I made it!!!

Hi everyone! I made it safely to Uganda and am at an internet cafe in Entebbe. There's so much to tell you! Our flights went pretty well except our plane out of chicago got delayed a lot. We barely made it to our second flight in Newark and unfortunately our luggage didn't get connected so we had to stay in Kampala a couple more nights and got the call tha our luggage is finally here. We hope to go to Gulu either today or tomorrow morning. We are so lucky to have had Collins help us out, it is very hard to get anyhting done for you if ou don't have connections and since Collin is a government official, we have lots of connections.

Saturday we went to the zoo and got to see many kinds of birds, monkeys, gorillas, a hyena, rhinos, and antelopes. Some of the animals are aloud to roam free - especially the monkeys! We then went to the golf club and watched the "futbal" match of uganda against nigeria which was a very important match as the african world cup is coming very soon. Uganda won!!! It was so cool to be able to watch the match with many other ugandans.

Sunday we spent some time in town and walked around the shops. We also visited some oc Coll9ins' relatives. It is interesting in Uganda because one does not have to call before stoppin over at a friends or relaives home. It is also a very relaxed culutre, many times we would wait for 1 or 2 hours for our food at restauants.

The hotel we are staying at is pretty nice./ It has electricity and running water! We also have an armed gauard and the hotel is gated. Though every day we have had the electricity go off. Showering by flashlight is quiote an adventure! People weren't kidding when they said he water is freezing! Tales a little getting used to. It's amazing the things that you come to appreciate - like electricity, owning a flashlight, being albe to shampoo your hair, clean clothes - we're very excited to get our luggage today and to have clean clothes again!!

I am very axious to go to Gulu finally - the children are very excited to have us come - they had a dance show ready for us. One of Collin's friends was pplnnin on throwing us a goat roasting party!

I am beginning to get used to the customs here and am leatningh a lot. We have even begun to pick up Uganda sayings. When you for a name, Ugandans say "he (she) is called." In response to a question, Ugandans say "it is ok" which means "yes." Traditionally, women do nt drink, climb trees, drive taxis, or build homes. Also, in the villages, girls our age are usually married and have 2 or 3 children by the time they are 20. Men have 2 or 3 wives and at least 6 or 8 children. Collins was sayinh he was unusual as h2\e is 30 and has 2 sons and one wife. Civil (legal) marriages are very rare because they are so expensive- it costs 8 million ugandan shillings to get married. I amn still getting used to seeing armed guards and police/military evwerywehere!

Driving has been a bit of an adventure. Again, we are very lucky to have Collin here to drive us so we dont have to uys public transportation. The taxis are very large old toyota vans or people ride on the back of motorcycles. Women usually wear skirts so they must ride sidewats. Apoart from the main roads, the roads are dirt roads filled with potholes.

The food has been wonderful so far. The coffee is amazing and very strong~ Iook forward to bringing some back. I have had a whole fish (We were told that the head of the fish makes you smart - coukldn't bring myself to eat the head thought as the fish still had its eyes!) ,goat, pork ribs, and lots of chicken. All of the food you eat with your fingers.

Thre is such a des[arity between the rich and poor here - the homes of the wealthy are huge! The majority of Ugandans live in shacks. In the US, even though there is povery, it is usually pretty well hidden. Here, it is everywhere. It was strange going through these neighborhoods of shacks then to the mall with a cosco like store. The "ex-patriopts" (foreighn owners of buisnesses or forighners who work for NGOs) live very vert well in uganda and all drive importec carrs, have huge estates, and servants.

Ugandas love to talk politics! There is a big problem with corruption in Uganda. We were flat our told that we will have to put aside money to bribe officials when we meet them to tlk about getting NGO status. There is a lot of patronage here - Museveni actually just fired all of his secrity guards and high officials. His former babysitter just got a very high position - Dave joskinglly said I shiould move here and babysit for some government officials.

The newspapers have been intersting to read, especially the international stories. The only news we get about the US is about hiow the war is going in Iraq.

The schools and law system are all British though many AMerican text books are used (Before, I have never thought twice about donating used books for Africa. i guess it cuases a lot of tyrouble here as classes have so many differemty additions. Also, many US textbooks are userd for political reasons as it is the western side of things sucvh as history). Collin said that that made learning very hard in Law school as the American adn British law system are very differnt. (Collin is the head prosecuter for the Gulu distrct) I ws told I should apply to become a history professor at the unversity since so m any of the textbooks are from america so the history taught at the schools is many times american history.

Last night we had dinner with Dr. Kandis, he had just arrivedm from Gulu and said that the town is so differernt from 3 years ago. Tjhher are now banks, hotels, bars, shops, and many many "mzungus" or white people. He had come in 2003 to UYganda to teach at the university here on a fullbright scholarship and no foreighners were allowed to travel to Gulu back then. interestingly enough, hen sadi that one of the biggest things he had to get used to was that blatant cheating was very common and acceptable here in the schools. Other than that, the students are extremly respectful. his first day of teavhing he was conmfused why his students weren't leaving after he said he was done lecturing until a student said that tradtionally, students are not allowe3d to leave until the professor leaves,.

I have oonly a few minutes left on the computer and just wanted to say i love you all and miss you a lot~ Mty interent accesss will be restericted to whenwhere we can find interent cafes.... with electyricity.

Love,
Amy

PS. Country music is very popular here~

PPS. The keyboard keeps sticking hence all of the spelling mistkaces~ =)