Where in the world is Brittany??

Lately, I've been getting a lot of questions from Rotaractors via Facebook "Are you still in UG?" "Where are you?" "It says you're in Bukoto, are you lost?".  And the ones that I run into in Kampala ask "why are you still here?" Well, I can understand why they're asking these questions, for the most part. I've been MIA (Missing In Action) from Rotary events this past month or so. That's because I wanted to do some other exploring in Kampala, see a different side.  I've come to learn over the years that volunteering is the best way to learn about different issues. So, I decided to volunteer sans Rotary.

I originally wanted to volunteer at Mulago Hospital and see burn victims or children and hand out things to encourage them, whether that was a Bible, books, or something of that nature. But I realized that my friend has a charity that I keep hearing about in church, at Sunday lunches, at Bible studies, and even from my flatmate. So, I decided to check it out. I was really inspired and so happy that I decided to go. I was a little uneasy at first, but now I've come to realize how much it's a great thing and want to continue to be a part of it.

My friend and her husband have a charity called Tomorrow's Heroes. It's a program for the street boys of Kampala. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I volunteer to teach P2 English and Math with the boys. I was a little nervous at first cause I have no background in teaching, but after a while, I've come to enjoy it. This is what has been occupying my time for the past month. I've come to realize how much I want to help in Uganda and it extends past just volunteering on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I've also come to realize the other part of Kampala outside of Rotary events and Rotarians. It is amazing to see how affluent Rotarians can be, but a teenage boy or girl on the streets or slum lives in such a tough living condition that the rest of Kampala doesn't seem to realize or it goes ignored.

Although it is such a joy to teach the boys, play football with them, and even dance with them during Bible talk and worship, there are certainly challenges that cannot be ignored. Many times I wonder "where do these boys sleep?" (my friend who runs the charity has a system of placing them in homes or resettlement into their previous home). Other questions are "how often do they eat?" "what if they get hurt one day? What happens?" Their environment often times is worse than people from the West would expect, but it has definitely changed my perspective to see this first hand. I walked through a slum one time with one of the uncle's and some of the other teachers. It wasn't scary, no, I've gotten used to seeing many people live in some tough conditions. It was just sad once you realize that the young boy you were just teaching English to, that has that bright smile every morning, comes from a home like this that barely one person can live in,  yet he shares it with many people.

Since I've come to Uganda, my heart for children has really expanded and I have such a pressing need to help them. Everyday, I wonder how I can help them and if I should come back after the summer to help them. Who knows if I'll come back so soon. But I am certain that I will do so much to help the youth in Kampala and eventually expand it to all of Uganda. I know many  scholars go back home and get jobs or further their education once they finish their scholarship year, but I have a pressing desire and passion to help the youth in Uganda. They are, after all, the  next generation of leaders. So why not invest in them?

Please feel free to leave a comment or question. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at BCBennett11@gmail.com. If you would like more information on Tomorrow's Heroes, please visit the website or you can contact me as well.

Happy Birthday, Rotary International!!

On February 23, many Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors all over the world will be celebrating the 108th year of the commitment of Service Above Self. I have already been invited to various events happening in Kampala and even international events, such as the one my friend has put together in honor of Rotary International.

When my friend, *Eileen, first approached me about sending pictures of service projects from Uganda, I was a bit skeptical and was a little confused, I'll admit. But, being the awesome and persistent young woman she is, she continued to send me Facebook invites to an international event for Rotary. I checked out the page and was totally inspired by what I saw. Eileen and some of her friends put together an album of 108 Random Acts of Kindness as way to way "Happy Birthday, Rotary International!" I couldn't resist sending in a few pictures of Rotaractors and Interactors in Uganda doming some pretty amazing things from medical outreaches to the rural islands in Lake Victoria, to planting trees near Entebbe, Uganda. Other Rotaractors sent in pictures of them donating blood, or plans for their club to have a big party on that day.

I haven't fully decided how I'm going to celebrate 108 years of Rotary International, but I do want to start off with giving my friend an opportunity to talk about this awesome project. She agreed to answer a few of my questions, and allow me to advertise her project on my blog. Here is my attempt at being a journalist:

Me: What does Rotary International mean to you?
Eileen: To me, Rotary is friendship through service, friendship without borders! Rotary makes my life worth something; it has made my life so colorful. I have met amazing people and have traveled to the most exotic places. I have given back to the community in ways I never imagined I could. Rotary has helped me acquire invaluable skills and shaped me into a leader of today and tomorrow.

