1) Warm Weather:
I think this has been the coldest/snowiest winter of my entire 5 years of living in Halifax. Unlike the middle east, the sun here is one commodity that is in high demand. And since that is the case, it is seldom available in the city. My skin is turning albino - so pale that my teeth are looking yellow in comparison (okay that was a little exaggerated). But in all seriousness, I feel like the warm weather and fantastic climate will rejuvenate me and give me all the energy that winter has drained out of my body.
2) Play Time:
Not many people in Uganda are familiar with family planning methods. While poverty and scarcity of resources is present, people still choose to have many children. The rational is more children means more helpers in the field, individuals to do house chores and take care of their younger siblings. Children in Uganda are handed down many responsibilities from their parents at a very young age. It is very common to see a 9 year old taking care fully of their 2 or 3 year old sibling. I mean they are responsible for feeding, clothing, cleaning and other responsibilities that even a 23 year old like myself would probably struggle with.
But all changes the minute we arrive to the village. Everyday and every hour is play hour. As soon as we wake up children of all ages start to gather around us. Sometimes they watch us dig in the shade under a tree, but mostly they want to play. We spend hours showing the children how to throw the perfect [football] curve ball, try to invent sports that can involve 30 people or just lay on the grass and exchange stories. And I am so so looking forward to all of that.
3) Going Unplugged:
Like many others I know, I am a huge technology addict. I am always connected. I tweet 4 to 5 times a day. I am on Facebook for several hours daily, talking to family and friends that still live in Jordan. My email comes straight to my phone. I send on average 30 text messages and bbm a day. My head is ready to explode.
Life here is so busy, loud and fast. I find that I struggle with enjoying the "right now" because I am always rushing to get to the next thing. There is nothing I am looking forward to more than a break from technology. Errrmmm Except, playing with kids and warm weather lol.
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how did the kids react when they saw the technology you were using (phone, laptop, possibly ipad)? I always wonder how people living in such conditions will react to modern technology. And by kids I mean the ones who take care of their younger siblings and who are capable of somewhat digesting the idea of it.
ReplyDeletenice blog fadi, keep it up..
The kids get excited by the technology. They seem to understand it slighty more than the adults. I remember filming some of the people who were working. When I replayed it for them, they were shocked. One man asked if it would disappear when I returned to Canada. I said it would not and that people would see him working. He could hardly imagine how it worked, but took my word for it saying, "Tell them I am a hard worker."
ReplyDeleteZeezo, great question bro. I struggled with comprehending the same thing before going to Uganda 2 years ago. The kids are big fans of technology I found. They wanted us to take their pictures on our camera so they can see themselves on the screen and pass it around to their friends. It was also interesting for me to notice that they were not desiring to have the same equipment we had, mainly because they are not as useful to them as they are to us. They just do not have the infrastructure to support a lot of our technology over the long term.
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving a comment bro. Glad you are following.. Let us connect on skype/FB soon!