Welcome Home

Our house in Kasese!

    “Welcome Home,” is what Enoch said to us as we pulled up to the house where we will stay. Today we drove from Kampala to Kasese. The trip took us about 7-8 hours including our stops. We left Kampala at around 10am. We had to quickly stop at a store so Francesca could get a charger for her camera, and then we carried on our way. Moving from the city to the rural areas and into the country was an exciting transition. The surrounding areas of Kampala reflect the city itself, only smaller buildings and less roads. But there still seemed to be a similar feel with all of the people moving about, the vendors, and the roadside storefronts.

      The country is absolutely beautiful. Everywhere there are Matoke trees (Banana), and others of which I have not yet had the privilege. The vegetation also changed as we moved up in elevation. The forest grew thicker and everything appeared much larger. It is also not uncommon to pass cows with large horns and goats. We even pulled right up next to a little baboon hanging out in the ditch. When we stopped in Fort Portal to have lunch Enoch informed us that we had already crossed the equator twice—once on our flight and once on the drive. He said that due to the equatorial weather, soon we would look more like him. The Rwenzori mountain range was and is a beauty on its own. Surrounded by the country it lays on, one of the sights I was privileged with today was the prettiest landscape I have ever seen.

Just Trottin' Down the HWY

-More to come on the mountains later-I will share the oral tradition behind it, and we will be doing some hiking on one of the upcoming weekends. The house where we will be staying is nice. I felt very privileged pulling up to the large gate that opens into the yard. Inside there are 4 bedrooms, a kitchen, a large living space, and facilities. My room has a small bathroom in it and two beds. I have my own room since I am the only male living in the house. It will be Francesca, Kayla, Jessica, me, and three others. Doreen is a local whose uncle started the school I will be teaching at. She will be helping us with our transition in terms of food, prices, cooking, etc. Lauren and Jamie are two Canadians I just met who are working with financial management at a clinic associated with the school. They both seem like good people. Jamie will be leaving in a few days, but Lauren will be here for the whole time we are here, and beyond. It feels nice to have met everyone and taken some stuff out of my suitcases. I am looking forward to getting settled and getting familiarized with my surroundings tomorrow.

My Bedroom and Mosquito Nets