Me: Awesome! Why did you choose to do this for Rotary's birthday?
Eileen: Rotary's birthday is always a pretty big deal in my family. Last year, my Rotaract Club and I threw a huge birthday party at our school and then made enough money to fund a whole orphanage with enough art and sport supplies for a year in Lima, Peru. I moved to DC and didn't know what to do. So then I was talking to my friends and we decided to rally up 108 people to donate blood. But then we figured, we should expand it to random acts of kindness. It's simple yet effective. Using social media, we can get everyone involved. It's also a great way to get a little peak at what different Rotarians/Rotaractors/Interactors are doing in their communities, at home or abroad!

Me: Love it!...you are amazing! I hope you know that
Eileen: Haha, OMG please! You are way cooler!
Me: LOL. No, seriously, this is an awesome project that you and your friends came up with. Rotarians and Rotaractors ask me all the time what people from the US do for projects, and this is just perfect! Also shows the importance of new generations!
Eileen: NEW GENNNN!!!

The excitement of my friend and other Rotaractos that I have crossed paths with shows just how important New Generations is to the Rotary Family. As Rotaractors and Interactors, we are here to  show the many different ways in which Rotary can expand and promote cultural understanding. Whether it's through service projects, Global Scholars/Ambassadorial Scholars, or partnering clubs. All of which inspire and grow the next generation of Rotarians and world leaders.

So with this post, I want to say... Happy 108th Birthday, Rotary International. You have changed so many people's lives for the better, and continue to do so for many more years to come.

*Eileen Cho is a member of the Rotaract Club of Metro Washington D.C. and a student at American University in Washington D.C. studying Public Health.

Confessions of an African American Mzungu: The Ugandan view on Afro American Culture

Happy Black History Month!

It's that time of the year when African Americans in Canada and the U.S. start to celebrate and remember the unique past of being an African American. I knew it was something mainly celebrated by Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. to an extent; however, many Ugandans don't know about it or they have a pretty interesting view of what it means. I have taken it upon myself to enlighten some Ugandans about the African American Culture because I've come to realize that they believe what they see in music videos and bad press.

First point: Our culture is not our religion
One Rotaractor asked me if I was fasting for this month. I was a bit confused by that statement at first (since he was trying to brag that he was eating lunch at the time), and I had to explain that it's quite a secular month that is meant to remember, celebrate, and even discuss important topics in the Afro American culture. I then realized that in Uganda, many people confuse Culture and Religion (my research is clarifying this point exactly!). I had to explain to some Ugandans that not all Black people are Christian or even Muslim. The United States is a diverse country with everything under the sun. This month is meant to pay tribute to all of those that we feel have made an advancement in American History and for African Americans (i.e. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Cornell West, Pauly Murray, etc.).

Second point: The N word is still an offensive word
While at RYLA-Uganda, I had a rotaractor discover that I was African American and she proceeded to talk to me about how rude Black people are and how we don't appreciate anything. Instead of saying "Black people" or "African Americans", she said the N word. I know people hear this word in movies and music over here and think that all Afro Americans use the term, but that's not the case. That word has a bad history to it, and although there seems to be a group of Afro Americans that still use it even in joking terms, saying that word to me in that context isn't apporpriate. AND as for the rudeness of Black people, you can find rude people anywhere, it all depends on where you're going. Please don't classify a group of based on a few that you may have encountered. That's a universal lesson.

Third point: For the most part, we don't dress or talk like that...
Another interesting thing I observed and was a bit offended by at RYLA-Uganda was the fashion show of cultures. The young men went on stage and said they were from the hood and were trying to "talk ghetto" and the girls were wearing skimpy skirts (like what you would see in a music video about going to the club). I laughed it off mainly, but when I had rotaractors coming up to me saying "you don't have swag. Are you really African American?" I started to get a little offensive. I realized that they really do believe what they see in the music videos. Luckily, I was able to explain to a rotaractor that just like Ugandans get upset or offended when Americans bring up Idi Amin and classify Uganda based on the movie "The Last King of Scotland", African Americans get the same way when you think that we're all like what you see in music videos and movies.  But worry not, that's what I'm here for, to break those barriers and show Americans, African Americans, and Ugandan/East Africans that what is represented on TV is not necessarily true.

