It's been a while since i have written here, my apologies. I was recently talking with friends how the things that happen in Uganda now seem commonplace and ordinary, while are probably fascinating to many friends and family back home. It's easy to forget to put "pen to paper" and share the experiences. I'll try and do better in the future.
On April 12th, the volunteers in my group met for a week-long life skills workshop in the outskirts of Kampala. We have workshops on various topics roughly every three months. If you have seen posts from other volunteers on my Face book page you will see that we all have a fairly good time at these events. The group is a great group coming from all corners of the states: Puerto Rico, Alaska, Seattle, Atlanta and Kansas among others.
This group is as diverse as the U.S. itself and I am blessed to be able to call most of them very close friends. It's funny the bonds that are built when a group is placed in a foreign environment with the hopes of achieving a common goal.
On Saturday the 17th, I left Kampala with Zach, Jill and Hayley to visit the girls sites in the West and take a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Since I have been in country this is the first trip I have taken away from my site, so needless to say I was pretty excited about seeing some other parts of the country.
Queen is an area of grass land that is surrounded by mountain ranges and two large lakes connected by a channel. It also borders the Congo on one side. The first day we were at Hayley's site she took us on a hike up one of the mountain ranges along a path used by the villagers living in the hills. I am fairly certain this area is rarely seen by tourists, so pretty exciting hike. In the valley's along the ridge of the trail leading up the mountains are a series of crater lakes. These lakes are the source of water for the villagers, but to get to it is a treacherous climb down a steep angle.
When we finally reached the peak of one of the mountains we sat on the ground outside of an open-air one room school house and snacked on bananas and chips while looking out over the park. It was great hike and day with friends.
The next morning we woke around five a.m. to meet a coworker of Hayley's that also does guided tours of the park. He picked us up and we headed down the mountain to the park entrance to Queen. We entered the park just in time to see one of the most beautiful sunrises ever. During the morning we saw elephants, water buffalo, tons of warthogs and spring buck.
During lunch we ate cheese and sausage Hayley's family had shipped to her at a hotel on the side of the mountain and after took naps in hammocks looking out over the grassland we had spent the morning touring.
The afternoon was spent on a boat tour along the channel between the two lakes checking out the hippos, crocodiles, water buffalo and birds. We watched two hippos fight on the banks over (I'm assuming) a female. Pretty cool to see something like that 25-foot away in a boat. Right about this time my camera shot craps (more on that later),
All-in-all it was a great trip and the four of us had an amazing time. It makes the time in Uganda much more enjoyable when you are able to click so well with others.
On the 21st I boarded a plane to fly back home for my childhood friends (known each other over 28 years) wedding. I flew back right during the beginning of the Iceland volcano, but the airlines did a great job of getting me back to Kansas. Dad picked me up in the airport, it was a great beginning to a wonderful trip back home.
I was able to do all the things that I have really been missing here: golf, bowling alley, food (oh my god, the food!) and most importantly time with family and friends. The wedding was an amazing event that went off without a hitch. Everyone had a great time and I was able to get through the best man speech without passing out. Ryan, you and Chris are a great couple and I'm fortunate to have you both in my life!
Before my flight back to Uganda, I was able to pick up a few essentials I had been needing. A years worth of deodorant, toothpaste and underwear, clothes out of my closet, more shoes and most importantly a very nice new camera.
The goodbyes were tough, it will now be the long stretch of 18-months before I return home. Everyone understands I'm having the time of my life, but i realize it's still hard to let me go. There are plans in the works for both Dad and Cindy, and later mom to come visit so that will help a great deal. Although hard to do, I was really excited to get back to my "home" in Africa!
So, how was I welcomed back? I had a driver pick me up from the airport and drive me to a hotel in Kampala, on the way I had him stop at my Ugandan bank so I could get out some shillings to pay him. I apparently forgot my PIN and after three wrong tries it ate my card. I had to go to an exchange bureau and cash in some dollars to get him paid. It took the bank three days to get me a new card in Kampala before I could head North.
The morning I left, a fellow p.c. worker in Kitgum; Josh, and I were sitting on the bus in the park waiting for it to leave. I had with me two huge duffel bags, a backpack with two laptops inside and my camera bag all beside me. As Josh and I have reflected on the event, i think that we were distracted by one man while another picked my new camera ($400) right out from under my nose. Another woman on the bus had her laptop stolen as well. I think the men came on, distracted and stole what was handy then disappeared back off of the bus before anyone was aware of what happened. On the bright side, that was all that was taken from me, it could have been worse...i suppose.
When I got home that evening, the power to my complex had been disconnected because the other tenants never stay current on bills, i opened the door and there was a 5-days to vacate eviction notice from the bank because the landlord apparently doesn't stay current on his payments either. After some major complaining by me, the power is now back on and it sounds like the landlord has made some arrangements with the bank. So for now, I still have a roof over my head! I'll keep you posted.
So this brings us to date. This morning an old man approached me in the field on the way to work and said, "Sir, could I trouble you for some help?" He pulled from his pocket the death certificate of his wife dated yesterday... He didn't have the 10,000 shillings ($5.00) the police were insisting he pay them to have her taken to their village five miles out of town for burial. Quick reminder that things are pretty darn good in my life.
