First, you should know that Uganda is one of four countries in the East Africa region. The others are Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, and many students at Uganda Christian University (UCU) come from these three nations. Furthermore, there is strong diversity even among the Ugandans, who come to UCU from all over the country and bring with them their regional and tribal differences.
Within this very cross-cultural campus, the conversations can get intense, especially because African society is heavily characterized by tribal culture and regional politics. A few weeks ago, this became very real to me when violent riots broke out in the capital and in our town over a controversy between the president and the leader of the largest tribe in Uganda. Being a Politics major in Africa is a fascinating experience!
Of course, being a Biblical Studies major in Africa is also really interesting. Christianity in Africa is growing rapidly, and it is loud, vibrant, and passionate, like many elements of the culture here. It’s also a lot more fundamentalist than Gordon College (and most of the United States), and I’ve had to adjust to a much more conservative lifestyle: dress clothes all the time, male-dominated religious institutions, and a huge emphasis on strict morality.
(This boy lives near me. I guess he didn't get the memo about the formal dress code.)
African Christianity is also complex because of its integration of tribal religions and traditional values. One of the most intriguing lessons I’m learning through all of this is that the Gospel is a lot less formulaic and rigid than I used to think. The Jesus Christ I’ve always “known” made sense to me as an American – discovering Africa’s Jesus is demanding a lot of humility, prayer, and conversation. I’ll talk more about this throughout the semester.
Now, I don’t want to make it seem like I just contemplate and argue and pray all the time – Africans also have fun! I play quite a bit of soccer, which is fast and chaotic. I visit Kampala, the massive capital city, and the local markets, filled with greasy meat and Barack Obama apparel. And I try to enjoy the traditional food – although rice, beans, and plantains get old pretty fast! I also stayed in a home near the university for two weeks, where I drank lots of tea, watched Nigerian soap operas and soccer, and even cooked my family an “American” meal. (OK, so the meal was spaghetti and sausages, but it was the only familiar food I saw at the market. Don’t judge me.)
(Another fun moment - the residents of my dorm dragged this guy outside on the morning of his birthday to "wash" him with buckets of cold water. Thank goodness my birthday was in August...)
Lastly, I just came back from a weekend in Eastern Uganda at the source of the Nile River. We went white water rafting and bungee jumping, and it was absolutely thrilling. It was also really expensive ($200) and very touristy, and this week we’re starting a sobering new course unit on African poverty. I get a sinking feeling in my gut when I pause to compare my relative wealth to the absolute poverty all around me. I think the guilt and conviction are essential to an honest study abroad experience in Africa.
I'm not yet sure what God wants me to do in my own life about all of this, but I have a feeling it’s going to hurt, like the rich young man in Matthew who was distraught at Jesus’ command to give up his wealth to become his follower. But I’ve also been learning that some changes have to hurt, at least a little bit, to be sincere. Keep reading this semester and I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
Peace and love from Mukono Town.
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