Traveling Musings...

Let me start out by saying, wow! I am really in Uganda listening to the rain come down in torrents and it is amazing! The last few days after arrival have been an adjustment to the time difference and being in a new, unfamiliar environment. Traveling was pretty uneventful with fairly smooth flights and easy, quick passage through security and customs. The second flight from Atlanta, GA was properly the least enjoyable flight because I was so cold! When I asked for a blanket, there were none left so I covered my legs with an extra-long-sleeve shirt I had in my backpack. It helped take some of the chill off, but I was very happy when the plane’s tires finally met the runway and I could evacuate the plane and make my way through Amsterdam airport. I made my way to the flight information board to identify my connecting flight’s gate number. It took me a little bit because the board kept changing but I finally figured it out, Gate1! Turns out, it was the health screening area where I needed to present my Covid-19 results…I was a bit uneasy about whether or not my results would come back in time and be what I needed it to be in order for me to processed with my travels Tuesday afternoon. Thankfully, the results came back negative and I saw it Tuesday morning! Praise the Lord! The boarding process only had three hiccups and the Covid-19 test result format was what was required (I felt like I was in a video game and had the key to continue to the next level of the game lol): they required me to have a surgical mask which I did not have but thankfully, a man behind me offered me a clean, surgical mask that he had, then my ticket would not scan so I had to go through another line to be manually checked in, and finally, a lady was sitting in my assigned seat and did not seem to be very happy that she had to move to the next seat. I was very happy and relieved when I saw that there was a blanket for each seat in the plan! I ended up being able to have two because the lady who had been in my seat, asked to be reseated so I obtained her unused blanket. I was much warmer on that flight! From this point, I was no longer traveling alone because I met Ron in Amsterdam airport.

Once we arrived at Entebbe airport in Uganda, it was after 10:30pm Ugandan time. We had to go down stair outside to leave the plane. It was a surreal movement as I traveled slowly down the stairs, as it dawned on me that I was truly in Africa after so many years of dreaming about this moment! I think I smiled the whole way through customs and getting my luggage. Lol It was a very long wait for the luggage to arrive and for me to locate my two checked suitcases. I first identified one of my suitcases on the cart of another traveler! I made my way quickly over to his cart to compare the number I had with the number on the suitcase and confirmed that it was indeed mine! I notified the man and he realized that his was very similar to mine thus the mix up. I was very happy that I saw it before it was too late! Not long after, I was able to retrieve the other suitcase and we made our way to the entrance of the airport to have a ride to our hotel after two long days of traveling! But our driver was very much delayed, so it wasn’t until well close to midnight before we reached our hotel. While we waited, the mosquitos feasted on our American blood! Lol It was very pleasant being able to lay down in a bed and get some much-needed sleep. I was able to get a few hours of deep sleep on both of my longest flights, but I was still very much sleep deprived.

Morning came all too soon, but I enjoyed a good breakfast before we departed once again to travel the last lag of our journey via car to Bundibugyo. We stopped at Victoria Mall in Kampala to change money our currency, for me to purchase a sim card, and buy items at the grocery store. Then we were off to Bundibugyo with Joseph as our driver who is one of the drivers for OurGanda at 12:30pm, Thursday afternoon. We stopped in Fort Portal for a good meal and to stretch our legs. I ordered the “Healthy” Pizza which was very good. From this point, we had about an hour and a half left to go. As we started to wind around the mountain side down towards Bundibugyo, we stopped at an overlook. A group of boys were pleased to have their picture taken and a few of them followed me to the car saying, “Give me money.” The sunset was beautiful and breath taking, and I was sure there would be a smile pasted to my face forever!

So, how were the roads?! You ask…The roads were great with the occasional speed bumps through the intermittent little towns. Back in 2014, the road was paved so the road is no longer bad from Kampala to Bundibugyo. There were many Ugandans walking along both sides of the road, children playing, herding goats or cows, carrying a heavy burden, or just standing around.

I settled in my hotel room that would be my home for the next 6 weeks Thursday evening around 1900. After a phone call with my mom and boyfriend, I drifted off to sleep. I battled a mosquito throughout the night, but I was able to get a few hours of good sleep. Breakfast was at 0800 which consisted up egg omelette, Irish potatoes and bread. It was tasty and I was thankful for the meal.

This is the morning view from the second floor in the hotel...

At 0915, the OurGanda team gathered to gather for their weekly team meeting. I was kinda out of it, so I wasn’t much for adding to the conversation! But it was nice to meet everyone and become acquainted!

I am going to close for now but stay tuned for Saturday’s adventures! (I may not be able to post as many pictures as I would like until I get back to the States because of the internet usage that is required...).