Fourth point: Similarities between Afro Americans and Africans
This point is mainly about Blacks in the States and Ugandans. I have come to realize many similarities as much as I've come to realize differences. Although some things are cultural, like family structure and  food, there are certain mannerisms that are quite similar. Dancing for example. Rotaractors seems to always be surprised that I know how to dance! I don't understand that really, and usually my joking response to them is "well, I'm black! It comes naturally!". In all seriousness though, the dancing style isn't that much different from what we do back in the States. That actually is a quite a relief to me!

These Confessions of an African American Mzungu are starting to become a little theme of mine, if you have anything that you would want to answer or further investigate, please let me know. I would be more than happy to include outsider questions to this mini-series.

Until next time, kuwa na siku njema!

Culture Shock!!!

It's been a while since I've written a post, I'm sorry about that. I've been trying to readjust to being back in Uganda. Who knew that two weeks back home could cause such a culture shock - in the U.S. and in Uganda. It seems that I walk to slow in the U.S. and walk too fast in Uganda. Differences like that seem to really standout. But! Since I've been back, I've been getting more involved that just Rotary/Rotaract events. I'm beginning to volunteer outside of Rotary with other organizations to promote Rotary/Rotaract as well as just to meet new people and see different parts of Uganda. There is one way that I have volunteered that promotes cultural understanding back in the states.

A year ago, at my scholar orientation, a woman from the World View - UNC at Chapel Hill offered the scholars an opportunity to be pen-pals with middle school and high school students in North Carolina. I was a bit reluctant at first, but decided that it would further my mission. So, after some months of coordinating with the teacher at a high school, the students had finally send me there first set of questions. Below, I've posted some of my responses. Now, for those that are in Uganda, keep in mind that I'm responding based on my own experiences and knowledge (which makes it even more interesting in my opinion). If you have anything to add, please feel free to contact me. :)

Here are some of the student's questions and my responses (I couldn't include the pictures):

3. What type of clothing do most people wear in Uganda?

Great question! People wear very similar clothes to what we wear in the States. Most of the clothes here are second hand from donations from countries like the U.S. and U.K. or even Europe.

There are traditional clothes for each tribe/kingdom. In the Buganda Kingdom, the traditional wear for women is the Gomez (pronounced “go-mezz-ee”). The men where a long tunic with a suit jacket, forgive me, I can’t actually spell the name of the outfit. It was inspired by the Arabs in the Northern part of Africa.

You would normally see these traditional outfits at weddings. Older women will wear the Gomez on a regular basis more so than younger women. The men will only wear their traditional clothes during a wedding or when going to the king (in Buganda, he is called the Kabaka – “Kaa-baa-kaa”).

5. What is the dominant religion in Uganda?

Another interesting question! Many people would assume that Uganda is a Muslim country because of Tanzania and Kenya (and even Somalia) having a large Muslim population; however, Uganda is predominately Catholic Christian – taking up 85% of the population.

However, Uganda tends to be quite a tolerant country to other religions. There is a big mosque in Kampala, as well as a Baha’i Temple (there are only 7 in the world), and many cathedrals. You will also find that there are many Hindu’s and Sikh’s in Uganda as well. There was a big migration of Indians to Uganda a while back. Even though Christianity is the dominate religion in Uganda, many of the public holidays are Christian and Islamic. Religion doesn’t seem to be a topic to cause people tension here, it is rather accepted that people have different beliefs.

 

6. What are you studying and why did you choose Uganda?

I have gotten this question for over a year now. Uganda is not a traditional place for anyone to further their education, I will admit that. However, my interest in international politics has lead me to a career in International Human Rights Law in Africa. So while here in Kampala, Uganda, I am conducting research in the fields of Law, Culture, and Human Rights with Makerere University, the oldest and biggest university in Uganda (established in 1922 during colonization for the elite Africans). For my research, I ask Ugandans (in rural areas as well as in the cities) questions about human rights, gender equality, and the effects of colonization within Uganda. I am using my research as a way to better understand the relationship between the state/nation, the people, and culture.

