"Homo sum humani- a me nihil alienum puto."

Maya Angelou made an observation in her travels that has been made by most everyone who's ever set foot outside their hometown, especially those who have experienced cultures "drastically different" than their own. But even as I typed "drastically different", the point of this entry was driven home again in my heart and the point is this: we're in the same boat.

Prima fascie, the residents of the Country Club Plaza and Bushenyi, Uganda couldn't be more different.

But wait.

In the last 24 hours, I've seen a Ugandan wearing a University of Michigan t-shirt, heard a Dolly Parton song on the radio, and met a 3 year old baby in a village named "Barack Obama", after a famous world leader who was sworn into office on his birthday (no joke).

Those are silly examples, but truly, in getting to know people here, esp the KCRC staff that we've been moving around with, I've realized that the way people joke and tease each other, argue, teach, work together, etc, is more or less the same.

The. Same.

I speak 3 words of Runyankole and have literally spent hours in the last week listening to these people speak that language (not usually having enough time to translate every conversation), and although I don't know the precise words, I get what they're trying to communicate much of the time. There is a mysterious connection between human beings that is familiar to anyone who has sat across from someone from a different culture.

I mean it. And many of you know what I'm talking about. There's a twinkle that comes into someone's eyes after they tease a friend and look to the group for an expected chuckle, whether you're from Russia, Raymore, or Rwanda. Laughter, flirtation, empathy, sorrow- Every language has vocabulary words for these, but they register on the same emotional wavelength for everyone.

I hope, from the bottom of my omutima that you come to grasp that a driver from Kabwohe is not so different than a omushaho omweegi from America.

"In my work what I try to say is that as human beings we are more alike than we are unalike." -M.A.

m

Good Times

So today we were out in the field again visiting those individuals who are recipients of KCRC aid. What a wonderful experience to have. I have wondered what it would be like to have nothing at all. have you ever wondered that? What would your definition of nothing be? Would it include an iPod, land, 3 square meals, and a healthy family? Let me tell you..... you don't have to have anything to be happy. Many of the wonderful people here in the Bushenyi district have very little and yet are grateful for the things they do have and hold a wonderful attitude towards life. My definition of "necessities" has been drastically altered upon staying here in Uganda. I know as people who are working towards global equity and social justice we are suppose to stay away from terms that would implicate "disaster porn" a.k.a needy and helpless, and I'm not saying that these individuals are needy and helpless in the least. On the contrary, I have never seen such hard working individuals. They just can't find the fruits of their labor. I am so thankful for KCRC and the wonderful acts of kindness that they pour out to their community to work towards ending this epidemic of poverty and disease.

I have felt so blessed to get to be here with these individuals such as Cleophas and Elifa, people who want to better their community. Can you imagine if we all held this mentality that we, collectively, can make a difference in our world? Can you imagine Kansas City with out a sever social division? If we all took the steps necessary to make a difference in our world how amazing it would be.

Anyways.... Sorry about the rant. Things are wonderful here, the roads are interesting. Thank God for excellent drivers otherwise Mike and I would never survive. The fruit here is amazing I love the pineapple it is excellent. So much goat meat, I don't think I can eat another bite. Last night we had fish for dinner, and might I add it was excellent. The food is excellent and people truly over the top with personality.

I have truly had my eyes opened on this trip, for the better might I add. I have always had a fixed notion on how the world works and boy was I way wrong. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to broaden my horizons and thank GlobeMed for the chance to do so.

I don't have much else to say other than I'm excited to see everyone back home and share this amazing experience with all of you. Till then everyone!

L

Survival.

Survival.

I realized a few days ago that survival is something I never think about. It actually never crosses my mind. I've been to impoverished parts of a handful of countries, and things can be hard, but I've never been to a place where the thought on the forefront of most people's mind is "survival".

Here, many people suffer from a condition called HIV. Lot's of people where I'm from have heard of HIV, but do you know anyone who has it? Do you have it? I met a fellow last week with 16 kids, 3 of which are HIV positive. That's a 17% HIV rate in his family. (In my family- zero percent.) I asked him through a translator how he goes about getting water for their household chores and drinking, etc. (Those folks might walk a couple of miles each day to get some water, hopefully boil it before drinking, but they can get it.) He told me he is worried about getting enough income to get food and send the kids to school. I figured he didn't understand my question and had the translator ask again. He said there's two things he wants- income and food. This man is concerned with survival.

I met a woman today with two kids, her and her husband are positive as well as their first child and they're waiting on the lab results for the youngest. 75% HIV rate. Probably 100%. She's hoping to plant a few rows of cabbage, carrots, or eggplants, maybe rear a goat we give her. Her youngest baby has diarrhea. She is concerned with survival- his and hers both. Those two families are representative of an average family in the villages around here.

[To give you an idea of how things work- we went to a man's house today who was drying out strips of bark from a banana tree to weave into a mat. I'm not sure how many he makes in a month, but he only had one that he was working on. He can sell that in a market for 4,000 shillings- (less than $2.) Two Kg of meat from a market is about 12,000 shillings.]

