Brown Skin - Red Flag

I have had an amazing time in Uganada. It was one of the most rewarding trips of my life. But I feel like my first post about the trip has to be about getting to Uganda in the first place.

The trip to Tabiro was about 30 hours long (with transits and waiting) but the action made the time fly by. Leaving Halifax, I was asked to go through a random check that involved scanning my palms to check for chemicals. It was a random test, yet I was the only one selected to do it. I was a bit ticked off. But that was just the beginning of the fun.

I land in London on a Monday at 9:00AM GMT. Ten Canadians and one Arab (me) on the same team going to save the world in Africa. That raised a huge red flag with the English - I guess my type of people only look to destroy the world and not save it. After my whole team went through immigration in lightening speed, I was asked to stay behind for "further questions".

I had a 10 minute conversation with the immigration officer that consisted of four questions. They kept repeating in different orders and speeds - like he was trying to make me trip. This is almost exactly how it went:

Officer: So why are you going to Africa?
Me: I am part of a mission group that is going to build a school and house for a small community in a remote village.
Officer: So do you work in construction in Canada?
Me: No Public Relations
Officer: But you are going to be construction in Africa?
Me: Correct
Officer: But you have no previous experience in the field
Me: You are right, I don't.
Officer: So why are you going?
Me: To build a school and a home in a village
Officer: But you don't work in construction..?
Me: No I don't
Officer: So, again.. Why are you going?

After 10 minutes of also what it seemed to be a random interrogation I was allowed to pass through London. Phew! God does really want me to be in Uganda (I thought to myself).

I hop on my last flight to Uganda. Heart is beating of joy and excitement. Mother Africa here I come to work and love.

The team and I once again head to the immigration officer to get our passport stamped to go in. The officer looks at my passport and says, you do not go through here. You have to go to that office.

I make my way to a crowded office filled with people "like me". It was a strange scene. Who knew my skin colour and light beard would give me the luxury of such an eye opening experience. I see an empty chair in the crowded small room, so I sit down to "get out of the way". A lady comes rushing towards me with blazing fire in her eyes. She stops 2 inches from my face and yells :" Who told you to sit down? You do not sit down until I tell you to!" I get up quickly and apologize. She looks at me and says:"Ok, now sit down!" - Seriously!

Another 20 minute interrogation - not random this time - and then I was reunited with my time.

Stereotypes exist to force us to live in a state of paranoia and constant fear. Fear of the different and fear of the unfamiliar. It was strange experiencing that this trip - especially because I was going to give and love.