I selected Uganda while studying the political and civil liberties of each country in the Comparative Politics class at George Mason University. I realized that Uganda had little to no political and civil liberties, and I was curious as in why I had barely heard about Uganda in the news with the exception of the movie “The Last King of Scotland” and the Joseph Kony conflict in Northern Uganda. There were no terrorist alerts from the State Department, and there was no war in Uganda, but it was ranked as an unliberated country, much like Syria or Afghanistan. Oftentimes, the media does not focus on African nations unless there is a major war going on or major human rights violation, so I decided to spend a year in Uganda to discover why there weren’t any political and civil liberties. As well as create some solutions to some major issues that plague the country.

*Political rights are the rights to free speech, the right to assemble in a political group, and the right to vote.

 *Civil liberties are the right to a free trail, equality under the law, and the right to privacy.

 

 

Kwanzaa yangu ya kwanza

I’m started to prepare to go home for the holidays. Not all scholars choose to do this for one reason or another, but I think I need a little vacation.  Because I’m not a traditional student, if I were to stay in Kampala, I would ultimately continue to work on my research day and night as I am doing right now. So, I think this will be a great time to distress, relax and catch up with friends and family for a couple of weeks.

I have been getting some interesting questions regarding how Ugandans celebrate Christmas. I get asked “do they celebrate Kwanzaa?” “Is it a more African Christmas?” to which I just respond “no and no”. I can’t say I’m shocked at how Christmas is celebrated over here. It just seems so much like home – but hot like it’s summer time. Everyday seems to get a little hotter and I sweat more and more. I’m wearing more dresses and shorts due to the extreme heat and find myself getting dehydrated more often because of this as well. But when I go to Oasis or Garden City (malls), I see all the decorations hanging and holiday music playing. To be honest, that’s the only time I feel like it’s Christmas time. Then I walk outside and recall that I’m in Africa.

I do want to address the Kwanzaa question. Many people assume that Kwanza is an African tradition or celebration but it’s actually an African American celebration. Perhaps because ‘kwanza’ is a Swahili word for ‘first’, people assume that it’s an East African tradition. And perhaps people are used to seeing the Kente cloth around this time of year, but again, that’s an African American thing. The purpose of kwanza was to unite the African American community.  It’s really a young celebration when you compare it to other holidays around this time of year. After a little bit of research on what Kwanza was all about, I decided that I should give it a try this year. Sometimes, African Americans come to Africa to discover their roots, I’m not one of those. I came to learn about the culture and government structure as a result of colonialism. But, I am learning a lot about myself and I have learned that my culture is quite unique. And Kwanzaa interest me because it is directly related to my heritage. It isn’t meant to replace a spiritual holiday such as Christmas or Hanukkah, but to unify a community by practicing 7 principles for 7 days (Dec 26 - Jan 1):

• Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up.
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa(Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in God, our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

I find all of this to be very interesting, and being that I’ve dedicated this year to learning about different cultures, why not dive into my own unique culture and try Kwanzaa for the first time this year. I know there has been a bit of a backlash to Kwanzaa for some time in the African American community, but I’m going to choose to do this for my own learning experiences.  I would also like to note that all of the gifts that are given during Kwanzaa are handmade. I think that adds a great personal touch to the tradition and meaning of Kwanzaa, if you ask me. These are all principles that I think every person, no matter their race or nationality, can learn from.

This is a big deal to me personally because I grew up in a predominately white area. I was oftentimes the only black female in my classes, so many people made comments to me about being African American and looking African (most of the time not very nice comments).  I admit, I was ashamed of who I was any my ancestors. But, as time passed and I matured, I realized that I have nothing to be ashamed about. What happened to my ancestors wasn’t their fault and it’s in the past now. All I can do is make sure that what they fought for lives on and I pass it down to my children. Since coming to East Africa, I have been questioned repeatedly about my heritage and now I say with pride that I’m African American because it’s unique but more importantly, it makes up who I am inside and outside. But my past doesn’t define my future, it’s my actions that define my future.  I hope that this holiday season, I learn something from my first celebration of Kwanza and that I can teach everyone reading this something too.

If you’re interested in learning more about Kwanzaa, check out the documentary “The Black Candle” or read this interesting article.

