Today is our first full day in Uganda. The journey here was taxing and stressful, particularly in Dubai, where my plane from NYC was delayed and I arrived at 9:07am when the doors to my plane to Entebbe were supposed to close at 9:05am. Luckily, they waited, and I made it just in time! Dani (my classmate) and I arrived yesterday afternoon around 2:00pm. It took some time to get our luggage, buy a SIM card and exchange money, but we eventually made it to Claire’s around 4:00pm. Claire is the owner of the Makindye House, which is an AirBnb. Claire has been the most welcoming of hosts. Her home is comfortable, with plenty of space and amenities, though some people may call it basic. She houses travelers from around the world, making this experience even more exciting. Everyone has amazing stories, and I could sit and talk with them for hours.
After getting settled, Dani and I walked down the hill to the market. It was about a 20 minute walk. Along the way we encountered a bull on the side of the road, grazing on the grasses, many Ugandan runners getting their daily exercise, and multiple ladies selling fruits and vegetables.
Although I was incredibly exhausted, I didn’t sleep the greatest last night. There are so many new sounds here. Many times I woke up to a barking dog, roosters crowing, birds calling, or the occasional footsteps of our night guard, Bosco. I ended up waking at 5:00am, laying in bed for hours until I decided to rise at 8:00am. It’s Sunday morning, so there are churches in session and I can hear their choirs singing from many directions.
I came to the back patio, and oh my goodness – it is so beautiful. The weather is perfect, approximately 65 degrees with the slightest of breezes. The back yard is so peaceful – green, with shading trees, a hammock, and flowers sprinkled everywhere. There are even fruit trees, including avocado and mango, and a garden that provides fresh salad for the house. There are even two sweet pups, Poppy and Kira, who (or is it whom?) are great company on this lovely morning.
The view is gorgeous. Through the trees you can see Entebbe upon a hill in the distance. Sitting on the back porch puts me in a peaceful state. Despite being in a foreign country, disconnected from friends and family, and without my luxuries of an American life, I feel calm.
Throughout the morning Claire, Josh, and a friend of Josh’s, Sarah, all joined me on the patio. They have been so welcoming and willing to help us adjust to our new environment. They’ve given us so many tips on how to acclimate including places to eat, shop, and how to get around. Boda Bodas are the easiest and most commonly used form of transportation here in Uganda. They are essentially motorcycles that weave in and out of traffic. To be honest, they scare me. Everyone seems to take them though, and their piece of advice is, “just wear a helmet.” We’ll see if a get the courage to take one eventually. I’ve heard with the traffic in Kampala it can take nearly 2 hours to get to the hospital via uber, while it’s only 20 minutes with a Boda. For now, we plan to use uber, but we’ll see how long it takes before we get sick of the traffic and face our fears on the Bodas.
I could go on and on. I cannot put into words how wonderful my first impression has been. We start working at The Surgery tomorrow, and I’m very much looking forward it.