Pastor Johnson narrates his experience in Elk City, Oklahoma:
America is much different from Africa. When i first came in here, i was amazed at the huge difference between life in Uganda and life in the US. Having lived in Uganda for all of my life apart from a few days when i went to Rwanda, the new experience was going to leave a lasting impact on my life.
It is so important as a preacher to learn the difference between different cultures, the ways of conduct and life style of different people. It makes you appreciate the power and wisdom of God and cause you to love him more. God in his supremacy made every thing and every person different and unique for his glory.
America is full of different people from different backgrounds and does not necessarily have a unifying culture and way of doing things. It is a free society.
But whereas i do appreciate our culture, it was great to learn how other people on this part of the universe go about life.
Here are a few things i learnt during my visit to Oklahoma:
In my country being overweight is fun! It is associated normally with the rich who can afford plenty of food to eat. And usually being fat is a sign of wealth and respect in the community. I was surprised that in the US it is the reverse, people don't like to be overweight and don't like to be referred to as fat.
Here, they eat lots of foods different from our food. Where as, in Uganda we tend to eat similar food items and just aim at balancing the diet. In America they eat lots of different foods and in different forms. It wasn't hard for me to adjust to the food they eat here. Though i miss matoke (unripened banana which is pealed and smoked, it tastes almost like potatoes).
They like to take most of their drinks, cold. At one restaurant with my friends one evening, i was asked if i wanted tea. I said, yes! What came in to my mind was the African Tea (tea leaves boiled in water and flesh milk with Sugar added to taste). To my surprise i was handed a very cold glass with black tea in ICE! I asked my friends, "is this tea?"
They replied that Americans like ice cold tea! They put ice in other drink they take too; a coke, juice , water etc. Never mind that America (Oklahoma)is not a very hot country.
Their houses are all air conditioned. My first night in Elk city was so cold. I wondered, it was a little bit warm out side but that night i was freezing. I was narrating my first experience to my hosts and it was funny, i told them that America unlike Africa is warm out side but freezing cold in side the house. I told them how i was freezing at night. "We like it is that way",they replied, "but we will make it warmer for you".
It was kind of like magic, because that night it was a different story, it was so hot like Northern Uganda, i was sweating the whole night. In the morning they asked me how my night was. And i replied," i can't understand America, this night was too warm that i was sweating". So they said we shall make it moderate. I followed Jeff, to see what he would do, to my surprise, he adjusted the temperatures on the air conditioner to my apartment and that night was great!
They don't have ventilators or open windows like we have in Uganda for fresh air. Every house has an air conditioning system. I was told that in winter when it snows the air conditioner keeps the houses very warm.
While here, i got my first experience to use a shower! In Uganda most families use make shift bath rooms for bathing. Most are build with papyrus reeds, and some simply put poles in the compound and put a wrapper or bed sheets around them for a bathroom. But the majority like to use the cover of darkness at night and they put the basin of water on the podium or veranda and bathe. Here bathrooms are in the house and this water splashes on you as you bathe, it is almost like rain only that this is warm. You just feel like bathing all the time.
One thing that surprised me most is that there is no Malaria in America. One evening, a mosquito was almost biting me, so i kept dodging it. Jeff wondered what was going on. I told him, one bit from that insect, you are step away from your grave. I told him how Malaria is rampant and deadly in Uganda. He told me that there is nothing like malaria in the US. They just read it in History books and in the news.
America is a very rich country! There is a sign of abundance every where. Unlike our community where you rarely see anyone driving, here you rarely see any one walking. I was surprised,even a short distance they drive there.The buildings are great, every thing here is first class and fancy! I was amazed because the gates open by themselves. The garage door would open by itself and when we enter it closes again!
There is this place that we visited called the Wal Mart! The place is fabulous to say the least! It is so huge and has plenty of item to sell out here. For the first time, i saw so many people gathered in one shop( they call it store here), to buy a few things to take home.
I must say, i have enjoyed every thing in Oklahoma. The people here are so freindly and hospitable. We had several dinner invitations in several homes and i had a great time.
My next stop over will be San Antonio.
May God bless America!
