remember how powerful her investment to her kids was and how special her effort to get to know you and Maggie, who were relatively new people to her, made you feel. It was apparent that she loved people and as a result, it made you want to love others around you. This is the ripple effect I hope you still yearn to initiate- to love others so that they might learn to love. Love takes on many forms and the people of Uganda, including Jackie, have taught me that simple friendliness and hospitality goes a long way.<\/p>\n

Before I overlook all of the things that I have enjoyed about the Ugandan culture and people, there were a few things that frustrate me. One of which includes the system of bargaining. Even though people are very friendly, those on the streets trying to sell you things can be very pushy. This is especially true in the city of Kampala where there are massive amounts of stuff and people everywhere, although it also exists in the villages particularly at markets. As a foreigner who sticks out like a sore thumb, I am a prime target. While it is very frustrating at times, it is also a clear indication of the economy here and how bargaining- or hiking up the price 3-4 times the true value- is how people make a living. I could definitely do without this part of the culture; however, it has taught me the luxury of fixed prices. At home, I can walk into the grocery store and know exactly how much I am going to pay for an apple regardless of who I am. Here, it depends on whether a local is with us or not. I say this because it is the little things like fixed prices that goes unnoticed in America. I hope that I still do not take for granted all of the little luxuries in America that often go unnoticed.<\/p>\n

The Work <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Here I am writing down notes during a focus group conducted by Flora, a Shanti Uganda midwife.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sara, the lab technician at Shanti Uganda, giving an infant an immunization.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The majority of Maggie and my research entails interviewing the beneficiaries of Shanti Uganda- particularly the mothers and the midwives. Our goal for the interviews is to find out how Shanti Uganda has impacted their lives in hopes of articulating it in a future report that will draw investors to the organization. Most of the women we have interviewed have been very docile and do not complain. Our translator has informed us that that is apart of the culture. Women still face a significant amount of gender inequality and tend to be passive in public places. Yet, it is not just the mothers and midwives who are reluctant to complain. In fact, sometimes I think Uganda as a country is a \u201ccomplaint free zone.\u201d In addition to the women and midwives at Shanti Uganda, I never hear adults complaining about anything, even their workloads, which can be very extensive (especially all of the manual, back-breaking work like laundry, cooking, digging etc.).\u00a0And, for that matter I rarely even see babies crying. That being said, when someone does<\/em> express their frustration it holds great significance. The most shocking piece of data that we have collected has been from the mothers who have given birth at Shanti Uganda. When we ask the mothers, \u201cWhy did you chose to give birth at Shanti Uganda instead of a government hospital or private clinic?\u201d, most of the women express that the government hospitals are expensive (most deliveries cost anywhere from 40,000-100,000 shillings, or $11-$28), overcrowded, dirty, and the midwives are abusive. In contrast, they mention that Shanti Uganda is cheap (all services-which include antenatal, delivery, and postnatal- costs 7,000 shillings, or $2), the facilities are clean, and the midwives are caring. Some of the women have revealed that while giving birth in the government hospitals, the midwives yelled at them and told them to keep quiet or if it is too crowded they forced them to give birth on the floor. While I don\u2019t see the truth of the situation as a complaint, their willingness to share what the reality of government hospitals is holds great significance. Maggie and I were able to visit both a local government hospital and a private clinic. Both of which lived up to what the women expressed- they are under resourced and overcrowded. Those who are not from Uganda may call the conditions at these government hospitals \u201cappalling,\u201d while others may describe it as \u201cunacceptable\u201d, but the truth is that often times that is all the women have. It is clear that Shanti Uganda, a clean, welcoming, and supportive alternative, is a haven for women. But, among these luxuries it still lacks many resources- including but not limited to an ultrasound machine, a theatre (or operating room), running water, and electricity. The infrastructure and staff currently in place get the job done, and have proven to be successful. However, at the same time they have to turn away many clients- those who are HIV positive and those who have complications. As I reflect on Shanti Uganda as a whole, I am amazed by scope of impact they have on the local community and how significantly different their services compared to those offered by the government are. But, that does not go without saying there is still so much that needs to be improved and incorporated into their services and facilities.<\/p>\n

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Beds from an emergency ward at a local government hospital.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I hope you remember how the stories of the women who gave birth at the government hospitals made you feel sick to your stomach. No women should have to undergo the disrespect and pain that many do during labor. To know that many women around the world do not have access to a safe and respectable birth is unfathomable. To see it in reality, though, is truly fuel to the fire within me. I am not sure what you are up to these days, but I hope that the work you are involved in continues to seek to improve the dignity of women, especially at the time of pregnancy and delivery.<\/p>\n

Time has come and gone since your travels to Uganda, but I hope you continue to be a changed woman because of what you experienced that one summer your junior year of college.<\/p>\n

With love,<\/p>\n

Rising senior Christine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ki kati! (\u201cHi!\u201d in Luganda) from Kasana-Luweero, Uganda! Oli Otya? (\u201cHow are you?\u201d). It has been about six weeks since my research partner, Maggie, and I arrived in Uganda and started working for Shanti Uganda. Shanti Uganda is located in a rural village about an hour and a half (with no traffic-if there is traffic, … Continue reading A Letter to My Thirty- Year-Old Self<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":949,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"qubely_global_settings":"","qubely_interactions":"","kk_blocks_editor_width":"","_kiokenblocks_attr":"","_kiokenblocks_dimensions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"gutentor_comment":0,"qubely_featured_image_url":null,"qubely_author":{"display_name":"ccremer","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/author\/ccremer\/"},"qubely_comment":0,"qubely_category":"Uncategorized<\/a>","qubely_excerpt":"Ki kati! (\u201cHi!\u201d in Luganda) from Kasana-Luweero, Uganda! Oli Otya? (\u201cHow are you?\u201d). It has been about six weeks since my research partner, Maggie, and I arrived in Uganda and started working for Shanti Uganda. Shanti Uganda is located in a rural village about an hour and a half (with no traffic-if there is traffic,…","post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/949"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59\/revisions\/66"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/christinecremer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}