About being an expat...
Pro: There is a really great community of friendly expats who are very open to get to know new people. Making friends from all over the world is really easy.
Con: The boda drivers assume that muzungus don't like to walk and don't know any better, so they'll often try to charge you 2 to 4 times the price of the trip. Haggling every time I have to get on a boda, which is very often at least twice a day, is EXHAUSTING.
About being "Chinese"...
Pro: Apparently happy Chinese FOB door salesmen - not door-to-door, but their company makes doors - will mistake you for one of their own, stop on the road, and offer to give you a ride to your next destination. =)
Con: Every single day (and I promise I am not overstating), I am greeted by obnoxious shouts of, "Hey China!" or "How are you China?". I'm sorry. Would the country of China like to respond on my behalf? Or are they okay if I severely misrepresent them?About being American...
Pro: People seem to really like Americans.
Con: People really like Americans because they often assume you will be able to buy them a camera or laptop for example, or that your passport is also somehow their free ticket to America too. I am generalizing of course, but these conversations happen a lot.
About having an American accent...
Pro: My Asian face makes most people think that I just speak English remarkably well.
Con: Nobody understands when you ask for water. "I'd like some water." "Pardon?" "Water." "Excuse me?". Ugh.... "I'd like some Woh-tah." "Oh, okay." Apparently it only translates with a British accent or at least only with strong annunciation of the letter "t".
About having a housemate...
Pro: The buddy system is highly encouraged here for personal safety if you don't drive, I almost always have a default person with which to travel.
Con: My housemate is Japanese, so we are constantly asked if we are brother and sister. People are severely confused when we say that he's from Japan and I'm from Korea. And then at that point, it's just too much trouble to explain. Now we've conceded to just say we're related.
About interviewing victims of domestic abuse...
Pro: You see that women are willing to speak up about their hardships and willing to fight for their rights and what they deserve
Con: You look like a complete ass when you give a hearty handshake to the recently battered victim whose hand has not completely healed.
About spending time with adolescent girls in their community based clubs (called ELA program at BRAC)...
Pro: They groups greet you with these great welcome songs and dances, and they want you to play games like netball with them
Con: They expect me to also give them an embarassing display of song and dance in return, and I become the old lady in the group running around with a bunch of teenagers.
About being dirty all the time...
Pro: I've found that the grimier I am at the end of the day, the less likely I am to get bitten by mosquitos.
Con: I have actually employed this as a strategy to combat mosquito bites.
About the various ethnic cuisine in Kampala...
Pro: You can find everything from Ethiopian to Mexican, Thai, American, Indian, Chinese, Italian... not a bad selection all in all.
Con: Most of the food tends to be what we call "Kampala good", meaning that in times of urgent cravings and desperation it will suffice. If it were a restaurant in NYC, they would've posted the store for lease sign on most of these places.
oo they play netball in south africa too! basketball mixed quidditch but soccer defense layout.
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