I can't believe how much we pack in.

Happy May Day! I want to write about two experiences we’ve had in the past 2 days. Yesterday the mayor, Deo took us on a tour to the sugar plantation in Lugazi. We drove up behind the plantation to a village (called Kowolo or Kowoto) on the top of a mountain. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. We could see a panoramic view of valleys of sugarcane, tea, and some scattered housing. The clouds were vibrant as the sun was starting to set. There were a group of men playing soccer on a field with three pieces of wood pieced together as a goal. The people who lived in the village are of the Acholi tribe, or northern Ugandans. They look different than southern Ugandans. Very dark, thin, and tall. The women are very beautiful. This was the first place where I saw kwashiorkor, or children with protruding stomachs. The workers in that village earn less than a dollar a day and are migrant. They move every couple years to different plantations. They also don't seem to see very many white people or "muzungu's." When Melissa looked at a baby, probably about 6 months old, the baby screamed and started crying. I think she thought Melissa was a ghost.

As we sat and Deo talked to the women who were making brooms from wheat(?) or some similar looking weed, he talked to us about the government not providing any resources for these people. He asked and found that if we were to build a chicken coop or something to get the children more protein that their employers (the sugar company) would not allow it. As we talked about business and asked them what type of businesses they would like to start, more women came out to show us their skills; beautiful crochet and knitted table settings, chair pads, and hot pads, intricately woven mats, and then a woman told me that she knows how to sew and wants to teach other women those skills. After Deo prompted us, we gave a speech and it was humbling to see how much hope the women had just from us being there. It’s overwhelming to think about them connecting US to their attainment of their dreams. We want to work up there and set up some business, ideally through loans, but I’m not sure how to do it in four months.

Today we went on some errands, ate our first rolex…which was amazing. It’s chippati (a thicker tortilla thing that is pretty greasy) with fried egg and tomato all rolled up. We also had avocado sandwiches with probably the biggest and best avocado I’ve ever eaten.

Today we went to Deo’s rally to support him and once again got better treatment than we deserve. I don’t know why it is in people’s minds here, but without this coming across weird, they think that westerners are inherently superior than they are in some way. At least they treat us that way. It makes me feel bad. Then again, we are here to “teach them” how to help themselves. So, we do take on that role to a degree. I wish that we could emphasize more that this is a mutually beneficial exchange. We are getting just as much if not more from our interactions with them as they are from us.

Anyway, enough on that tangent. We went to the rally. They said it started at two but it turns out, it really started at 3. Within that hour of waiting, we found ourselves all decked out in Deo gear and fully entertained by a couple of mentally well, unstable people dancing. It was VERY entertaining and the MC on this truck with huge speakers also kept giving us shout outs. He made some comments like “Deo is uniting the world” or “welcome to all races and colors” “we don’t care about if you are black or white…” it was awesome. When the crowds really started to gather, they escorted us up to the “important people” section and we ended up sitting with the town council members and right next to Deo. We were feeling a little uncomfortable considering by that point we had yellow bandanas and flags representing him and I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that we shouldn’t get involved politically. Anyway, the rally was exciting with some professional singers who preformed and a lot of speeches, all in Luganda. When the mayor got up he invited Melissa and I to come to the little stand/stage. We stood up there and were in awe at the number of people all gathered. There were probably around 2,000 people. He then told them all that we are here from America to help them. He had us introduce ourselves (both our English and Ugandan names) and everyone cheered. It was all a little odd and yet hilarious at the same time. We got down and experienced Lugazi’s version of paparazzi with one guy taking pictures of us from a cannon digital camera. After Deo’s speech, there was some more dancing and we got up and tried to not embarrass ourselves. I don’t think my body can move even the way that their 3 year olds can here. It’s amazing. We were hoping to be done with our festivities at that point but Deo told us to go with “madam” who looked stunning in a beautiful orange dress with gold embroidered throughout. Anyway, we got in the car with her and continued for the next half hour to parade…literally, around the town. We waved and I had to stop myself from giving his thumbs up sign to everyone we saw. I guess with all our waves and smiles going out the window we also threw out our impartiality in Lugazi politics.

we have arrived!!

Well, the past 24 hours have been great, and a little crazy.

After an amazing trip to London staying with Linds and her adorable family, I got to heathrow with two hours to spare. Sadly I just gravitated to terminal one when I needed to be in terminal 5 so after going all over the place with trains and two huge pieces of luggage and a duffel bag on and off them, carts for my luggage, airport information desks, etc, I finally checked in with just over an hour to spare. I did get on my flight and sat next to a sweet british woman who loved to chat. The flight to Nairobi was 7.5 hours and Kenya air has very little room between seats so I didn't really sleep much. I groggily arrived at 6am Nairobi time and entered the airport for a two hour layover. The plan was to meet Melissa there and we were going to finish our adventure together. I walked the terminal once through before I sat down. It was full of shops and people lined up sitting waiting for their other flights. I was aware that I stood out as I walked through with my duffel bag over one shoulder and a big side purse with all my valuables on the other. I decided to sit for a bit. I tried to read but kept dozing off. So, I put my purse in between my legs with my dress over it and bear hugged my duffel and fell asleep for about 45 minutes. I woke up again and decided to pace one more time before they would let me into the boarding area. So I walked down and back and went to check in. When I got to the xray machine, I went to pull out my laptop and my stomach dropped...yes. I am hoping for a gasp from all you readers. it was SOMEHOW stolen from my bag, I'm guessing when I was walking? I'm trying not to think too much about it or...I'll cry. Anyway, besides my journal, a lot of pictures, and all of my school notes from my program, a bummer is that the research paper I've been working on about US impact and foreign policy in Ugandan HIV reduction rates was saved on it. I told the airport policemen who took notes. I gave them my email and my boss's phone number but they didn't have time to give me a case number or anything. I'll call to try to follow up, but if it's anything like costa rica (my bag was stolen on a bus there), I'm probably not going to see it again. Melissa also didn't show up. I was sitting there dazed, talking to the policeman and wondering why Melissa and I didn't really have a back-up plan and decided that maybe she caught an earlier flight? (she actually had plane problems in amsterdam so caught a later flight).

