Nneka recently played a concert in Kampala. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it, but the buzz after the concert compelled me to check her out. Her strong, soulful voice is worth a listen.
"Unfortunately, the banana varieties grown in Uganda are low in essential micronutrients, particularly Vitamin A and Iron. To increase these levels, Dale and his team in Australia are collaborating closely with Ugandan scientists at that country’s National Agricultural Research Organization. The NARO team, led by Dr. Wilberforce Tushemereirwe, has made important contributions – developing research protocols, conducting field trials, and planning distribution of new, more nutritious banana varieties to Ugandan farmers. The NARO team’s involvement is a great example of young African scientists playing a major role as full partners in using state-of-the-art science for development of new products important to agriculture and health in their own country."
Dad’s Coming to Town
For the next week I will be entertaining my first visitor from home, my father. I’m excited. Though I have been having an absolute blast living in Kampala, spats of home sickness are inevitable. Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger. Sharing my new home with my dad will help him understand and I’ll take comfort in knowing that at least one person back home has seen my life in Africa.
Initially, we talked about meeting in Tanzania. We thought it would be fun to see the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. After some reflection, I suggested that he come to see Uganda. There is a tremendous amount to do here. In fact, Lonely Planet recently gave Uganda its stamp of approval. Here is our itinerary for the week:
Sunday: Visit Ggaba Port to buy fish from local fisherman for lunch.
Monday-Tuesday: Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in Africa.
Wednesday: Trekking with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Friday: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Hiking to Sipi Falls, Uganda
2012
The first half of my Princeton in Africa Fellowship simply flew by. I’d like to think I have made the most of my time here in Kampala, Uganda thus far. I made brilliant new friends, traveled throughout the country and worked on inspiring infrastructure projects. For the holidays, I spent around three weeks back in the States. This gave me the opportunity to reflect on the first half of my fellowship and set new goals for myself in 2012. I’d like to share three of these with you:
Gay and Vilified in Uganda
Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. That is very difficult for many of my American friends to comprehend. This op-ed shines light on the human rights issue and highlights the role that American evangelical Christians have played in institutionalizing homophobia. Furthermore, it addresses many of the misconceptions held by many Ugandans.
American foreign policy has forced some Ugandans to reconsider the issue, but much more can be done to raise awareness, both in the United States and Uganda. Please feel free to share this article.
Ice Prince feat Brymo - Oleku
Another Igbo/English monster.
Continuing on the “cultural differences” theme from yesterday, here is a photo of a tasty Ugandan snack: fried grasshoppers. A colleague of mine bought this tin for UGX 5,000, or just under $2.00. This is relatively expensive for a snack in Uganda. I couldn’t turn down her offer.
The grasshoppers are caught using large spotlights that attract the insects into a bin from which they can’t escape. They are seasonal, lasting only a few weeks, several times a year. Right now grasshoppers are in season, so these large traps light up many areas of Kampala.
Once captured, the grasshoppers’ legs are removed, their bodies fried and seasoned. It ends up just tasting like crispy curry. The most unsettling part of the experience was the grasshopper eyes looking back at me before I popped one in my mouth. Other than that, delish.
Note: BlackBerry cameras are pretty terrible. I dropped my real camera and broke the lens. Hopefully I’ll get that sorted out by the end of the year and start posting some better photos.
I was on the phone with my dad earlier this month and it occurred to me that he didn’t know I slept under a mosquito net every night. I have to constantly remind myself that some things that seem normal to me now are still quite foreign to my friends and family back home. My blog is an opportunity to share these cultural differences. I’ll do my best.
At the request of my dad, here is a photo of my bed in Kampala.
"This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease."
