Karalyn Jones Adjusts to Life in Uganda

Revista: How was your training and subsequent flight to Uganda?  Jones: I spent three days in New York City training at the headquarters of OCA.  Because volunteers were being sent all over Africa, a very diverse continent, it was impossible for our instructors to provide country-relevant cultural training.  Nonetheless, it was essential to lower the ethnic barriers we all have and to focus on cultural exchanges and building bridges of understanding.   My 20-hour flight from New York to Entebbe, Uganda was on June 22.  We had a stay over in Dubai, Saudi Arabia.  Finally, I got to Mbale.  The first few days were spent in additional training.  The Foundation of Development for Needy Communities (FDNC) administered my second round of training. In actuality, this was the only part of my trip that was set in stone.  This has allowed me to have many impromptu interactions with the FDNC staff and students, the marketplace, my neighbors and anyone else I spontaneously meet, providing me an incredible array of encounters with the residents of Mbale. 

For instance, I developed a relationship with a woman who lives near the FDNC training center.  She invited me to a service at her church.  When I entered the church, all the children rushed up to greet me.  I guess, I was somewhat of a novelty being the only Muzungo (local dialect, called Lugisu, for either foreigner or white person) in attendance.   

Revista: Once you completed your training, how is your day spent?  Jones: The first task that I had was to make bricks for the purpose of making shelters.  It was a two-day process because it was essential that the mud-bricks I made were made properly as people would be living inside the shelters that were made from my bricks.  Once my work was approved, I made bricks for about a week and a half.  For many hours a day I interact with the indigenous people.  Many of the residents of Mbale can converse in at least limited English.  What I find amazing is how much they know about Americans and American politics.  In addition, locals have the most interesting stories.  None of their lives are typical or similar to mine.  All of them have experienced either tragedy or manipulation due to the political and social strife they have endured. 

Revista: What are your fondest experiences to date? Jones:  I love how the pace is so much slower here.  There is so much to a day that I, as an American, miss due to the hustle and bustle of my life.  One of my favorite moments here is watching people’s faces light up as I greet them as I pass, especially the elderly people.  Beautiful grins spread across their faces and they holler out after me in response to my greeting.  My fondest memory is the breathtaking countryside.  There is a mountain in the distance called Mount Wanale;

I’ve taken to calling it ‘My Mountain’.  I have come to understand how communities claim that a mountain protects them.  I almost imagine that “My Mountain’ protects me. 

Contact Miss Jones through a blog setup by UH-V through a link at their web site www.uhv.edu/jonesjourney.