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JOURNAL
Jennifer » Tina Insiyah
Tina Yu
San Jose, CA
Pre-trip entry:
As September 15th draws closer and closer I feel myself getting more anxious. The trip that has been under progress is about to take off. I remember my first meeting with Donovan in Ms. Tobey's office in which I learned about the trip's goals as well as the necessary pre-trip preparations. From then on, it has been one wild ride. We went to a night reception in which we met an amazing group of adults who worked with Save the Children, some of which were on our delegation and some of which had gone on the previous delegation. At first I felt incredibly intimidated by this group of accomplished adults. However, in the meetings and gatherings that followed, I was able to converse with them and get to know them a lot better. During the meetings Insiyah and I had, we brainstormed about Follies of a Difference, our school's fundraiser for Save the children; we also developed an idea to keep a Pen-pal/mentoring relationship between Castilleja and the school we helped built.
One of the most dreaded parts of the pre-trip preparations was the inoculation. I would have to get a total of 5 shots and I was DEATHLY afraid of shots. On most occasions, embarrassingly enough, my dad almost has to restrain me in order to get me to sit still during a shot. In the end, I managed to face the needles and sit through all 5 shots without running out of the room. By the end of August, I had my visas, inoculations, plane tickets, and malaria pills. The only pre-trip preparation left was to shoot the interviews for the documentary. So we gathered in San Francisco, all completely thrilled at the idea of having a documentary made out of the trip. The whole day, we were filmed discussing our thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the trip. During the course of our discussion, many common themes emerged. Everyone was anxious to learn more about what they can do to help the situation in Ethiopia and Uganda. Another interesting thing that came up was the fact that many were still somewhat in the dark as to what those countries were like. Personally, my only idea of Africa was the wild animals and vast lands that I had seen in Lion King. I did not know what the culture and way of life was like there. As the day came to an end, I felt like not only did we get the interviews required for the documentary, we all also learned a lot more about each other.
With everything in place, I sit here at my home writing this journal entry, 5 days away from the trip. My feelings are almost surreal, like it still has not hit me that I am going to visit Ethiopia and Uganda. I cannot wait to meet local women who are professionals and learn about their life stories and to bring the soccer balls Ashley Schoettle, a junior at Castilleja, has donated. Both the Ethiopian and Ugandan traditional dinners sounds so exciting and as a teenage girl, I am also naturally looking forward to the shopping. I am so anxious to visit the school in Ethiopia that Castilleja funded. Yet at the same time, there are places that I am excited, yet apprehensive about visiting. I wonder at whether I would be able to handle seeing the aids orphanage as well as the fistula hospital. Warnings about the sad and angry feelings that tend to arise echoes in my head. I hope that I will be able to emotionally handle this trip and come back more motivated than ever to make a difference in this world.
9/17/04:
I am in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia right now and it is 6:43 PM here. Everyone is
so friendly here and I have already learned so much...
What an amazing two days this has been. I left school on September 15th with
letters, flowers, and goodbyes from my friends. Our flight to Heathrow
Airport departed at 7:00 pm from San Francisco. It was a long flight, 10
hours to be exact. I managed to crack the surface of the enormous amount of
homework I have. In Heathrow, our flight was delayed for over 3 hours. After
a baggage problem and a technical problem, we took off and arrived in
Alexandria, Egypt in about 5 hours before making the final 4 hour journey to
Addis Ababa. The journey in its entirety was 24 whole hours.
The customs
official who checked my passport at the airport was listening to Mariah
Carey’s "Honey". This was to be the first of a series of events in which I
only began to realize the extent of my own preconceived notions.
We arrived
at the hotel 6:00 AM Addis time. The first part of the day was essentially
filled with sleep, sleep, and a little bit of TV. I was woken up by a
telephone call telling us to get down for the 12:00 pm meeting. Yet in my
dazed sleepy state, I did not even realize what the persistent ringing was.
When I did realize it was the phone, I completely forgot that when a phone
rings, you pick It up. Thus, half-asleep, we attended the debriefing meeting
and then headed for lunch. I began to feel a lot more energized on the car
ride there. Along the way, there were many interesting things to see. The
whole city of Addis Ababa is not nearly as urban as I imagined. Most of the
buildings are almost like little shacks. I saw a child lugging around a big
yellow plastic container and soon learned that this was for their chore of
getting water.
