The busiest two weeks of my life!

As I sit stranded in a broken down car in the middle of the bush I decide this is as good a time as any to write my blog. Seriously though, the wheel of our car has actually SNAPPED off! SNAP! Gone. Well, we can see it but it isn’t attached to the car in any way…at all! I would be lying if I was to say I amn’t scared because I am. I really don’t like the dark, especially in the bush where there could be snakes…eep!

Now I must warn you, this is going to be may be thelongest blog you will have ever seen! I am very sorry but life in Uganda is very full on just now, it is crazy! Grab a cuppa or a bottle of vodka and I hope you enjoy, here we go… 

So, what have I been up to in the past few weeks? An awful lot actually! I had the most exciting week of all when my Daddy and big sis came out to see me in my little home country (for a year.) It was so exciting I was almost crying at the airport gate waiting for them to run out of it, okay that’s a lie, I was crying! It was tears of joy though, or just tears I didn’t really know how to hold back! But when I saw them, I just couldn’t stand still, I was dancing and jumping and smiling and going crazy really. It was amazing when they ran through the gate, I haven’t had a cuddle like that for 7 months! It was magical!! Although the first thing I said to them was, “you’re so pale!” they knew I meant, “OH MY GOD YOU ARE HERE!!!!” Of course Michelle cried and Dad was trying to be brave but I felt my damp shoulder after he had squeezed me so tight I thought I was going to stop breathing! 

Eventually I managed to peel them off me long enough to get them to walk to the car and then we were back into snuggle mode. The car journey felt like nothing at all as I was so excited telling Dad and Michelle everything I could fit into one really long breath. It was so exciting having them in the car and very funny laughing at them sweating buckets while I needed to grab a jumper. After a short drive, a call to mum and carrying way too many heavy bags up to our room we got into our jammies and sat up chatting until the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kept me awake…just! I fell asleep that night cuddling Michelle, it was great. I had a great nights sleep in our fancy hotel however Dad and Michelle told me in the morning that neither of them had slept due to a huge rain storm which had fascinated them, they were in for a treat if they thought rain in a hotel was loud, wait until they heard it in our tin roofed houses! 

After a delicious breakfast, I had weetabix, it was magical, we got ready and headed out for some cash…they made me walk! I haven’t properly used my legs in the 7 months I have been here, I don’t walk in Uganda which they quickly learnt but ignored. So we walked along to the shopping mall where Michelle spent loads (in my eyes) on crafts and Dad got covered in sun cream, it exploded in his bag, silly! After a quick clean up we set off (on foot, bleugh) to the Sheraton where they were celebrating Women’s Independence Day in style…meaning we again spent money on loads of things we probably didn’t need but definitely wanted. Therefore we left with somewhat empty pockets to find a beer, obviously! We walked to a place called “The Melting Pot” and had some yummy chips and a Nile Special each, although I don’t really like Nile Special. Afterwards I thought, for some reason, it would be a good idea to show them the craft market. Michelle has some weird new addiction to crafts and I do not take the blame at all, even though she stole the bag I wanted! 

Now for the excitement they were not ready for, a boda boda! Michelle gripped onto me so hard I seriously thought I was going to have bruises! We arrived and got off the bike thinking dad would be there…he wasn’t, let the panic begin. For anyone who doesn’t know Uganda, the roads are deadly and bodas are so unsafe and fast that you always worry if someone is a minute or two late so when dad was 5 minutes late, I worried. It was ok though, Dad’s boda driver had stopped to look for us and somehow we had passed them without any of us realising; he was safe! 

The boda ride took us to the beautiful ‘Namirembe Cathedral’ which translates to the ‘Peace Cathedral’. Sadly it was closed but we still got to see some beautiful views across Kampala and wander round the ground. Michelle also experienced her first drop loo, how exciting. After we had successfully walked round the grounds and used the toilet we walked down to a café for a soda and to relax before we walked to the mosque to meet Kate and Calum. Michelle, Kate and I were all put into burkahs while Dad and Calum stood laughing at us, the pee heed was out! 

The mosque was beautiful. We learnt loads of history in the midst of our giggling at one another. Kate took a smashing picture of my Sid face within the burkah which was obviously stunning and then the guide ripped the Quaran, it was hilarious! I thought I was going to pee my pants when he ripped it, he was definitely going to get a row after that! Dad was worried they’d finger print it because he helped scoop the book back into the glass! We also went up way too many stairs to count to the top of the mosque tower where we all looked out over Kampala and of course took many more photos! It was a day of many laughs! 

