Uganda shoot -2009 Soft Power Health

For some reason this time to Uganda has been harder for me in terms of the discrepancy between what I have being western and what life is like for the local Ugandans. I don’t really have any conclusions. It just seems like luck of the draw. Why was I born into a western country with every opportunity put in front of me and not into a Ugandan village living in a mud hut with no running water or electricity. Why? These questions have no answer and as my time comes near to an end here I think that at least I am doing what I am meant to be doing. By making this film at least other people will see what it is like here. It has also made me think about giving back and making a difference and what it all means. At the end of the day a feeling of gratitude first and foremost is what I am taking away from here. Who knows if my film will make a difference but at least I have gotten reminded again of how good my life is and how lucky I am.

 We went on another field patient visit to see a little baby with heart trouble. I asked Jessie how she decides who she helps in the field, as it seems to me there are countless people here that need it. She said it depends on the severity of their illness. I guess the possibility of even one person being helped is worth it.

I was talking to a friend of mine last night who has lived here for many years and she said to survive here you need to be resilient. That is the truth. She said its not like they can wake up and say I don’t feel like walking to get water today. They have to. It is survival. We in the west don’t even think about these things that for these people are a matter of life and death. Which is all around. The saying life is cheap here I have heard a few times, but people still smile and wave and dance in the face of extreme hardship.

After a very hot, dry, tiring day of filming a malaria education session and net sale we went to stay in a beautiful lodge with a stunning waterfall, amazing food and hot shower. I was so happy to have a real shower, and thought about the people I was filming who will probably never experience this in their whole lives. I am grateful for these things. A hot shower, access to medical care, enough food, the list goes on and on and the opportunity to come back here and be reminded.