Uganda Be Kidding Me: 10 things I learned this summer

I'm thinking "BuzzFeed Editor" would be a good fallback career if we run out of public and health in the world, so here is a summary of my summer in listicle form. Also CAN'T WAIT TO REUNITE WITH YOU ALL SO SOON!

1. "African" souvenirs are usually made in China or India, just like everything else in the world. All the colorful fabrics and crazy pants that white people on safari like to buy are about as Ugandan as French fries. Still, they are awesome fabrics/pants so can you really blame us for buying them and acting all cultured when we get back?

2. Peeing in a whole in the ground is something you can get used to. It's not really pleasant, but it gets the job done. I only had to use a latrine on days that we worked in the field, so I can't pretend to have had an authentic village experience. At night, I got a hot shower and a flushing toilet. So really we should all just appreciate indoor plumbing. 

3. On long layovers, you can totally leave the airport and get a bonus vacation! We did this in Amsterdam because we had 6 hours between flights so I'm pretty much an expert. We saw the outside of the Ann Frank house, ate frites, walked around the museum quarter, and wished we were as adorable as all the Dutch bikers. 

4. Knowing other languages is really cool. So I guess I am not that cool. Everyone I met in Uganda speaks like 5 languages and I could barely remember any words in Runyankore. I did meet a Burundian man, though, and exchanged like 2 sentences of French with him!!

5. Sexism. I just learned about sexism. Obvi I have seen this my whole life but it was different to observe as a foreigner. My first day working in the field, one of the health workers we partner with invited me to spend the night with him and it became pretty regular for men to ask if I was single or tell me they wanted an American wife, which is awkward. But the real sad thing was hearing from women about sexual abuse and domestic violence and just the general experience of being expected to garden, cook, clean, raise babies, make money, etc. sometimes with no help. And then it was sad to hear men talk about how they were expected to pay for everything but if you're poor you just feel disported and become an alcoholic and OK clearly not everyone does this but just for real why can't we all just work together and not force people to live and work and be a certain way just because of their sex??

6. Electricity is dangerous. My laptop charger taught me this lesson when it exploded and nearly took my head with it. Which reminds me that I need to check amazon for a new one...

7. I talk really loud and might be hearing impaired. Or Ugandans are just really soft spoken? I don't know if it's a consequence of having lots of cousins or something but I have discovered that I shout when people don't understand or acknowledge me speaking and it's super annoying and why do I have any friends? But then also I can never hear anything the first time so probably you should be nice to me I might be deaf. 

8. I always thought I was kind of low-maintenance, but it turns out I am super spoiled. I really struggled with the unreliable electricity and internet connection in Mbarara. One time I spent a whole work day reading Mockingjay and waiting for the power to come back on so I could use my laptop that can't hold a battery charge, and it was the worst thing ever. Also I'm bad at flies. I just don't like them, especially when I'm eating, and one time I even skipped lunch because I couldn't handle the flies in the village which is super weird for me because I LOVE eating.

9. At airports it really is important to get there early for your flight. And then once you are there, you should probably stay close to your gate so they don't close it while you are on the other side of the terminal being an idiot. I learned this lesson in Miami, but it all turned out OK because I got on a new flight and Marco Rubio was there which is basically a celebrity siting and I made friends by having a tide-to-go in my purse.

10.I really like travelling, but it is so great coming home. I am already planning my future trips: Paris to see Rachael, Poland to see the Pope, Uganda again to see my frands. But I definitely realized that I can never live anywhere but Michigan, at least not long term. I just missed everything too much!

"10 Things to Do in Detroit", or, "A List with No .gifs"

1/4 of CART now lives in Detroit, and though I'm pretty new here, I'm starting to learn about a lot of cool things to do around the city. I'm also continuing to learn that a lot of people have a skewed image of what Detroit really looks like. So, inspired by M. Walle, here is my advice on exploring the D.



