Let the contesting begin

First, I'd like to retract my statement that it appears to be the rainy season.  Today was fairly shiny (hot), and it appears that the January heat has arrived.  I'd say "praise the Lord," but I'm really not that enthusiastic about it.  This is when it's good to live on a mountain.  I'm sure it's cooler here than in Kampala.


The contesting is for the Guild (school government).  The announcement went out for people to pick their nomination forms today, which then must be signed by a passel of people and verified with their registration cards to prove that they actually exist and are registered students.  Then will come the manifestos, speeches, posters, and who knows what else.  Don't even get me started on local/national politics - I'll never be so glad to have an election finished as when this one is in February.  Africans make our political rhetoric look petty.  I think there are nine candidates for president.  You can't move an inch without seeing posters plastered everywhere, and no, they won't disappear at any point in time save for environmental intervention.  Mercy.


Back to the Guild elections.  Each faculty gets two representatives, and I think ours have been chosen (as in only two are running), so that's one less election choice.  My former roommate, Joan, has decided to contest for one of the two International MP (Members of Parliament, one can never forget the British influence) seats.  I'm thrilled for her, and think she will do a fabulous job if elected - there are five candidates. 


She told me her news this afternoon, and I told her I'd introduce her to the international theologians, and she was grateful.  So she found me at supper, and I made the rounds with her.  Since she's my friend, all my theologian friends agreed to vote for her.  It's a bit humbling how my friends take my word that Joan is a woman of integrity; for her sake, I just wish my sphere of influence extended beyond the theologians.

Lulu, a Kenyan athlete, sat with us, and the plotting began on how to talk to the athletes, because they're notoriously difficult to convince on anything.  Really?  I had no idea.  I just see them running in the morning.  My friend Haron will go with her to talk with a gaggle of Kenyan students he knows who stay outside in one of the hostels, and let them spread the word.  I mean, the serious campaigning hasn't even begun, and I feel like we were plotting to overthrow the campus.


So we moved around the dining hall, looking for various internationals I knew so I could introduce Joan.  A number of my friends saw us, and have deigned me her campaign manager, which simply won't do.  


Then my friend and course mate, Isaac, asked me who all the foreign students were.  Foreign?  I'm FOREIGN?!  He quickly repented, and now I have something to tease him about for the rest of the semester.  Poor guy.  He really did feel awful.  And while I told Joan I'd help her in any way I can, I really, really, really don't want to be her campaign manager.