arrival

For all those patiently wondering, yes, I made it Uganda! I got in on Friday morning after a very long journey, but I was immediately energized by being here. I was picked up from the airport by the hotel and driven out of Entebbe and through Kampala, to the small town outside of Kampala that I am staying at this week. That drive put me in complete sensory overload as I began to re-understand what a developing world city means. Livestock on top of vans, traffic, slash and burn agriculture, smells of smoke, crazy driving (Kampala beats any city I saw in South Africa in that department!) Kampala is chaotic, but interesting. I wish that I had more of an opportunity to spend time there, because I am sure that with time the chaos begins to makes sense. There is always order, even if it's not clear at first glance.

Last night I slept under my first bednet. I still managed to get several mosquito bites. I wonder if I missed that day in public health school where we learned the practical skill of bednet-use? Anyone?

I have met several other volunteers who will be throughout Uganda and Kenya. Unfortunately, none of them will be very close to where I am going to be living way up north (none closer than 2-3 hours, anyway). I am excited about going so far away, but also completely terrified. I hope that I am able to handle the isolation of living in a small town, essentially knowing no one. I think that I will learn so much through this challenge, but I can't lie and say I am not a little scared. I am reminding myself that my trepidation is normal and reasonable, but I still have to fight through it. These feelings plus the jet-lag (yes, I am awake at 5am) are keeping things interesting.

So far I have gone into town several times to pick up the essentials--modem for internet, phone and sim card, etc. I feel like kind of a dork needing all these things, but I guess that is my new reality!

This week there is an orientation where we will learn, among other things, a few cultural dos and don'ts, how to build the capacity of the NGOs we work with, and how to ensure the sustainability of our work in Uganda. These topics are very important to me, so I am excited to learn more. Later in the week the head of the NGO I am working with will be here, and I am excited to meet her and ask her about 1.67 billion questions. Let's just hope I remember them all!

I will check in later in the week.

mjb