June 5, 2010

my first few days in uganda were odd for me but i think it was just because of the transition. i'm much happier now and am doing really well. it's totally different than botswana and i do prefer botswana but here i am seeing a lot of musicians and artists and breakdancers which is awesome. it is too crowded for me too. and the air pollution is outrageous. i have sat still in traffic for over 20 minutes on at least 3 occasions with deathly fumes filling my lungs. there are so many cars and motorbikes, and the motorbikes and cars and people fight for every open space in the road. the bikes also act as taxis - which i would never take - and many times there are 3 people on the bike, with one of them being a baby, and no one wears helmets. somehow everyone does move within each other so it's sort of an organized chaos but i can't figure out how it works. you have to be aggressive but not too much so. they all know the rules but i have yet to figure them out. i'm glad to be a passenger and not a driver!!

aside from the roads it's totally safe here. i haven't felt in danger at all. i don't think the people here are quite as happy as the ones in botswana but i don't see aggression either. the kids here are suuuuper happy and cute. they are everywhere and not usually under supervision or playing with store-bought toys and they are so much happier than kids in the US.

i may go to an orphanage tomorrow or if not tuesday to help teach english. i'm really looking forward to it. the kids i've met have just crowded around me and hugged me and were so sweet. they love white skin. they just keep touching it and asking questions about it. in general people admire the whites here (or 'mozungos' as they call it). it's weird. but i guess it's better than being hated! they love my tattoos too. i haven't seen anyone from uganda with a tattoo so they are really interested in touching it and trying to rub it off.

wednesday we head out to safari through sunday. we're going to see the gorillas, which i am so excited for! there are abotu 700 left living in this forest - bwindi - and they go in early to see where the gorillas are and then you treck in and spend an hour with them. they come right around you. you don't touch them but you just sit in their space as they move around you. i am sooooo excited! these are the last on earth. it's such a rare opportunity. after that we're going to some other wilderness areas to do game drives and staying in rustic hotels. should be great.

i forgot to mention that one other HUGE difference here is the HUMIDITY. i seem to be the only person who even notices it, and it is obvious that i do because i'm constantly dripping with sweat and pulling my shirt to unstick it from my sweaty body. i do not like humidity. at all.

i've been spending lots of time with brian. brian is an 18-yr old from uganda who needed heart surgery to survive last year. he approached justin last year and told him his story, and over time justin was able to get an israeli NGO agree to take him in and do the surgery. justin reached out to all of us and raised money to help with the travel costs and everything. brian stays in justin's house sometimes and is the perfect example of someone full of life. he runs around singing, dancing and laughing and it's just amazing to know he would not be here today had justin not taken him in and helped him out. he calls me aunty. it's really cute.

one bonus to being in a more urban area is there is a lot of food options. in botswana the vegis were scarce and often wilted. here the vegis are everywhere, as are the different ethnic restaurants, and i am in heaven. i've had NY pizza, ethiopian food and mexican food - and after having starches and wilted vegis - which i cooked for myself - for a month... this is heaven! the nicer lodges here also have pools and gyms, so i have taken advantage of both of them but not nearly as much as i should.

the internet as justin's house isn't working so i'm not sure when i'll be able to get back online, but know i am well fed and safe and still learning every day. i would love to share some photos of the mayhem that is the streets of kampala. soon!