Kampala - ya have to love it (",)

First of all let me apologise for the delay in up-dating my blog I know some people have been waiting with bated breaths by the internet!!!;

Kampala has grown on me more and more every day that I’ve been here. When we first arrived I never imagined that I could actually get my bearings in this huge city with its massive and varied population. But today I can get in a taxi (the Ugandian version of a dala dala – all be it more comfortable and less crowded!!!), or on a boda boda (a motorbike taxi – by far my favourite mode of transport) or walk to wherever I need to be.
The people of Uganda are very warm and welcoming – it takes a little longer to be accepted into their world as compared to the Tanzanians but it’s well worth the wait, and really the difference could easily be attributed to the difference between small towns like Moshi compared to big cities like Kampala as opposed to Tanzania hospitality versus that of their near neighbours in Uganda.
Ugandians are fun loving, outgoing people with a lot of enthusiasm for life. It seems no matter how difficult the situation there is always room for humour and this is what I love and respect most about them.

I am pleased to say the organisation we’ve been working with here has blown me away entirely. UYDEL – Ugandan Youth Development Link works with youths between 10 and 24 who have been affected by child trafficking, child labour, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and commercial sex workers. The organisation identifies at risk youths in conjunction with community leaders and local police officers and provides these youths with vocational skills to enable them to be rehabilitated into useful members of society. UYDEL works on every aspect of this process from one to one counselling with the youth, group counselling or BCC (behaviour change communication), resettling the youths back with their family or suitable guardian, educating the community about their experiences and the rehabilitation process they have completed, providing the youth with vocational skills such as hairdressing, catering, electronics, carpentry, welding, motor cycle repairs, tailoring so that the youth can support him or herself once back in the community. UYDEL also provide the youths with start up kits so they are in a position to start working once they have completed their training. The only thing that has impressed me more than the organisation is the people working in the organisation who are hard working, intelligent and dedicated to the work of UYDEL.
Besides the work Uganda has a lot to offer the first trip we took out of Kampala was to Jinja, the second biggest city in Uganda but could not be compared in any way to Kampala. Jinja is located on the banks of the Nile and is a popular place location to go and try out white water rafting... Yes people I got myself a life jacket, helmet and paddle and took to the water!!! We were part of a group of 9 that entered the water as the wild crew – but dispite our guides best efforts we never managed to capsize, however Julie and I did manage to fall out of the raft!!! Dispite having a slightly dull group and only an average guide and dodgy weather we still had a blast and I would go again in the morning (“,)

The knee knocking, hand shaking, nerve racking experience that really boosted the trip was a 44m bungee jump into the Nile below... Surprisingly enough an activity I previously had no intention of doing having heard stories of eye balls popping out and backs being sprained, whip lash and a list of unpleasant ailments but for some reason the allure of bungee jumping over the Nile was a opportunity I couldn’t turn my back on and oh boy am I glad I didn’t. As I was being tied into the leg straps my guide, Jack, explained that if I just jump straight out I’ll miss the water but if I dive straight down I’ll go straight into the water before the cord rebounds to pull me out again. I was clear that I wanted to just touch the water with my finger tips and so I stood up at the edge poised and ready to jump straight out and try and fly like a bird... but somehow my brain didn’t relay the instructions correctly and so I actually dove straight down like a child diving into a pool!!! My brain obviously registered what had had happened when I was at about 20m as I began screaming uncontrollable and then hit the water unexpectantly... Luckily I must have been in a good diving position as I didn’t come out with the black eye which Jack said was a risk of diving straight down if you adapt a poor position! Getting out of the raft back onto solid ground all I wanted to do was run back up and jump again... It is definitely in my top three best things I have done while in Africa, maybe even ever... I loved it loved it loved and would go again right now not to mention recommend it to everyone(“,)
We ended off our visit to Jinja with a speedy boda ride to the source of the Nile. A beautiful setting, where we got some nice pictures but not a whole lot to do unless you want to buy souvenirs from the many vendors...
And one final treasure we found in Jinja was a little cafe with a garden seating area and the best veggie burgers any of us had had in some time – a great way to end our excursion to Jinja: with good food...

Apart from this trip to Jinja our time has mainly been taken up with the inter house competition in Masoli. This had a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it where all the students were divided up into four houses the green tigers, blue zebras, yellow lions and my own team the red leopards... Points were awarded to each house based on results of sports including netball, football and volley ball but each house also had to prepare a presentation on the role of youths in the prevention of child trafficking. The Harry Potter feel was further enhanced when my team unfortunately were deducted points for playing someone who was not on the red team and another team was awarded additional points on the bases that they were the most disciplined and dedicated where other teams had failed to be. At the end of the two week long games prizes were awarded to individuals on the basis of their performance and trophies were awarded to the overall winners of each sport. The overall winning team, in this case the Green Tigers, were awarded a football strip which was to be held in trust by their house master. The games sparked a lot of rivalry between teams but by and large was all taken in good spirit, all the same I’m glad I won’t have to deal with any competition this summer in camp as emotions do run high, and where there is a winner there is also a loser!!!

I must admit the most memorable and heart warming visit we’ve had the entire time here in Africa has been to visit Denis’ family and friends in his home village just outside Masoki. I don’t believe I have ever been welcomed so warmly anywhere, we were brought in and given freshly squeezed juice and biscuits but more than that we were given a guided tour of the neighbourhood. In that we were guided around the local area and given its history but more than that we were introduced to the people of the area and given their stories. I don’t think I known people to open the doors to their hearts and share the contents so easily, with love and honesty and humour, the good times the hard times and all the times in between. It was an absolute pleasure and I sincerely hope I can return to visit them again some day soon. The funny thing was that all day people thanked us for coming to visit when it was us who were grateful not only for the refreshments and delicious food but the warmth and meaning behind every kindness they showed us.

The most recent excursion we have had was to Entebble where we had to say a sad farewell to Julie as she boarded a plane back to Dublin which will later take her home to the States. On the up side she is a lot more vocally patriotic now after having spent three months living with me – God Bless America!!! – so I’m sure she’ll be welcomed home with open arms...
Before we said our sad good byes though we spent a lovely day in the botanical gardens where Julie whipped off her top to do a spot of sun bathing, and received some questionable looks from the locals in the process. Eunice one of our newest and dearest friends here in Kamapala accompanied us for the day and kept our spirits high and our minds off Julies eminent departure with interesting stories about life in Uganda and romance and the like. We also met Denis later for dinner and more laughter and debates over the best soda’s etc...
We do miss you Julie if you are reading this...