Clearing House

Sorry for the slew of mundane posts lately, but I am kind of clearing house on a bunch of miscellaneous items.   In that vein, here’s a few more items for the random details file:

• In my admittedly limited experience, I have found people to be very cognizant of how far behind their country is.  But instead of talking about with jealousy or remorse, I see more of an acceptance.  It is not a complacency, they want to get where we are.  But its almost awkward how frank they can discuss the difference - for us its taboo to discuss poverty and I struggle sometimes with the line between honest and insulting.  My random guess as to why this is -- less access to our exported culture.  They do see celebrities and things like that, but they aren't confronted with our movies, TV, restaurants, and tourists with gadgets quite as much.  The general population doesn't know what they are "missing" in quite the same way as some of the more connected regions of the world do.  That is in no way based on any real information - just me speculating.
• Longo people (the tribe here in Lira) are all very tall and thin with high cheekbones and slim hips.  They made out well in the gene pool.  The tribes here are noticeably different, despite their geographic proximity.

• You frequently see men holding hands here (and women too).  It is a sign of affection and camaraderie.  In a country infamous for their intolerance of homosexuality, this surprised me.

• Surnames are chosen, not given.  They are usually the names are usually the name of someone else in the family or something from the Bible.  There is no outside way of knowing if people are related – only if they state their clan, which they will do as part of large or formal introductions.
• Uganda has over 50 native languages.  Given the logistical nightmare that is for a country the size of Oregon, English was named the official language and is taught in schools.  In an effort to assimilate, I have endeavored to learn at the least the basics of Longo.  It has been a losing battle.  Primarily because every time I try…people erupt into laughter.  Here’s what I know
  
  

  English	Longo	My Pronunciation Attempt
  Good Morning	Ibuto aber	eh-boot  /  a- beh-air
  Good Afternoon	Irio aber	ah-re-oh  /  a-beh-air
  I greet you	Amoti ba	a-moe-tea  /   a-beh air
  How Are You?	Itye ningo?	eh-tea-ah   /  nin-go
  I am well	Atye aber	ah-tea-ah   /  nin-go
  Hello / Thank You	Apwoyo bear	a-poy-yo   /  beh-air
  Thank You Very Much	Apwoya matek	a-poy-ya  /  ma-teck
  Thank you for the food	Apwoyo dek	a-poy-yo    /  deck
  You are welcome	Apwoyo bino	a-poy-yo    /  bean-no
  What is your name?	Nying nga?	Ning-ying-knee / nah   (I cannot say this at all)
  My name is ____	Nyinga ____	Ning-ying-nah_____
  How much does this cost?	Ciling adi?	Shilling ah-dee
  Where is the toilet?	Cangat tye kwene?	Chang-got /  tea  / qwen-a
  Where are you going?	Iwot kwene?	Eh-wat  /  qwen-a
  I am going….	Atye awot….	ah-tea-ah   /  a-wat
  Safe journey	Wot aber	Wort  /  a-beh-air
  Yes	Eh	eeehhhh
  No	Pe	ppeeehhh
  Sleep Well	But aber	Boot  / a –beh-air

• Speed bumps are everywhere!  There is usually one road that runs between towns, so whenever you approach the town center you run into a least 2-3 on either end of the main strip.  This, coupled with the already crap road conditions, makes all travel arduous and jarring.

 

• In addition to saying sorry every time you do something stupid, in the north they also say “you’re welcome” all the time – even before you thank them.  Also, they seriously overuse the word seriously.

• They don’t use traditional locks here.  Instead, they have metal doors with a little round hole and swinging metal flap inside.  On the inside of the door are bars that slide into holes in the rock.  To lock from the outside, you put your hand through the hole, slide over the bars hen close the flap with a padlock. They are incredibly loud and the bars never slide easily.  Pinching your fingers will result in immediate and severe bruising.  I would know.