My First Bota

I had my first bota-bota ride yesterday. Much less scary than it seems. It's actually very exhilorating. Since the sun was coming over my right-hand shoulder, I could see my hair blowing in the wind from my shadow. It must have looked pretty funny for the locals to see a 6'4" mzungu on the back of a little Ugandan's bota. the best part was, he asked if I wanted to drive!

At first, he simply asked me if I knew how to drive, to which I answered yes. Then, he pulled over to the side. I figured something was wrong with his little, run-down motorcycle, but he turned around and said, "You drive now?" A thousand different reasonings flashed through my head. I've never driven a motorcycle, but this would be an amazing time to start! I don't really know how to negotiate these potholed, hilly roads, but it would be a fun challenge! I would probably get hit by a car or taxi van as they rush past on these narrow roads, but it would be a great sight for the locals to see a mzungu driving a bota!

In the end, I let my good judgement get the better of my spirit for adventure. I don't know if it will end that way if the offer ever comes up again, though...

MATCHDAY

*Originally written on 8/21 from Namasuba Primary School Field*

Today is the first time that the SWB boys will have an "official" match since we've been here. Deo has arranged for two friendly matches with a group from a neighboring town. It is interesting to watch the boys wait to suit up. They all wait anxiously at the Youth Center's door for us to let them in to choose their kits. The older boys go first, wearing the red tops with white shorts. The younger boys get second pick, wearing the blue tops with red shorts. there is some sort of transformation as they put the uniforms on. They no longer look like the misfit crew that shows up to the training pitch everyday. They look proud to wear the mismatched kits. They look unified. The look like they are part of something bigger than themselves for once.

This round object-
It doesn't talk,
It doesn't fight,
It only made us friends.
~Ibrahim, Namasuba Primary School Athletic Director

2:50 - Juventus Namasuba is the team we will face. The younger teams are starting first. The ref is really liking the whistle. The game hasn't even started yet. He just keeps blowing it to get the teams to line up at the midline.

3:07 - GAME ON: Only one hour behind schedule, not to bad. The ref still likes the whistle...A LOT.

3:11 - GOAL: SWB scores off a free kick from about 30 yards out. Right over the reach of the keeper.

3:20 - HALF TIME: One-Nil, Soccer Without Borders.

3:27 - START OF SECOND HALF

3:31 - REF ON THE PHONE

3:47 - FULL TIME: One-Nil, Soccer Without Borders.

The older team is up now. They look pretty formidable from the side line. This looks to be a much more interesting match. Although the younger teams have skill, they lack structure and creativity in their play. Hopefully this will be a better match.

3:54 - GAME ON: Much better play already.

3:57 - GOAL: Ronald, captain for SWB, has lobbed over the keeper from 40 yards out.

4:01 - Strong shot from the right winger for SWB, equally strong save from Juve Namasuba. The striker was unable to convert off the rebound.

4:10 - COW CROSSING TIMEOUT: Apparently, some farmer felt that NOW was the best time for his cows to cross the field.

4:16 - Shot from Juve Namasuba goes dangerously wide. The striker had the keeper caught out, he just couldn't quite keep the chip on target.

4:20 - HALF TIME: One-Nil, Soccer Without Borders.

4:23 - START OF SECOND HALF: After a quick break, the game is back on.

4:28 - SECOND AND FINAL COW CROSSING TIMEOUT: The farmer has no remaining timeouts.

Although this ref has not blown the whistle nearly as much as the first ref, he has mad some pretty horrible offsides calls.

4:45 - Corner kick for SWB. Well placed into the center of the box. A SWB midfielder got a head on it and put it on goal, but it glanced off the corner of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

4:47 - GOAL: The SWB right winger put in a strong shot on goal, which the keeper parried away, but only as far as the top of the box where the SWB striker was able to control the ball, dribble around a defender, and bury it in the center of the net. (Actually, there are no nets... consider it a figure of speech...)

4:48 - FULL TIME: Two-Nil, Soccer Without Borders

"What is the feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing?-it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
-Kerouac, On the Road

I wish I could say that Ndejje is exactly how I expected it. The dirt roads and brick buildings (which, by American standards for size and floor plan, are more similar to sheds) are what I thought I would see, but the sheer beauty of the place I am living in could never have been described in any book, movie, article, or first hand account before I got here. It is hard to think that I am going to be living here for 10 months, mainly because it is all so new.

