6.30.09
Because you are my family and friends who have supported me through all my adventures, I feel like honesty is the best route. I am extremely frustrated with certain aspects of living in a very foreign land. In my previous blog I addressed some of this frustration.
I have never been the target of racism until yesterday. While walking home from Musana a little boy ran up and hit me with a stick and yelled “vieyo mzungu” (go away white person). I pray for patience and understanding. The children at Musana are incredible. Each and every one of them is respectful and kind. They regularly serve us lunch and bring tea to the volunteers. My heart sunk when I saw myself grow bitter towards the children I see on my walk everyday. And then it hit me. The actions of one person can impact someone’s view on that entire group of people. Was I going to let a few people negatively shape my view of a country that I love? Later that day I had to walk home carrying our pet monkey, Rasta. The entire walk home I had around 30 children who were pulling my hair, grabbing at me, pulling Rasta’s rope, and trying to take Rasta from me. All the noise and commotion scared Rasta. When Rasta gets scared she tends to bite on her rope, but with the kids holding the rope she resorted to biting me. My hand was bleeding and I was on the verge of tears. I had been yelling at the children saying “vieyo” and “waylaba” (go away and goodbye) but they still would not leave me alone. When I got home they were banging on our gate. I was so angry at them that I could not even say hello this morning. But with my anger towards them also come anger towards myself. My desire is not to be bitter towards a group of people that I love, but to show them love even in the hardest situations. I will not allow the actions of others to determine mine.
Last weekend I went to Kampala to visit an organization that I worked for last year. I was extremely excited to see a little boy named Kevin who I had bonded with the previous year. After I had left he gave a note for me to another volunteer. The note broke my heart. He told me that he missed and loved me. As we were driving to the orphanage my heart ached. What if he didn’t remember me? Some of the kids develop anger towards a volunteer that they had been close with after they leave them. I was worried that would be Kevin and I. Earlier that day, during my taxi ride to Kampala, my friend Susie called me. After I was done telling her how excited I was to see Kevin she said “Annie, there is something I need to tell you”. My heart skipped a beat. Was this Susie telling me that Kevin didn’t remember me? Instead she told me that Kevin had recognized her and was asking about me each time she had seen him. During what seemed like the longest car ride to the orphanage ever, I worried if he would recognize me with my new brown hair (which by the way is rapidly lighting due to the sun, I have highlights now). Our van pulled into the gates of the kids home. I could see Kevin watching us arrive and looking to see if I was there. The moment I saw him, his face light up. He had not forgotten me at all. When we had to leave both Kevin and I were crying. I told him that I love him and kissed his forehead goodbye. As our van pulled out we cried and waved goodbye. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye. But I know I will have other opportunities to see him while I am here. If only I was older and could adopt him! Kevin reminds me so much of my friend Adam from home. They are around the same age and act very similar!
Well that’s all for now!
Want to send me reeses? Or lemon heads? I would love you forever and ever!
Sending love from Africa,
Annie
Because you are my family and friends who have supported me through all my adventures, I feel like honesty is the best route. I am extremely frustrated with certain aspects of living in a very foreign land. In my previous blog I addressed some of this frustration.
I have never been the target of racism until yesterday. While walking home from Musana a little boy ran up and hit me with a stick and yelled “vieyo mzungu” (go away white person). I pray for patience and understanding. The children at Musana are incredible. Each and every one of them is respectful and kind. They regularly serve us lunch and bring tea to the volunteers. My heart sunk when I saw myself grow bitter towards the children I see on my walk everyday. And then it hit me. The actions of one person can impact someone’s view on that entire group of people. Was I going to let a few people negatively shape my view of a country that I love? Later that day I had to walk home carrying our pet monkey, Rasta. The entire walk home I had around 30 children who were pulling my hair, grabbing at me, pulling Rasta’s rope, and trying to take Rasta from me. All the noise and commotion scared Rasta. When Rasta gets scared she tends to bite on her rope, but with the kids holding the rope she resorted to biting me. My hand was bleeding and I was on the verge of tears. I had been yelling at the children saying “vieyo” and “waylaba” (go away and goodbye) but they still would not leave me alone. When I got home they were banging on our gate. I was so angry at them that I could not even say hello this morning. But with my anger towards them also come anger towards myself. My desire is not to be bitter towards a group of people that I love, but to show them love even in the hardest situations. I will not allow the actions of others to determine mine.
Last weekend I went to Kampala to visit an organization that I worked for last year. I was extremely excited to see a little boy named Kevin who I had bonded with the previous year. After I had left he gave a note for me to another volunteer. The note broke my heart. He told me that he missed and loved me. As we were driving to the orphanage my heart ached. What if he didn’t remember me? Some of the kids develop anger towards a volunteer that they had been close with after they leave them. I was worried that would be Kevin and I. Earlier that day, during my taxi ride to Kampala, my friend Susie called me. After I was done telling her how excited I was to see Kevin she said “Annie, there is something I need to tell you”. My heart skipped a beat. Was this Susie telling me that Kevin didn’t remember me? Instead she told me that Kevin had recognized her and was asking about me each time she had seen him. During what seemed like the longest car ride to the orphanage ever, I worried if he would recognize me with my new brown hair (which by the way is rapidly lighting due to the sun, I have highlights now). Our van pulled into the gates of the kids home. I could see Kevin watching us arrive and looking to see if I was there. The moment I saw him, his face light up. He had not forgotten me at all. When we had to leave both Kevin and I were crying. I told him that I love him and kissed his forehead goodbye. As our van pulled out we cried and waved goodbye. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye. But I know I will have other opportunities to see him while I am here. If only I was older and could adopt him! Kevin reminds me so much of my friend Adam from home. They are around the same age and act very similar!
Well that’s all for now!
Want to send me reeses? Or lemon heads? I would love you forever and ever!
Sending love from Africa,
Annie
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