SAFARI!!!!!

Part of the Safari Team!

I went on an African safari! I can’t even believe it! How many people can say that? I’m talking- standing in a van with a raised roof, African animals walking right next to you, savannah landscape… this was like The Lion King brought to life, and I got to experience it! It was totally worth it.

There were 8 of us from our group who decided to go. We went to a beautiful place called Murchison Falls, where there was African jungle and savannah pretty much right next to each other. Six of us traveled on Thursday night to meet our country directors already in Kampala (the capital of Uganda). We had taken a taxi there, and again I was reminded how much I don’t like taxis here. The back of the seat in front of me was broken, and the man in front of me was leaning so far back that there wasn’t room for my feet on the floor. I sat sideways with my knees pulled to my chest and the seat in front of me digging into the side of my legs. I’ve never really had a claustrophobia problem, but I think I might be getting one! Sarah Blackhurst was my lifesaver that night. She sat next to me, and would stroke my arm and let me listen to her ipod to try and maintain some sanity. What seemed an eternity later, we made it to Kampala. We then took bodas to the hostile where we were staying. We’d heard what its like to be on a boda in Kampala (let’s just say not very safe) …but luckily, no problems! Actually, I rode a boda with Abby, and our boda went a different direction than everyone else’s. We kept asking our driver, “You are sure you know where it is?” Here we were in this huge city we didn’t know at all, with a driver we’d never met, its dark and we’re going pretty good speeds. But we got there with no problem (and maybe with a little prayer.. : ) ). That night Sarah Kidd and I shared a bed (someone had to, and actually once I realized it, I knew it was going to end up being Sarah and I in that bed! But I didn’t mind.) I fell right asleep because I was exhausted (and a little cranky from the taxi ride). The next morning our Safari guide, Eddie, came to pick us up in the safari van. There was so much room! It was glorious! We stopped to have some rolex from a street vendor, then we were on our way to Murchison Falls. I slept for a lot of it, until we reached the park. This was the jungle part of Murchison. Before we even got into the park we saw all kinds of chimps, one of them stealing for a local nearby. It was really neat. Eventually we drove to where we were staying- a place called Yebo lodge, which was really a series of bandas. A banda is a mud hut. That’s right. I slept in a mud hut on a safari! Talk about legit. We did have beds with mosquito nets though. And I’ve never been so grateful for a net. (When I crawled into bed later that night there were dozens of mosquitos just sticking to the net).

That day we went on our first game drive, and we went on two more in the days following. We saw tons of kob (kind of like antelope), 3 lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelope, monkeys, a leopard, a jackal, LOTS of giraffes, (my FAVORITE). Sometimes the animals were pretty close to us, and other times I was amazed that our guide was able to see them. We saw every animal that we really wanted to see and had a great time. I’ll let a few pictures tell the rest. I loved it!!

Elephant!!

Giraffe

Poor picture of a chimp

The Funny Things Said...

Jessica, a teacher at Fairway Primary School

I love the cultural differences that I’ve been able to experience since being here. Some of the things people say I can’t really imagine being said in the US, at least not in front of me. But here, I find it hilarious!

Boda boda driver:

“You are heavy. I think you eat nice meals.”

(Yes, thank you, my self esteem just shot through the roof :) )

Our teacher friend, Jessica:

“Oh no! The mosquitos, they have gotten your face!”

Me: “Actually Jessica, that’s acne.”

Jessica: “What’s acne? Oh, your skin? It does not like the weather?”

Me: “Right…it does not like the weather…”

Random man I met at the church in Kampala:

(as I walked past him without saying anything)

“You will not greet me??”

me: Oh, I’m sorry. Hello, how are you?

Man: Fine, how are you?

Me: I’m doing well, thanks. What’s your name?

Man: (tells me his name)

Me: I’m called Ashley.

Man: Are you married?

Me: No, I’m not married, I’m single.

Man: I want to marry you.

Me: Well….sorry. You’ll have to keep looking.

(Wow, and all this time I thought marriage was a miracle! Who knew it could be this easy :) )

Jude, a young man in the branch. He was talking to Sarah and I about dating in the US:

Sarah: “Every boy loves Ashley. They just line up to date her” (ps, not even remotely near a fragment of the truth)

Jude: Oh, so they like her because she is heavier?

(again, thank you. I may need to see a therapist upon my return :) )

Music Competition

Unfortunately, along with a lot of other posts, this one is way overdue! A couple weeks ago, our team found out about a primary school music competition that was being hosted here in Mbale. We thought it’d be a cool cultural experience, and also a good way to be more involved with the schools, so Sarah and I wanted to attend. On the day of the of the competition, we had some other things to do, but since it was an all-day affair, we showed up a few hours after it started. As we approached the gate to Northroad Primary school (where it was held) we saw a small crowd of people outside. We joined the crowd to see what was happening. Apparently they had closed the gates, and since the place had filled, they weren’t allowing any more in. So as Sarah and I were standing around deciding what to do, a man inside the school comes up to the gate and starts yelling, “Open the gates! Let them in!” We didn’t really know why, but suddenly we were invited in and the gates closed behind us. Then we walked up to the table where you pay for entrance. There we saw another teacher friend, Apollo. He spoke with us for a minute, and we asked him how much it cost to get in. “Oh, for you it is free,” he said. We assured him we’d be willing to pay like everyone else but he insisted. So we left the table and made our way to the hall where the performances were happening. I began to see why they weren’t letting any more people in, the place was packed! So much so that you really couldn’t move much. Chairs were long since gone and people were just packed in every corner. Dancers were lined up waiting to go on stage, and I began to wonder how we’d even make it inside. But then a young man spotted us, told us he knew where we were sitting, and parted the crowd until we got inside. There we saw some other volunteers from our group and sat with them, after others insistently gave up their chairs to us. Once seated, I heard the MC talking. He said, “And we’d like to thank our American dignitaries who have just joined us…” American dignitaries? If only he knew that I was a nobody in the US! We hadn’t met most of the people at this competition, but just because we were from America they treated us much better than we deserved.

The dances and performances were awesome. I was impressed with the energy of the youth and their creativity in costumes. They also did some speeches and poems, some of which I videotaped and could show you when I get home!