celebrating the 4th

several people have contacted me wondering how ugandans celebrate the 4th of july. yesterday, i was able to witness this rich cultural showcase first-hand. people from all over the country piled into their giant, shiny SUVs and drove (sometimes great) distances to meet behind the houses of friends and/or relatives, where they proceeded to roast massive quantities of processed meats over an open flame. once the meats had been sufficiently seared, they were placed on pre-sliced bread products and coated in yellow, red, and green sauces. the participants then ate everything in sight, drank impressive amounts of alcohol, and lit the fuses of what appeared to be rockets or bombs of some kind, which were launched and thankfully exploded harmlessly in mid-air, sparing the lives of those they had so unskillfully targeted for (perhaps) threatening dependence.

i hope you can imagine such a celebration. i know it must be a stretch, as cultures can be so very different. but uganda is fiercely proud of america's independence, and they left nothing in the tank. it was an all-out celebration!

or maybe it was just like any other day...though a bit cooler and rainier than usual. you pick the story you would like to believe! i miss all of you and hope you had an excellent time celebrating the 4th, cooking out, and being merry. instead of hot dogs and hamburgers, i ate the plate of posho and beans shown below (topped off with some taco bell sauce that my friend got in a care package!)