yesterday the clinic was slow, perhaps because we'd seen 125 people the day before, so i was able to leave early and head up to the orphanage for their Christmas celebration. this was a party organized by some of the volunteers who've been there for a while and done a lot for the kids and the place. the volunteer organizers sang some carols accompanied by a violin; then the children did some songs that they'd practiced; then the workers did some traditional african dances; then there was some impromptu dances followed finally by a giant ugandan meal. i felt so badly that i didn't have zoe with me, she would have loved it.
the kids were of course, adorable and dressed perfectly. i mean their outfits were clean, the tops matched the bottoms and they were gender specific. this is only important because notice the haircuts- they all have shaved heads- so except at bath time- it's hard to tell who is a girl and who is a boy.
the mamas were awesome. those ladies can shake it- and they did. they were doing traditional dances from different areas around the country, as most people in kampala are really from other parts of the country, referred to as 'the village'. this is what people say, "i'm going home to the village", or "my wife she stays in the village". this time of the year especially everyone goes back to the village. i love that word and the concept and some day i hope i get to go to the village. i thought the first dance must have been a courtship dance- it was sort of suggestive and like someone was presenting herself. but then the next dance was similar and the third one too. and i began to wonder. it's a catholic orphanage run by a nun, so i looked over to the sister to see her reaction- she was clapping and moving in her seat like it was all normal- like that whoopie goldberg movie 'sister act'. it was awesome. and the music and the drumming made you want to move that way- to shake it and shake it fast. even the older women the "mzee" - can move.
but what was most amazing, was to see this one woman who is deaf, get up and dance. i don't know if she could feel the vibration of the drum, or if she just had the music and the beat so deep in side her- but she could move to it just like everyone else.
i got tears in my eyes watching her. but all of it was moving. there was so much joy in the dancing, the celebration, the performance of it- the kids shaking in their seats too- ready to get up and join them. it was a reminder of that moment in 'the grinch who stole Christmas' when the grinch gets it- "it came with out packages, boxes or bags!", "maybe Christmas isn't something you buy in the store, maybe Christmas means a little bit more. "
here we were in this little orphanage, which is often dirty and even stinky, and there was so much joy. even with out a Christmas tree, and with out little white lights and with out presents, even with out parents.
it was way different than most Christmas celebrations i've been to, and so, very special.
here it was, some of the 'more'.
the mamas were awesome. those ladies can shake it- and they did. they were doing traditional dances from different areas around the country, as most people in kampala are really from other parts of the country, referred to as 'the village'. this is what people say, "i'm going home to the village", or "my wife she stays in the village". this time of the year especially everyone goes back to the village. i love that word and the concept and some day i hope i get to go to the village. i thought the first dance must have been a courtship dance- it was sort of suggestive and like someone was presenting herself. but then the next dance was similar and the third one too. and i began to wonder. it's a catholic orphanage run by a nun, so i looked over to the sister to see her reaction- she was clapping and moving in her seat like it was all normal- like that whoopie goldberg movie 'sister act'. it was awesome. and the music and the drumming made you want to move that way- to shake it and shake it fast. even the older women the "mzee" - can move.
but what was most amazing, was to see this one woman who is deaf, get up and dance. i don't know if she could feel the vibration of the drum, or if she just had the music and the beat so deep in side her- but she could move to it just like everyone else.
here we were in this little orphanage, which is often dirty and even stinky, and there was so much joy. even with out a Christmas tree, and with out little white lights and with out presents, even with out parents.
it was way different than most Christmas celebrations i've been to, and so, very special.
here it was, some of the 'more'.
