By Molly St. Clair, Western Kentucky University senior Journalism student

 

A common misconception is that people of different cultures don’t blend–that people who live on two different sides of the world with completely contrasting lifestyles and languages cannot communicate or co-exist.

This concept couldn’t be more wrong.

Two young kids share their country’s traditional dancing and are encouraged by their community.
Photo by Molly St. Clair.

I have never had a more inviting and exciting welcome than when I was the furthest from my home, in a country that was not my own, with languages I did not know.

As soon as I stepped on their soil, the Ugandans were ready to party.

My type of people.

At the very first village we visited in Uganda, the people in the community welcomed us in song and dance. Of course, I couldn’t help but to join in.

After all, dance is a universal language.

They had no clue who I was, and I didn’t know any of their names, but we could all feel the rhythm of the drum and the joy in the air surrounding the new clean water well.

We danced in the celebration of clean water. In the celebration of life.

This compassionate welcome was consistent throughout every village I encountered.

Each drum beat is a reminder of how precious health is. Each decorated well, a representation of generosity. Each smile, a representation of the impact of clean water.