Significant Relationships
Two of our research partners, Helen and Bridget
Notre Dame Peers
Max, Kristen, Dan, Teresa were my Notre Dame peers. We took on the Ugandan scene together, forming some great friendships and snapping some legendary photos. I'll never forget the insanity that ensued when I drew the short straw at Lake Boonyoni!
Our Research Partners
We all had research partners from Uganda Martyr's University because it would be impossible for us to grasp the local language in such a short time. Besides practically helping us with our research, these guys were just...incredible friends! They were fast buddies with us from the minute we walked on campus, and that really helped to smooth the transition to living in a place where we were obvious outsiders.
My research partner, Jeffrey, is an IT graduate from Uganda Martyr's University. He actually owns a farm in Nnindye, and he woke up at the crack of dawn to dig trenches or plant watermelons before going out in the field to do interviews with me. I felt pretty lazy compared to him actually, because he was such an incredibly hard worker.
Most significantly, our research partners were bridges between American and Ugandan culture. We actually had some pretty passionate discussions with one of our partners, Muchua, about Ugandan and American values. We argued for several hours one day about homosexuality. After a circular argument, we eventually reached the conclusion that because Americans believe in marriage for true love, we are more accepting of homosexual marriages because, well, it's just two people in love. Muchua explained to us that Ugandans view a marriage as an economic unit, a practical, family-making venture. He said this was why homosexuality is not accepted in Uganda, and also why their divorce rate is lower. He told us stories about families staying together for economic reasons even if the husband and wife no longer loved each other.
We also had a heated discussion about corporal punishment. I recall Bridget, Kristen's research partner, saying “if it gets children to behave better, we do it. It happens to everyone, me included, so I think it is okay.” Us Americans were appalled, saying that we would never condone beating a child, even mildly, and that if it happened in an American school the teacher would be arrested.
Although we disagreed on some of these moral issues, through these conversations, I got a better handle on Ugandan culture. Our research partners were fantastic friends, so I'm incredibly thankful that they were with us.
My own research partner was Jeffrey. I talk specifically about him in this journal entry.
"Despite my initial skepticism, I am no very pleased to say that my new partner Jeffrey and I seem to be doing very well together. We've gotten much better at communication through the language barrier, and I've been getting good details I think from my interviews.
Today though, my perspective on Jeffrey evolved when I got to visit his home. I saw the pens build to hold pigs, which, though rudimentary,were very well-constructed. He build a storehouse on his own, and his partner David described their dreams to scale up the farming operations, saying that he works as a technician but wants to branch out, to do something proud and substantial for himself. Their house was simple, yet nice in comparison to neighbors. David cooked up some pasta and fish, which was excellent. I listened attentively as he talked about the angers of having too many children, lamenting how people have too many children, and then are upset that the government won't assist them. "How can the government afford to pay for all these extra children when we still have our crumbling roads" Jeffrey piped in. He's right, but they said these things with such great concern. This is their HOME, and they said that they're in for the long haul.
I was impressed with how they have set up an NGO to teach farming to youth, so that youth can stake a productive claim in their land instead of selling it for a low price. They want people to work here, and are going out of their way, as already busy people, to make a real difference. I saw the seriousness in Jeffrey's eye when he said he wants to become an MP. I hope he does.
It puts me, a fortunate student, to shame to see these enterprising young men, dreaming big and trying to build a life from the ground up. That's the big things that are made one brick at a time, from the ground up! I hope they succeed. They are talented and determined. If Jeffrey can tackle life with such determination, I can make a difference too. But it takes hard work! It takes really hard work!"
Max, Kristen, Dan, Teresa were my Notre Dame peers. We took on the Ugandan scene together, forming some great friendships and snapping some legendary photos. I'll never forget the insanity that ensued when I drew the short straw at Lake Boonyoni!
Our Research Partners
We all had research partners from Uganda Martyr's University because it would be impossible for us to grasp the local language in such a short time. Besides practically helping us with our research, these guys were just...incredible friends! They were fast buddies with us from the minute we walked on campus, and that really helped to smooth the transition to living in a place where we were obvious outsiders.
My research partner, Jeffrey, is an IT graduate from Uganda Martyr's University. He actually owns a farm in Nnindye, and he woke up at the crack of dawn to dig trenches or plant watermelons before going out in the field to do interviews with me. I felt pretty lazy compared to him actually, because he was such an incredibly hard worker.
Most significantly, our research partners were bridges between American and Ugandan culture. We actually had some pretty passionate discussions with one of our partners, Muchua, about Ugandan and American values. We argued for several hours one day about homosexuality. After a circular argument, we eventually reached the conclusion that because Americans believe in marriage for true love, we are more accepting of homosexual marriages because, well, it's just two people in love. Muchua explained to us that Ugandans view a marriage as an economic unit, a practical, family-making venture. He said this was why homosexuality is not accepted in Uganda, and also why their divorce rate is lower. He told us stories about families staying together for economic reasons even if the husband and wife no longer loved each other.
We also had a heated discussion about corporal punishment. I recall Bridget, Kristen's research partner, saying “if it gets children to behave better, we do it. It happens to everyone, me included, so I think it is okay.” Us Americans were appalled, saying that we would never condone beating a child, even mildly, and that if it happened in an American school the teacher would be arrested.
Although we disagreed on some of these moral issues, through these conversations, I got a better handle on Ugandan culture. Our research partners were fantastic friends, so I'm incredibly thankful that they were with us.
My own research partner was Jeffrey. I talk specifically about him in this journal entry.
"Despite my initial skepticism, I am no very pleased to say that my new partner Jeffrey and I seem to be doing very well together. We've gotten much better at communication through the language barrier, and I've been getting good details I think from my interviews.
Today though, my perspective on Jeffrey evolved when I got to visit his home. I saw the pens build to hold pigs, which, though rudimentary,were very well-constructed. He build a storehouse on his own, and his partner David described their dreams to scale up the farming operations, saying that he works as a technician but wants to branch out, to do something proud and substantial for himself. Their house was simple, yet nice in comparison to neighbors. David cooked up some pasta and fish, which was excellent. I listened attentively as he talked about the angers of having too many children, lamenting how people have too many children, and then are upset that the government won't assist them. "How can the government afford to pay for all these extra children when we still have our crumbling roads" Jeffrey piped in. He's right, but they said these things with such great concern. This is their HOME, and they said that they're in for the long haul.
I was impressed with how they have set up an NGO to teach farming to youth, so that youth can stake a productive claim in their land instead of selling it for a low price. They want people to work here, and are going out of their way, as already busy people, to make a real difference. I saw the seriousness in Jeffrey's eye when he said he wants to become an MP. I hope he does.
It puts me, a fortunate student, to shame to see these enterprising young men, dreaming big and trying to build a life from the ground up. That's the big things that are made one brick at a time, from the ground up! I hope they succeed. They are talented and determined. If Jeffrey can tackle life with such determination, I can make a difference too. But it takes hard work! It takes really hard work!"