Lunch was at an amazing restaurant which also serves as a
gallery of local artists. Donna, one of the delegates even purchased a
painting. I feel in love with these sets of paintings but soon learned they
were $200 each. So much for that idea.
I managed to learn a lot over lunch
about the fistula hospital visit which two of the women, Molly and Kate,
took because they arrived a day earlier than the rest of us. Fistula is this
condition where the women is too small for the baby to get through and so
the baby stays in the birth canal for days. The women becomes damaged
internally and the baby dies. This condition sadly leads to the ostracisms
of many women. Although this is a common condition in Africa due to the
young age girls marry, the one in Addis is the only one in Africa. Thus,
women walk years and years just to arrive at the hospital.
When lunch was over, we headed to the field office to begin our discussion
with Ethiopian staff of Save the Children. On the way, there was a lot of
traffic and this gave me an opportunity to just observe the city. I saw this
set of boys tugging at the legs of a herd of goats. I found out from Tracy
that this was how they controlled the goats and that controlling the goats
was the boys’ jobs.
Truthfully, I wasn't that excited over spending hours
cooped up in an office meeting. Yet the meetings surprised me a lot. The
Ethiopian field staff were able to explain all the stereotypes and the
traditions that hinder women empowerment. Having worked closely with the
projects, they spoke about how Save as an organization tries to educate and
empower women to step outside the boundaries of tradition. I learned so much
about the culture itself as well as how Save is part of the continuing
evolution of the society. It was interesting to observe the 5 women staff
who grew up in the Ethiopian culture and yet had the drive to become
educated and to help others.
Before the meeting, I don't think I realized
how important certain things like reproductive health education, water, and
basic education was. I have always taken these things for granted.
The meeting was the perfect jumping off point for all the visits to the
actual projects themselves. I am writing this from the business center at
the hotel. As I really look back on my day, I think the most important thing
that happened is that I learned just how little I know. The whole day was an
educational experience for me both on an intellectual level and also on a
personal level.
9/19/04:
"Would you ever live in Ethiopia?...."
"No, I wouldn't. Its just not for me............"
Wow. How can I even begin to describe yesterday. In a word: intense. I
really don't think I can do it justice or put in words what the experience
was really like. The following would be my best attempt, and please forgive
me if I seem a little frazzled at times because even after a night of sleep
and reflection, I still don't think I have quite processed all yet. I don't
think I can really say all that I am feeling....
The theme of the day was to be HIV/AIDS programs along the road to Nazareth
and Addis because that is where all the high-risk people travel, such as
sex-workers and truck drivers. I know, truck drivers, I was puzzled too. The
truck drivers are high risk because they are away from their wife for an
extended period so they end up having casual sex along the trip, spreading
the disease. Our first stop was Debre-Zeith where there was an AIDS
information center and an orphan center. The orphan center was having its
biannual school supply give-away. The faces on the kids' faces when they got
their notebooks and pens were absolutely amazing. One of the staggering
facts we soon learned though was that although there are 15,000 registered
orphans in Debre-Zeith, the center only has the resources to supply 100! As
we all started taking pictures, all the people in the town became fascinated
by our digital cameras and begin to even ask us to take pictures of them. It
was great to just see their reactions to looking at their own pictures. The
shortage of supplies became very apparent when an English-speaking boy came
up to us and began to beg for pens as we were leaving. Yet again, I did not
know how to deal. I have been told not to give them anything but it was the
hardest thing to just look away when I had a bag full of pens in my bag.
