Are You Kidding Me?!

This is my last morning here in Uganda. I am back in Kampala from a long trip to the east to Mbale and Sipi falls. Some of you might know Mbale from a scene in the Bond movie Casino Royale.

In Mbale we visit with Lauren's friend JJ, who is a Jew. He is a part of a group call the Abayudaya who converted to Judaism in the late 1800's. There he is a coffee farmer, musician, and activist. Together with the rest of the farming community they have started a coffee cooperative called Mirembe Kawomera. (meaning "delicious peace"). Most importantly the cooperative is formed of people who are Jews, Christians, and Muslims all working together for the betterment of their own community. Something I am sure we would all love to see in Israel and Palestine. You can read more about it and buy the coffee I saw growing at:

http://www.mirembekawomera.com/
(Thanksgiving Coffee is a great seller of many fair trade organic coffees, try it!)

JJ and the farmers were also feature in Oprah's Magazine last August

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200808_omag_coffee

While there we had two more very fun and interesting experiences. As we were taking a walk around JJ's farm we were told lets go down the street there is a celebration. Turns out it is a Bugisu (the major tribe in that region) circumcision ceremony! So the group waits around for a bit taking pictures of kids. The grandfathers and fathers take pictures with the knives they use to take care of the business. Jon and I talk farming with the men there kinda telling them how corn is farmed in the US. A lot harder to explain than you would think.

I digress, Cliff then asks the man when they are coming, since we have been waiting a while for the group and they say it is done...We are confused. Then a light pops in my head, they mean the Ugandan "it is done" meaning its about to happen! Then a group comes up the road dancing and screaming just like you see in National Geographic. People are teasing the Mzungu guys with us asking if we want to be circumcised too. We're all like "NO, NO! Were taken care of!" And the group laughs! It is time now for the deed to be done. People crowd around and then there is some shuffling and a man brings up a knife with some blood on it, and then another man makes a cut. There is some cheering and dancing and a new Ugandan friend Jonathan (not Marino) asks have you seen it? I was like, "yes?" and he said, "No, seen it?" I responded with "No," and he grabs my arm and pulls me forward into the middle of the circle. Wow, it was two things, bloody and a penis. Wow. Well anyways I was instructed to take pictures as were all of the group members. If you want to see the picture let me know, I will send it. But the dumb luck of the thing is, that if we had been there a day later this would not have happened. This ceremony only happens on even years and Dec. 31 was the last day for this to happen for another 2 years.


If that wasn't enough fun we were invited to play a soccer game the next day with the Peace Kawomera elders versus the young men from the community. I think Jon and I were put in there to look like fools. We succeeded, those kids were so fast, and Jon and I are so bad. We were defense and we were a brick wall we didn't let anyone score. I even used my face to stop the ball once and got a pretty awesome bloody nose. That got some laughs from the kids, I am happy that I was able to be their comedy hour. Its amazing how in towns where TV and toys aren't common people flock to community events. There must have been 100 people there watching. The kids play games together outside all day, it feels like something my parents probably did.

After two days of fun there we moved onto Sipi falls and enjoyed some relaxation and beauty. Yesterday we arrived back in Kampala and this afternoon we go to lunch at a Ugnadan's house and enjoy Matoke and Beans one last time. I will be back in the US on Monday night and will post pictures soon!