Introducing Kenti

We spent the day in Kitooha on Friday. Kitooha is a very hilly parish that we have not spent much time at in the past. We went there to deliver a meat buck for the group to use and also to treat the goats that we passed out on Monday. When we arrived, all the ladies from the parish were collected at the church. We were very confused as to why because we were just supposed to drop the goat off and treat some other animals at the respective owner's homes. Instead, we created a makeshift agenda on the spot and held a parish meeting. We were still confused as to why there was such a big turnout for our arrival. During the meeting, we were served Bruschera, which is a fermented millet drink. It kind of tastes like liquid sour cream. I cant say whether I like it or not because I take it whenever it is offered. We talked about some future plans for the parish and then left to treat the goats. We walked around the hills/mountains, treating goats. Luckily it was a cool day. When we arrived back at the church, we were instructed to go into the church. They set up a table and served us food. They prepared beef and matoke and gave us soda. This is a HUGE deal in this parish because many of the women have no access to water themselves, let alone being able to buy soda for us. Serving meat is also a very big deal because beef especially is very expensive. The gesture was amazing and we realised that they were thanking us for the work we had been doing for them (although it has been very little) and for the work that we will be doing in the future. When we had finished eating, we passed out the meat buck who we named Kenti, after Dr. Kent who left Uganda a couple days earlier. Of course, we took photos (I will upload soon) and everyone was very happy. In the meantime, all the school children from nearby had collected in a circle around us because they saw muzungus and wanted to know what was going on. We were just getting ready to leave when one woman brought a bench outside. We were told to sit. Another woman brought out an empty jerry can and a stick. She began to use it as a drum, and the women began to sing. They performed a traditional Ugandan dance for us...it was awesome!!! Near the end, the woman invited the school children to dance with then and they did. As everyone was dancing, I was feeling particularly brave, ran in and joined the group. They ladies and children were SOOOO happy to have me dancing with them. They began hugging me and shaking my hands like crazy. The children kept touching me because they were curious to know what a muzungu felt like. It was a really amazing experience. The best part is I got it all on video!!! Afterwards, one of the women said that she was really happy to have us working in her parish. She said had always thought that whites would want to segregate themselves from the locals. She was suprised that we were happy to take her food and drink, and better yet that we interacted with them on a personal level. I was suprised to hear her say that, but I was also saddened by the fact that she had reason to say that. Interacting with the local people in Uganda has been the highlight of my travels thus far. It has been a priceless experience!!!