Ndejje is a quiet little town nestled in the side of a lush hill. All of the roads and paths are made of compacted dirt and are nowhere close to flat. Taxi vans (the old taxi fleet donated from Japan) and Bota-bota's (taxi motorcycles) are constantly zipping by on the usually single lane road. Negotiating the incredibly uneven terrain while dodging taxis Frogger style makes walking down the road pretty challenging, but fun in some weird way.

The people here are some of the friendliest that I've ever met. Some still need a little more time to warm up to the new "Mzungus" (white folks) in town -- others are just plain rude -- but the majority of the people have been very inviting from the start. Every time you walk down the street, you feel like George Clooney. Everyone stares as you walk by, or at least steals a glance after they've past you. The kids never get tired of chanting, "Mzungu, How are you?!" or "Mzungu, Bye!" (there isn't a word for Hello in Luganda, the local language) It will be interesting to see if this will get annoying or if I will be able to tune it out eventually. I'm sure the lack of anonymity will be a challenge.

Until next time,
Adam

The Rough Start

*Originally written while waiting in O'Hare International on 8/3/10, unfortunately over Starbucks Coffee...*

For the first time in my life, I hate being at the airport.  Usually, I have a short vacation or quick visit to friends/relatives just around the corner for me.  Usually, I love watching the planes come in, watching old men argue baseball between flights, watching kids hope from black tile to black tile making sure that they don't touch the white tiles--just watching.  Not this time.  This time I'm not going down to Texas to see Uncle Doug and Aunt Dawn for the week.  I'm not going to visit Sarah while she studies in Barcelona.  I'm going halfway across the globe on a once in a lifetime trip that is just as exciting as it is terrifying, life-changing as it is a complete halt to life as I know it.

If only there WOULD have been traffic on the way in to O'Hare like my mother had warned.  Then, I wouldn't have these three extra hours to stew over what's to come in this limbo that is no longer home and not yet there.  What's worse, there is no way for me to get in contact with anyone else while I wait, seeing as I no longer have my phone and I don't feel like paying the ridiculous amount of $1.00/2 min for a pay-phone.  So I'm left only with my thoughts of how exactly I'm going to live for the next ten months.

As the coffee kicks in and my head starts to clear, I'm wondering if the worst is behind me.  The cord has been cut.  There is no turning back now, since I've come too far to back down from the adventure.  I still can't focus on anything else going on around me.  I can only wonder what I will be like afterwards.

IT STARTS...

Training in Oakland has officially started for SWB. I have met the two girls that I am going to be living in Uganda with, and they are awesome. We have spent the past day and a half learning about what our jobs are going to be while we are working with SWB. We have also been teaching/coaching/playing tag at the SWB Oakland Refugee kids soccer camp. I don't want to spend too much time writing today, but I just wanted everyone to know that I have safely made it to Oakland. I will post again in the next couple days as I start to learn more of the specifics for my trip.

-Adam

Departure

The day has finally come. After a weekend of gorging myself on brats, cheese, and good Wisconsin beer, I now have to finish packing for the next 10 months. By taking the bare essentials that I will need while I'm in Uganda, I know that there are many things that I can't take with me, most off which can't even be packed.

I can't bring my family with me. I know that I will form a new family with my fellow SWB volunteers and with the locals of Ndejje, but it can never replace the one I'm leaving behind. At the same time, I could never go on this adventure without knowing that I have such great support behind me at home. The kindness that you have all shown me through your support over the past 6 months is what has helped me prepare myself mentally for my trip.

I can't bring my friends with me. At times, friends can seem closer than family. Although I have gotten some questioning looks when I've told certain friends that I want to go to Africa for 10 months, I know that under that scepticism you have all been excited for me and supported my decision. I hope that you will all stay connected with me while I'm gone, and you better all be ready to celebrate my return come June!

Although I still have to make a pit stop in Cali for training, I will be in Uganda by the 10th. I will try to made an update post over the next couple of days while I find out more info about the specifics of my living condition and of my trip.

Until next time.

-Adam