Next, we arrived at Modjo's HIV/AIDS program. This program supports people
infected with AIDS who cannot possibly survive on their own. It provides
consoling and testing as well as meetings each month in which they can all
support each other through prayer, skits, and songs. The people were so nice
that they moved their meeting to a special town hall for us. Their deputy
mayor gave a speech about the progress of the program and everytime he
smiled, I could see his pride in what the town has accomplished. Next, we
had a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony that was combined with candle
lighting and prayers. This is to symbolize that they are all in this battle
against AIDS together. During the ceremony, I looked around at some of the
people who were obviously sick from the disease and it struck me how
incredibly strong they were. After, they had plays, songs, and poems about
the ostracism they face and the future they all confidently believe in. At
the end of the visit, we had a discussion with some of the women in the
committee. They described how much the consoling helped them through; some
even said they would have killed themselves without it. This is because of
how Ethiopian women are shunned by friends, family, and potential suitors if
they are known to have the disease. These women, who are suffering from
diseases themselves, are going to houses of others with the disease and
supporting them. There are only enough resources in the program to benefit
50 people. The part that just completely threw me for a loop was when they
asked us if we could bring them more money and also the medical treatment. I
did not know what to say..... I did not know what I could do. I had grown so
much respect for these women and they were are so beautiful inside and out
that I felt an overwhelming urge to help them. "Don't forget us," they told
us. As we were leaving, it was great to see how much everyone was smiling
and hugging each other.
Lunch had fabulous food but it was at this place called the Safari Lodge at
Nazareth. It was amazingly nice and fancy. I just felt like I had just
stepped into this fake world. It was nice and all, but it just felt to
unreal compared to the people we had just met in Wodjo.
Our next stop was OSSA (organization for social services for Aids) in
Nazareth. All I can say is it was AMAZING!!! Insiyah and I separated from
the group and met the Youth Group. They are young leaders of Anti-AIDS
clubs, which work to educate others about AIDS. The biggest issue in Africa
is that many are ignorant about what to do to prevent AIDS. We met the
nicest people there: Meskerem, Esayias, Eskinder, Anteneh. They were kids
just like us. They liked to listen to rap and reggae, they cracked jokes,
and they wore regular clothes. Yet they were also different. Even as they
lead a life filled with problems, they find the passion to volunteer and
lead an Anti-AIDS club. They spoke in Amharic. They did not know where
California was. At the end of the whole trip, we even exchanged addresses. I
will definitely keep in touch with them. We found out that Esayias wants to
go to America to be a famous reggae singer. "Would you ever live in
Ethiopia?" they asked us; "No, I wouldn't. Its just not for me............" I
answered.
Our last stop of the day was the home-based care center. The 14 volunteers
there go to the homes of AIDS bed-ridden people and they wash, clean, cook,
and do all that is necessary for them. At times, they have to clean up poop
and deal with death. I could not even comprehend how these people could do
this all day.
On the journey back, I tried to keep my mind away from the day. I don't
think I was ready to think about it all. I still don't think I am ready to
think of it all.
Dinner was at Fasika, a traditional Ethiopian restraurant. It was just what
the entire group needed. It had high energy dancing and singing. It had
fabulous food. They eat their food off this big pancake like thing with
dishes all laid in piles. They take more pieces of this pancake and pick up
the food that way. The dancing was amazing. A lot of the motion came from
the shoulders and neck. This girl whirled her head around so fast it was
incredible. Towards the end of the dinner, one of the dancing girls came
around to everyone in our group and made us dance with her. It was crazy.
And Melissa got it all on film too so now she has blackmail on everyone.
I really want to learn Amharic now. Throughout the day, there was so much I
wanted to say to people but couldn't. So much that was lost in the
translations. Things you want conveyed don't always get conveyed.
The youth group's question about living in Ethiopia stuck with me throughout
the day and throughout the night. Would I? I was sure I wouldn't. Yet I am
going to miss the people here sooooo much. They are all so friendly and
warm. Luel, one of the staff we met was the sweetest guy ever. He wants to
study public health at John's Hopkins and he spends his life dedicated to
making the lives of HIV-infected people better. Wendy is an amazing woman
who has traveled all over the world as a nurse. She is intelligent and
amazingly bright. Her name has 39 letters in it! Sofia, a staff, who
organized everything, is one of the most beautiful people I've met. The
youth-group members were warm and funny. Else, an Ethiopian women married to
a SAVE staff, is honestly the most graceful and elegant women I know. She
genuinely cares so much about everyone. So would I live in Ethiopia, I still
don't think so. But saying goodbye to some of the people today and looking
ahead to more goodbyes... I think I am going to miss the people a lot. I
don't know really how to go on.... I guess I don't really want to say what I
am feeling right now. So, until next time, bye everyone and thanks for
reading.
