Country kids in the big city

For the past week we have been in Kampala.  It’s quite the shift from Gulu.  Coming back on Kampala Road, the second you cross the Nile into the South, its like entering a whole new world.  Where grass-thatched houses were common, here even the most basic houses are more similar to western style; square, brick, tin roofs.   It kind of feels like you’re driving into the future.  I have gotten so used to the northern ways that I was immediately overwhelmed, even by something as simple as tarmac (no potholes here!) and lines on the road.

Traditional Dancing and Kampala's Cultural Center, Dances from all over Uganda by a team of young people

Monday through Friday, our groups took our lectures at Makerere University.  This place is huge, nothing like Saint Mike’s.  Simon (our assistant program director) told us there are well over 40,000 students here!  The campus is extensive and really beautiful, sitting on a hilltop in the center of the capital city.  Same as always, we start our day out with Acholi class, followed by lectures and excursions.  We actually took our Acholi final exam on Friday and, good news, everyone passed!

The group after our Acholi test, sitting in the quad, being college students

A trip to the Bahai Temple. I think its the most peaceful place on Earth, a small Eden in the middle of a bustling city.

Walking down the tunnel to a one of Amin's torture chambers where over 300,000 people were taken to die.  The contrast with such a beautiful location and such horror where inexplicably hard to comprehend.

This week was jam-packed with activities, including a visit to Idi Amin’s palace, a Baha’i temple, seeing a 200 year old tortoise, and so, so much more.  Because we were so busy, it was difficult to find the time to really explore the city, and on the first night out, we soon realized that night is a sketchy time to be about.  Unfortunately one of the group members got her whole purse emptied without even realizing what was happening.  Other than that though, people here are really friendly, not as homey  as Gulu, but still always anxious to talk to us.

A giant tortoise, about 200 years old!!!