Home from Training

I've just returned from two weeks of  training in Entebbe with the other volunteers from my cohort. It was good to see everyone and for the most part, they all seem happy with their sites. The training was good, mostly relevant for what I'll be doing over the next 22 months, but tonight, I'm happy to be home. Well, happy to be back at my home-away-from-home, home. 

Here is a picture of a typical road in Kampala, taken from the window of a bus. It took us nearly two hours just to get out of the city. I will never get used to Kampala and will try my hardest to stay away from there for the remainder of my stay in Uganda. Unfortunately, all roads lead to Kampala so to get anywhere in this country you must pass through the city center. Nothing bypasses the city. That's means you have to take a bus or a taxi into the city, change buses or taxies, or figure out how change from bus to taxi or taxi to bus, then fight your way back out of the city. And remember, a taxi in Uganda is a mini van stuffed to the gills with people, luggage, sacs of potatoes, chickens, etcetera... not a comfy sedan all to yourself. And it has a route it sticks to, so you may be walking the final stretch to get to your destination. 

Today, I actually had a hassle free commute. I took a taxi from Entebbe where our training was held to Kampale, then a quick walk from where the taxi dropped me off to the bus park, bussed it five hours to Rogumbe, then hung out for about an hour for a driver from the tea estate to pick me up. Rogumbe to home was about a 45-minute drive and the driver brought me right to me door. Ah, such luxury! All told, nine hours and I'm back in my comfy little cottage surrounded by tea fields. 

I promised you a picture of the butcher, here it is. I took this while I was waiting for the estate's driver to pick me up in Rogumbe. I'm not exaggerating, the carcasses are just hung outside, apparently no covering or refrigeration is needed. I have no intention of buying meat over here. I have eaten it when someone else has prepared it, like at training venues or in restaurants, and I haven't gotten sick, but I won't buy and cook it for myself. Not doing the chicken either because they don't come pre-plucked! Sounds like I'll be doing lots of beans or egg dishes for my dinners.