85 cents can buy you ....

this many pills in Uganda!

 crazy, right?

So, if you ever plan to visit Gulu, Uganda, DON'T use these on your face. Because then you'll need all those pills  I have now. Yay allergic reactions to hypo-allergenic baby-soft baby wipes!

How to Drive a BodaBoda (during the day)

I wish I knew ....
The key is to release the clutch slowly while turning the right handle to rev the engine. I haven't quite mastered it yet but I'll let you know when I do.

How to Ride a BodaBoda (at night)

First, try to get a ride to BJz bar with a rando Diamond employee’s brother.

When this doesn’t work, walk to the darkest intersection you can find, and the bodas will appear.

Bargain with the boda driver to get a not-Munu price (1000 Ush a piece).

Hop on the boda two deep and rest all feet above the engine, so as not to get burned.

Hold onto the boda driver’s arms but not his biceps, because when you get scared and squeeze tighter to hold on, you will cause the boda to speed up.

Don’t be afraid when you bounce very high over the bumps in the road and feel like you might die.

Attempt to be ladylike while wearing a skirt, but we warn you, it is very difficult.

How to Carry a Baby on Your Back with Just a Blanket

1.  Pick up the child by its arms and swing it over your head onto your back. Hope that the baby’s head is strong enough to support itself. The baby’s legs will rest around your waist.

2.  Bend at the hips so the baby and your back are parallel to the ground. Arrange your blanket on the ground beneath you so that it is folded in half.

3.  Pick up the blanket by the top two corners. Flip the blanket over your head so that it covers the baby.

4. Tie the top two corners above your chest, just under your collarbones. The blanket should rest around the same place on the baby.

5. Grab the bottom two corners and adjust until the blanket rests under the baby’s butt. Excess blanket will be tucked down there as well. Tie the two corners of the blanket under your chest, above your belly button.       6. Move around a bit while holding your arms behind your back to protect the baby. You do this to make sure the contraption is stable.                                                                                                                        7.  Balance your bags on your head and walk home.

** photo cred to africanfabric.co.uk **

Favorite Acholi or Acholi-gone-English Phrases

 You are welcome (said as a greeting)

 It is okay (meaning ‘okay’ but sounds like an apology)

3.       Sorry! Sorry! (said whenever something somewhat bad happens – especially when it isn’t their fault)

4.       Munu mudin – stubborn white person

5.       Pi (said like pee) – water

6.       Copadi! – slang for ‘are you fine?'

7.       Latin – baby

8.       Morano ki mochille – rice and beans

9.       Negro – an American black person (at first I was horrified, but they don’t mean it offensively)

Lessons Learned

1. Don't wander too close to the Brussels airplane runways. You will get arrested.

2. Do look pee-your-pants/sob-uncontrollably terrified when you get arrested. The officer will take pity on you. Especially when he realizes you don't understand his Dutch screaming.

3. Belgian parking lots are not the same as American parking lots.

4. Don't sit by yourself to eat dinner in the airport. The bus boy will think you're lame. Or do sit by yourself because the bus boy will take pity on you and you'll get to eat your dinner at the bar where the bartenders entertain you and give you free things.

5. Do be entertained that the only movie available on your flight from Brussels to Kigali to Entebbe is Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.

6. Do ride in a rando taxi to your hostel when your assigned taxi doesn't come - as long as it's a calculated decision.

7. Don't instigate the angry German girl at the hostel. She'll use lots of creative explicatives and stalk you into the bathroom even though she's the one that put her wet clothes where you were supposed to sleep.

8. Do make conversation with the Ugandans. They're extremely interesting and knowledgeable.

9. Switch which arm you stick out the window to make a more even sunburn.

10. Use sunscreen.

11. I love Gulu :)

My Faith in Canada has Been Renewed!

I'm currently sitting on the floor of the Toronto airport, checking my email, and picking all of the gross raisins out of my trail mix. One or more of the above must be culturally inappropriate because I'm getting some angry French glares. I'll assume it's the sitting on the floor. BUT I have a new appreciation for the country, or at least the city, due to their free wi-fi! I <3 Canada (that's for you, Elliot).

Today has been a bit of a whirlwind and it's only 2:00! My flight from Philly to Toronto was rather enjoyable, with a personal t.v. and everything! I got here around 11:30 and then went on to confuse the crap out of people for 2 hours. Even though my flight is to Brussels, it's considered domestic because we stop in Montreal. This confusing bit of information resulted in a lost bag and a lost me for quite a while. But both have been found, as you can probably tell.

So I fly out of here at 5:00 to arrive in Brussels at 8:35 am. I get to spend the day exploring the city (I'll let you know how that goes ...) and then I head towards Uganda around 10 am Saturday. I should get into Entebbe at 9:45 pm at which point I'll meet the other girls (Crystal, Anna, Gabbi) at Backpacker's Hostel in Kampala! We're taking a bus to Gulu on Sunday and starting work at HAU on Monday. My life is baller, obviously.

Anybody has suggestions for things to do in Brussels? My to-do list currently consists of 1. eat a Belgian waffle (courtesy of Anna) and 2. don't get lost (courtesy of my impressive ability to get lost). I'd consider 1 out of 2 a success at this point.

I should probably go find where my gate is, because the one I was sent to appears to be heading to Ontario at 5:00. Uh oh.