9/21/04:
TWO DAYS AGO, WE SET OUT ON OUR JOURNEY TO THE WOLISO DISTRICT. WE TOOK THE
LONGER ROUTE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO VISIT A PROGRAM CALLED ARSH, ADOLESCENT
REPRODUCTION SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAM, IN A TOWN CALLED GINCHI. IT IS AN OUT OF
SCHOOL PROGRAM MUCH LIKE THE YOUTH GROUP WE MET THE DAY BEFORE. WHEN WE GOT
THERE, THE KIDS SANG AND DANCED FOR US. SOME GIRLS WERE EVEN AS GOOD AS THE
DANCERS IN THE FASIKA RESTRAURANT. NEXT, WHILE THE REST OF THE DELEGATION
TALKED TO THE PARENTS, WE DECIDED TO WATCH THE KIDS PLAY CHECKERS. I WALKED
OVER TO A BUNCH OF GIRLS AND SHOWED THEM THE VIDEO CLIPS I TOOK OF THEM
DANCING. THEY WERE SO FASCINATED BY IT. IT REALLY HELPED BREAK THE ICE. I
ASKED THEM WHY THEY JOINED THIS PROGRAM AND THEIR ANSWER COMPLETELY BLEW ME
AWAY BY THEIR SIMPLICITY: "BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE DYING..."BY THE END OF THE
VISIT, I HAD MADE 2 GOOD FRIENDS, ONE 17 AND ONE 18. THESE GIRLS AND I
DECIDED TO FLIP THROUGH THE MAGAZINES I HAD BOUGHT AT THE AIRPORT. TEEN
PEOPLE'S 50 HOTTEST GUYS WERE A BIG HIT. I GAVE THE GIRLS PICTURES OF SOME
GUYS IN THERE...THE BOYS THERE WANTED TO GET IN ON THE ACTION SO THEY TOOK
SOME PICS TOO. SOME OF THE LITTLE KIDS SEEMED TO BE FASCINATED WITH MY NAME
AND REPEATEDLY YELLED "TINA, TINA, TINA." THIS WAS AN ABOSULTELY AMAZING
EXPERIENCE. THOSE KIDS WERE UNFORGETTABLE.
THE DRIVE TO WOLISO WAS SPECTACULAR, ALBEIT A LITTLE BUMPY. IT WAS MILES AND
MILES OF GREEN HILLS AND MOUNTAINS FILLED WITH LITTLE TUKUO HUTS. IT REALLY
WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. AT TIMES, THE LITTLE KIDS WOULD SEE US DRIVING BY AND
GET SO EXCITED. THEY WOULD RUN OUT AND WAVE AT US, JUMPING UP AND DOWN. YET
THERE WAS ALSO MANY WHO CAME UP AND BEGGED AS WE DROVE BY. THIS LITTLE GIRL
BEGGAR AFFECTED ME THE MOST. SHE WALKED UP WITH HER LITTLE BABY BOY BROTHER,
AND HELD OUT HIS HAND. I KNEW IT WAS A CHEAP TRICK BUT IT SURE WORKED. I
DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE BEGGING BY GIVING THEM SOMETHING, YET I CAN NEVER
LOOK THE PEOPLE IN THE EYE WHEN I SAY "NO".
THIS THEME OF "HELPING VERSUS EMPOWERING" CARRIED ON AS WE ARRIVED AT THE
NEGASH HOTEL IN WOLISO FOR THE DEBRIFING BY THE WOLISO STAFF. THEY
REITERATED THE IMPORTANTANCE OF HAVNG THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTE TO THE
SCHOOLS BUILT IN WOLISO. IT IS ONLY THEN THAT THE PROJECT WILL GAIN
SUSTAINABILITYAND THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP...
