When we arrived, we felt like fish out of water. We were afraid of so many worst-case scenarios. Everyday parts of life here -- like having a wall around your house, a night guard, having to watch your phones and purses -- made us very fearful. Now here I sit looking out the door at the barbed-wire topped gate and I realize that it has stopped giving me a gut reaction of anxiety.
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| Isaac walking with our goods from the market -- sugar cane and a fan! |
In one week, we've gone from total culture shock to things somehow becoming familiar. Today while I was working at the school Isaac did some shopping on his own and has gotten to know the local market ladies! We've been amazed at how trying to greet someone in Lugandan (even when we butcher the pronunciation) totally changes the dynamic. Solemn faces break into big smiles, and suddenly impoverished African children can laugh at an adult foreigner who is able to laugh at themselves.
On a practical note, greeting someone in Lugandan also sends a message that you are not merely a tourist, that you know what you're doing (yeah right!) and that you won't be easily taken advantage of. It's become a habit now to ask shopkeepers and boda drivers if we are being given the "best price" or the muzungu (white person) price. That usually gets a laugh -- because they know it's true!
The orientation for new Heritage teachers started this past Monday. It's been great to have a routine to fall into. When I asked if Isaac could tag along to some of the sessions (most of them dealing with how to navigate life in Uganda), the director enthusiastically told me he was invited to every session he wanted to attend, including all the meals! On Monday and Tuesday we were taken into town and treated to lunch, and they refused to allow us to pay for Isaac's meal. He has been welcomed into the Heritage community with open arms.
In addition to feeling more comfortable with Ugandans, we are becoming very close with other teachers here. Today the family arrived who will be living on the other side of our duplex, a young couple who taught here last year, along with their eight month old son. We continue to fall in love with the family that lives in the compound next door. While I expected most of the teachers here to be retired, most of them are very young. There are several who are in their first year of teaching (like me!) and the "oldest" among us have elementary school-aged children! There are two houses (about twenty minutes' walk from here) where the single young female teachers live. The little pockets of teachers' compounds and houses, all within walking distance of the school, creates a very close community.
Today in our session about transitions and culture shock we were given some tips on coping strategies (also to keep in mind for missionary kids or other international kids who may end up in our classrooms):
- exercise regularly
- be kind to yourself; the occasional treat will help ease the transition!
- acknowledge your feelings and the feelings of others; don't bury them
- be realistic; don't tell yourself (or someone else) it will be all better tomorrow!
- when you feel self-pity, do something for someone else
Above all, do not isolate yourself -- something you may want to do in a moment of depression. It is crucial to reach out to others, to bind yourself to a community, and to find others you can share your experience with. The Heritage staff have become this for us, and we are so grateful that God has been some of these new friends in our path!
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| Getting used to the boda-bodas ... evening enjoying them! |
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