One thing that I love about Uganda is that it’s not weird to greet a stranger on the street as if you’ve been best friends since your diaper days. In fact, I’ve heard from some Ugandan friends that in certain situations it’s actually rude if you don’t do so. This afternoon on my walk from the Sole Hope guesthouse to the babies’ home that I visit sometimes, I passed a group of three young Ugandan women walking in the same direction and as I passed one of them said “hello.” I was a little taken aback because I had been kind of in my own world, but I responded and asked them their names- Kathy, Kathy and Tina. I asked which grade they’re in, how old they are and what kinds of careers they want to have (Senior class level 5, 19 years old and development studies and business). They asked me which country I’m from (they guessed correctly!) and about what I’m doing here in Jinja. I explained that I’m working for Sole Hope and though they hadn’t heard of it, they thanked me for being here and for the work that I’m helping to do. As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but beam because it felt so good to make a connection with people that I have no immediately apparent reason to connect with. I love that people here don’t really need a reason to reach out other than that we’re all human and we’re all worth being known.
Today’s challenge: Take a few minutes to think about how our communities might be different if people were to greet strangers on the street, at Starbucks, the park, the movie theater, the grocery store, a concert as if they were old friends. And if you feel so inspired, reach out. What’s the worst that could happen?
Today’s challenge: Take a few minutes to think about how our communities might be different if people were to greet strangers on the street, at Starbucks, the park, the movie theater, the grocery store, a concert as if they were old friends. And if you feel so inspired, reach out. What’s the worst that could happen?
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