Uganda 101

If my first 3 days in Uganda were a college course, it would be Introduction to Uganda. Much like many of my ‘101’ classes, Uganda 101 includes an endless influx of information and my incessant need to retain ALL of this information. This can be fairly anxiety provoking, unless you happen to be living your dream in Africa, then it’s just awe-inspiring. I’ve been trying to decide how best to go about sharing as much of this information as possible with you, without sending you into information overload. This is what I’ve come up with….trying to figure out how to do that IS provoking some anxiety, so I’m just gonna throw it all at ya. I’ll try to break up all of my stories into separate blog posts, so you aren’t left reading for hours on end. Good luck dealing with the anxiety that comes along with trying to decipher my incoherent thoughts. Remember, you asked for this and I never promised it would be easy J. Let’s start where we left off, shall we? With my Visa and luggage in tow, I set out to meet Abdul, the driver who was sent to collect me from the airport. I came face-to-face with a 6’2 Ugandan man holding a sign that said ‘Bliss’. He greeted me with a kiss on each cheek and a huge smile and I decided, right there and then, that we were going to be best friends. Like any good class, Uganda 101 had to start with an orientation. And, on the hour drive from Entebbe to Kampala, Abdul provided me exactly that. I won’t trouble you with all of my inane ramblings, but I will share with you just a few of Abdul’s pieces of advice, observations and warnings about life in Uganda---

1.) Don’t hold your phone or camera close to a rolled down window when driving at a low speed, or someone will reach in and take it.

2.) The Ugandan military and police are EVERYWHERE and they carry huge guns. However, Abdul alleviated any worry I had regarding this when he told me, “No worries, they do not like to shoot people much…only sometimes”.

3.) In Uganda, the scare tactic ‘smoking kills’ is to be taken literally. He informed me that one of the rare times these men with guns WILL shoot someone is if they are smoking in a public place where there is a no smoking sign. Abdul is not a fan of smokers and seemed to approve of this method of dealing with these careless citizens. In his words, “It say on package smoking may be dangerous to your health…they should have listen”. 

I was completely enchanted by Abdul--so much so that I almost didn’t notice that there were people just walking alongside the Entebbe-Kampala highway that we were driving down.  Of course, I was aware that this was the most common mode of transportation in Uganda, but actualy witnessing it…that’s a horse of a different color (I imagine my reaction when I witness my first ‘smoker shooting’ will be similar to this—I will have been aware that it happens, but not prepared).  My fellow Texans, can you imagine people just casually strolling down I-35? And not just a few people…hundreds. When I asked why so many children were walking with their backpacks on this Saturday morning, he informed me that some children have to attend school on Saturday, as well as the rest of the week. I think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that many of these children were without proper footwear, if they had any footwear at all. As if Saturday school isn’t bad enough when you have a ride and a pair of shoes to wear. Suffice it to say, this was my first dose of hard reality and it was like being punched in the stomach. Abdul assured me that the children were used to it and it did not bother them, so I shouldn’t let it bother me too much. I’ll let you know how that works out….

In conclusion, Abdul is my new bestie and he will now be a permanent fixture in my life and in my subsequent blogs.

(sidenote: Abdul works for the couple who I am staying with in Kampala. This means that, although he really doesn’t have a choice about being my new best friend, at least I won’t have to stalk him in order to make sure it happens) 

all of my love and happiness,
Bliss xxxx