Kampala Regency Hotel

... the idiom ‘foot the bill’, meaning ‘to be responsible for paying the cost of something’. Guess, we do learn something everyday.)

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.

‘to pick someone’ - meaning: to pick someone up. The first time someone told me that they’d pick me from town, I thought: ‘Pick me? Am I an apple ...

... we went out to some bars, which was also fun and so very different from Lyantonde. Now, this one bar (I forgot the name) was a Bazungu place and indeed, most people were Westerners. It was really crowded and the music was too loud, which makes it impossible to talk unless you shout into each others ears. Even then you still don’t really understand and after the third time you just nod and smile and have another sip. But it was still fun and I enjoyed being with ...

... bad in Masaka any time now. Of course, I got somewhat scared at his comments, yet Masaka was calm. There were a few boda-boda people driving through the streets and shouting things, there were trucks filled with army guys going towards Kampala, burning tires and the constant radio update, which was scary, yet no obvious sign of danger. But okay, what is an obvious sign of danger?

Now, Kampala was a whole different story. There the riots lasted over 2 days. Police ...

... 8230;you name it, it was there. I guess that the more the gifts, the more the splendour and beauty of the kwanjula. Now, here I wonder how less well-off people manage to go through such a ceremony as this ceremony clearly requires one to have a heavy wallet. This is not to suggest that kwanjula is all commercial and vain, because the joy surrounded this even is clearly visible, from both sides.

With this much money spent, the Christian wedding will be some other time!

Maama Bigiti, or Birgitte Bech as she is known in Denmark, had her final day in Eden School for this time. And this was to be celebrated with style. So, Sam's excuse for his late arrival this morning was that he got orders from the teachers to delay her arrival as they were planning a surprise. And he was shining as bright as a star. He clearly was proud to be part of this surprise to Maama Bigiti, whom he has come to adore over the many times she has been to ...

... boldly sauntered around our table sniffing and foraging, while heather and I stood on the table and GM did his Mick Dundee act. Now we are more animal wise we ignore the hogs. As we continue to travel we saw a wide variety of lifestyles, from fishing villages to mud hut homes. Obvious poverty and tough living conditions. People walk miles to get water from a muddy puddle, stream or if they are lucky a water pump. It is usual to see children with 2 or 3 jerry cans ...

... the school's director, is one of the most caring and dedicated people you could wish to meet. Yet I feel these people aren't outstanding in Uganda, their values and merits are repeated time and again with so many people you meet.

I can't pick a single memory that stands out from two months - there are too many happy times to reflect on. I'm just glad to be keeping a blog and a journal so when I'm old and senile I can re-read the fun and the experiences that I've had here.

... Its pretty sad for what is meant to be the "single most important site in Ganda culture"! The natural throne that was formed from a growing tree had fallen down and the traditional huts had disappeared. I paid a couple of local boys to take me down to Buganda House which is one of the homes of the Kabaka but all the thatch had fallen off or been looted and it had exposed a ...

... parts. On Sunday we were asked to attend church so I donned my only shirt and sat through a three and a half hour service in Lugandan, not understanding a word of what was said. Committed a bit of a faux-pas by putting the whole of my contribution in the first collection box and then a second for church maintenance was announced and I had nothing to give. Can't say I'm overly bothered - it's the biggest building in miles upon miles so I reckon they receive enough.

... are slow in Kampala but when it comes to parking offences, the police are not! About a minute after I left the car a police officer approached Andy. "Where is the driver?" "Oh she's just gone into that ticket office over there. Erm ... do you want me to move the car??" He made to go over to the driver's side of the car but the police officer was quicker. "I need to see your driving license." Uh oh. I certainly hadn't factored that question ...