Day 3

March 4th, 2017 by jasongulati

I arrived late Thursday night, a decidedly bad time to arrive if you haven’t set any internet up yet and you promised your girlfriend you’d let her know you were safe. I ended up borrowing a housemate’s computer the next afternoon to send her an email…

But I did arrive safely, and the driver recommended by my host was a master of trade. The road from Entebbe to Kampala completely changes at night, he told me. It was like nothing I had ever seen outside of some videos online, and levels above what I had seen in the likes of Chicago, Atlanta, or even Bangkok. Stretches of roadways were packed with cars and bodas (motorbike taxis), and they seemed to interweave in a chaotic harmony just inches from each other. Yet I witnessed zero collisions, zero road rage, certainly less than I see on an average day in Detroit.

Having no internet and arriving to a house full of sleeping guests, I opted to go to sleep. I was anxious about my sudden change of environment but the roaring thunder was comforting–I slept for 14 hours.

The next day, I took my first boda ride and it was unforgettable. I white-knuckled the support bars for life as the driver seamlessly navigated between car after car. I was impressed, I know if I tried the same thing I would be laid up in the hospital right now. That being said, like seat belts at home helmets are highly recommended.

As I navigated the shops to get myself connected, supplied, and fed, I found nearly everyone I asked for help to be very friendly without any hint of disingenuity. Honestly more than I experience at home some days.

I am hoping to start the medical side of things on Monday morning. In the meantime, I am quickly getting more comfortable in my surroundings.