I celebrated my birthday in Uganda yesterday.
I’ve never thought of my birthday as a time to reflect on
how fortunate I am just to make it to this age. I’ve usually thought “Ooh it’s my special day!”
And how it’s fun to toast, and spend time with friends, family and loved
ones, and to have some good sweets. Or maybe even a time to consider existential questions, like “Am I
where I thought I would be in life by this age?” But I’ve never thought about how lucky I am to
still be alive at the age of 34.
Some of
my Ugandan colleagues sent me birthday greetings yesterday which really brought
this home for me, especially considering how many people here (and in other
parts of east Africa) are never lucky enough to reach this age.
Birthday messages/greetings:
“Many have always wanted to reach those years but have
always failed and you should always thank god that you are among the blessed
ones, many happy returns.”
“Happy birthday. This is a very special moment in life since
it comes once in a year. May the loving God bless you and grant you more life
to celebrate and blow more candles.”
Birthday Lunch
My coworkers were also thoughtful to cook me a wonderful birthday lunch. It consisted of beans (which I opted for
instead of the chicken that we received the day before that was slaughtered in
the back yard that morning), eggplant and atapa.
Making Atapa |
Steaming pile of atapa (I know it looks scary, but it's actually pretty tasty) |
While I was watching it
being made, a coworker explained that it used to be tradition that before a man
would marry a woman, she was given a very large pot and had to make atapa. If the atapa was not of good quality (like if it still had little balls of unmixed
flour) he wouldn’t marry her. So I asked
the cook if hers was worthy of a marriage proposal, and she just laughed.
Birthday lunch of beans, atapa and eggplant |
It was a delicious lunch! And a good birthday!
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