YESTERDAY WAS THE DAY WE VISTED HANDURA MARU, THE SCHOOL CASTILLEJA FUNDED
IN WOLISO. INSIYAH, MELISSA, AND I ALONG WITH SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS
SEPERATED FORM THE GROUP BECAUSE THIS SCHOOL WOULD BE A 3 KM WALK. THE ROAD
THERE WAS MUDDY AND WET BUT I CAN SAY THE WALK WAS WELL WORTH IT. I COULD
NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS THE SAME ROAD THAT KIDS AS LITTLE AS 5 TAKE TO GO TO
SCHOOL. WE MET MANY PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE ALONG THE WAY AND EVEN SOME OF THE
KIDS AT THAT SCHOOL. ONE OF THE GIRLS HAD TO WALK ONE HOUR TO SCHOOL IN
UNSAFE STREETS BEFORE AND NOW SHE JUST NEEDS TO WALK 15 MINUTES. WE ALSO MET
THIS BOY NAME SHELAMA. HE WAS 8, IN FIRST GRADE, AND GOING TO HIS FIRST DAY
OF SCHOOL. HE HAD HERDED CATTLE FOR 2 MONTHS IN HIS SUMMER VACATION AND
EARNED 3 BURRS. 3 BURRS IS AN EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 30 CENTS IN AMERICA! HE
USED ALL OF THIS MONEY TO BUY HIS 5 EXERCISE BOOKS. IT WAS AMAZING TO HERE
HIM TALK BECAUSE HE DESCRIBED HOW EXCITED HE WAS FOR SCHOOL AND HOW THIS
SCHOOL IS SO MUCH CLOSER THAN THE SCHOOL HE HAD TO GO TO PREVIOUSLY. HE WAS
INCREDIBLY EXCITED OVER THE FURNITURE IN THE SCHOOLS...IT JUST NEVER CEASES TO
AMAZE ME THE BASIC THINGS THESE PEOPLE VALUE THAT I TAKE FOR GRANTED. WHEN
WE GOT TO THE SCHOOL, WE FIRST LEARNED ALL ABOUT THE SCHOOL FROM THE HEAD
FACILITATOR THERE. THE KIDS GET TO LEARN 6 SUBJECTS, THEY HAVE AFTERSCHOOL
CLUBS, AND THEY EVEN HAVE POWER THROUGH A SOLAR POWER PANEL IN THE SCHOOL!
WE WERE ALL SURPRISED BUT HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE SCHOOL HAD JUST GOTTEN ITS
FIRST FEMALE TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL WAS PRETTY MUCH AT 50-50 GIRLS TO BOYS
RATIO. THIS IS AN AMAZING FEAT COMPARED TO THE PRACTICALLY ZERO NUMBER OF
GIRLS ATTENDING SCHOOL BEFORE. ONE OF THE SIMPLE THINGS THE SCHOOL DOES TO
ASSURE THAT IS BY HAVING GIRLS BATHROOM. SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EVEN THINK
ABOUT BACK IN THE US HAS THE POWER TO SEND ABOUT 120 MORE GIRLS TO SCHOOL.
NEXT WE HEADED TO THE CLASSROOM. THESE 2ND GRADERS SANG A HELLO SONG AS WE
WALKED INTO THE CLASSROOM. WE SAT IN ON THEIR CLASS. THEIR TEACHER WAS
AMAZINGLY ENTHUSIASTIC, HE COMPLETELY ENGAGED THE KIDS. AND THE KIDS, OMG
THE KIDS. THEY WERE SO INTO THE CLASS. THEY ALL RAISED THEIR HAND ON EVERY
SINGLE QUESTION, BEGGING TO BE PICKES AND THEY ALL CLAPPED WHEN ONE STUDENT
HAD THE CORRECT ANSWER. THESE KIDS SEES EDUCATION AS THE ULTIMATE PRIVILEGE,
SOMETHING THAT MADE ME REALIZE THAT EDUCATION WAS YET ANOTHER THING I TAKE
FOR GRANTED. WE ALSO GOT TO MEET WITH THE PTA OF THE SCHOOL. THESE PARENTS
WERE THE ONES WHO GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO APPROACH SAVE THEMSELVES WITH
THE PROPOSAL FOR A SCHOOL. THEY CHIPPED IN FOR THE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCITON. AND THEY CHIP IN FOR 10% OF THE TEACHERS PAY. THEY WERE SO
GREAT. IT WAS VERY STRIKING HOW THANKFUL THEY WERE TO CASTILLEJA FOR
BUILDING THE SCHOOL. THEY THANKED US OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FIRST FOR THE LONG
JOURNEY TO SEE THEM, AND THEN FOR BEING DEVOTED TO THE SCHOOL. THEY MADE ME
REALIZE WHAT AN IMPACT THE SCHOOL AND ITS WELL OF CLEAN WATER HAS ON THE
COMMUNITY. THE KIDS CAN NOW COME AND LEARN IN A SCHOOL VERY CLOSE TO THEIR
HOUSES. THEY CAN DRINK CLEAN WATER. AND THE GIRLS CAN FINALLY GO TO SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF THE GIRLS BATHROOMS AND ALSO THE WELL THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO
