by Jessica Hughes | Nov 21, 2016 | Uganda
Being on home assignment, and talking about Uganda, makes me reflect further about what I both love and appreciate about Uganda and UCU. Articles like this one exemplify it.
The flagship university in Uganda, Makerere, has been besieged by strikes, from students and staff alike. To say that things are not easy is an understatement.
As the article points out, in 19 years as a university, we have never had a strike. Now, things are not easy for us either. Let me walk in the light and point out that the First Lady is a recent alumnus, sonit behooves her to paint us favorably. But we strive to have a good working relationship between staff and students, and I think it shows.
This is but one of the reasons I am proud to be associated with UCU. We strive to work through our differences in light of Matthew 18. It is not easy. And yet, the fruit of such striving is a university that has never experienced a strike in 19 years, and they are sadly common at Makerere.
I am grateful that in the press, our graduates are routinely praised for their integrity and positive contributions to the workforce, and the culture in general.
Continue reading Appreciating UCU at Here I Am.
by Jessica Hughes | Sep 26, 2016 | Uganda
Now, don’t get me wrong. It is absolutely fabulous to be in the US with my people. That is balm to my soul. The smooth, lit roads and snazzy internet speeds are only perks of being here. However, over the last few weeks that I’ve been here, I’ve realized that there are several things I miss about Uganda.
1. Full serve petrol stations. There is no such thing as self-pumping stations in Uganda. Not only is it a blessed convenience, it prevents one from entering the ZIP code from where she used to live vice where she officially lives (vice where she actually lives when here) while using her debit card to purchase gas. Truth.
2. Doreen. Let’s be honest. Domesticity isn’t hard, but I’m a wee bit out of practice. Doreen washes, irons, cleans, and generally takes care of me. I *can* do these things, truly, but it’s just so… daily. I’m horribly spoiled.
3. Being recognized. If you had told me five years ago that I would miss being recognized, I would have fallen apart laughing. Though it still freaks me out when a store clerk or Askari (security guard) at a mall addresses me by title (“nice day, Reverend”) when I’m *not* in my collar, I’m sufficiently acclimated to it that I’m surprised when no one in this country knows me.
Continue reading Things I miss about Uganda at Here I Am.
by Jessica Hughes | Aug 24, 2016 | Uganda
The other day I went to the Ham Mukasa Library, the gorgeous and (relatively) new building on campus. The architecture is stunning, and I’m more than a little jealous that theology is not included in this building: we now have the old library building all to ourselves.
I knew that the library was going to house some artifacts from the Bishop Tucker Theological College days; what I didn’t know was that the large windows at the entrance were going to feature art to help block the brutal afternoon sun.
These pictures do not do the work justice; I want to return with a real camera and take proper photos.
Continue reading Art in the Library at Here I Am.
by Jessica Hughes | Aug 11, 2016 | Uganda
1. Get in the car to drive to chapel so you can go to Kampala directly after, and learn the battery is dead.
2. Wonder why you failed to get jumper cables after the last time you had to jump-start a car (not my own).
3. Freak out about getting to Kampala.
4. Go to chapel, then talk to colleagues who are level-headed enough to suggest getting a university driver to jump the battery so you can go to your mechanic for a new battery.
5. Whilst in the jam on the way to the mechanic, note that one of the guys hawking wares whilst walking the road is hawking jumper cables. Do not buy them.
6. Go to the mechanic, get a new battery installed. Rejoice.
7. Since where you have to go is in the opposite side of a divided highway from where the mechanic is, go down, circle the roundabout, then go. back up where you first saw the hawking guys. But not the guy with the cables. Become slightly distressed.
8. See the guy with the cables, and buy them.
9. Get to your next destination, which includes seeing your godson.
Continue reading How to finish collecting your data at Here I Am.
