Oftentimes during long local government meetings, a participant will make a grand statement that includes a wise proverb. The proverb may offer a conclusion to an extended debate or add salience to a point. Usually, I don’t quite understand the history, context, or language of the statement and stare blankly as the room erupts in either knowing nods or chuckles. My blank stare often morphs into a daydream about proverbs I’d invent based on my year in Uganda. Here are some (certainly less wise) proverbs (actually, they’re more like lessons learned and anecdotes) I’ve come up with for the new fellows:
With every long-distance matatu ride comes a crying baby
The ride is bumpy, dusty, and loud–I don’t blame any baby for being irritable in a cross-country matatu journey. What I can guarantee, should you chose to step foot into a matatu heading from Kabale to Kampala, is that a crying baby will be joining you for the ride. The best time to practice your Still Harbor-taught meditation skills is now.
Storkings shall occur when you expect them least
Quickly becoming a 2012-2013 Uganda fellow tradition, a “storking,” or creepy caress of the face mimicking a maribou stork pouch, will inevitably occur when three or more fellows are together and one momentarily lets his or her guard down. This and other bizarre antics will characterize your social life as a fellow.
Adventure is size that fits all
Whether it’s conducting a matatu*, spontaneously investing in a piggery venture*, frantically motorcycling after a bus to catch your ride to Rwanda*, or falling for a man who literally lives in the middle of the forest*, adventure will find you this year. *Uganda fellows
The macarena, chicken dance, and hokey-pokey shall come in handy
After a final car breakdown on a camping trip out west, a group of us found ourselves in a roadside village. As we stumbled out to assess the situation, we met the gaze of approximately thirty children looking expectantly at the four of us. ‘Do something interesting,’ they seemed to be conveying. So, Sivan and I latched on to the critical bits of American culture we could share in that moment–the hokey pokey, followed by the macarena, and then the chicken dance. The international language of looking ridiculous was an instant success and soon we were learning local dances from the kids, laughing, playing, and turning a car breakdown into a great day. American fellows: have these cultural gems on hand.
A CAO who eats grass is actually a cow
A local government’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is sort of like the governor of a district. The title’s acronym is pronounced “cow.” I remember a moment along a busy road in Kampala months ago when my co-Fellow Latifah exclaimed, “Look! There’s a cow crossing the road!” Without hesitation I replied, “Oh, from which district?”–clearly thinking she was referring to a CAO. This joke is not only hilarious to me–I’ve heard plenty of CAOs themselves crack this one. Fellows working on governance projects: enjoy!
Unsurprisingly, it looks like my daydreamed proverbs are similarly themed: don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s wise to find a way to embrace humor because this line of work can be mentally exhausting and soul-wrenching. What keeps me productive, upbeat, and hopeful is a therapeutic dose of laughter. So, along with a few tablets of Cipro, store up a healthy batch of laughter medication this year.
