Man House

So last week, Mr. Odoi left to return to his home village in Tororo and took his two daughters with him, leaving his three sons here to fend for themselves for two weeks! This has happened several times before, apparently it is no big deal. Kids are incredibly self sufficient here. They cook for themselves. They maintain the gardens. They clean the house. All on their own volition.

The three sons, Junior, Oumolo, and Sam stayed behind. I'm quite fond of Junior and especially Oumolo. He always has a gigantic smile on his face whenever we're around each other. He's courteous and curious and giddy. The three sons staying behind made our duplex paradise officially the "man house" for two weeks. I was actually more excited than most of you can imagine or understand about this. Haha.

From left to right: Sam, Junior, and Oumolo

School is out now and there are not a lot of people around where I'm at. There is something rugged and adventurous about the four of us just living on this homestead in the middle of East Africa together, alone. It brings forth amazing feelings of independence and mystery. And it's really amazing to see these three boys do all the work themselves without a parent here to give them chores and discipline them. They are very well behaved.

So, anyways, our newly reduced "man house" dynamic has been something I've truly enjoyed the past week. We've done a lot of manly things let me tell you. Such as gardening together. We cook together and eat outside while sitting on a reed mat on the ground underneath the crystal clear, African star scape (which is an amazing experience and one of my most cherished moments in Uganda thus far).

About to eat some delicious pork

After dinner, we have the opportunity to go the cinema (as my kids call it), which consists of my laptop, speakers, and a movie. We watch real intense manly films. So far it it has been Madagascar and Ice Age 3 (which was pretty decent but a far fall from its two predecessors). They love Madagascar! They recognize a lot of the animals and think it is hilarious that they can talk and have human voices. It's a good time.

They are incredibly timid and hesitant to take more food at dinner. This is the culture in Uganda, when the food is limited, the adults and largest children get most of the food, the little ones have to endure with what small portion they get. I know they have to be hungry because this is the only decent meal they get of the day. When we watch movies, they slowly walk into my house, afraid to intrude or disturb me. I welcome them in each time with open arms, but they are still very shy. A stark difference from children in America many times.

The boys are very humble. And in a country where you are constantly bombarded with people asking you for things, this attitude is more than welcome.

Nothing like a hefty mountain of millet bread to make you feel full and healthy