First day in Uganda

This morning I met an American girl from Georgia. She was doing work in the northern parts of Uganda. She was going to build a hut and a chicken coop but ended up with a pig farm for the orphanage. Angie and I hit it off great.

Whats the best thing for two American girls to do . . . shop! That is what we did from 11am until 6pm. We took motorcycle rides(boda-boda) down to Kampala and around the city. Shopped at some local craft stores. Best thing is, people speak English, and will give you the price, you give them a funny look and they say oh we offer discounts. It's so much fun. Some people are rude, so I usually buy from people who are sweet, nice, and helpful. Got some great stuff today. It's different from Niger. It's not just one or two large markets. Uganda has an actual mall with a super market in it. No Macy's, Belks, or Sears but it did have air conditioning! We went in there for a little bit to check out one shop, but their prices were more expensive.

We went to the Sheraton hotel for lunch, we both needed a cold beer. It was nice but costly. worth it though. I had a mini cheese burger aka kids meal, and fries. The downstairs of the hotel is really nice, but Angie said she had stayed there once, this was her second trip, and the rooms are not all that great for the money you pay for them. I saw mostly business men in suits and ties in the lobby. Surely someone who wanted to travel to Uganda and experience it wouldn't stay at an expensive hotel. But who knows. Each on their own.

The motorcycle rides. SCARY!!! for the first few minutes. Before reaching the city I was not holding on and telling the driver he could go faster if he wanted to. I had originally told him to drive slow. People drive on the opposite side of the road compared to the states. Boda-bodas (motorcycles) can drive anywhere! in between cars, different lanes, on side walks, it doesn't matter. even though traffic is not really regulated and vehicles are very very very close to one each other, there are seldom accidents. mostly just breakdowns. In Peace Corps, I remember we weren't "allowed" to take this type of ride unless we had a helmet or special permission. There are bus taxi here, they are called something different, they are cheaper. But after the bora-bora ride, the money is well worth it. You can feel the breeze, you get there faster, less breakdowns, less smell, and personal space! The bad side, well my first ride, we got caught in a light then to mild rain storm. At first it was nice, then it made me chilly. Enjoy when you can, within an hour it was back to being hot. The temperate isn't so bad in the morning and is really nice at night, it's just in that noon to almost 3pm period.

There is a couple here from Germany, today was the husbands 65th birthday so we had fish for dinner and fruit for desert. very good. A girl from New Zealand is here. She seems to know the owner very well, I think works with the same organization that she does and the substitute host, Greg, from Australia. I will have to ask Angie what the name of it is again. it's three letters.

Angie leaves Sunday to go back to the states. I am leaving tomorrow morning at 6:30am to the islands!!! very excited. ready to start this just wish it wasn't so early. As we all know, I am not an early person. Plus it's 11:35pm my time, and I wanted to stay up and write because I do not know the next time I will have Internet. Fingers crossed I can sleep in the car on the way to Jinga, the city before the boat ride.

It's most definitely time for shower, and bed.