Back in Uganda
on Volunteers Abroad (Uganda), 10/Jan/2009 17:20, 34 days ago
We have returned from our 3 week holiday in Michigan with my family. It was wonderful to see everybody (especially my granddaughter), but the cold weather was hard to bear. It's good to be back in this lovely, warm weather. The power was off for most of today which was irritating as we had quickly become used to modern conveniences including high speed internet.We have been told by 3 people that we look very pale, much whiter than when we left. Guess our slight tans have totally faded.I was asked 'what is it like to live in Uganda?'. Very broad question which is difficult to answer. I will try to give a type of answer.horrible roads with an incredible amount of potholes - long drives are not pleasant except for a certain few roadsbarefoot kids running around outside creating their own kind of playroadside markets filled with gorgeous fruits and vegs - all neatly stackeddust and dirt, lots of itbeautiful smiles and friendly peoplemosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoesbright coloured clothes - always neatly pressedlaundry hanging out to dry on just about anything - a fence, tree, lying on the grass, etc.lack of timekeeping - forget about punctualitybargaining for most purchasespeople bending over pulling weeds for hours at a timeindependant toddlers playing all day on their owncute geckos running through the house and up the wallshawkers selling just about anythingbabies being carried in a shawl tied to the mother's backovercrowded motorbike, van, car taxispeople walking, walking, walking...everywherebeing a celebrity based on the simple fact that we are whitekids waving at us all the timevery low quality goods, especially electrical oneslosing electricity for many hoursno hot running water, everpit toilets, although we are fortunate to have a indoor toiletbeing aware that the word 'wealthy' is tattoed across our white faceswearing sandals or being barefoot, all yearperfect warm weatherhigh carb Ugandan dietsfat being attractivenot being able to drink the water w/o boiling it - not even to rinse your mouth or toothbrush