Souled Out: The "Introduction" and other misc. happenings

Friday, we went an excursion with Beca and Cooper (two interns that we met at the July 4^th party) to Kibale National Forest (Jungle) to go on a chimp walk…basically, a hike through the rain forest looking for wildlife. We took public transportation which is always quite an experience and lots of fun if you have a good attitude. :D They always charge us more, because we’re American and therefore, must be rich. Often times, transportation is in the form of a van that is packed with as many people as will fit. And fit as in- in any way possible- or not so possible. There were about 25 ppl in ours by the time we left, not counting babies. It also takes a little longer because they make stops at villages along the way…

Taking public transportation...notice the hat-

Bryn is representing the Fightin' Texas Aggies even in Africa. :D

Anyway, we arrived too late and they were closed. So the four of us took of down a dirt road in the middle of the jungle, trying to flag down the cars that passed. So we spent the next several miles walking, enjoying the scenery, eating bananas and trying to figure out what we were going to do if we came upon a pack of baboons...when the cell service started to go down, Beca said she felt like it was the beginning of a bad movie. Four Americans walking down a road in the middle of the jungle, with only bananas to eat…and losing cell service. J A taxi eventually came along and made the hour trip back in 20 min! We all saw our lives flash before our eyes a couple of times on that exciting trip…was the closest thing to a roller coaster ride I’ve had in a car in quite a while. But we made it out ok and are going back again this week to hopefully see some monkeys…

Yesterday, Derrick took us to an “Introduction” in another village. This is culturally almost equivalent to a marriage ceremony, holding lots of tradition and formalities. They usually take all day, but I will try to summarize. J You’re welcome. J …I don’t really have any pics, cause we were trying to be respectful and not act like tourists. :P

Brayden, Martin and Derrick waiting

for the introduction to begin.

We dressed in our nice clothes…wanted to get some Toro dress clothes, but didn’t have time. We went with Derrick and his cousin Martin with the groom’s party to the village of the bride. There we waited for a long time, resting in the shade of the Matooki trees (banana) for all the groom’s party to get there. Once they all arrived, the bride’s family invited us to the ceremony….All the brides’ family and friends sit under a pavilion on one side and the groom’s family and friends file in a procession, carrying gifts. Then we were seated in a pavilion facing the bride’s.

Then the groom and several others go and kneel before the father of the bride and introduce themselves. Then they state the reason they have come…There is a lot of conversation that takes place that is formalities and some of it jokes…For example, the father of the bride will tell them they have come to the wrong village and no girl by that name lives there. J They select a small group to go into one of the houses to eat coffee beans and drink lots of milk…Brayden and I were part of this group. The coffee beans and milk represent unity or something. The servers are not allowed to turn their backs to the people they are serving, or look them in the eyes most times.

Then the father of the bride brings several groups of girls before the groom’s party, asking him to pick which one is the one he has picked. If he says none of these…then the bring out another group until finally, the bride is brought out and picked and everyone cheers…Then there is the process of agreeing on a dowry (even tho it’s decided prior to the introduction) and the giving of gifts that has to happen before the father agrees to give the daughter….There is lots of music, waiting and dancing.

Then there is the meal and entertainment. The entertainment this time was a couple of young Africans dressed liked American rappers and lip-syncing to a Ugandan pop song. It.was.hilarious.

After the introduction is over and pictures are taken and the meal is eaten, they dance until morning….Really disappointed that we didn’t get to stay for that, but it was quite an experience anyway. So glad we got to go!

Here are some more pictures of random stuff...