Emin Pasha Hotel Kampala

So we arrived at Entebbe airport two nights ago and took public transport the 40 km into Kampala. The hotel we're staying at is recommended for Peace Corps volunteers so we immediately ran into two girls who were Peace Corps Uganda who said there were Peace Corps Rwanda volunteers there too. The next day we spent all morning figuring out how to do what we want to do which is white water raft in Jinja and see Merchison Falls, which was the real problem ...

... the idiom &#8216;foot the bill&#8217;, meaning &#8216;to be responsible for paying the cost of something&#8217;. Guess, we do learn something everyday.)<br><br>Okay, so let me just show you a few Uganlish expressions, which I have sort of adopted or which make me smile every time I hear them.<br><br>&#8216;to pick someone&#8217; - meaning: to pick someone up. The first time someone told me that they&#8217;d pick me from town, I thought: &#8216;Pick me? Am I an apple ...

... It&#8217;s the procedure, Madam.&#8217; (Another thing bureaucrats have in common!) And mind you, the longer I am without a visa, the bigger the fine. (which explains the big smile!)<br><br>But of course, this could not spoil my time with the Adhollas. And indeed, we had a fabulous time. They have rented a house in Kampala (Bogolobi) and just bought a car, so things were totally luxurious for me, who just came from Lyantonde. The house&#8230;2 storeys, 2 bathroom ...

... to see the falls...it will be fantastic to see some wildlife and a bit more of the Ugandan countryside.<br><br>The puppies are doing well and look gorgeous, the children at the school seem to think i am a climbing frame, pastor steven the school headmaster has inveted me to his wedding and I am due to meet his wife betty very soon and I am still fit and well! Hope you all are too!<br><br>Lots of love<br>Amy xx<br>

... has to try and keep the prices down (which includes fines as you easily could get fined for anything deviant), while the spokesperson of the bride&#8217;s family has to try to push the prices up. So, the best way of describing a kwanjula is thus a battle of wits and cultural tongue twisting. And precisely this battle is what makes this ceremony so memorable. Now, since I was the only mzungu in this function I can assure you that the spokesperson of both sides ...

... food! <br><br>Okay, but back in the MoE, we tried to find the right office. That was a task, I tell you! First of all, these floors are filled to the brim with tiny wee cubicles, ahem, sorry, offices and they are hidden in tiny wee hallways and if you ent** one of those 'offices&#8217;, you find th**e is a door to anoth** one, which does not have a door to the hallway. Well, we did succeed and asked the young women if we w**e right. We needed to get information ...

... her about the role of NGOs in the country, and she had mixed feelings on the topic. She pointed out the ways in which these organizations can be useful, but she also worried that the prevalence of aid organizations could make people too dependant upon outside help to sustain themselves. This question has come up a lot in my mind&#8212;To what extent is &#8220;aid&#8221; helpful and hurtful? This inquiry lead me to wonder about my own role in Uganda as an Invisible ...

... with them felt like only minutes. I could have easily watched them all day long and not grown tired of it. However, I am very glad that they put such a time restriction on the viewing tourists so to give the gorillas the quiet, wild life they need. After our hour was up we reluctantly walked away from the gorillas, repeatedly looking back to get one last glance at the incredible sight of them in their natural environment. I would be very happy to return ...

... bricks. I picked a brick up and one of the builders shouted for me to move - right by my hand was a small green snake with a yellow belly. The builder killed it by throwing a stone at it and they all insisted it was dangerous. Maybe they're pulling my leg though! In the next couple of days we saw loads more including a young cobra - they are all fleeing the rising waters as the rains intensify here. I'm a lot ...