DAY 3- May 20: Kenya Air and Uganda!

Dear Friends,

            This flight went a lot faster than the one to London. Maybe I slept more, but whatever it was, I was thankful. When we landed in Kenya, it was unreal. I couldn’t believe it. We got off the flight, and you could smell it. It was Africa. We got out of the plane into a narrow airport gate hallway with shops filled with chocolate, perfume, and alcohol lining the entire place. The gates were tiny. After walking down to Gate 12, we found some seats to hold down fort. We passed many men and women in suits and colorful dresses. We passed other American students on mission trips. We passed many people in this crowded place, and all I wanted to do was people watch.

            The next thing I know is that my friend Fish and I were trying to find toothbrushes. We walked all the way down the narrow hall to find no toothbrushes. Finally, we decided to ask one of the storeowners who directed us to gate 9. We didn’t think he knew what he was talking about because we had already passed gate 9, but nevertheless we found toothbrushes at the store by gate 9! VICTORY. $3 each. Yes, they took American Dollars.

We walked back and I gave my friend Bayli, her birthday present toothbrush! Yes she was celebrating her 20^th birthday in Africa! We sat, ate some food, took another Malaria pill, and chatted. We decided to actually go into our gate and found out that we had to go through security again. They had security x-rays at each of the gates, which filter into a large waiting room (a room larger than the width of the hallway of the airport).

This was going to be a quick flight 55 minutes to Uganda! I stared out the window most of the trip. This was Africa. It was beautiful and green. There were 5 or 6 lakes and the sky was a beautiful blue. We as we got ready to descend, we couldn’t contain ourselves. Almost 3 days of traveling was about to end (well almost we still had a 3 hour ride to Jinja). Everyone’s face lit up. It didn’t matter that we were disgusting, we hadn’t showered in 3 days, many of us hadn’t brushed our teeth, and we were wearing the same clothes we had been sweating in. Nothing mattered. We were in Africa. We were in Uganda! And not only were we in Uganda, but it was beautiful. 

I couldn’t wait to get out of the plane! We were in Entebbe (close to Kampala). I literally couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Finally, Africa. The first thing I did was get out my camera to take a picture of the sign that said Uganda on the side of the airport. Next, we  got our visas and pick up our luggage. Everyone’s luggage made it! Praise God! Next we met one of the missionaries who actually attended Pepperdine, named Spencer (he was even sporting a Pepperdine hat). 

He told us there was a coach waiting for us. Now, when we say “coach” in America, we think those nice big buses with maybe even a bathroom. But when he said “coach,” he meant more like an old, enlarged-van-like vehicle/bus. But it was Africa. We sent the luggage through the side back window instead of each carrying it up the stairs. And then we were off. Cruising through Kampala on the way to lunch!

The ride to the Italian Restaurant (go figure) where we were going to have our first meal in Uganda was my first real glimpse of African life. The first thing I noticed was the people. They were everywhere. Women with HUGE loads on their heads some even walking without holding on. Men on Boda Boda (or the bicycles taxis that also carry ANY object possible) with giant loads of shoes, bags of beans, wood slabs, chairs, or anything else that you probably couldn’t imagine, they were/could carry on their little bikes. On the other hand, I saw the people sitting like they were doing nothing.  Then I noticed the stores. Stores lined the entire street. I even saw a store called UAP every 6 stores (it must be Uganda’s or Kampala’s version of an ABC store in Hawaii). But all I know is that the streets were crowed with people and stores… and cars, motorcycles (piki piki), and vans.

That’s the next biggest thing I noticed. One. Because of the British influence they drive on the opposite side of the road. Also there are no stop signs, crosswalks, or signal lights. Please don’t ask me how people learn to drive here but they do. They also love to get as close as about 3 inches to another vehicle, building, or side of the road. Also honking is a popular method of just saying hello.

People stared at us, some even called out to us. Boys walked side by side with arms wrapped around one another (a very cute sight). We also saw cows and other cow like animals tied to signs or just on the side of the road. The homes were quite run down.. pretty much like shacks with a line of clothes drying outside. We passed churches and even some Jehovah Witnesses buildings. I saw schools including “the Michelangelo School of Art” (it sounds impressive, but like all the buildings it was very small in comparison to US standards as well as quite run down looking). Finally, there were no tourists. But also there was nobody by Ugandans. I saw no other ethnicity.

We got to the Italian Restaurant ate some pizza and meet some of the missionary families that worked together. After lunch we made our 2-hour journey to Jinja or more specifically the Gately on the Nile, the guesthouse we were staying at. I can’t say much about the ride (I’m not going to lie), but I was pretty out of it and I fell asleep. But once we got to the Gately I was blown away. We were greeted by the Gately staff: Helen, Christine, Jackie, Easter and Sandra. They were so cute and made it a point to shake hands with all of the students.

But the Gately itself is incredible. They recently purchased the plot of land and house next to it in order to make a new part of it. So basically we have our own little house with a eating room and 2 to 3 people to each room.. with a bathroom in each room! We even have “princess status mosquito nets” (as I like to call them) hanging from the ceiling of each bed. My roomie Bayli even has a queen size bed. All I can say is.. this is SO Pepperdine. The nicest place in all of Jinja. We even have wireless internet (thus I can write this blog), but it is very slow and sometimes it just doesn’t work.

The outside ground of the Gately is my favorite part with beautiful plant life, stone paths, and 4 or 5 little areas with coverings with a few chairs and couches. Honestly, we couldn’t ask for more if we tried.

After visiting everyone’s room and giving ourselves a tour of the whole Gately property, we hade a few hours to SHOWER and rest before dinner at 6. After wrestling with the shower curtain and practically flooding our bathroom, I was clean! Finally. It was much needed.

Next, we had dinner served outside in our large thatched roof covering/ hut-like area. We had this mixed vegetable dish, salad, potatoes, and a quiche like item of food, buffet style. It was very taste. After dinner I had a chance to speak to Tom. Tom is an Ugandan who lives/works with one of the missionary families. He just finished a year abroad studying in Rochester, Michigan. He is a really cool guy that is trying to adjust back to the African culture after being away from so long. (He also gave a little shout out to the students who were here last year! Like Mer and Lauren!)

Then it was bed/internet time. Tried to start my blog. I started writing this post.. then the internet died (didn’t find out until the next day that the internet closes at 10:30 pm each night). That’s about all for my first real day in Africa.

Love, Britt

Ps. **Disclaimer, any African word I write has a good posibility of being spelled incorrectly! 

Pps. Sorry this post was so long. Feel free to skim over my posts and just read what interests you.

Ppps. If my blog isn't updated that means I am not currently getting internet to post it up!