Quick Update

I will try to make this quick...I am tired, it is late, and I leave tomorrow.

To bring you up to speed on my adventures (I will expand on all of the stories when I get home)...

I left off just prior to the "safari." Let me just say, "Wow!" We literally saw hundreds of giraffes, birds, and buffalo. We were fortunate enough to see 2 lionesses. There is an interesting story behind the first one...I will tell it when I have more time (teaser).

On the final day at Paraa lodge (just off of the Nile in Murchison National Park) Tina and I took a walk down to a little mud hole right in front of the lodge. In this mud hole sat a hippo. Tina said that hippos are pretty docile (note: they kill more people than any other animal)...so we got fairly close and began to take pictures. The hippo decided that we didn't belong...and started to come after us. We both ran...I stopped and started firing off pictures...then ran like crazy! Luckily the hippo stopped. :-)

A few minutes later, Tina was telling the people in her van the story of the hippo...and a baboon jumped on the safari van and poked it's head in through the roof! Pretty funny stuff! Baboons are pretty mean...but also very inquisitive.

We left Paraa and headed south to the chimp tracking site. We spent the night in cabins that were solar powered. As I jumped in to take a shower, I noticed a gigantic spider! (Don't worry, I have video of it). I HATE spiders...especially big ones! Needless to say my shower was VERY short (and cold). That day we met with the Boomu Women's group...and Ednah (the amazing person who put the group together). Many of them weave baskets to survive. I purchased numerous baskets (actually out shopped the women). :-)

The next morning we tracked chimps. Utterly amazing! We walked for about an hour before we found ourselves in the middle of the chimps. They were pretty sneaky. They would sneak up on the trail behind us as we were walking. I have several nice photos.

We then came back to Kampala...and went to a traditional African buffet and show. Uganda is separated into 5 regions...and they did traditional dances from each region...very cool!

Finally, today we went back to the Bead Village to say goodbye to our new found friends. My host had me in tears. He gave me a hat (that his brother weaved) made out of banana plant/leaves. He also gave me a place mat set (one big mat and 6 smaller mats)...all handmade/woven. I will cherish both items for as long as I live.

The children were amazing (as usual). They saw the muzungu's cameras...and were ready to pose for photos as long as we would take them. At one point I probably had upwards of 20 kiddos wanting their pics taken. It was really funny...and a sight to see. I got them to start doing muscle man poses. It made them laugh (a lot)...and I got tons of pictures with smiling kids. After the pics, they always want to see them. Imagine a dog pile on the muzungu and you will have an idea of what it felt like. I ended it with hugs for the kids...while fighting back tears. It wasn't easy. It is simply amazing how quickly human bonds can form. (I have tears as I right this blog). As I told the village during the "speech" we were asked to give, I am really having second thoughts about the saying, "home is where the heart is." Tomorrow I will get on a plane and travel halfway around the world to my "home"...but my heart will forever be here.

Tonight we had one final dinner as an entire group (a couple of my new friends have a 2 am flight...and I just heard them walking out). :-( (In just shy of a couple weeks, 14 strangers became pretty good friends...it makes me sad that I may never see them again). Our dinner was at an ethiopian restaurant. We ended up shooting pool with some locals...the pockets on the pool table were smaller, the balls were much smaller, and they were not numbered (they were yellow and red with one black ball). Needless to say, we lost...but it was a good time.

We returned to the hotel...and said goodbye to the 2 people who are leaving. There were tears. Joanie...if you read this...I think of you like a mother and will miss you very much. I cherished our time together...and wish you all the best! If you are ever near Kansas...let me know and I will come meet you and treat you to some good BBQ!

Tomorrow we visit the orphanage. I really thought it would be a sad way to end the trip...but now I think it might be the most inspirational. The children here are really amazing...and spending even a few minutes with them is really an uplifting experience. I know this sounds weird...but it is somehow true.

For my classmates...
I was in Uganda during a big natural disaster...an earthquake or two (I think)...and I not only did not know very much about these events...but most of the time, I also was unsure of what day it was or what time of day it was. Technology? Shaking my head. There is a very large group of people on this planet who are seriously being left behind...and it very well may have enormous consequences. But, as Lawrence, my host, said to me...technology is a great thing, but electricity, running water, and enough food to eat is much more important right now. I hope, for my dear friend, that one day soon he receives all three.

It is 2010 and my friend doesn't have a light in his house. It is 2010 and my friend has to walk with a jug to get water, that he has to boil over a charcoal fire just so he can drink it. It is 2010 and many days my friend goes hungry. And, my friend is one of the fortunate ones. :-(