What My Trip to Europe Taught Me about East Africa

I recently went on a week long trip to Europe to meet other Ambassadorial Scholars, go to the Berlin Rotary Peace Forum, and visit a school in London.  Culture shock wouldn't even begin to describe what I was dealing with as I took advantage of a Starbucks on every corner in Berlin. As fun as the adventure was, I kept thinking that choosing Uganda was the right choice for me. Since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to help others and basically save the world. Well, I know I'm not Wonder Woman (even though my skype screen name says otherwise). But, I do feel as though I can make a difference, even if it is a small difference.

This realization came to me as I was watching "The Lorax". If you haven't seen that movie or read the children's book, I recommend you pick it up. Dr. Suess was an amazing man that had the ability to teach young children how to read as well as teach lessons about equality and social issues. The quote at the end of the movie is what really hit home for me:

 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

 







That quote really hit home because I had spent the past couple of days listening to Rotarians and Rotaractors from all across Europe discuss what they wanted to do in areas that are plagued with extreme poverty and bad water. I talked to a Rotarian from France about his club's project in Cameroon, and a German Rotarian about his project in Ethiopia. All great projects and for the better good. I even watched a presentation about some European Rotaractors doing an international service project in South Africa called Rotaract Hearts. I just felt as though we all could be doing more.

What I am seeing in Uganda and Tanzania is different than what some of the people were talking about in their presentations. Being on the ground and living among the people gives you a different perspective than just coming to a country every few months to do a project. That's when I thought "why don't any of these well off clubs of Europe or the U.S. partner with some clubs in Africa?" The German Rotarian answered this question for me "There's a negative stereotype about working with clubs in Africa.  People here say they want to help, but they know there may be a risk involved." Now, that's not to say that there aren't clubs in Europe and North America that don't partner with clubs in Africa. I've seen some great projects in Uganda and Tanzania that are a result of partnerships. But, that negative stereotype is what I couldn't shake.

I kept thinking about this conversation with the Rotarian for the rest of the week. There are so many people that have a need in Africa that you would think people would push through those stereotypes and help people. But, I suppose that's not what happens. Even when I was talking to the other Ambassadorial Scholars about my experiences, their reaction to my experience was usually a blank face. I knew they couldn't relate unless they have actually been there, but it was a bit of a downer to realize that they didn't fully understand that people here live more without than with what westerners would consider the "basics to life".

So, after that conversation with the German Rotarian and the other Ambassadorial Scholars, I realized that maybe I can be that bridge to break down those stereotypes. I mean, I know that's what the scholarship is for, but what if I made it a personal mission?  I want to help East Africa in any way possible, but if people were actually able to get past those negative stereotypes and try to empower the people in East Africa, then would the Rotarians and organizations from Europe and North America be more willing to help?  That's when Dr. Suess' quote encouraged me to actually be an advocate for equality in East Africa. If I don't, then who will? I'm sure there are many people in the region who are doing the same as me, but it wouldn't hurt for me to utilize my connections and bond with Rotary in order to help and empower people in East Africa. Especially because I look like an East African, my vantage point is surely a unique one.

I just keep thinking 'Africans are people too. Don't they deserve the same rights as people in the U.S. and Europe? Don't they deserve clean drinking water? Healthcare? A good education? A safe and clean environment?' So, my trip to Europe has taught me that even though I have my hard times in East Africa, I really do love the region and want to help it as much as I possibly can...because unless someone like me cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly.

Confessions of an African American Mzungu

I'm going through a bit of tough time at the moment. There are somethings that not many people can relate to. This mainly has to do with the fact that I’m African American but look African - but not technically from Africa. I am not the typical Mzungu (white person/foreigner) because I don't look like one. BUT, I do sound like one. So for the most part I keep my mouth shut and watch how people will treat me based on how I look, and then change how they treat me based on how I sound. Some may think that I should be grateful because I don’t get mzungu tax (charged higher because they are a mzungu), but I need to tell people that it’s not as great as you may think to be stuck between both worlds. People assume things about me based on how I look, talk about judging a book by its cover! So, these are the few things that I've come to realize...I apologize if I offend anyone, but I am just writing about my observations. I see both worlds, the mzungu world and the African world.

 First assumption - it seems that East Africans think that mzungu's have money. And that African's don’t have money and try to get over on one another.  I’ve even had quite a few instances where I went to a “mzungu” restaurant and waited 30 mins to be served (I had to flag down a waitress to take my order while other mzungu's were quickly seated and drinks served right away), the typical assumption is that Ugandan’s can’t afford to eat at these places so they don’t bother taking my order. But what most East Africans fail to understand is that it’s cheaper to live in East Africa compared to Europe and the States. So, it doesn’t mean that people are richer, but that it cost more to get the basic of things such as fruit. So to make up for the expense of a $6 pineapple, our salaries are adjusted based on where we live in the world.

