I have smiled for many different reasons, but along with many of you, there are few times I can remember what I call...a Zen smile. A zen smile (I will claim that I coined this term, though I'm sure in the thousands of years of Buddhism it has been used before) is when you smile for no reason and, no matter what unpleasant things may be going on in your life, you simply can't stop. You can feel your endorphin flowing and your brain is being constantly blasted with waves of serotonin. When you have a zen smile, you may not have reached enlightenment, but you are most certainly on your way.
Well, I may have a zen smile stuck on my face. This trip has already been the most amazing experience of my life. I love being in Kampala and I love the people I am surrounded with every day. Work is sometimes a little stressful, but I don't know if a second has gone by this week I haven't enjoyed what I am doing. I attribute this partially to the fact I have wanted to do something like this (study abroad, work in a federal office) for so long, but I can't help but think the people of Uganda are what is making this truly possible.
Last night at I attended a party/gathering/callitwhatyouwill hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce. The primary purpose of the event was to say goodbye to one State employee who will be leaving and welcome one who just arrived. This individual works with AmCham Uganda, but this isn't the purpose of my story. As the employee who is leaving was making her "thank you" speech, she introduced a guest she had brought. It was a young Ugandan boy who called himself "Ambassador Fred." He was probably about 10, she (the State employee) had met him one day when she was stuck in traffic. He was selling CDs that he had made to raise money for the orphanage that he lived in. The money was going to help pay for over 40 children school fees. This young boy was full of so much spirit and, as the true guest of honor, sang and danced to one of the songs on his CD with a young girl that also lived at the orphanage. I wish I could show you all! (also, if you would like to buy a CD, I am sure I can find out more details). This young boy was happier than 75% of the people I meet on a daily basis and has probably one through more hardship than any of us can even image. I am sure that it is one filled with oppression and violence.
Ambassador Fred had a zen smile and it was contagious. Like a virus it spread to everyone at that event. Needless to say, he sold a lot of CDs last night. Today, I am sick in the best way possible: suffering from the symptoms of Ambassador Fred's happiness which is accentuated by every other young child like him that I pass on my way to work everyday...walking 2 miles to school just to sit in a one room mud hut with 40+ other children. Sitting in a hot room with and empty belly just to learn English and math so they may have a better life than their parents. Their lives are hard, there is no doubt, but each one of them has a smile on their face each morning.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, Ambassador Freds will be there to brighten up your day and show you how amazing life is, past the hard times. It is up to each one of you to remember that your new outfit or a bonus from work does not equal happiness. I doubt Ambassador Fred has ever had either one of these things, but he lives every day with a zen smile.
Also, this view didn't hurt my zen smile.
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