Twelve hours after we had counted down the minutes to bedtime on arrival day, we woke up to the (no, not the sound of taxi horns or noisy roommates) but rustling leaves and a bright morning sun.
A hilltop view of Kampala
Breakfast was served. Pineapples, passion fruit, fresh milk...all waiting for the starving Muzungu (foreigners).
It was 9 AM when our host arrived with this wife and 2 year old daughter. We were soon joined by the Dean of The Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts and a graduate of Makerere University for a brief orientation. We discussed common Ugandan phrases - "Boda Boda" (motorcycle taxis), "Webale" (welcome), social norms, taboos, how to pose/answer questions difficult questions and finally safety measures. After some prayer, intense note taking and lots of questions from the team our debrief ended.
After a few hours spent talking, planning and enjoying the afternoon sun, the team headed out for lunch. Our first taste of authentic African food - chappattis, mashed bananas and peanut sauce - was served at under a large tent at a buffet overlooking a peaceful neighborhood.
Our final destination was the Museum of Uganda. A small area full of exotic taxidermy and tribal history (which allowed for a pleasant reflection on our long hours of research).
The day began slowly, as it often does in a polychronic (time is more relative so being an hour an half late is perfectly ok) culture. Those of us who are Media, Culture, and the Arts majors (Betsy and Karla) and Kylie, met with the Dean of Students at Makerere University. In the late afternoon, we were visited by three Makerere students. They joined us from a tour of downtown Kampala (our first experience on a public taxi and the traffic rule free streets of Uganda) and some souvenir shopping.
The nearly impossible to find internet is bought in 20 minute intervals... and my time is almost up. Keep us in your prayers as we continue to smear ourselves in sunblock and navigate Ugandan traffic :-)
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