This is my second trip to Ashinaga Rainbow House in Nansana, Uganda since April, and I’m so pleased to share this experience with two Ford Scholars from Vassar College, Sam(antha) Smith ‘14 and Malinda Reese ‘16.
Every morning, our walks from the Nexus Hotel to Ashinaga have been filled with waving and greeting many children and adults, being called “Mzungu,” constant honking from the taxis, and the various smells of people cooking and preparing food. We’ve become quite nimble in avoiding the boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) and large trucks that hurtle by within inches of us. Somehow, I’m getting used to the crazy traffic, but I still get bent out of shape when I see an adult on a boda boda with an infant or multiple children. As far as I can tell, car seats do not exist, and small children sit on their parents’ laps while driving in cars or trucks on the pot-holed ridden roads. And seat belts…well, those seem to be optional for most Ugandans. (Parents, take note: I’m happy to report that Sam, Malinda and I are using seatbelts in the Ashinaga van.)
I have really enjoyed seeing the multitude of townspeople who sell their wares along the street. Huge, yummy avocados, tomatoes, potatoes, large branches of matooke (plantains), fish, chapatti, amazzi (“water”…beware if you say this incorrectly. It elicits horrified looks and giggles from the Ugandans.) Selling milk is also common, and one of my favorite signs is “Diary Milk.” The Luganda language is spelled phonetically, so we get some interesting pronunciations and spellings in English. For example, there are many people who sell chapatti and “rolex.” For quite a while, I was confused by this combination until I discovered that “rolex” is egg rolled in something like a tortilla…rolled eggs…Rolex. You get the picture.
Used shoes and clothes are plentiful, and tailors and dressmakers hang their new glittering, colorful clothes at the front of the shops. Most shops are made of wood and look like small shacks. In some cases, people sell their wares in a spot at the side of the road. There are more expensive shops that sell things like water, rice, flour, and basic medications. Those stores tend to be in small complexes that have steel, secure doors. Although the level of poverty is staggering to me, everyone is working and selling something, and begging seems to be non-existent here in Nansana.
– CH