Kampala, Uganda

Hey Guys! After what felt like weeks and weeks of travel, I have finally made it to Kampala, Uganda! My flight left Raleigh on Tuesday and from there I flew to Chicago. I was in the Chicago airport for 3 hours where I then jumped on a plane for London. After 8 hours in flight I arrived in London and hung out in the airport for 9 hours! From there, my next flight took me to Nairobi, Kenya. (I have to say that I feel like I got pretty good at entertaining myself in the airport.) I was in Nairobi for 6 hours before heading to my last stop Entebbe, Uganda, where Emily picked me up and took me to her home in Kampala. As a side note, to board a plane at the airport in Nairobi, you actually walk outside and take a flight of stairs up into the plane. Why am I telling you this? Because that was my first breath of fresh air in what felt like weeks and felt like the most amazing breath of fresh air I have ever had!

Uganda is absolutely beautiful! All of the time spent in airports and on the plane was completely worth it for the view that I got to see as I flew into Entebbe! (I am sorry to say that I don't have any pictures to show you guys this time.)

I have to say that I feel like I am in total overload right now...my thoughts are just all over the place. How can I put this? I don't want to say that I am disappointed, it is just different than I expected. I have always had the passion to see the rural side of Africa, the "bush" as some people call it. To see the traditions, the culture of Africa. It is not that culture and traditions don't exist in Kampala, but Kampala is just that, your typical, massive city; a city moving towards westernization. I just got so excited when I was coming in on the plane and saw all of the lush green, and mountains, and farmland! I want to go see that, explore that part of Africa! (I know some of you are probably sitting there thinking, "Child, you have only been there 24 hours!" No worries! I know that there is still plenty of time to venture out!)

Even though I want to experience the rural part of Africa, I think it is important to see the city life as well. There is definitely plenty to learn in the city! On that note, even though Kampala is a big city, it definitely isn't your typical American city. For instance there is mass poverty, a sense of insecurity, and a difference in culture. It is not an unusual thing to see a man in uniform wandering around with a gun slung over his shoulder for instance. It's also hard because I really want to get out and talk to the people here so that I can learn more about Uganda, but it just seems like you can't get past people trying to get you to buy this or that, or ride in their taxi. Money does really make the world go round here. These next couple of weeks are definitely going to be a time for me to figure out more about Kampala, how it's unique, and to meet its people.

A word about the driving here. People are NUTS! Just imagine a place where there are no such things as lanes, street signals, stop signs, or yielding for that matter. It really is dog eat dog out on the roads and pedestrians definitely do NOT have the right away!

I went jogging this morning. (You guys really didn't think I could make it 3 months without running did you? Plus, how often can you say you ran in Kampala, Uganda?) I am starting to understand what people were talking about when they said I would get stared at. I kind of felt like the main attraction at the local freak show. Hopefully I will get used to it soon. But I met these three guys at the end of my run; Henry, Charles, and Nelson. I hadn't been talking to them for 1 minute when Henry asked me if I had money. He then asked me if I would get some and give it to them. He said that since I was from America, he knew I had money. He also told me that he wishes he could go running like me, but that he lacks the energy to do so because he never has enough to eat. That definitely made me a better picture of the need and desperation for money here. The guys work next door to the home I am living in so I told them I would come out and talk to them when they were out there.

Earlier this morning I stopped at this place called Watoto. It is an orphanage for infants and toddlers. I am hoping to be able to volunteer there while I am in Kampala. They like to have volunteers more long term, so cross your fingers that they let me help out! They had a premie there that was probably about the size of my hand. Apparently Mulago Hospital discharged him because they determined that he was stable enough to be on his own! That definitely gave me a better idea of what to expect when I go to work at Mulago. I just couldn't believe it!

I am going to start at Mulago on Monday so please pray for me and that I a mentally and emotionally prepared for what I am going to see.

My time is running out on the computer so I do believe I need to wrap it up! I hope all is going well for you all in the states!