Norwegian stress, but we also have fun…

Friday was Ugandas Independence Day, and we were going to spend it together with Catherine (our supervisor). We went to an exhibition, which is an event that takes place once a year. Here different sellers from all over (Tanzania, Egypt, Uganda etc.) gathers to sell their products. It was all kind of things; cars, pots, phones, a lot of African things etc. We also got to meet Oda and Marte who where standing together with their project, Drucilla, and selling some of the products their women had made.

We bought some things to hang on our wall in our apartment and also some other small things to the apartment. Even though it takes time, the apartment becomes more and more like our home.

After some shopping, a lot of people and loud music we took a visit to one of the big supermarkets close by, where we got to by some food that makes the dinners more tempting to make. We even got taco shells and sauce. Now we were very satisfied, but hungry … So after a long taxi drive and bodaboda we finally got back home and could make mashed potatoes and sausages for all three of us. Catherine stayed a while and we showed her some pictures from back home and got to know each other better.

We have been talking a lot about how different we look at the time in Norway and Africa. African time is something you really get used to. Right on time is not an expression that they use. And we figured out that Norwegian stress to much. WHY? Catherine really wanted an answered on this. And when we were looking at some pictures from different activities we had participated in Beate found the answered. Like carnival, playing in snow etc. “We don’t do that”, said Catherine. So here is the answered; We stress so we can have some free time, and just enjoy it, having fun!

In Africa work is life. Like the women working at miles2smiles for example. The kindergarten starts at 8.00am and last until 8.pm. And some of them even live together at the same place, so they don’t get much privacy and just having fun. Work is a bigger part of their life - it is their life. Catherine really hoped that this way of thinking wouldn’t be changed during our time here in Uganda.

Even though we have fun, we also have some to learn from the Africans. They don’t run around stressing. You take your time. When you’re going to town you go into a taxi and it doesn’t drive until it’s full. And then you just have to sit and wait. I think I’m going to enjoy this way of thinking about time. But I feel a bit sorry for the people back home who will have to wait for me when I come back, because then I will be affected by “African time”.

This day was terrific. We have an amazing supervisor. She takes us around, takes care of us and really cares.

God bless no stress.