Since that happened, three people have told me how sketchy the nairobi airport is and that it is notorious for theives. Auntie Peggy told me she didn't know I was flying through Nairobi or would have told me, a few people told Melissa, and the mayors daughters said their sister had her laptop stolen out of her luggage when she flew through kenya. I think our cell phones were stolen out of my checked bag but am hoping that I just haven't looked hard enough. Oh and Melissa's bag with all our supplies was lost in transit! we should get that back but it's just a series of events to get us really...humbled? for the summer.

Anyway, I'm trying to go chronologically but don't want this to start off on such a depressing note. I'M IN UGANDA!!

I walked out of the baggage claim area to see two smiling faces with a sign that said CHRISTIEN UTAH on it and now I have officially met Auntie Peggy, she is the speaker for the town council and well, a diva. She's great.

We drove right past lake victoria and I am amazed and how lush and beautiful it is here. It took 2 hours to get back. We drove from Entebbe to Kampala to Mukono and finally to Lugazi. When we got to Lugazi we stopped by a hotel the polygamist and very wealthy mayor owns. I finally was able to meet Deo. He is a very warm man and within minutes told me that I should find a husband in Uganda.

He is running for re-election so we are currently staying with a Lugazi celebrity. The town has between35 and 40 thousand people and Deo's posters and pictures are all over the place. Because he is so busy I'm a little nervous about him helping us find housing. They said they are looking but Auntie Peggy was speaking as if we were going to stay with the mayor for the next week. Ideally we would have housing found today or tomorrow so we can get all the beds, supplies, and everything from Mukono.

Anyway, I got to the mayors house and met three of his 13 kids (most are in college). Rita, Sarah, and Patricia. They are hilarious. I talked to them for a bit in my room and then took a two hour nap and then went into the house and sat watching an intense bollywood movie which was in hindi and had a man narrating in luganda recorded over. Luckily the plot was fairly easy to follow except after a conversation and a gasp from the girls who watching. I would have to ask for help then. We also watched an episode of roswell with luganda dubbed over as well. It was great. They gave me a big bowl of some fried rice and I was set. I tried to go to the internet cafe during the afternoon but the girls were positive that I would get lost and they aren't really allowed to leave the house, so I stayed.

A driver came at 6pm to pick Patricia, Rita and I up for the airport and we arrived home with Melissa at midnight. more traffic. Patricia, Rita, and I were listening and singing along to hiphop songs in the car on the way to the airport. Without an ipod adaptor in my brothers car, I'm pretty caught up on radio music so it worked really well yesterday. I really like those girls a lot. Rita and sarah are 17--different mom's and patricia is 15 with also a different mom than the other two.

We got back and realized we didn't have mosquitoe nets so I went for the cucoon route which during the night also included wrapping my head after incessant buzzing. I put on bug spray but I had to reapply in the middle of the night because I had funky dreams about crazy killer mosquitoes.

alright, I need to email my professor to tell her the bad news about the paper. I'm SO excited Melissa is here! we stick out soo much in this town but everyone is really friendly and this summer is definitely going to be an adventure. I'm really excited!

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my scheduled departure date. At 5pm I will be saying bye again to friends, some who I wont see for a really long time, and others who I'll be able to catch up with in a few months. I have stuff in Utah (I'm sure I still have some things in my brothers car that I was driving around for the last four months) and between three houses in DC. I keep getting texts that I forgot a pair of shoes here or a necklace there. Basically my life is a scattered mess. But I'm expecting it all to fall into place, well, tomorrow.

For now, I have two hours to finish a 30pg'r on US involvement in Pakistan. It's hard for me to stay motivated. I can't wait to start the adventure that lay ahead of me.

ps. sorry about the house post below, it was the easiest way to help people know what is going on with a potential that we are considering renting in the fall. From here on out it'll be about Uganda!

post 1. Pre departure

I daydream about this
and especially thisamid attempted speed reading and frantically writing papers.

We currently have around 37 volunteers getting ready for this adventure ahead in Lugazi, Uganda. I just hope I can get everything done that I need to before the take off. My life currently feels like an eternal To Do list.

• I do have my shots done
  
• I am now first aid trained
• The needed money is coming in (thank you donors!)
  
• and have been to hours and hours of other trainings

I feel mostly excited and a little overwhelmed at the coming weeks and months.

I can not wait to meet the people there!