THEIR CHORE OF GETTING WATER WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL. THE PARENTS SAID THAT
THE EDUCATION HERE WAS SO GOOD THAT THE KIDS END UP SKIPPING 4TH GRADE WHEN
THEY MOVE ON TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
NEXT, WE GOT TO PLAY WITH THE KIDS. THEY WERE ALL COMPLETELY FASCINATED BY
US AND FOLLOWED US EVERYWHERE. THERE WERE KIDS IN THE AFTERNOON SHIFT OF THE
SCHOOL WHO WERE THERE 2 HOURS EARLY! WHO WOULD EVER GO 2 HOURS EARLY TO
SCHOOL IN THE US? THEY ALL LOVED THE PLAYGROUND SINCE IT IS VIRTUALLY
UNHEARD OF AROUND THE AREA. WHEN WE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE IMPENDING
RAIN, I WAS SO SAD. BEFORE WE LEFT, WE BOUGHT SOME OF THE BASKETS THAT THE
KIDS HAD MADE IN THEIR ART CLASS. THE KIDS WHO HAD JUST GOT OFF FROM THE
MORNING SHIFT FOLLOWED US AS WE WALKED OUT. TO THE PEOPLE AT CASTILLEJA
READING THIS, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THE MONEY THAT WENT TO THIS SCHOOL WAS
PUT TO GOOD USE. ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE SCHOOL, WE RAN INTO THIS CATTLE
HERDER WHO, UPON FINDING OUT WHO WE WERE, THANKED US OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE
POINTED TO THE SKY AND TO HIS HEART TO EXPRESS HIS GRATITUDE.
THE AFTERNOON WAS FILLED WITH SOUVENIR SHOPPING AND DRIVING. AT NIGHT, WE
WENT OFF TO DINNER AT RICK AND ELSE'S HOUSE. THEY WERE SUCH GRACIOUS HOSTS.
MANY OF THE STAFF WE HAD MET ALONG THE WAY WERE THERE. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING.
AT THE END OF THE NIGHT DONOVAN, ROSANNE, AND I HAD TO MAKE A SPEECH TO THE
STAFF TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS. I WAS TO PRESENT A SCARF TO SOFIA, WHO HAS BEEN
WONDERFUL IN DEALING WITH ALL OUR DEMANDS. THAT WAS WHEN THE TEARS STARTED
FLOWING. AS SOON AS I SAT DOWN, RICK PRESENTED ME AND INSIYAH WITH A
BASEBALL CAP EACH. DONOVAN THEN MADE A SPEECH ABOUT US AND THE SCHOOL.
INSIYAH AND I HAD THE HARDEST TIME CONTROLLING OUR TEARS. AT THE END OF THE
NIGHT, ELSE, WHO IS LIKE THE ETHIOPIAN MARTHA STEWART MINUS THE LEGAL
TROUBLES, GAVE US ALL AN ETHIOPIAN SCARF. IT IS SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO
THIS COUNTRY. I WILL WRITE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY AFTER THE PLANE RIDE TO
UGANDA. HONESTLY I DON'T WANT TO GO TO UGANDA.....NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO
SEE UGANDA BUT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ETHIOPIA. I'M DEFINITELY
BRINGING TISSUES TO THE AIRPORT....
9/24/04:
Sorry I haven't updated in a loooong time. Email access has been scarce
lately. The day following the Woliso school visit, we visited Mother
Teresa's Orphanage for kids with AIDS. Before going to this place, we were
warned not to get too attached to the kids as they might get the impression
we want to take them home. When we arrived, we were swarmed with kids, all
reaching to take our hands. It was near impossible not to hold a child's
hands. It really showed how they lacked any kind of physical affection that
kids usually get. We got to hold babies in the nursery. The whole group was
fighting to not cry. These kids were completely innocent. They have done
nothing wrong, and yet most of them will not live past 14 years old. We
visited several classrooms. It was so hard not to cry when we came into this
room and a group of 6 year olds were singing the "welcome" song. I think it
was then that it really hit me that these kids, who were so playful and
loving, all were living with AIDS. When we got to the 4th grade classrooms.
