Hakuna Matata Mzungu

“No worries white person.” What a wonderful phrase.  My boda boda (motorcycle) driver told me this yesterday.  Except I wasn’t riding on the back of the motorcycle down the dusty streets of Iganga… I was driving the motorcycle.  I was on my way to pick up Emma, an 18 year old that just got his visa to come to the good ol’ US of A to get a much needed double hip replacement.  This kid is pretty amazing and yesterday it was my job as an aunt to take him to his boarding school and pick up his belongings so he could make the journey back to Colorado in 2 weeks.  As I was pulling out of Musana to pick up Emma from our house my boda driver asked if I wanted to drive.  I replied very excitedly with a YES SABO! (yes sir) and he slammed on the brakes and stopped outside of the gates and insisted we switch places.   As I kicked into what I would like to call “gear number… FAST” I was getting nervous and his response was “Hakuna Matata my Mzungu”.   I must say…  I may need to trade in the Saturn for a motorcycle, it was really that fun. 

This whole past week has been one large representation of the true meaning of Hakuna Matata or no worries.  To start off, Rebecca, the fly-booger child that is new to Musana is also a linguist.  She knows 5 to 6 different languages.  Rebecca is only 6 years old.  So when talking to us she often uses the phrases “I love you soooo much,” as well as hakuna matata (which is swahili) as I hold her on my back. 

Last Tuesday, we regrettably said our goodbyes to Auntie Maura.  Sunday, was Auntie Jill. I miss them so much already!  Our community that has been here the past couple of weeks has been nothing short of fantastic.  We all get along so well and I’m sad that the first group that was here when I arrived is now back in the states, they were all SO wonderful and I feel blessed that we have all met over here and can carry with us a bond that few can understand.  All the while, we have 11 new people coming in the next week making for a VERY busy Auntie Lindsay and a really exciting frat house or KKV!

This past week has also been pretty relaxing.  I have gotten really comfortable living this way and Iganga definitely feels a lot like my home this summer.  Last week I had to remind myself of being in the no worries mind set a couple of times.

Examples:

-I reminded myself hakuna matata when I was conversing in broken Lusoga with a woman selling me an avocado.  I was talking to her baby when OUT OF NOWHERE the one year old pulls a knife from under the counter.  Umm… WHAT?!?! His mom was just as shocked as I was.  I laughed and backed away with my 15 cent avocado in hand.

- I don’t think I have mentioned this before but, Uganda has it’s own clock.  Every time I am asked to be somewhere to meet someone or to attend something at school it typically happens 2 hours later than planned.  Ugandans walk slower, work slower, worry less and move at a pace that is hard to adjust to but, at the same time, really great and often comical in my book.  I have seen some fellow Americans have a really difficult time adjusting to this new clock and time schedule, I think it’s great.  No worries. 

-The Day of the African Child was Thursday.  This meant the kids had somewhat of a free day from school and were treated by the town council to lunch and they got to be in a mini parade.  I walked with the kids around town and enjoyed lounging with them in the shade at lunch. 

-Friday was my return to paradise.  Andrea, Leah, Zach, Brian, Jill, Brenda and I left for Sipi Falls that morning.  Sipi is a series of 3 waterfalls on Mount Elgon outside of Mbale that is stunningly beautiful.  We stayed at a lodge that had 3 great meals and amazing views of the sunset.  I concluded shortly after arriving there for my second time in a year that it really is my favorite place on earth.  Forget Disney World, it’s also the happiest place on earth.  The laughs, adventures and reading time I got in 24 hours was really satisfying.  Sipi is the definition of a no worries lifestyle. 

- Another example of no worries… finishing 3 books this week and being half way through my next 400 pager.  

- No worries lesson number 34235: taxi riding or Matatus.  I’ve ridden on my fair share of them now.  What they are: large vans that the crazy mom from that show “26 kids and counting” drives.  They comfortably hold 12-14 and are legally licensed for 14.  Most of the time they average 17 or 18  not wearing seatbelts, full grown adults.  This does not include the crying babies, goats, chickens or large bags of coal that are squished into the matatus that smell strongly of body odor.  When we were on our way to and from Sipi I got my entertainment from observing the taxi park that we waited in for well over an hour as our driver was insisting we did not leave until our car was full.  Let’s just say it’s a good thing the volunteers like each other because things get pretty comfy in those vans. Often, the drivers must get a running start of someone pushing the van to get it going.  When driving up mountain roads the matatus struggle quite a bit.

-Another time I have to chill out: during the cockroaches and mice hide and seek games I always lose.  They are everywhere.  I don’t want to get graphic but I may or may not have relieved my bladder onto one of the roaches that climbed into our squatty potty at the house.  I probably woke everyone up because I was so proud of my accomplishment (and aim). 

-Today, (I always write my blogs on word processors and copy them, sometimes I get a little behind sorry!) Included picking up 2 new volunteers and then I danced.  Basically everywhere I went today.  The teachers included me into their song and dances with the kids for competitions they are preparing for, I got more hoots and hollers than Taylor Swift at the Pepsi Center. It was incredible.  Little Bella has a wicked case of Malaria right now so I served as a pillow when I wasn’t dancing.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) our house grows by 7… bring on the fun!

It’s hard to not to feel relaxed and at home when you are with these kids.  Yesterday I splashed in the pouring rain barefoot with Bella holding hands and laughing.  Things here are simple, easy, African, and fun.  I have my homesick moments of wanting to be home for father’s day (I love you dad!) Or really wanting chocolate milk but that passes with a reminder that I feel like I am exactly where God wants me to be.  I am relaxed and living life as a no worries white girl.

  

Correction: a no worries white girl that now knows how to drive a motorcycle. BAM.