The Little Muzungu has turned Makiga

Hello to those in the land of Oz,

Well yesterday I took the ‘plunge’ and got my hair braided. After quite a wait for my hairdresser to turn up, there was a lengthy discussion on how exactly they should do it. I don’t think the hairdresser had ever braided Muzungu hair as she was thinking I wanted the synthetic braids that they use- [she thought without the synthetic braids, my hair would not hold as it was too soft] after explaining that I was happy to just have my own hair braided- I was told it was going to cost 80,000 shillings.[About $70 AUS] Which I was not willing to pay! [Turns out she meant 18,000 but that got misunderstood in translation!] Luckily we convinced her to just have a go and see what she could do- and I think she had a ball! She hadn’t braided real hair that was so long before. After much pulling and a little pain, my hair was braided! And it only took about an hour and half- much shorter than I thought it would take! And the best of all, it was only 7000 shillings, which is the cheapest hair design I’ve ever had done at a salon before! I’ll be going back again before I leave, as one can imagine, that as Makiga [pronounced Ma-chig-ga, the name given for an African here] as I would like to be, my hair is and always will be Muzungo- soft and slippery and prone to fuzziness! The kids at the Orphanage loved it- I told them I was a Muzungu Makiga- of which they cracked up with laughter- went down well with the Boda Boda drivers too- got us a discount on our trip back home! Hehe.

After I got my hair done, Luke and I [the son of the people I’m staying with] walked down into town and caught a boda boda out to the orphanage to see the kids. I was going to do a sports program with them down at another churches park. Their head Mum, Pamellah was at the Markets so we waited for a while for her to come back. We filled in the time by teaching the kids an extended version of the chicken dance, and again, the Macarena- they thought it was very amusing. I also took a bunch of photo’s- and fun was had by all. We finally took them to the park where we played “What’s the time Mr Lion” [cultural corrections made of course] a game of tunnel ball, red rover and their favourite- statues. I think they really loved running around in all that open space- it was so cute seeing some of them go a little crazy- and all of them had big grins on their cheeky little faces! I don’t know who had more fun- us or the kids!

We then took a bicycle back into town to do some grocery shopping. The bikes are much more leisurely and peaceful than a boda boda- however our drivers thought it would be funny to freak out the Muzungu’s, by speeding up before a hill and flying down it! Gave one that awful feeling of falling, like on a rollercoaster. All I can say is I’m glad there were no pot holes in that particular area of road, or the little Makiga Muzungu may of learnt how to fly!

Today I’m going out with Pastor Edward to visit a project village that World Vision have at a place called Bukinda [the letter k here is pronounced the same as ch]. It’ll be great to see how the money people back in Australia have put towards their sponsor children, has actually made a difference. I can’t wait to take some photo’s and show people back home, when I’m on the stand- I think it will be very useful.
Tomorrow I’m going shopping with Pam from the drop in centre, to help buy some clothes for the boys for Christmas. Should be fun.

Oh and just got some good news- for my 21st birthday we’re all going to Queen Elizabeth National park- and staying there for a few nights- its dirt cheap, [pun intended! But only $30 a night!] and we’ll get to see some elephants, antelope, warthogs, lots of hippos and HOPEFULLY a lion or leopard! I Can’t wait!
Well that’s all for now. I’ll update in few days.

Kali kali [byebye]
Olivia