End of Stage 1 in Uganda

Day 13 – this is nearly the end of part 1 of Uganda. I am sat in the garden of the hotel, overlooking the Nile, almost at the source, and it travels 4,000 miles from here to the med.
The sun is shining and it is about 26 degrees. The area is luscious green – trees, plants, grass. This could almost be anywhere in Europe from a landscape point of view. Most of the exploits from the last 12 days can be found on the trip’s blog. http:/uganda2009.livejournal.com
14 of our group leave in the morning so they are off shopping for presents or enjoying some free time in Jinja. I would love to be having a dip in the pool, but still waiting for my injury to fully heal. It will certainly be a memento of my trip over the rapids on the Nile.
The half-chickens are growing, and can be heard chirping in the garden. Some of them are a mix of fluff and feathers, which is comical to look at.
There are no sheep in Uganda, plenty of goats, pigs, chickens, and cattle (long horned variety). Also ducks, storks (there are also some ugly stork/vulture type – affectionally known as Guzzle and Gloom), Kingfishers – some like home, but mainly they are pied kingfishers – black and white, Egrets (some hanging around the cattle to eat the insects).
I’m almost in a state of unreality, relaxed, no concept of time. Just about remember which day of the week it is. There is a saying about timings in our team. There is the time that you say, add 10 mins for ABC (Altrincham Baptist Church) time (as services or meetings at times start 10 mins late), and then you add Ugandan time which can be any length of time on top of that. Things happen but not necessarily in a time frame that we (british) would expect.
Tonight is the “leaving do” for the group. So there will be the 20 of us, and many locals that we have met during the time here, as a bit of thank you and also to say goodbye. It will be a buffet, the food here at the hotel has been great, and is an oasis from what is happening around us. The girls are out shopping to buy a new dress for tonight...or getting those last minute purchases that always get left til the end to make sure you get a bargain. The group is a real mix of people, ages, backgrounds or experiences of life, and no of visits to Uganda. 11 of us, this is our first visit, so have been following the guidance and advice of the long-termers. For some this will be there one and only visit, for others it is the first of many. For me, i’m not sure. I don’t think i could say never again, there are many things that are not easy to deal with – the poverty, squalor, and for some the sense of no hope – but there are also things that make me think of good things – the beauty of the country, the friendliness of the people, and the attitude of happiness and hope. Wanting to change or make a difference, improve the situation. Meeting with some of the young people who have been given the chance of a place at NVI – to be trained in a profession, when there seemed no opportunity, but thorough the sponsorship scheme of Ugandaid, their future is changed. Someone had belief in them. Although it is a dramatic change from home, and a load of new challenges to face.
It’s definitely a different pace here.
Things get started, until the money runs out, and then nothing happens until the next lot of money is available. There are several part built houses!!! Or if there is only a little money then the cheapest things is bought or a make shift thing is used (which may be the permanent item!) If there is no money for fuses (so lets wire the plug so it’s not needed) or replacement plug, then lets just wire the computer directly into the socket... Health and Safety would have a field day.
Lets not talk about the roads...although if you have been here you will know. Some roads has tarmac, although it is a thin layer, and with rainy seasons this disappears leaving holes in the road. Then there are the dirt roads, with both types of roads it is usual to drive on the left (same as UK), but due to the “high” standards of the roads, you take which ever part of the road, or path to the side is the best – this can be daunting if another vehicle is coming towards you. Also what are traffic lights? or stop signs ? They do have some signs to remind you to have your seat belts on or not to drink and drive, although i have seen no signs about not talking on your mobile whilst driving!! I’m glad not to be driving that’s all i can say.
I have just had a late lunch of fish fingers and chips which cost 8,000 Shillings (conversion 2,700 shillings to £1). Fish is fresh, made into strips and then put in batter and deep fried. MMmmmm. Soda’s cost 1,000 shillings, or you could have a Nile Special Beer (which is about 5% in a half litre bottle for 3,000 shillings) which is brewed at Njeru across the river from where i am sat. It is “International Award Winning” beer according to the signs along the railings.