 Second assumption - mzungu countries don’t have problems or corruption. I don’t know or understand where this assumption came from, but that struggle is all over the world. Bad people are everywhere, therefore, bad things such as corruption and an ineffective government is everywhere. Granted, countries such as the States don’t have the same types of problems as Uganda, but that doesn’t mean that American’s don’t have their own issues with their government.

 Third assumption - because I’m African American and look African…my parents must have come from Africa. Dear reader, you have no idea how annoying this assumption is to me. I really have to explain slavery to so many people and explain that African Americans come in different shades (or what I like to call flavors). Not every African American is light skinned, and not every dark African American migrated to America.  And would you believe that people don’t understand why my ancestors didn’t keep record of where they came from during slavery? I don’t get this inquiry from just Africans, but even other mzungu’s that aren’t from the U.S. I had to explain that many slaves couldn’t read or write and even speak the same language as one another when they were first brought to America. But, over time, they developed Pidgin (which sounds like broken English) in order to understand one another. So, African Americans had a lot more problems while being slaves than to recall where they came from (in which I also have to explain that the African countries weren’t in existence when my ancestors were probably brought over. The European nations created boundaries in order to keep the peace during colonizing).

Fourth Assumption – that I’m lying about being American. From what I understand, there are some African’s that lie about living in the UK or being from the U.S. and they fake an accent even. So, just for the record (I feel like Obama right now) I was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Both of my parents were born in Washington D.C. so I am a full born American Citizen. Do I need to release my birth certificate as well?

 
Fifth assumption (this goes to the young men in East Africa, mainly Uganda) – just because I talk to you every now and then, doesn’t mean that I’m interested in you or want to date you. I didn’t date when I was back home in the States and I carried that habit with me to Africa. I wasn’t counting on the guys assuming that I was interested in them because I decided to have a conversation with them. Nor was I counting on people being so hard pressed on dating someone by a certain age so that they can get married in time to have children. That’s a cultural difference that I understand, but again, just because I look African doesn’t mean that I am African and do as Africans do.

And the final assumption – Because I look like an East African, that I will automatically sympathize/empathize with the struggles of East Africans. This is the hardest one to deal with, I must admit. The assumption that I am going to feel bad and feel your pain because of the color of my skin is asking for a bad reaction from me. African American’s have their own struggles, but when I have Ugandans approaching me stating that it’s the United States responsibility to help Africa because they took some Africans and made them slaves, so obviously, the U.S. owes Africa. I couldn’t disagree with this more. First and foremost, I am American. An American that pays attention to the history of countries as well as world history at that. I’ve studied how the slave trade went down, and the African countries weren’t exactly innocent in that exchange. Second, I am African American, which means “my people” are other African Americans.  We have different types of struggles than Africans, and we can relate better to each other than to Africans given our unique history. We aren’t better or worse than Africans, but historically different than Africans, that’s all I’m saying.

These are the most common assumptions that people assume about me over here in East Africa. So, when I say to some of you “I have my good days and bad days”, these are the types of things that I’m dealing with.  It isn’t just people making comments, it’s being treated differently based on how I look and how I sound/act.  It can be quite lonely at times when my mzungu friends don’t understand what I’m dealing with or observe. Sometimes, they’ll even deny that what I just witnessed even happened, and that hurts more than anything. I have yet to run into another African American or even African European/African British person while in East Africa. For the first few months, I could deal with these assumptions and let them roll off me, but now, people start to get offended that I’m not what they think I am – that’s a reaction that I don’t think I’ll ever understand. So, yes, my experience here is like no other mzungu (unless they look African but aren’t African).

Even though these assumptions can make me feel a bit down at times, I want these experiences to also be the bridge to helping East Africa as well.  I think I’ve been put in this position for a reason, whether that’s to help people outside of East Africa understand their struggles better or to educate East Africans on the differences in people outside of East Africa. Whatever the case, I want my experiences to show that both sides of the world can be united, despite cultures. We’re all human, therefore, we all deserve the same rights and respect.