That night Dad, Michelle and I went for dinner in a revolving restaurant which was spectacular. I originally thought it was a bit slow so not very exciting but then as I kept trying to balance my feet on the window I realised we were moving way too fast, they didn’t get to rest! I had a steak, some bailies and a lovely glass of wine, it was marvellous! Very very tasty! Michelle and Dad also enjoyed the food and drinks, it was great!

Can you believe I am still only on day 1?! So after day 1 we were all very tired so we decided to take day 2 a little slower so when we woke up on Saturday we leisurely went to breakfast and then went down to lie by the pool, I also got a leg wax, ouchy! Of course Dad quickly grew bored of doing nothing so we went back to the rooms to get changed and headed off on a walk for some lunch, then bodas for some yummy cocktails! I had a tequila sunrise while Dad had a black widow and Michelle had a long island ice tea. Very tasty in deed. 

After our alcohol hit we went in search of comfy shoes for Michelle, I mean of course the woman who lives in sandals in Scotland wouldn’t think to bring comfy sandals to Uganda!? Once we had found a decent pair of shoes that Michelle’s feet were happy with, we wandered around Kampala taking in some more sights. Dad and Michelle also FINALLY agreed on what road the Top Gear thing was actually on, I thought they would never decide! 

Of course I then grew bored because walking really isn’t my thing so we headed back to the hotel to meet Kate and Calum for dinner. The 5 of us went to Khana Kazana, a wonderful Indian in Kampala; I had to take Dad to an Indian restaurant, seen as he loves curry oh, so much! Once we had all eaten way too much food we went over to look at the fountain (as you do?) Now can we all imagine being in quite a fancy restaurant and washing your hands in the lovely fountain which is on display to everyone in the place, well of course it was exactly what Kate did! We all fell about laughing at her and Dad who stood pretending he was doing a pee, we are all very classy! We then headed up to another place for more cocktails where I had a very yummy cosmopolitan, maybe I will be the next Sarah Jessica Parker. Eventually the old folk got tired…me, so we headed back to the hotel and headed to bed. It was such a lovely night, we all enjoyed it thoroughly!

After a fabulous night’s sleep we packed our bags and headed off to the village in style (by car). It was a lovely drive and really cool getting to so the journey in a car rather than a smelly bus when you are sharing with the world’s largest bum (some random Ugandan lady, I amn’t being nasty about Holly!!) We stopped off at the equator where we had lunch, Michelle shopped and Dad met some Rugby folk who are being funded by the Bill McLaren trust, small world eh? 

When we reached the village, the first thing on Dad and Michelle’s minds was coffee, so we headed over to my little house and I made us some tea and coffee. Dad and Michelle both took loads of photos, especially since we were accompanied by my baby bro and sis, Kaka and Caleb. Once the old Scots had had their fix we headed back to the place they were staying to unpack everything, who would have thought you could fit that much into 2 cases, I certainly didn’t!!! Kate was just as surprised and probably regretted offering to help when she saw the amount we had actually brought, uho! 

Dinner at Justine’s was a real experience for Dad and Michelle who were both shattered after the journey. They asked me, “Is it like this every night?” To which they were shocked to hear, “It can get worse.” We quickly ate dinner and then I helped them on the escape up to the house. The kids were pretty excited to see our visitors but they weren’t that bad, tehe! 

Up nice and early the next day I went and made us some tea and coffee because obviously neither of them would function without their coffee, in all honesty I would struggle without tea! SO once we were dressed and ready we went to the school for Dad and Michelle to meet all of the beautiful children I work with. I reckon they were both pretty surprised by how well the children respond to me, however they were just pretending, normally they don’t understand a thing I say! It wasn’t long before Justine had the chairs out and the children lined up to give us a concert, which was just fabulous. I was so embarrassed when the kids kept singing “Welcome Jenny” even though I have been here for how long…7 MONTHS!?
 
After the concert we went back to the house and again with the help of Kate, we sorted the clothes into piles of what’s for who? There was a lot of stuff to sort, but we managed and made adorable little packs for some of the people we are close to. I gave clothes to the woman who I share Top and Baby class with and some clothes for her 1 year old twins, she was very thankful indeed! When Justine saw the piles of clothes her reaction was amazing! She was so excited and happy and…EXCITED! She kept jumping and cuddling me, it was just such a beautiful moment! 

