Thursday, November 14, 2013

            After a very long journey we finally arrived in Uganda! We had to leave the hotel in Philadelphia at 8 am and traveled to JFK. Unfortunately we couldn’t check in until later so we waited in the lobby with all our bags for what felt like ten hours, but I think it was really like four. So we flew from New York to Brussels, where we sampled some awesome Belgian beer at 6 am. After a long layover, where there were zero shops and a delay, we headed to Africa. We made one more stop to pick some people up and then finallyyyy landed in Entebbe, Uganda! We gathered our bags and exchanged some money – which took a really long time, and we were off. Our next stop was Kulika Training Center, where we would spend the next two weeks. We got in at like 3:30 am last night (technically this morning), about three hours off schedule. We got our rooms and they gave us a snack and we headed to bed. Can’t speak for everyone else, but I was absolutely exhausted.

            Today was our first day of class. I know I only just graduated in May, but getting back into the whole class thing is going to be difficult. We’re supposed to have class from 8-5, with a tea break and lunch break. That is a long day. My brain has a hard time concentrating for that long. Today was fine – just introductory stuff so far. But so much ahead of us! I also surprisingly got a hot shower this morning and it was so fantastic, especially after all that traveling. Favorite part about Uganda so far? Tea time. Tea time consists of a half hour break, twice a day - usually around 10/10:30 am and 5 pm - where you drink tea (or coffee or hot cocoa, whichever you prefer) and eat snacks. How could someone not enjoy that? Uganda has some really, really good tea btw; definitely beats the Brits.