Lost in Uganda...

but not really! If I have not seen a friend in my town in a long time they say, "Kobuzire!" and I respond "Ndiyo!" Basically they translate to: "You are lost!" (them) "I am there" (me). So, I have been lost and now I am found! 2 months have passed and I haven't updated this blog; you must be thinking there is a lot happening but somehow, there isn't that much going on!
Ok, the end of March and beginning of April found me very busy. The last time I updated this I was in Mukono for a Peace Corps training. When that was finished I returned to my site for just a few days and then returned to Kampala for the Close of Service party that was held for the group who has just completed their 2 years of service. It was such a nice weekend! They held the party at a place called the Kabira Club (a place couldn't even afford back home!) and it didn't cost too much for us to hang out around the pool all day and then have an awesome Indian buffet for dinner. It was so nice to relax and escape from the real world for a few hours! I had a chance to meet a lot of volunteers I hadn't met before and got to say good-bye to the couple (Eric and Ranji) I went to visit during training. They made such incredible food! I have hope, yet, that I'll stop missing the food from home when I can finally start preparing somewhat American meals. So, it was a great weekend.
The following weekend I made another trip back to Kampala because of Alexis' (she was in my training group) birthday. She planned a whitewater rafting trip on the Nile! The event got off to an interesting start because that Thursday (12th April) there was a peaceful demonstration downtown that turned into a riot. I was planning to stay with Amanda, who lives about 30 minutes outside of Kampala, but Peace Corps didn't want me to travel through the riots so Carrie and I spent the evening a the Red Chilli. Which was cool because the organization that plans the rafting trips picked us up at the hostel so we didn't have to wake up early and get to one of the pick up locations!
Whitewater rafting was INCREDIBLE!! even though I thought I was going to die at least 3 times! Out of the 7 or 8 rapids that we went over I managed to fall out on at least 4! And our whole boat flipped over 3 times (obviously we weren't a boat of experienced rafters). For those who know rafting, the rapids didn't go above a class 5 and a majority were class 4. There are more dangerous rapids along the Nile but at least we didn't go on those parts of the river!
After we drank half the Nile they had beer waiting for us at the end to calm our nerves and then took us back to the hostel/campsite for a big dinner. The dinner was called a barbecue but it was typical Ugandan food--which was cool but a little disappointing because the word barbecue got me thinking about brats and burgers :-( We spent the night at the hostel and had a blast dancing with new friends and watching the insanity of the day on a DVD produced by the people who run the rafting.
The next day we left for Kampala and an incredible 2 nights in the Serena Hotel, a luxury hotel in the city. Thanks to Alexis' mom and boyfriend for paying for 2 rooms so that she could enjoy her birthday in style with her friends. I can't even begin to describe what a wonderful and relaxing experience the weekend was. When you don't have access to electricity and running water you really appreciate those things even when you only have an evening or 2 to enjoy them. Oh, I also really enjoyed hanging out in air conditioning for a few days, too! The pool was out of commission while we were there but at least we could enjoy the steam room, sauna, and cold plunge in the most incredible locker room or the most incredible gym I have ever seen! The smells in that locker room were just the most amazing (whoever thought a locker room could smell good!), like walking through the most incredible flower gardens, and the place was wicked clean and the robes were nice and soft. I will remember that weekend forever!
In the next blog I'll update you on life in the village...