We had planned to just chill at the school but instead we went to the watch the primary school run round the mud playing field we have. I have never seen such fit kids, the boys ran 25 laps, which is a lot, you’re just going to have to believe me. One boy Ibra needs to be recognised, he is amazing, didn’t even seem too out of breath after the whole running way too much thing! 

After watching way too much exercise and laughing at Dad attempting to carry the 20 litre jerry can on his head we headed to my little house with Elianah for dinner. Elianah was hilarious but very messy when we gave her pineapple, messy child. Dinner was lovely. Our classic guacamole, salsa and chapattis however we decided to shake things up a little with a bonfire which was amazing! Sadly we were all pretty tired so walked back to the house and slept for a very scary night sleep! 

We woke up after a creepy night’s sleep with lots of wind and rain, the day wasn’t much better. We got up, I made up coffee after I burnt my hand, and then we decided to go to Masaka. I made them jump into a taxi with a total of 10 which they were not pleased about, we got a private hire back! Masaka wasn’t too eventful. I had some spag bol and they both had some internet which was nice. 

We had to leave the following day which wasn’t very nice. I don’t really like saying goodbye to Dan at the best of times but when he saw that we had loads of bags he thought I was leaving which was horrible. Thankfully he didn’t get too annoyed at me though! Mike drove us back to Kampala with me sleeping the majority of the way and then Dad, Michelle and I just relaxed in the hotel. It was nice, but I was a little upset because I knew I was going to have to say goodbye the next day. 

On our last day together, we hit the craft market where both Dad and Michelle went really mad and I showed off on my little Luganda I knew to get prices lowered. We also had a delicious lunch and then headed back, Michelle and I had pedicures waiting for us, woo! Michelle then got her hair blow dried (as you do!) for her ride home while Dad and I relaxed for a while. Saying goodbye that night was horrific, I hadn’t really anticipated just how hard it would be, but never fear, I survived! I had a long bus journey ahead of me where I cried a lot and then some man stole my olives, seriously dude, of all things!?
When I returned to the village I was quickly flung onto a boda to drop my bags off and change before heading to a burial. I had planned to go home and feel sand netted top and hopped upon the boda off to the burial. It wasn’t very orry for myself but obviously I wasn’t allowed, so I changed into the classic purple skirt nice but I got my lunch there and then was told to leave before the body was buried, mainly because woman aren’t allowed to see the body buried if they are Muslim, so off I went with Justine to walk home?! Seriously, everyone wanted to make me walk, obviously the weight gain was obvious to folk and they just didn’t want to say it out loud to me. RUDE. 

Saturday we headed off to Masaka to see our good friend Joseph (my crush) at his new school. When he turned the corner to see us I could immediately tell he was happy to see us all which was great! We all munched down some amazing food after a tour around the really REALLY big school. No wonder he still gets lost when he is there. It was a lovely to see him and to talk to him again, I may call him my crush but he was really just a really good friend of mine. I loved seeing his face every day and he did make me laugh when ever I was sad, everybody here is like that but Joseph was just such a sweet guy. No other man in this village would ask me to go to a burial to support them, Joseph did.

Sunday, rather than go to church, Justine asked Kate and I to help her with the ‘designing’ of a wedding. Basically we dressed the bride and wedding party and did all of their make-up. It was such a good laugh but a very VERY long day. We ended up getting a boda home with some guy because we were knackered!

Last weekend was busy with me taking the kids to school on Friday and then spending some time in the hospital with my brave ‘little brother’ before heading to Entebbe to meet Moses from the airport. If any of you remember from the start of this blog, we broke down en route. Thankfully Justine has connections EVERYWHERE, so we were picked up and taken to the airport to collect Moses, then we spent a night in Entebbe where we all enjoyed the luxury of a hot shower and Moses’ company. It was really nice seeing the kids smiling with Moses and cuddling into their Daddy. We had a good night in the hotel and a very boring day waiting for the car to fix, no worries we got home…at 8 in the night, but home none the less!! We had a brief (as in I only went for the food) party and then went home, I needed my bed, hadn’t slept too much in the hotel since we went to bed at 2.30 then were up at 7, I was like the walking dead!  

All my Love

Your Ugandan Girl. X