I can hardly imagine a scenario in my life back home that I'd have to be legitimately concerned with my survival. I might get hit by a bus. Beyond that, the chances of my perishing are vanishingly small. I have plenty and I've never been faced with the possibility that I won't go on living. Lately, I've been learning to not demonize having plenty, but I'm telling you the past week or so I have seen with my own two eyes people who are not sure if they will live or die. And they go about their (extremely hard) work with a smile on their face, thankful for any help they can get from KCRC, but willing to do all they can to survive.

It almost goes without saying that the people I've been getting to know the last few days have made a huge impression on me. It truly is a different world. But this clinic and its volunteers from the community are accomplishing a lot toward improving people's lives and despite all the uncertainty and challenges they face, the atmosphere here is one of optimism and joy.

I wish I could have conveyed the beautiful and inspiring situation more eloquently. But you get the idea. Kabwohe, Bushenyi, Uganda, Africa is unlike any place I have ever been.

m

Monday

Hey everybody,

For the past few days we have been out in the field meeting with the community. This has been an amazing experience, I am now starting to understand a little more about how these people live and survive. We have been looking at their crops that they are producing: irish potatoes, egg plant, cabbage, onions, carrots, g-nuts, and last but definitely not least bananas. We have been asking about their living situations before KCRC came along. The general consensus is KCRC has brought much to the community. Everything from AIDS support and education, to agricultural sustainability education. What an amazing program! I saw something yesterday that really touched my heart, a woman who had been widowed with two kids. Her husband had died from AIDS and she had no land. The community that she lived in gave her a house which had previously been vacated (the previous owners had died from HIV infection). Without a community that would help her help herself, she would have never stood a chance. However, with this wonderful community that gave her land to farm, and education on how to farm it, she can survive. Not only that the health of her children has improved dramatically due to the efforts of KCRC. This is truely an amazing clinic!

Love,

Logan

KCRC

So, we are sitting in the office at KCRC as I am writing this. This morning we had a meeting with the community volunteers. Avery successful meeting might I add according to Cleophas. The volunteers were full of ideas about how to advance this partnership and the purpose of the GROW Trips. It was amazing (even though I didn't understand a word until it was translated) but the enthusiasm that was associated with the possibility of productivity and advancement was amazing. We are working towards sustainability and this is something that is preached at the clinic. Quite amazing the level that it is taught at and practiced. I was deeply impressed. The place we are staying is beautiful I have never seen such wildlife nor tasted fruit so fresh.

The journey here was amazing minus the lack of traffic laws. HAHA. It was a very interesting drive but I really enjoyed talking with Mike and Cleophas, occasionally beating Mike at checkers on the way. This is an amazing experience for us I am glad to have been privileged to meet our wonderful partners. Something that I was worried about earlier this trip was my family (post Joplin tornado) I saw the after math of the storm via BBC tv and was concerned for their well-being as I had just learned of the tornado. We only live 40 minutes away from Joplin and I was glad to hear that the tornado didn't go that far south. That stated I can't think of anything else to write for now, so I will turn it over to Mike.

Agandi, ssebo's and nyabo's. Ninyirukana. Abomuka baribata? Things are great here. I haven't read what Logan wrote up there, so I apologize for any duplications. It rained here a few moments ago which really cooled things off. Overall, the weather has been gorgeous here and the food is good. I ate goat last night. They call it "Chips goat", meaning deep fried goat meat and fries. But no joke- ninyirukana. But that's nothing new.

I'm looking forward to sitting down and having Cleophas translate the footage we took this morning at the mtg with the community volunteers. We've got some exciting things cooking for this trip and for next year. I gotta run- there is much planning to do here. Plus, ninyirukana.

Love,

m.

Day #3

Good morning all.

It is 1030 am here. We ended up staying one extra night in Kampala, and are currently awaiting the arrival of Cleophas to pick us up from the hotel and head out to Bushyeni. Kampala is a very cool city- beautiful scenery and full of friendly and interesting people. I'll share a quick nugget and then turn it over to Logan.

Last night, we chatted with a hotel employee, a young man named Fred. He shared his thoughts and opinions about the current situation here. There is tons of variation among people here when it comes to support of the government. Some people love it, some hate it and lots fall somewhere in the middle. This fellow happened to have some serious concerns about the cost of food and fuel- that seems to be the heart of most of the dissatisfaction here. He thinks that the prices are unfair, but more importantly he takes serious issue with the way that the government deals with what they call "the opposition". He told us about recent protests in Kenya and how soon after, prices of food or fuel (cant remember which) went down something like 30%. There is a lot more to say about this, but what I was most impacted by was Fred himself- his attitude and outlook. This guy was meek, but passionate, respectful but still insisted on his rights. He was realistic about the amount of power held by the "powers that be, but hopeful for change. SO HOPEFUL. To me, he represented the type of person that we in GlobeMed are drawn to and wish to come alongside in our pursuit of equity, health-related and otherwise.

We're feeling very safe and well, enjoying ourselves and the hospitality of this spectacular country.

Addis Ababa airport safe and sound. Can't figure out how to type text into the main body of the post. What an amateur right? Ethiopia is gorgeous-mike