On the Red Soil

I am officially in Africa, and it feels great! I have so much to tell you all and so little time. By the time I actually have the internet access to post this I will be leaving on a 10 day trip to Rwanda with no communication availability. Crazy. Where do I even start to explain Uganda?

            First off- the flight was easy… it was 15 hours from NYC to Johannesburg, then a 4 hour flight from SA to Entebbe. I was too excited to care that the flight was so long, and quite tired from my NY trip. So it was the perfect recipe for multiple series of naps. As I flew into South Africa I realized how it really isn’t that much different the States. I was expecting something different or special or some spectacular view. I don’t know, something like I should be able to see lions or elephants from the air. Or that it would be like that moment when Simba is raised up in front of the other animals in Lion King…..

Ok so I didn’t have those exact thoughts, but that perspective. That Africa would be soooo unique and remarkably different. But in reality… it’s not. In SA they definitely have suburbs, and a downtown area similar to a US city. Sure, SA is a lot more touristy and has a hugeeeee European influence. However, I realized how skewed my American view has made Africa. Before the trip I acknowledged this, but once I was flying over grassy agricultural fields, suburbia and cities with freeways it deeply sunk in. It sunk in how much God really made the earth so equal and limitless. Along with the people He put on this earth. Everything is very similar; people just get in the way of drawing lines to make us think we are all so different. There is so much we have in common. Sure- these are things or ideas I knew of before coming here…. But now there is an added emotional attachment to the thought because I am seeing the world and it’s people for myself. It’s awesome. Now don’t get me wrong, Africa is not the US by any means, it’s just that the first thing I noticed was how similar everything is. I guess that’s how my mind works. I hope throughout this blog and me sharing my experience you all can grab onto a similar perspective.

Now for Uganda specifically! We arrived in Entebbe around 7pm. At first, I was bummed that it was so dark and we wouldn’t be able to drive through the city and see everything. However, I was astonished by how much activity we could see in the darkness. The entire 2 hour drive from the airport to our campus there were people filling the streets! They were walking to and from these shanty slum like shops (not sure of the exact or culturally acceptable name for them… so far everything is just called the market) As we drove in our bus, we passed small groups of people ever 100 feet at least! When we got into Kampala the streets were even more crowded. Apparently, many of the people are walking home from work. They go out of the city and into their homes. Makes sense- the evening commute. It’s just later because they have to walk! (or take scary crazy botta- bottas motorcycle things, or taxis-those are really van buses) The evening commute is why many of the shops are open- so people can shop and talk on their way home. It’s like grabbing take-out or fast food or meeting a friend for an evening coffee. I wasn’t expecting to see so much activity at night. Some shops had electricity, but most were light up by candles. It was an awesome first experience of a whole new culture.

Lastly, our campus is beautiful! It has luscious green grass and deep red soil. It reminds me of camp in many ways because I walk in the dirt everywhere, all the windows are open in buildings and there is greenery everywhere. Our campus is significantly nicer than the places I could see coming into town. The campus is bigger than Jessups too! They have a track, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields, several libraries, multiple dorms, three story classroom buildings and so much more! Haha. However, these faculties are not ‘nice’ in American standards, but nonetheless they are there and more than functional. I can’t wait to start classes, and students fill all these places. Right now its pretty much just us silly Americans running around this giant campus, snapping pictures of monkeys and plantains.

 Oh, I am also thinking of joining the basketball team! How cool would that be? I figured it might be a good way to get plugged into community outside the US friends I have made. This morning I ran on the track, it was gorgeous out! And just a few minutes ago I met a soccer player who showed me the weight room- how cool!  I’ll let ya know how that all goes!

Well that’s all for now! I wish I could tell you all more, or write in more detail. There is just soooo much to tell. Soon, as I settle into the semester I hope to write more detailed accounts of everything I am experiencing with a little more rhetoric or flare. Haha.

Hope all is well in the States.

Love Always,

Liz