July 4th Came Early

The July 4th celebration hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Uganda was on June 29th. Too difficult to celebrate July 4th on a weekday. It was an outdoor, picnic-style lawn event in a small village on the outskirts of Kampala. We watched Ugandan acrobats flip around in khaki, janitor-like uniforms. We listened to American pop music ... like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. My veggie burger—with a delightful peppery kick—was tasty. So was the pineapple and the “Happy Birthday, USA!” frosted cake. The fireworks were … fireworks: loud and flashy and colorful. On my camera, they look like a muddy, rain-splattered windshield (which is why they did not get uploaded).

An eclectic assortment of Americans joined in the fun—doctors, diplomats, public health officials, Christian missionaries, and liberal Jews. The Jews, I learned, are all in Uganda doing health-related work. They somehow know half of my friends in the U.S. or are my mother’s students. There were a number of mixed Ugandan-American couples, too, and an impressive showing of Americans with adopted Ugandan children.

So, no fireworks tonight, and no listening to NPR’s recitation of the Declaration of Independence. Instead, I get homemade challah, fresh mango, and some red, white and green (yes, green) Star of David-shaped pasta from the Ugandan market’s Indian food section (I will photograph it once it's cooked). Who knew?

Happy 4th of July!