Mbale

The lovely town of Mbale, with Mt. Elgon in the background. I must say it is quite beautiful.

I have seen Mt. Elgon and it comes up on you quick. It is so beautiful! I am hoping to get the chance to climb it one day, although I hear it is very expensive. I have had the chance to travel around Uganda a little bit, and each part I go to has it's own unique characteristics. Traveling also has it's own uniqueness.. and I have only touched on it a bit. I think I am starting to get somewhat used to it, but today I had about a 2 hour bus ride with 2 different behinds right on my arm and near my face. haha. Invading my personal space, so I kept trying to shove a little, nope, not working. Taxi's get crammed with people.. sometimes it get's a little crazy. A taxi that should carry approximately 11 people (if you were to wear seat belts and sit properly), for example, today we got 20 in.. so as you can see, that is 9 more, crammed in somehow, and my squished body to the window equals that somehow. hehe.. funny. I get a little nautious sometimes.. and every time we stop I feel like a whirl wind has hit me in the head. haha
Whenever I get a chance to sit next to the window though, I take it... If you are somewhat comfortable on a taxis or bus ride to anywhere in Uganda, there are breathtaking views, and I don't think twice about taking it all in and enjoying the scenery. It is most lovely.
I think I am starting to adopt a Uganda accent to my English... here are some funny quotes I have heard around that I think are pretty cool..
-A man was telling a story of once he tried some hotsauce, and this therefore created a "conflict" in his mouth.
-I was sitting in the shade, but when time began to pass, "the sun was invading us"
I love both of these, and I hear quotes with cool ways of using the English language all the time.. it is very interesting to hear and sometimes throws me off guard, and I will write it down.

Look up

One cool thing is how beautiful the stars can be at night here in Uganda. I will look up and there will be billions of stars shinning so bright. I honestly did not know that the stars could look different just because I was in another part of the world, but according to some of my friends, since there is no light pollution, this is why I am able to see the stars much more brightly and more vivid. It is really amazing, and I am always looking up at night.

The rooster crows at around 5:30am every morning, so that’s pretty much my make-shift alarm clock available for me to use every day of the week whether I want it or not.

Last night the rooster decided to begin crowing at 3:30 am, and I am not sure why.
One night a few weeks ago, it decided to crow at 9:30 at night, so I’m not too sure about that either. My host father and I looked at each other like, “what??”. Haha.. I don’t think he knew why either, and we both started laughing.
Yesturday, we had the chance to visit an organization called AIDCHILD. It is an organization that takes in children that have AIDS, but that are also orphans with no families. The organization gives them shelter, food, medicine, and best of all the love and care like a family. This has probably been one of the coolest most rewarding experiences I have had so far. The children danced and sang for us when we were there, and it was just amazing to see their spirits and how much excitement and life they had in them.. even after going through such hard times.

Ants have invaded the sugar. I noticed this a few days ago for my morning tea, and thought they would go away, but they keep appearing, so now I drink hot tea with sugar and a few boiled ants. Hehe.
Saturday was a mini-vacation to the town of Jinga. We got to see the Source of the Nile, a rain forest, and a waterfall that I can’t remember the name of. I had a wonderful time, very relaxing and exciting. In Jinja, I got to drink a COLD chocolate milkshake and it was really good.
Today is Easter, and I am happy. My family is Muslim, so I think I am going to get together with a few of my friends just to hang out and relax.

I have a new name, it is Naikoote, pronounced, (Nie-coat-ay)... and it means a green sauce made from peas. woo. haha
I am going to try and post some pictures soon.. I am hoping, so we shall see… This picture at the top is a random picture I took while in Kampala... the rest on flicker.
I miss America and everything about it usually, and especially my friends a family!

Thanks for the comments, I am reading them and they make my happy!

-Kristy :)