Alex Wyse, who grew up at Transfiguration, is spending a year on a Lilly Foundation fellowship working for the Bishop Masereka Christian Foundation in Kasese, Uganda. Here is an entry from the blog Alex is writing about his experience.
Kasese in the Rain
Note: more to come soon on the end of my time in Kenya and the beginning of my time in Kasese. Only just got a reliable way to write and access the internet. This post is a little long.
I’m sitting at the large wooden desk in the living room, under an impressive map of Uganda, my feet on cool tile, lights and electricity working, typing at my new laptop, all within a guest house of my own, and the now gentle rainfall continues to kiss the roof. Of course there are those (within about a quarter mile from this seat) for whom rain is challenging; I know not all the roofs around here kept out what was a torrential downpour for the better part of an hour this afternoon. But just about everyone I’ve met in any situation in Kasese mentions the heat (no, it isn’t freezing cold everywhere in the US, I often get to explain). Then he mentions how this is supposed to be the rainy season when people plant their crops that then can provide even a trace of income. Then she asks if I’m a medical doctor after I say I’m working with Bishop Masereka. Then she’ll likely ask if I’m married. Buuuut, the point is the heat. Kasese is hot. Pretty close to Texas in the summer hot, and this is supposed to be the cooler part of the year.
With the mountains just “a stone’s throw” to the south and west receiving so much rain that there has been flooding in some parts, Kasese has remained hot and dry during much of my time here. Things have started to cool down some today. Around 4:30 this afternoon the sky darkened, the thunder rolled in from the distance, and then the power went off. As it was almost quitting time I packed up to leave, only to stop in the doorway as the rain came in a quick burst a little after 5:00. It let up, as I was expecting, so I made a run for the bank and the grocery store down Stanley St. When I arrived and picked out the few spices I came for, it really let loose. All of a sudden, buckets were falling on Kasese, and I had a front row seat from the door of the store. I saw a few bodaboda drivers trying to stay dry under an awning across the street, business owners hanging their heads out the door, and then the occasional truck roar by and splash no one. Then a couple taxis, followed by a few primary schoolers walking down the middle of the road and not giving one care about their uniforms.
It was unbelievably calming to watch one of the main streets nearly screech to a halt for that brief period when the
sun would normally shine a hot, golden light on everyone leaving work. While we certainly notice a
heavy storm on any Main Street in the US of A, things don’t exactly stop moving for some rain. With the power out as well, the whole town just seemed to sit back for a moment and rest.
Hot Kasese:
A quick rundown of the rest of my day:
I chatted with one of the grocery store owners, born in Chennai, India and still spending every other year there, didn’t worry about not getting home before dark, and watched the rain. When it let up a bit, I walked a few streets over, decided it was still wet enough to not walk home, and stopped for some milk tea and chapatti in Modern Foods. The owner is in Rotaract and the place draws a large Muslim crowd. I picked up from the market across the street a pineapple and some bananas, only to find that one of the BMCF drivers was waiting just outside for someone else. He offered a ride up the hill to the Bishop’s house, and over the bumps, cracks, and ditches we went.
Just as nightfall came I walked in the door and realized there was still no power. On came the lamps as I set about cleaning some leftover dishes in the sink. More rain, then a flicker of power. I started chopping veggies for dinner and was about to put the stove on when everything went dark once more. While I noticed, it seemed oddly normal to just drop what I was doing and go pick up a flashlight to do some reading. I got a call from Mamma Stella that Pheobe (one of the women who lives and works at the compound) would bring over some food, since there wasn’t any electricity to cook. I enjoyed a meal of samosas by the LED-light as the power came back once again. Determined to cook the cabbage and greens, I went back to the kitchen. While all of this evening was full of new experiences, it was relaxed and amazingly normal. That’s a pretty good snapshot of the pace of life in Kasese- slow and steady much of the time. The first two weeks here have been a whirlwind, for me, of new people, language, work, families, hardships, and customs. I’m slowly sinking deeper into the community, staying present in my interactions, and the pace of life has provided a life-giving relief from the heat of travel and big thoughts.
By no means are things getting old, and by no means am I completely comfortable. But it looks like things are cooling down in the best way possible.
To learn more, follow his blog and read about the organization he’s working with.