Three Weeks In
By: Andrew Kasabian
Kampala, Uganda
After three weeks in Kampala, there is no easy way to explain my experiences, so I will stick with random musings and stories:
iPhone games are universal
Our group went to see a traditional Ugandan performance by an orphanage, known
as KICK and co-founded by Pepperdine Law alum Ryan Aikens, on a Sunday. Prior to
the performance by the Uganda children, which was amazing in its own right, we had
a chance to get to know some of the kids and spend some time with them. They were
so excited to talk with us, learn about the United States, and talk about their lives
in Kampala. But as soon as they found out we had smart phones with games on them,
we lost them to the games. They were enthralled by iPhone games, huddling around
in circles and taking turns playing whatever games they could find. It became difficult
to track down your phone, because the kids were really clever. They would give you
a bracelet or headband of theirs, and would somehow get your phone and disappear until
the battery was about to die. They clearly were better at sharing than we were because
we were all trying to track down our phones at one point or another. Just goes to
show that 1) everyone loves technology and 2) it is not just my generation in the
United States that is obsessed and distracted by all the games we have at our fingertips.
You don't need to grow up in a household filled with computers, Internet, and smart
phones in order to be attached to them.
Lawyering is quite similar to the U.S.
Now, even though the laws in Uganda appear to be clearer than laws in the United
States, a lot of the "lawyering" that takes place in the courtroom is similar to that
of the United States. As my partner Alex and I were sitting in our judge's court
sessions on one Wednesday, I would laugh during some of the arguments, as I was reminded
of Torts and Criminal Law where we spent so much time trying to figure out who is
"the average reasonable person" or what "immediate" means. Notably, one of the best
quotes in the Ugandan court session was an argument by a lawyer arguing the meaning
of the word "immediate." He began with a classic introduction, reading its dictionary
definition, and capped it off with "even in ordinary English, the word immediate means
immediate!" While his delivery was undoubtedly funnier than mine, it also illustrated that
certain traits of being a lawyer are universal, regardless of the level of sophistication
of different legal systems.
You know you've made it when you get the "special Ugandan handshake."
In the United States, the value of a "strong handshake" can't be overstated.
In Uganda, there isn't a competition to see who has the most painful, bone-breaking
handshake. It is more of lightly shaking each other's fingers. This makes handshakes
actually enjoyable. But we all quickly learned that Ugandans have a special handshake
for friends that you really want to strive for. It's like a made-up handshake that
two best friends would have, but everyone in Uganda seems to know it. There's a sort
of swivel move after the initial handshake and then back to the handshake.
When interacting with children, they really like to give that handshake to anyone
as they yell "Mzungu!" (Lugandan for foreigner) at us. But it is a real achievement
when you get the handshake from an adult. So when the first person at my court gave
me that handshake, it was really hard not to cheer until they left. Especially considering
that my partner did not get the same handshake (sorry Alex!). To me, it seems like
that is the sign of friendship. So receiving that handshake makes you feel connected
to the community. As I have thought about that handshake, it really puts
my role and what purpose I am serving in Uganda into perspective. We talk about the
importance of supporting the rule of law and helping with a lot of the backlog of
the Ugandan judicial system as the primary purpose of this program. But I think one
of the main reasons that this program is so important is because it is a way for us
Americans to serve as friends to the Ugandans we encounter and create a connection
that brings two separate cultures and worlds together. People can sit in class or
read on Wikipedia and become "experts" on a country and how to help "fix" it. But
truly impacting people and a community not only requires that academic expertise,
but also an understanding and connection with the people on the ground. So, to me,
even if I do not create some revolutionary program in the Ugandan judicial system,
this experience will be a success if I can at least say I formed relationships and
friendships with some Ugandans I came into contact with.
The Ugandan experience so far has been an eye-opening one, at least for myself. It is impossible to describe the essence of the experience, other than random tidbits of information and stories that are just bouncing around within my mind. Oh, and for those that were curious: Temple Run was the most popular game and Candy Crush Saga was the least popular.