America, I forgot what you sound like
In the last several months we inherited a satellite radio from one of the other mission homes. For weeks now David has been trying to figure out how to get service, since Uganda is not listed as an eligible country. This past week David finally was able to register us with the satellite service and Saturday morning David installed the radio with Quinn’s expert help. Between our great ipod speakers and our God-given solar power (thank you God!) NPR soon blared out into the Ugandan sunshine, startling all of us. America, I forgot what you sound like.
For an hour we reimmersed into American culture, listening to countless rehashing of the tragic VT shooting that we had only read about on CNN headlines online. We flipped to a top 40 station where girls threw themselves at us over the airwaves; I forgot how explicit and sexual our music is. America, though I love you, I’m afraid you’re really not all that.
I’m surprised by how stressful I find most of the satellite radio. I am very thankful to have it, especially to have the opportunity to listen to news headline on BBC every few days - we even have access to BBC East Africa which I’m very excited about. But there really isn’t so much more we want to listen to, I don’t think. (There are actually only about five channels available to us anyway including two Arabic and one Asian.) Despite my exhaustion with my current ipod options (how MANY times can you listen to a song!!!) I’m not ready to keep the sat radio on. America, you need a little African simplicity.
Hello there,
Here I am in Albuquerque, NM and you are over there in my homeland. I was browsing the net for images of Uganda so I could upload them on my blog for a class project when I landed on your site.
Are you likeing Uganda?
Josephine
Hi Annelise -
I assume you have XM. If so, try channel 112 Vox. It is beautiful and will renew your faith in (at least parts of) America. Channel 77 (Audiovisions) is fantastic for yoga, too. Hope all is well –
Leigh Ann
Annelise,
You have such a way with words. Your insight continues to amaze me! I think you summed it up succintly - America really is “not all that.” Thank you for continually broadening our horizons with your vivid word pictures - you make the world seem both bigger and smaller at the same time. We miss you! Have a great week!
Jolita
i agree with what jolita said!!!