To My Beloved Penpals,
This is my first entry that isn’t spot off the top of my mind as I sit before the computer screen in town. Now it is impromptu as I sit in front my computer in the bush. No, I don’t have the comfort of internet in my house; let me be honest. . . I don’t have electricity or water but, as a consolation prize, I do have bats and turkeys. As my last post briefed about the incident with the bat, I won’t go into specifics. However, I must discuss the lonely turkey that finds solace in my home. Whereas Luwero has cows roaming around town at all hours of the day, Serere’s equivalent is turkeys-- the school compound floods with them at any given moment. Recently, my neighbor decided to start fattening up a turkey for the holiday season, so it started running with the T-Birds that dominate the area. After a loss to the crazy cock (a rooster that has no fear, even in the face of a group of 10 turkeys. . . .) the group outcast the lonely turkey. However, the crazy cock could not leave well enough alone and started stalking the turkey to pummel him without adequate warning. As of late, I took to gardening with my hoe in the field (now that my hands are almost gloves thanks to calluses) where I see the crazy cock and lonely turkey in full combat. On Sunday, I was in my sitting room enjoying a program on BBC when the lonely turkey jumped into my house and decided to sit down, escaping a run-in with the crazy cock. After finishing my program on BBC, I decided to sweep and mop to the random play list of my iPod, ignoring the turkey that now inhabited my home. Hell, calves, chickens and bats decide to invade so a turkey is just another day. When Kanye West’s Flashing Lights came on my iPod, the turkey started gobbling with the music. It was pretty great. In all, things are looking up. The last month was difficult for a number of reasons that are better left unsaid, but as I become accustomed to my village and all the idiosyncrasies that are part of the culture of my community, I start to navigate my way with more ease. As I come upon July, I cannot believe that I left the States almost 6 months ago. The comforts of home become a mere dream as I now survive on simpler terms. I remember the fears I carried with me in my 80 lbs of luggage to staging and chuckle because I now know better. This experience isn’t what I expected, but what turns out to be the very idea we dream of? Reality can be a sobering experience, and as I do not drink in Uganda, my sobriety is tangible. My mother asked me if I’d return a hippy and I replied with a prompt “no.” I have yet to compromise myself to “fit into” the society of my village. I gave that dream up long ago. I may never fit into a society, whether it is in the States or in Uganda, but if I have a community of support who provide me an outlet to be exactly who I am, I’ll be fine. I thank all my penpals for providing me support both at home and here abroad and know that I am well and enjoying my community experiences in Uganda with a solid foundation to support exactly who I will always be, which cannot be defined. I think that will do for now. I hope all is well in your neck of the world. I will try and post some more pictures. . . .
