The road to the equator was pretty busy. They are doing construction (putting pavement on the dirt) so there was a lot of traffic since we had to come to a stop as they moved trucks around. I fell asleep on the way there and actually got a little sunburned while driving to the equator with the window in the bus open. Once we got to the equator I was surprised to see how little was built up around it. There were shops lining either side of the street, but only about 10 on each side and a little restaurant. When we were taking our photos in front of the sign a little boy was sitting under a bush watching us with an empty coke bottle in his hand. He was asking if we had any water. I grabbed my huge bottle out of my backpack and filled it to the top for him. I couldn't believe it. Here we are coming to his neighborhood with our big bus and fancy cameras to take a picture in front of a sign and then leave, while he is living there watching this probably on the daily just hoping to get some clean water. I bought a scarf and some pants for Zach that will hopefully go to support this community that so happened to be built up around this tourist attraction.
When we first got to the equator the tour guide there gave us a short demonstration to show the different ways that the water swirls when falling toward the earth in the northern and southern hemisphere as well as directly on the equator. It was insane! Clockwise one way, counterclockwise the other side and straight down on the line. Mind blown. I love this planet.
After some time at the equator we hoped back in our car to headed toward our Ugandan teacher, Jjemba's village. Jjemba and his wife Sylvia have started their own dance center for the children in their village. Sylvia said they started the center (NIT) as a way to keep the children from committing crimes as a way to stay busy doing other things. She mentioned when she first started to teach them dance she would give them breaks for lunch so that they could go home and eat, but few of the kids would leave. They wanted to stay until evening because there was nothing for them to go home to. A lot of the parents of these children work in the cities away from the village during the week and don't come home until Saturday so these kids literally have to find food and take care of themselves all week. Also this "center" that they started is their home. They have them at their house and in their yard to learn dance and hang out, they don't have a separate meeting place. They have opened their home to these children. I guess a few years ago they were robbed. Someone came into their home and took their laptop, money, and everything. They said how hard it was to start up again after that since they had put so much into the program. They didn't trust the children anymore and started to blame them. The children said it wasn't them and kept showing up at their gate in hopes to continue to dance and after a few weeks Sylvia said she couldn't say no anymore and opened it back up. The children said they were investigating the robbery, but it doesn't sound like anything came out of it. Since then they have a new laptop and have lifted their spirits and look to be in a good place. She gave us three cd's of traditional Ugandan music and we each donated toward their center as a thank you for the gift and welcome.
When we first arrived we had to park the bus at the bottom of a big hill. The road was too uneven and narrow for the bus to make it up so we walked it instead. They had a huge appetizer feast waiting for us of jackfruit, mangos, passion fruit, peanuts and pineapple. I have NEVER had fruit so good in my entire life. The pineapple was like a dream and the juiciest sweetest thing ever. The jackfruit is my new obsession and I could literally eat it all day. It is the most bizarre looking fruit especially when you see it growing on the trees. It's about the size of a big beehive, but it is green with a bumpy surface. I had never had passion fruit before in my life and it is my new favorite food. It reminded me of candy. It was super sweet but then a little sour. Mmm, heavenly. Oh and the peanuts are an entirely different experience. They were served on a plate and looked like the kind of peanuts we have just a little smaller. The shells are very similar and you just pinch it to get to the nut. Once you do though and have that first bite you'll never want a roasted peanut again. It was moist and soft and that may sound disgusting, but it was so fresh and delicious I couldn't stop eating them!
After our appetizer we watched the group of dancers perform a traditional dance. They really know how to shake it here including the boys. Also the drumming was phenomenal. They were performing on a stage that Jjemba has set up on his property, and by stage it is really like an amphitheater since there were on the bottom level of the property with different levels of yard surround it like bleachers in a sense. While we are sitting on woven mats eating our appetizer, watching these incredible young (around 13 years old) dancers, there were turkeys, chickens, a kitten, and dog just walking around. Also a lot of younger children with little toys, a tricycle, and a swing they were playing on was off to the side. The weather was beautiful and sunny and since we had to walk up the hill to his home the view beyond his fence was incredible. What an experience.
After they danced we had lunch, which they made for us. I don't remember what everything was called, but it was delicious and I was full after! As we ate we moved around so that we would be mixed with some of the dancers that had just performed. I found myself sitting next to the nicest 13 year old girl. I couldn't understand her name that well, but I know it starts with a J. Luckily, she will be coming to our workshop this week at the ballet school so I'll be able to get her name then. I asked all about her life and family. She walks an hour each direction to get to school which has her leaving every morning at 6am and not returning until 5pm. At that time she comes to NIT and dances from 5-7 before being sent home for the evening. She has younger siblings and an older sister, but she left them at home so that she could come perform for us. After we had finished eating I walked over to a large group of dancers and as soon as I sat down I noticed my friend had followed me and sat with me. We all talked a bit more about dance, school, their families, home life, and took a picture.
As people started to finish their lunches we went back to the stage to teach them some "western" dance. I taught my friend some simple ballet moves with her arms and a plie and she loved it! We took a group photo and had to leave before it got dark since the roads here at night are pretty dangerous. There aren't street lamps and so a lot of accidents happen especially since the roads aren't all paved, even if they are they aren't always well done. My friend walked me out of the lot, down the steep hill, and to the door of the bus all while holding my hand. It was hard to say goodbye, but Sylvia said she would be at our classes this week so that made it easier to let go.
On the way home we drove a different way then we came since we were taking a more direct route than going by the equator. We drove by some slums that I had yet to see since I had been here. After leaving my friend at her village and then seeing the conditions of these homes I became overwhelmed with emotion. I couldn't help but have a moment and shed some tears with looking at the living conditions. All I could think was how did I get to be so lucky to be born in America to a family with plenty of money to provide me with food for every meal, a warm bed every night, and countless other things and opportunities that these people will never have. I tried to put myself in their shoes and couldn't do it. I have no idea what it would be like. I can see it with my eyes, but I have no idea. I don't think I will ever forget what I saw on our drive home tonight.
After we got home and got showered we went next door to the Mackinnon Suites and had dinner. It was me, Krissy, Gaspare, Mariana, and Kunal. We weren't sure what kind of food they would have, but it turns out it was one of the best Indian food I have ever had. The contrast of good and bad here is so dramatic. I can be laughing so hard my abs hurt, and then in tears with my heart in my throat.
Tomorrow we start working with the kids, which means waking up early. Time to get ready for bed!
My new best friend during lunch
Some of the dancers
All of us in front of their stage
Equator
Sharing water with a local boy
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