We finally made it!

From the airport, we climbed into an old van (used as taxis all over Uganda) and took our 6 hour drive to Mbale. We paid for a driver, and I saw quickly why. Driving here is so different! There are usually no lanes, no stoplights, stop signs, or speed limit. The road is like a living entity, and you just have to move with it. I had so many first impressions, I will try to remember as much as I can:

· - Everything was so green. There were no mountains (minus one near Mbale) and you could see green valleys and foliage for miles.

On the main roads, the streets were lined with shops. I thought it was interesting though how they all seemed to sell the same things: furniture, clothes, and fruit. I’m still not sure where they get other things….

· - There were people everywhere. Selling, buying, talking, walking around.

· - I saw many moms with babies and infants. But I noticed that none of the babies were ever crying. I’m not sure why, but I wondered if it was because they were so hungry. Kids here are also typically very well-behaved.

· - The people were all clean and dressed nicely. Everything seemed covered in red clay and dirt, but the clothes were all clean, pressed, and for the most part, without spot.

· - There were lots of soldiers. They all carry guns and stand outside of banks, some shops or just wander the streets. I found out later they aren’t all soldiers, some are police or other things.

· - Schools get out at different times, but much later than in the US. At around 5 and 6, we would see groups of kids walking home along the road. You could tell they were school kids because they all had uniforms. Some had shoes, some did not. But they all stared at this group of “mzungus” going down the road. “Mzungu” is what they call a white foreigner. It is unusual for kids to see white people, and they seemed somewhat fascinated. A couple of the younger kids even ran behind the bus awhile yelling at us, smiling, and waving. They are adorable.

We stopped once in Campala, the capital, to pay the man who pays the driver. I guess they like to go thru someone instead of paying the driver directly because there is less chance of getting swindled. I waited in the car with a couple of other volunteers while the rest went inside this shopping center. When they came back, they were all singing “happy birthday.” They handed me a birthday hat (I have no idea how they found one here!) and a delicious chocolate cake which we all shared and ate in the car. I enjoyed it, but I believe the people who have already been here for over a month enjoyed it much more J. It was so fun and thoughtful. A birthday in Africa!

Traveling to Uganda

It was a long three days, but I finally made it! Uganda is beautiful, and I'm sure I will fall in love with it here. However, just getting here seemed an adventure of its own...

I left Salt Lake on Wednesday morning. I was a wreck. I knew that coming was the right thing to do, but I was leaving everything for 9 weeks to go live in a place I knew very little about. I was scared. I'm glad that Blake and Debra were around to help comfort me, especially when I couldn't find my passport and it was time to go. Luckily, (I'm sure Heavenly Father helped with this) I remembered that I had made a copy of my passport the night before and i left it on the scanner. (Whew! That was close!)

Blake volunteered to come in with me when we got to the airport (another good thing because I've never traveled internationally and yes, still was a wreck). As we headed to the check in counter someone called out my name and it was Lindsey, a girl I teach with. She is also volunteering with HELP international this summer and traveling to India. (We are going to meet in London on our way back). That sent a wave of relief thru me to see another familiar face. Then we went up to the counter and after getting some help got myself checked in. I was about to pay for my baggage (I brought 2 big bags) but Sarah, my teacher friend comingw tih me, arrived by then and told the man we were told we could bring 2 bags for free. He finally let us, and I said my goodbyes and Sarah and I headed to security. It seemed that all day we just kept looking at other and saying, "we're going to Uganda!".

Our first flight was to Chicago. It went pretty well and excitement was still up. Several HELP volunteers were all given the same flights, so we stuck together and got to meet some of the people going to Lugazi, Uganda (I'm in Mbale). Then came our 7 and half hour flight to London. I tried to sleep, but without luck. But, I did have one of my first on-flight meals! That was exciting. Our plane was so big.
When we got to London, we learned that our luggage had already been sent on, so I wouldn’t have my luggage for another day and a half, but that was okay, at least I didn’t have to worry about it. We put our carry on things in a locker, and then 11 of us headed out for a day in London. We started to count off numbers so that we could keep track of each other! In the few hours we were in London, we saw so much and got to ride the Tube! We saw the London eye, West Minster Abby, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (Blake, I told Prince Harry hello for you J), St. James’ Park and Trafalgar Square. Everything was beautiful, and I couldn’t believe I was in London. It was really like a dream come true. We could have stayed longer, but all of us were so tired, we decided to go back to the airport and wait for our evening flight. We were checked in easily and I slept some on the floor, then we headed in for our 8 hour flight. More meals, more excitement, little sleep, and what seemed an eternity later, we landed in Nairobi, Kenya. This airport was much smaller, and I had my first taste of Africa. Our plane was much smaller too, enough to walk up the steps to get into it. By then, our hour long flight seemed like nothing, and before we knew it, we landed in Uganda. We got our visas without a problem, and then I met our country directors, Whitney and Suzanne. They were so happy to see us, and so were we!

Its Been Awhile...

So much for being good at blogging! I will try to be better. These last few months have been wonderful and I am still feeling very blessed. I don't really know how to sum up my life as of late, so I am just posting a few pictures that I have.

There are only 8 days left of school (who's counting) and both the kids and I are ready for summer! I am continuing to get ready to go to Africa, which is sneaking up on me at an alarming (but exciting) rate. Last week I was down and out for a few days with strep throat and pneumonia, but had many people taking good care of me.

We have been talking for months about going to the aquarium, and finally did it. This is Blake and I petting sting rays.

For Spring break I was able to go home for a wonderful visit. These are 2 of my darling nephews.

I also got in another visit with Grandma Mason while I was there.

I love teacher appreciation week. Its probably my favorite week all school year. On the last day, one of my kids wore this purple shirt (my favorite color).

These are my cute kids! The saintly woman in the back is my TA. I really can't express how grateful I am for that woman.

One weekend I got to travel up to Idaho to visit one of my mission companions, Sis. Bush. This is her nephew who became my bff.

Pay (Sis. Bush) lives out in the middle of nowhere. This is me petting a horse (as if you couldn't have figured that out...)

Me petting a calf that Cory (Pay's husband) is holding. It was adorable.

Pay and I before we went 4-wheeling. The coveralls reminded me of Grandpa Fred, and very well may have been the best things that have ever happened to me!

Occasionally we try to have roommate nights. This one ended in a lot of money going down the drain at Sephora. I blame Debra. :)

This is Debra in her latest performance of "Tale of Two Cities". She did a great job, and Janae and I got to see it a couple of times. We were also able to get a group of friends from our ward to all go see it together. The cardboard sign was used when Janae and I were picked up from the airport at different times. We wanted to use the same sign for Deb.