Gyebaleko/ Gyebare!

Gyebaleko (Luganda)
Gyebare (Runyankore/ Rukiga): Thank you for your work.
This is a common greeting in Uganda; to tell strangers passing by that you thank them for their work. When I look at those strangers, however, some riding ancient looking bikes with large milk jugs and others with large bags of charcoal, matooke (green bananas for cooking), or firewood, they are at work. Tiny farms, shops, all full of activity. People often begin their days at five and don’t end them until 10 11 or 12. I guess this is what 6% growth and ~$300 annual GDP looks like in real life!
At my homestay, although both parents are educated as accountants and my host mother just finished her bachelor’s in business; they also have a farm. Here are some pictures of the farm. Although the house is quite modern, the maid still does the majority of the cooking in an outside charcoal stove and yes they have a turkey and there are chickens in the tree—I guess they ARE birds after all!