There is always a pattern among even the most chaotic situations. It took us a month to accustom to the busy bustle of the towns and ‘cities’. Though it was intimidating at first, I realized that the hustle bustle was mostly due to the fact that there are so many people, and the busy atmosphere is really just a flurry of activity from all those individuals packed in a small space. What seemed odd merely a month ago is now something normal, even something to take comfort in. Every swerve on the streets, whether on the matatu’s, in a truck, or on a bike, is carefully calculated though it feels the complete opposite. When people yell in the taxi parks, Kampala, Kampala! Butaleja! Soroti! Jinja! Hey Muzungu, Kampala Kampala??! it is a normal occurrence, perfectly polite and in line with what their job is for—to me during our first visit to Mbale, every yell was an assault, as if they were all pouncing and pushing and vying for us to get onto their bus, no, that bus, no that one… etc.,… but now every yell, every approach is calmly dismissed if they don’t shout the destination I want. Who am I to blame them for the assumption that we are headed to Kampala? We are foreigners, after all, what business do they know we have in the small towns? I am fairly sure of the fact that we are all primed to be on guard in any new situation, more alert and sensitive to comments and actions from those who we are unfamiliar with. Unfair assumptions on my part have helped me deal with the situation during that time, but it took reflection and discussion with my team mates to realize that those assumptions were not truth.
While men jostled to get us onto their matatus, beggar children begged for alms, and men leered at us, I thought that they were just rude people in general, trying to get the most out of any mzungu they see. In hindsight, and having followed the same weekend routine for the past month, I’ve come to realize that all this activity is simply a way of life for them. It isn’t anything out of the ordinary—though I felt like everyone treated us mzungus with extra attention (and ulterior motives), in reality they treated all potential customers in the same way. Knowing that I am extra self- conscious, and also more sensitive, I’ve learned to sit back, breathe, and just observe. I keep the assumptions popping into my mind at bay, so that I limit my anxiety, and also maximize my learning in the new environment. It’s easier to notice the pattern of life in a new culture by exercising patience, accommodation, and to distance oneself from quick judgment of others.
