Day 3: Its setting in....

I'm really in Uganda...and even though my family is from Africa and I love that...I miss the comforts of home. I am starting to get sad as I look at people's facebook... I know this experience is going to have a positive impact on me but I still miss being in my comfortable room with my own space, TV and such...I will appreciate all those things so much more when I get back. Anyway tomorrow I will be travelling from Kampala (the capital) to Mbale (where I'll be doing my work with TASO). Tonight we're going to go to a Mexican restuarant/bar (lol)...we'll see how the margaritas are!

Day 2: Adjusting

Well I didn’t do too much as far as exploring goes today. I slept from 11pm til 3:30pm the next day! Lol That’s what jetlag will do to you! Well there are a few things that I know will take some time getting used to :

• Cold Showers: Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE my showers. I’ve gotten better at making them shorter but nothing is better after a hot and tiring day than a hot shower. That’s not going to be happening here. I’m grateful to have piped water nonetheless
  
• No internet: I check my emails and facebook constantly. So I’m gonna have to get used to not being in touch with everyone all the time
  
• Very simple food: The food here is not like the African (Sierra Leonean) food I am used to. It has a lot less flavor and seems to be more for the purpose of nutrition rather than taste.
  
• No phone: I am so used to texting and calling people to check on them and vice versa. So far, I haven’t been feeling home sick or lonely but I still got 2 months and 28 days to go! The other student on the trip with me is married so I kinda feel bad for her. She really misses her husband but he is really supportive so she’ll be ok. I’m glad we at least have each other to talk to while we’re here.
  
• Road laws (or lack thereof): I swear there are no traffic laws. Cars drive wherever there’s road space and the boda-bodas (motorbikes) drive along whatever left over space there is. Pedestrians having the right of way is a joke here.

Other than that things are going pretty good. The people are very friendly and so I think I will have a great experience.

PS I will start posting more pictures....give me a min to get over my jetlag...

Day 1: I made it!!

After 28+ hrs of traveling from DC to London to Amsterdam to Nairobi, I have made it into Uganda safe and sound! I am so exhausted and hungry as hell but I am here! That airplane food just wasn't hitting for it....but I'm tryna lose 10lbs on this trip so I guess being starved is a start...I need a good solid sleep right now more than anything...that airplane sleep wasn't hitting for it either...ah well I'm here and ready to experience my first time in Africa :-)

PS: This trip is a fellowship I am going on through GW to work with The AIDS Support Organization in Mbale, Uganda. I hope to learn about psychosocial support programming they do with their HIV/AIDS clients.