Meet the Nagolos

Olyotia!!!!!
Meet my host family:
First there is Mama Jane (also known as Jaja, meaning grandmother), a large 70-year old African Mama who has birthed 12 children and raised many others. Mama Jane speaks little English, loves gospel music, loves when I speak Luganda to her, and is an excellent Ugandan cook (LOADS of matoke!!!). Now meet Tata Paul (also known as Jaja, grandfather), a tiny 90-year-old African man who has been married to Mama for fifty plus years. Tata speaks some English, can eat more matoke than anyone I know, is extremely relaxed, is extremely strong (you would never guess his age!!! he works all day outside) and enjoys teaching me words in Luganda. One time, while Tata was teaching me how to milk their cows, I pet one of the cows on the head at it proceeded to ram me in the side against a fence. Tata said, "It try to kill you!". No more milking cows for Kelly. Then there is Dennis, a 21-year old grandchild of Mama and Tata who lives with them for the time being. Dennis speaks great English, loves sappy love music (slow R&B, spice girls, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, etc.), loves to laugh and loves to teach me new things such as pool, dancing, and Draft- Dennis hopes to soon move to America, although I’m not sure there is any particular reason why besides the fact that is America… Dennis, like the rest of the family, is extremely kind and always makes sure that I am comfortable. He also lets me beat him in checkers. Then there is Joe, an 18year old grandchild of Mama and Tata who lives with them because he has lost both of his parents. Joe was my first friend in the house (our first bonding experience was listening to ‘gangster’s paradise’ together). He has kind of been my buddy from the get-go (kind of nice having a lil’ bro around again..) and has taken me on walks to town, around the house, etc. Joe, like the other grandchildren, is not in school because his grandparents cannot pay school fees, but he is a diligent student and wakes up every morning at 2am to do schoolwork in order to keep up (even if he has no school the next day). Joe also makes sure that I wake up on time every morning and that I drink my tea before leaving on my 40 minute walk to school. Andrew is the youngest grandchild staying in the house; he is 13 years old. Because he is the youngest, Andrew works the hardest to wait on his grandparents, older siblings, aunts, me, etc. (they are also a traditional African family, so all of the kids kneel when the enter the presence of an adult, especially their Jajas). Although Andrew doesn’t speak a lot of English, we still have a lot of fun together. Yesterday we made up a secret handshake, he took me to deliver milk to a neighbor (from one of their two cows.. and he’s going to teach me how to milk a cow!!), and he even got me a Samosa (fried treat with peas in it) because I had never tried one before. Along with those that I already mentioned, there is also Elizabeth (soon to be daughter-in law) and tons of other kids and adults who come and go throughout the house during the day. There is also the dog, Tildo, who follows me on my walk EVERY DAY to school and lays next to me in all of my classes (I have no clue how to make him stay home. he even walks me to my dorm...).
Apparently the Nagolo house is infamous in the village because Mama is on the head of the village counsel. Because of this, meetings and counseling sessions are constantly being held at our house (including at 6 in the morning). Mama even does marriage counseling!!—what a woman! 
The house itself is very small and very rustic: tin roofs, outdoor kitchen, one light, no plumbing (ie outdoor toilets and cement rooms to bucket bathe in), papers hanging from the ceiling, foam couches, and all of the boys in one room (I am staying in a tiny room in the garage on a foam bed with no pillow and a bucket in case I need to use the toilet in the middle of the night—I cannot go outside because of the wild dogs. There is a hole in my roof so during their HUGE rainstorms, water pours down my walls.. it happened at 4am last night! ( I am also currently covered in bug bites, including my face, but it is worth it!).
Even though I’ve only stayed with them three nights, I am already in love with the family!!! Just sitting with Mama while she cooks (btw we eat dinner at 1030pm or later...), chatting with the boys, or learning Luganda words brings me complete contentment. They have made me feel so comfortable, and treated me way nicer than I deserve to be treated. The Nagolo house is so full of love; they have already shown me what it means to find joy in living simply—all we need is friends, family, and God—American culture makes it too easy to forget this.
These are just descriptions of the family, so there will be more stories to come later. Many of them. Don’t worry, I’m writing them down!
Miss you all!!!