Someone asked these kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was
great to hear answers like circus act, lawyer, doctor, and teacher... We
learned that the society shunned these kids so the only times they ever go
out of the orphanage is on some outings. An outing to the power plant one
year was literally the highlight of their life....
Our airport experience was completely opposite of the orphanage experience.
When we arrived at the Addis airport, we stepped into the twilight zone. It
took us close to 21 hours to get to Entebbe, Uganda when it was supposed to
be a 2-hour flight. I will tell everyone more about this later, but let me
just say...it was an "interesting" experience. (We got the adults in our group
to take Cosmo girl quizzes and play Spoons with us)
We got into Entebbe that morning having only gotten 3 hours of sleep. So all
of us were dragging by the time we got to the first visit, Straight Talk.
This is a place where they publish newspapers for kids, parents, and
teachers about safe sex and sexual health. We met with a radio personality.
She completely energized us. The whole place was so wonderful. We got to see
the piles and piles of mail that they receive everyday from kids. Some with
questions and some with answers to questions and polls posted on the
newspaper. One of which that struck me, was from a girl saying that her
grandparents were encouraging her to have sex and it pleaded Straight Talk
to tell her what to do. We got to visit their radio studio where they make
all their shows. This place has such potential to reach millions of kids its
amazing. By the time we got out, the entire group was refreshed and rearing
to go.
Next, we got NACWOLA, an organization for women living with AIDS. They teach
these women how to make handicrafts and clothes so they can become
self-sustainable. They also provide assistance to those women who are
widowed with children. One of the woman there had to take care of 14 people
at her house, while dealing with her own disease. It was funny because the
whole group of women in our delegation became soooo excited when they
realized this was a prime shopping spot. By the end of the day, the
differences between Uganda and Ethiopia were apparent. Uganda is much more
developed. The most glaring difference is the language. Everyone speaks
English here. It's nice after days of having to go with translators to
actually have a normal conversation with each other. There is not as many
beggars on the streets here at all.
The next day, we drove to Nakasongala. We visited two community-based
schools there. The kids there were so cute. Some of the kids wanted to be
doctors and teachers. One boy's favorite subject was social studies in which
they study "foreign influence in East Africa." His eloquence at the age 11
was amazing. Interestingly enough, at the second school, they read Straight
Talk every week in class and ask any questions they have to the teacher.
Next, we went to an Adult Literacy group started by the parents who got
curious to learn when their children started coming back from school with
all this knowledge. At the group, they also talk about community economic
development. The last part of the day was the most amazing. We went to this
huge school. This school was particularly admirable because it had 50% women
teachers and more girls and boys enrolled. Yet the saddest thing was when we
learned that girls were selling themselves for food because the school
couldn't afford to feed them. We visited a Youth Group, which mobilizes
students and educates them about reproductive health. There was this cutest
little boy who stated matter-of-factly that he wanted to be the prime
minister. A girl said she wanted to be the vice-president and laughed when
we asked why not president. The best part of the day came when the drama
group performed songs and dance for us. The energy in the room was
electrifying. They were amazing dancers and singers. We have it all
videotaped and we really hope to show it back to you guys in the states. At
the end, we sat down with 4 other kids and talked to them. We showed them
the magazines we brought. There was this 15-year old boy who was fascinated
by this eye-shadow sample in the magazine and insisted on applying it. =)
Right now, I am sitting in an Internet café in Kampala Uganda. I am sorry
this entry condenses three-days worth of stuff but time is a precious
commodity here. This is the last day of the trip. I am incredibly sad but I
know I will keep in touch with the people I have met here. At the same time,
I am ready to go home. Ready to get back to my music, friends, AIM, TV,
family... I will never forget these two countries. They have changed me
irrevocably and one day I hope to come back. What these people lack in
material objects, they make up with their amazingly opened-hearts and great
energy. This was the trip of a lifetime...and I would like to hope the
beginning of something new. I don't know how I am going to adjust to life
back at home though...
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