Examining my American ways

Hello everyone!

I hope you are enjoying reading about my time here. Thanks to those of you have have commented or sent private emails of encouragement. It means a lot to me. While I do miss everyone and my life in Chicago, I am so grateful for this invaluable opportunity to improve how I approach my work at CFP. This experience has also been really good for me personally as I am forced to challenge my assumptions, comfort level, and ways of thinking about...well...everything!

This week has been very enlightening from a cultural perspective. It is very common for couples to have 5-8 (or more) children and it seems to be a given that women, when married, have kids. Ugandans will be quite upfront and just ask someone how old they are and if they have children. This question was addressed to me over lunch with two Omni Med staff- Elizabeth and Garetti. I replied that I will be 45 next month and do not have children. They know that I am married, so this response was met with shock and raised eyebrows. Elizabeth asked if I planned to adopt. When I said no, she asked "...what then, do you do with all your money." Such a great question and one that I was a bit embarrassed to answer!

When I was in my late 20's and 30's, I would occasionally have to field questions about why I didn't have kids, but it was not too common.  Maybe because of my age or the work environment I am currently in (thanks women of  CFP!), I am not questioned about that anymore at all. It has been really interesting to think about my choice in the context of a culture where the choice to not have children seems so very strange, or is not even considered a choice at all.

This week in the field with the team was challenging and I felt my first glimmers of frustration which I don't think will be my last. I went back with the team to work on getting the final round of consents from families who will participate in the research trial. It takes much longer to do anything here because of a variety of infrastructure limitations. Except for a few, most roads are unpaved and significantly pitted and uneven from rain erosion. One has to drive slowly and carefully while dodging motorbikes, bicycles, people, and cows.

Once we got to where we are going-which is over an hour away-we had to wait for the VHTs to arrive. They have to make their way along similar roads, so it takes them just as long. When everyone is finally assembled, we began. Homes are not right next to each other as on a Chicago city block, and VHTs have to walk-in the sun or rain- for long distances to meet with families (who are not always home). I have really enjoyed meeting families and spending time with them, but it is tough to be in the sun for so long with an empty water bottle and no snacks. After 2 hours, we headed to lunch--a 25 minute drive to town. We ate at a roadside shack selling beans, rice, matooke (a mashed banana-type staple), beef, sweet potato and g-nut sauce (peanut sauce). Very delicious and about $1.

By the time we finished and drove back, it was close to 5pm and time to round up the VHTs and head home. This took another 90 minutes. The sun was set by the time we got back to the office. A really long day that, through my Western lens, felt inefficient and not very productive. And yet, the VHTs arrived to do the work, the staff was there to support them, and the families were eager to participate in what they see as an important study that may improve their lives. I also had the chance to spend time with a wonderful VHT and see her in action with the families she serves (see pictures). All in all, a good Ugandan day.