MS-Uganda Day 39: Mukono Health Centre

I was filled with great excitement when I went away this morning in order to meet at my new working place at 8 o’clock. Unfortunately, my excitement rapidly changed into disapointment for the reason that my contactperson Dr. Drake “only” showed up two hours late. I can feel that I am completely used to the African time, but this was too much. I mean I can go for at least one hour but two ? No way.

Sadly enough things got worse. When he finally arrived he told me I should just wait a bit more and then he would have some tasks ready for me. Apparently it was a gouvernmental-supported consultation-day for the local community, where the locals could receive health-advices and have free HIV & malaria tests. This was definitely a great option for the community but still I was extremely bored. I constantly asked Dr. Drake about my tasks but he just gave my the reply of being more patient. After four and a half hour of waiting time I went away furious and frustrated, extremely concerned about my further stay. I then went to the Internet Cafe to see if there were any updates on my programme.  Apparently, the Swedish & Finish Development Agencies need more information regarding the programme before they make a decision. For that reason, I spend my time creating timetables and RISK-analysis, before sending them to the agencies. If we could receive the support from the two organizations, our programme would nearly be covered. In fact we only need one more fund to launch the programme. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard from DANIDA nor NORAD, but we still have around 8 funds remaining, so we are still confident.  

MS-Uganda Day 38: Easy day in Jinja

We woke up at the dormitory around 8 o’clock, packed our bags, said goodbye to the Mexicans and then went away in order to have breakfast with Mie and Maria in the town. Unfortunately, the river rafting has drained my budget a lot, so I have only approximately 300,000 shs left at my home. It is quite frustrating that the others are not in the same situation as me (due to their family savings) so I am slightly annoyed that we often go to fancy places where you pay approx. 20,000 shs per. meal = 50-60  DKK. instead of the cheap restaurants. where you only pay around 2000 shs. = approx. 6 DKK. For that reason I had to borrow  money from Camilla in order to pay for breakfast and Internet Cafe. The life in Uganda is mostly cheap but the adventures and accomodation can easily drain your budget.

After spending one hour at the Internet Cafe I grabbed a coaster in order to go back to the family. A coaster is a bit cheaper than a matatu and reminds me alot of the buses in Denmark. Furthermore it is a bit more safe than a matatu due to the slow speed. When I finally reached Mukono it was getting dark, so I quickly found my boda-guy Edward and drove the remaining way to the village of Takajunge.  There, I walked the last few meters to my house before I jumped to bed.

MS-Uganda Day 37: River-rafting

“We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.” -Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Now it’s Monday and this is thus the first sign of my survival after a completely surreal river-rafting along the Nile and Lake Victoria. With the military command orders from a young whiskey-Happy Scot, we were thrown into one brutal waterfall after another, followed by a massive flow which threw us into the various cliffs. Fortunately, this took place without any major injuries with only my paddle-buddy, Chris had  some of  his skin torn off because of the sharp cliffs. For that reason our boat was thus filled with blood, sweat and huge amounts of the Nile but after a quick bandage, he was fit again. We were thus not the only team with a dramatic action. One of the other rafting teams even got a little souvenir  in the shape of a Nile cobra, which had swum up in their boat after a giant flip.

We were absolute speechless when we looked back and saw the huge rapids which you had just been restrained by. Our guide did not inform us that we had actually been down from the world’s deepest rapid (4.3 m) until after the rapid, I guess, in order not to scare Camilla and 2 other Mexican girls.

We finally arrived to our destination point around 5 o’clock after 7 hours of exhausting paddling down the beautiful yet dangerous waterfalls.  It was by far the most insane experience ever, but I am not sure it will be my last.

When I went up the boat my body and muscles were completely sore primarily due to the 7-hours of paddle, but also the massive  sunlight had been dreadful. This had thus resulted in a truly couple of shrimp thighs. Therefore, it was nice to have my after-sun lotion which virtually made miracles. After a nice though tiny BBQ it was time to party with the other rafting teams. We had a nice time in the bar chattering with the Mexican girls and guys, before we went to a nightclub in town. Unfortunately, it had been turned into a casino, a place where a poor volunteer-student feels a bit misplaced. At last the fatigue overcame us and we went away with the Mexicans in order to get some sleep.