Sharing Worlds

A shared goal between myself and my work as a Peace Corps Volunteer is to share American culture with my host country Ugandans as well as to share Ugandan culture with my home country Americans. Every volunteer, traveler, observer will view a culture other than their own in a different light. I hope this expression of my experience will shine a bit of light on a world that is different than what we are most used to; as well as pictures are just great. Please like, follow, comment, share, and most importantly enjoy! Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Ugandan Government.

[garlandsmithh]

Making fires 🔥 in the booth like I’m the kindling and @sagey.music ‘s the spark 🧨✨⚡️. Ruu ruu rumination: better make some room; “I came in the game like yo, excuse me.” -Skepta. Issa worldvibe ting eh 🌍👁 https://www.instagram.com/p/COtA5RXDb87/?igshid=uwtldc603grx

[garlandsmithh]

🎙 I felt free when I was out of this country. I feel me whenever I disregard the hate I see. I can’t believe they’re still hanging us like we’re in trees. I can’t flee because you know I take care of my family... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Abnormal level sea 🌊, abnormally I would think 🤨, imploring technology 📡, will save earth for you and me 🫂. But when tech got us in this mess 😕, I quickly put that thought to rest 💤, because how can we do our best 🥇, when we keep making the same stress 😓? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I think we need a blessing, ✨ so we can all stop guessing, 🙋🏾‍♂️ if life’s teaching a lesson, 📖 or if humanity is really in question. ⁉️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Uh, YOOO! Did you check out my track yet? Here’s a bit of an additional freestyle - but check out the OG ‘Man, damn. Freestyle (4:12:21, 16.57)’ I dropped last week! @applemusic @spotify @tidal @deezer @youtube @youtubemusic @pandora it’s all there! 🔥🤗🎼🎵🎶🎤 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐣 (Easter eggs) 4:12:21 is the day I released this single 🌞. 16.57 is the time I exported the track ⏱. (at Sipi Falls) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN93rhqDjTj/?igshid=191v4mq4fsoxv

[garlandsmithh]

Don’t forget to check out my single, 'Man, damn. Freestyle (4:12:21, 16.57)' on your streaming platform! 🎼🎵🎤💛🌞 https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2GHNSjIML/?igshid=139o0h56d5hf4

[garlandsmithh]

MY FIRST SINGLE - JUST RELEASED! Stream 'Man, damn. Freestyle (4:12:21, 16.57)' On Your Streaming Service Now! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🎶🎶🎶 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wow, so, this is kinda crazy. Ya know, it’s like a dream of so many black kids to be able to rap, or to produce tracks of music and publish them... There’s a common saying that describes this dream, which is to ‘rap or go to the league.’ A reason this phrase is common is because making music or playing in the league (like the NBA) are highly valued opportunities for black youth in the United States. They are highly valued opportunities, because they foster economic success and stability: for black people and their families to earn more income than regular - for instance ‘nine-to-five’ - jobs. Essentially, these opportunities are escape routes from poverty, which is a prevalent characteristic of many black people in the United States, especially while most other high-value opportunities for economic growth can be inequitably realized because of the systemic inequalities that perpetuate and plague a more well-functioning society, nonetheless a sanctified humanity, because of the social classification/construct of ‘race.’ But, how can you appraise man 👀? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So, I am elated today!! ✨✨✨😁☺️ (HYFR, knowwhatimsayinnn 😉) to be able to say and share that I published my first track of music!!! Issa goat ting eh 🐐. Or a king ting yeah 👑. Nah, ima call it a GOD ting, cause what’s a king to a God 😇? Bish, this track’ll live forever. Uh! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My first track, ‘Man, damn. Freestyle (4:12:21, 16.57)’ is available for steaming on your favorite music-streaming platform now ❤️❤️❤️! Check it out!! 🤩 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you Sagey Music for the key, key support 🎶❤️🔑! You're the goat to the goat, reps up 🤝! Looking forward to the many, many, many, many more. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNursJpjnoB/?igshid=1esl6mujh5c35

[garlandsmithh]

First: move into my house and compound.

Second: Filter some water, set a clothesline, hand wash laundry, plan my permagarden, buy a sigri stove with charcoal and matches, fill a jerry can for a bucket bath, locate tp for my pit latrine... take a picture of my house and compound.

[garlandsmithh]

We want YOU to join the Peace Corps.

P.S. Yes, its “corps,” but a firearm is not necessary, however, a pen, paper, and an open mind are well recommended.

Check it:

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1459655/us-volunteers-begin-service-uganda

https://ug.usembassy.gov/52-new-peace-corps-health-agribusiness-volunteers-begin-service-uganda/

[garlandsmithh]

Burning Trash

At night—the light turned off, the filament 

Unburdened of its atom-eating charge,

His wife asleep, her breathing dipping low

To touch a swampy source—he thought of death.

Her father's hilltop home allowed him time

To sense the nothing standing like a sheet

Of speckless glass behind his human future.

He had two comforts he could see, just two.

 One was the cheerful fullness of most things:

Plump stones and clouds, expectant pods, the soil

Offering up pressure to his knees and hands.

The other was burning the trash each day.

He liked the heat, the imitation danger,

And the way, as he tossed in used-up news,

String, napkins, envelopes, and paper cups,

Hypnotic tongues of order intervened.

-John Updike

[garlandsmithh]

A drought a day keeps the plants at bay. :(

Sunflowers are my mom’s favorite flower... Ma, I promise the rainy season is coming soon!

[garlandsmithh]

Notice: Chickens come in many different sizes.. and colors.

Pic: Sharon Landman

[garlandsmithh]

The “Beautification of Bushenyi Town Along High Street” project has brought missing beauty back to the town of Bushenyi in SW Uganda by installing recycling cans for roadside litter as well as constructing road verges for plants.

[garlandsmithh]

Farmers collecting and shredding grass for the farm cows. Most people In Uganda, at least in SW Uganda, drink boiled milk multiple times a day and receive this milk straight from the farm daily since refrigeration is scarce-to-nonexistent for most, making owning a cow very significant for family consumption and business.

[garlandsmithh]

Farmers collecting and shredding grass for the farm cows.

[garlandsmithh]

Rubirizi District, aka The Pearl of Uganda, gives home to over 50 crater lakes, neighbors Queen Elizabeth National Park, and is my home for the next two years!

[garlandsmithh]

Meet... the food pantry. Local garden vegetables may not be as large and colorful as a supermarket selection, but they taste just as great, if not better.

[garlandsmithh]

Did you know there is a species of antelope capable of jumping higher than the average house? This is due to its powerful hind legs and the fact that the average house cannot jump.

Pic: Lyndsey Bonner (trip to the safari)

[garlandsmithh]

“I don’t always look this good, but when I do the ladies go bananas.”

Pics: Lyndsey Bonner (trip to the safari)

[garlandsmithh]

My host family brother’s school bus ready to drive some eager kids into their future which, believe it or not, is brighter than that sun.