Heidelberg Project exhibit



10 Things to Do in Detroit
1. Eat Well
You have to eat anyway, so you might as well make it enjoyable. I am convinced that this city has the best restaurants in the world, and the most diverse food choices you could ask for. You MUST go for dinner in Southwest Detroit. Start with a Mexican restaurant (Vernor Hwy is lined with them) and finish that meal off with some tres leches. For more Latin American cuisine, grab some pupusas!
Detroit has a rich history as a destination for immigrants and migrants, so the food choices go on. There is a soul food restaurant on almost every corner, probably with a Coney Island on the other side of the street. Even if you don't like hot dogs, you have to try a coney, just to say that you did. In Hamtramck, a city within the city of Detroit, you can find Polish restaurants dating back to the wave of immigrants that came to work in the auto industry a hundred years ago. Now, Hamtramck is also home to new immigrants and new food, so plan a meal with Middle Eastern cuisine. Swing by Café 1923 for a hot drink and a nice book when you're done eating!
To be a little healthier, go over to Eastern Market on a Tuesday or Saturday for fresh veggies, some of which are locally grown in urban farms and as part of community supported agriculture.
One of the coolest things about Detroit right now is how many new businesses are opening up and how creative these companies are. There are plenty of new restaurants and cafes, so just stop anywhere that looks yummy. It probably is.
2. Bike Around
Although it is the Motor City, Detroit is also a great place to see on two wheels. A decreased population means less traffic, so take advantage of the open road space and bring your bike (or rent one). Take the MacArthur bridge over to Belle Isle, once the largest city island park. After that, go along the river past the RenCen and Hart Plaza on the beautiful new river walk. This will give you a great view of the South Detroit that Journey sings about, which is actually Canada.
A lot of residents of downtown and midtown (just north of Downtown where Wayne State University is) bike to work and school, so you'll fit right in with your helmet over there. Being on a bike helps slow you down to see so much more than you can in a car.
3. Walk Woodward
In that same vein of thought, just ditch the wheels entirely and go down one of the main thoroughfares of the city on foot. Woodward goes all the way from the Detroit river up through the suburbs and into Pontiac where it loops back to the D. If you're really ambitious, you can walk the whole thing, but for the more faint of heart maybe limit it to the downtown area, which is only about a square mile large anyway.
Key landmarks to check out while you walk up Woodward (starting at the river) include Joe Louis's fist, which you should probably pose with. You can also have a photoshoot with the Spirit of Detroit, a big copper man with massive thighs who holds the sun in one hand and citizens of Detroit in the other. If it's playoff time for any local sports teams, he'll also be clad in a giant custom made jersey. As you look at him you can ponder what the spirit of Detroit really is.
Farther north is Campus Martius, where in the winter you can ice skate and in the summer you can catch a concert on the beach. Also there will soon be free wi-fi there, so it's just all around amazing.
The architecture of downtown Detroit is amazing, and you can get a glimpse of art deco next to modern design. You can also see pretty much constant construction as buildings are remodeled and redeveloped.
4. Watch a Show
If you were to keep walking up Woodward, you'd see the Fox theater, one of many excellent venues for tons of shows in Detroit. There are broadway caliber performances and big name musicians as well as local stars at smaller venues like St. Andrew's Hall. Even if you can't get tickets, walk through the Fisher building and marvel at it's awesome beauty.
5. Go to Church
This isn't a ploy to convert you, I promise. But Detroit past and present can't be fully understood without looking at religion, besides the fact that many old churches in Detroit are historical landmarks and architectural treasures.
Heard of Aretha Franklin? She grew up a preacher's daughter singing in the church choir here. Ever heard of the Black Madonna? The popular movement of Black Christian Nationalism is a Detroit thing, too. Survey some native Detroiters today and you'll find that faith and faith communities continue to play a major role in individual lives and social change.
Some particularly beautiful churches to check out: St. Anne de Detroit (the oldest Catholic parish in the state), Fort Street Presbyterian (look for the green tower), Mariner's church right on the river,  Metro UMC on Woodward, and St. Aloysius downtown. I could go on, but you're probably running out of time on your Detroit visit.
6. Visit Museums
Conveniently located in the so-called cultural center of the city, Detroit is home to a world renowned art institute (Detroit Institute of Art), a kid friendly science center and imax theater (Michigan Science Center), a new museum of contemporary art (MOCAD), and "the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience (the Wright museum of African American History). Check out admissions specials for Metro-Detroit residents or for teachers! A short distance away you can check out the Motown Museum and original home of Hitsville USA. Other area museums listed here.
7. Listen
The sights of Detroit are awesome, but I promise the people are even cooler. Talk to the panhandlers in front of Comerica Park or the street musicians in Greektown. Ask questions and pay attention to the answers.
8. Take Pictures
Don't just collect ruin porn. It might be tempting to snap a lot of photos of the abandoned Michigan Central Station and instagram them using some dark and creepy filter, but then you might miss seeing Roosevelt Park across the revival of this public space. Go through the Heidelberg project and snap photos of the art installments, but respect the people who still live on the half empty street.
Detroit is a vacation destination just like Paris and NYC. Have fun, document your trip, and capture all the beautiful sights!
Don't take pictures on the casino floor though. They don't seem to like that.



This is what happens when you try to have a photoshoot at Greektown Casino



9. Go to a Game
Some Detroit sports teams don't actually play in Detroit, but most do, and most are pretty great.
Named for the famed boxer from Detroit, Joe Louis Arena is the current home of the Detroit Red Wings. Maybe you've heard of them; they have the longest play-off appearance streak in NHL history at 23 seasons. Also if you're not from around here, you should take in a game to see just how crazy Michiganders can be about their hockey. Like, throwing octupi on the ice crazy.
If you like baseball, then a Tigers game is the place for you. If you don't like baseball, Comerica Park is the perfect destination, because they've filled it with so many attractions you don't have to watch a single pitch. Ride the merry-go-round or the ferris wheel and drink some overpriced beer, because this is America.
The Lions play just across the street from the Tigers at Ford Field, and are currently not the worst team in football! Superbowl XL was played at this stadium, and it is a covered field, which comes in handy when it starts to snow in early November.
If you really like basketball, you can take I-75 up to Auburn Hills to see the Detroit Pistons. If you really like women's basketball, you're out of luck. We sold our national-championship-winning Shock to Tulsa.
10. Drink
All good things should start with food and end with drinks, right? Like pretty much every other city you can think of, Detroit is home to some really fun bars, and some really shady bars, and some really shady bars that turn out to be really fun.
If you want a dinner and bar tab that's bigger than my paycheck and a breathtaking view, go to the Coach Insignia restaurant atop the tallest tower of the Renaissance Center. They have good happy hour specials, so if you aren't made of money, that's a good time to go.
Midtown is home to a lot of college students, and so it's also home to a lot of bars. Motor City Brewing Works is there, along with Traffic Jam & Snug, and both will serve you their craft brews. For cocktails, go to Cliff Bell's downtown, which started as a speak easy during prohibition and has live music. In Corktown, the oldest neighborhood in Detroit, you can go to PJ's lager house (also has live music).
The city is much bigger than downtown and midtown, though, and a lot of other neighborhoods have a lot of other local treasures. There are jazz clubs and Irish pubs and strange taverns that you have to call ahead to make sure they are open. As you unwind with your drink you can think of all the crazy amazing things you've seen and experienced in the greatest city in the world, Detroit, MI!