When I first noticed that there was a study abroad trip to Uganda, I was immediately drawn to the program mainly because of the location and the concept behind the work that has been completed by Professor Swahn. Because I had not traveled internationally before I was a bit nervous about making this my first trip abroad, but I did not let that stop me. Surprisingly, one the of main events that I was initially concerned about believe it or not was the long international flight but much to my surprise it was not as bad as I made it out to be. I got some much-needed rest on the flights which was nice.

Since arrival in Uganda, the days have been nothing short of amazing. I have been completely taken aback by the vast lifestyle differences between Ugandans and Americans. What has stood out the most to me is the drastic cultural differences that are present in this country. One of the most memorable events in this trip so far have been the show at the Ndeke Cultural Center. Being that I have a background as a competitive dancer that has been trained in multiple genres of dance I was immediately attracted to the idea of a theatrical performance considering it has been quite some time since I have been able to see a live performance. From the start of the show, I was completely mesmerized. Being able to visualize all of the types and colors combinations of the African fabrics was just so completely beautiful. Hearing all of the chants and songs represented by each tribe just warmed by heart. Seeing the different cultural dances belonging to each region of Uganda just tickled my heart pink. The movements were sharp and precise but still showed so much fluidity at the same time. After seeing so many performances from these regions, I realized that quite a few dances resemble ones that are known to American culture. I have heard this in the past but being able to witness it for myself is an entirely different conversation.

Another portion of the show that completely surprised me was learning that people from Uganda created the first trumpet, guitar, and keyboard. We got to see the original make of the instruments, and to my surprise, the appearance was quite different than the ones that we see today. This made me wonder how the appearance of the instruments evolved over the years. To see the performers, play these instruments in their original settings and different pitches I honestly did not notice a difference. The drumming section was one of my favorite portions of the entire performance. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped when I saw these men carrying these massive drums on their heads down the stairs so effortlessly. These gentlemen showed such strength and resilience which I feel is symbolic of any great musician or piece of music.

The final portion of the segment during which all of the different represented regions of Uganda came for a finale performance was probably these the most uplifting segment of the entire show. This truly showed how all of the different cultures of the represented regions of Uganda meshed as one unified nation. I felt as if all of these collectively was a stellar representation of the entire country. At that moment, I felt that Ugandans have a strong sense of unity which is something that I feel is hard to come by. These performances ignited a flame within me and left me in complete awe. I’m pretty sure that I will not be able to witness another spectacular performance similar to this, but I’m truly grateful to have been present at this moment.