Made it to Uganda!

I made it, friends. A post about the end of the GHC training is coming shortly, but first, my initial impressions of Uganda.

After logging 18 hours on 2 planes, I made it to Kampala. And the level of exhaustion was quite high, but I was still in good spirits as I waited in line for about an hour to get my tourist visa. For your reference, Kampala is 8 hours ahead of CST.

I was greeted by Annie and Michael, employees at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (I will refer to this as JCRC from now on) and I went off with my co-fellow, Kakeeto. I immediately realized I was somewhere different when I saw the steering wheel on the right hand side of the car and we started driving on the left. Threw me off a little bit even though I knew to expect that.

There is such lush land surrounding the airport, which was filled with old, out-of-service planes, perhaps war planes, that looked like they had been sitting for a while. I saw houses and buildings with what looked like Peruvian construction, mostly made of tree trunks, and I saw signs with "Rolex", the famous chapati bread snack here made with eggs and more.

Nose ring came out immediately when I realized I was being brought to the office first before settling down. I felt extremely disheveled after such a long flight and a bit embarrassed to be meeting people after having been traveling for over 24 hours, but thrilled to see a part of where I would be spending my next year. So much to explore. I met Ann, the person with whom I had been coordinating and organizing over the past few months, and she is wonderful.

A few slightly traumatic experiences thus far: On the way here, I lost $400 cash. Might've come out of my fanny pack where it was stored on the plane. And I went to the grocery store without and sense of cost of things or how much money I had brought ($1=2550 shillings), so I was at the grocery store and I bought more than I had cash for. The cashier had to void many things and yelled "VOID!!" to have the manager come over and void my items. After she voided items, it still came out to 400 shillings (about 16 cents) more than I had cash for and she yelled "VOID!" again. And no dollars accepted there. I laughed inside as the line of people waiting to check out grew behind me. Oops.

JCRC was much larger than I thought it would be, and it looks like a palace watching over the rolling hills of Lubowa, an area just outside of Kampala, where I will be staying.

I am staying with Hannah and Erin, 2 women from the University of Madison for the next week, while they figure out my housing. It's really close to work and in a gated community. I'm happy to be able to check out my housing and give my 2 cents before they choose a place for the year. This temporary place is really posh with hot showers, a refrigerator, and washing machine......what?!
Definitely did not expect that. Many UN workers live here with their families. This does not come cheaply, however. The three bedroom I am staying in was negotiated down to $1,200 USD/month. I love that the major shower concern is the occasional gecko that comes running out from behind the wall. Surprising, but not super dangerous.

I start work tomorrow and I have orientation Thursday and Friday. Friday, I will hang out with a GHC fellow that's leaving and Saturday, we are having a welcome reception for GHC fellows, past and present, in Kampala!

I will keep you updated as I get time and adjust! Sending love from the Pearl of Africa.

I think I am really going to like it here.

All packed up before heading to JFK to start my journey

Fellows waiting in the airport

Fellows from Uganda, including my co-fellow in white

My tickets!

Airport yoga in JFK before our big flight to Dubai.

Me, Devin, and Robyn in row 78!

On the plane!

My temporary room in Lubowa, complete with mosquito net and goat sounds

Kitchen

Living room

Gas stove again!

View outside of my bedroom window

View of Lubowa from balcony