Hello! So it has been a while since I last wrote, and I have now been home for a week, but I suppose I should provide some closure. So let's see... the last week of our travels, after Victoria Falls, was a whole lot of traveling back to where we started, so basically a repeat on all the taxis, buses, and trains we took before. Everything was going as planned until we woke up after our first night on the train to go through customs to reenter Tanzania. It turns out that someone had entered our cabin during the night and stolen some things, including Ariela's passport. Meaning, she needed to run off the train to get a police report so they would let us into Tanzania. However, to get into Uganda and then back into the US, she was going to need a temporary passport from the US Embassy in Dar. Of course, the train got in just a liiiitle too late for us to make it to the embassy that day, thus making it impossible for Ariela, and I who had agreed to stay with her, to take the bus for which we had tickets the following afternoon, which in turn meant we would have very little time in Kampala before we left for the states. However, at the last minute, Ariela's parents got us PLANE TICKETS, so we were able to fly from Dar to Kampala, giving us time to get her passport and then get back to Uganda with plenty of time to spare. To boot, we were able to see Mt. Kilimanjaro from the plane, which we hadn't seen yet and I was too embarrased to tell anyone that we went all the way to Moshi, Tanzania, but didn't see Kili.
It was really nice to be back in Kampala and not feel all touristy, since we all feel at home there. We all ran around and did last minute things. I had said goodbye to my family before and didn't really want to open that door again, so I went with Arie to say goodbye to her family, which was really sad even for me, and they weren't even my family.
Leaving on the plane was very bittersweet, but I was glad we were all together, at least for the first flight to London, and the plane food and movies more than made up for it....we were very excited for these things. Once we entered the Entebbe airport, it already felt like we were already leaving, with all the shiny electronic contraptions that are inherient to airports. Obviously, Heathrow was even more of a shock.
Since being home, I wouldn't say I've experienced "culture shock"...in fact, everything feels very familiar, almost too familiar, like I never even left and nothing ever happened. I do miss being around people that did all these crazy things with me, but I know that I'll see them again eventually, hopefully soon. Being back home is hectic, more than anything else. Not the sort of hecticness that comes from trying not to miss busses and having stuff stolen and trying to evade sketchy people, but the hecticness that comes from unpacking and working and appointments and writing assignments and thinking about next year and thesis...an unfamilar hacticness but one I assume I had better get used to.
In conclusion, I am uber-glad I decided to stay in travel, because it was a good finale to the whole experience, and really cemented relationships with the friends that I went with. It's nice to have it to look back on as the last thing I did in Africa. And now I am already itching to go travel somewhere else...but I suppose that will have to wait until I have more than $5 to my name...woops.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
African travels
Hello all. So, internet has been scarce as we have traveled around, but I think I have enough time now for a quick update. It seems like we embarked about a bajillion years ago because we have done so much and traveled so far... in fact, I really had no idea how far we were going and just how much traveling we were doing, because the amount is pretty insane.
First we bussed it to Tanzania. The 20-hour bus ride was surprisingly bearable. In Arusha, we went on our safaria. The good news is we saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other magnificent things. The bad news is that our guide, who was recommended to us by someone else on the trip, was outright crazy. He was significantly drugged up for most of the day, racking up traffic violations and being well...a little too friendly. However, we deftly escaped the situation after seeing our fill of animals.
On to Moshi, Tanzania. We stayed at a backpackers hostel here, and had a guided hike to a waterfall in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our guide was amazing, and he took us through the village in which he grew up, and brought us to this breath taking waterfall where we climbed and went swimming the the freeeeezing water. In Moshi we got to have REAL coffee, and Zanzibar pizza which is just....amazingness. Tanzanian food far surpases Ugandan food in every way.
Another busride to Dar es Salaam, which is this crazy mix of India, Africa, and Europe. It's very Muslim and has great architecture and just feels...alive. We bought fabric and had more awesome food. I have gotten used to waking up to the Muslim call to prayer aruond 5 am... I kind of like it though. We then took the ferry to Zanzibar, an island that is part of Tanzinia but might as well be its own country, which it used to be. The main town is Stone Town, with crazy and really interesting architecture. We stayed on the coast, in Jambiani, right on the beach. The water was this absolutely crazy color of aquamarine that I would not believe existed in nature unless I saw it. We just chilled on the beach and made friends with a few rastas, one of which had a pet monkey and was rasta CERTIFIED by the rasta institute in Dar...hardcore. The aforementioned rastas hennaed our hair and nails and tought us how to cook a Zanzibar meal, which was really fun. Back in Stone Town we took a Spice Tour, which sounds kind of weird but is a really cool tour where you are taken to see different types of trees and other plants, and see where nutmeg and henna and cinnamon and chocolate and other things come from. Once again, amazing lunch, and also a trip to the ocean and a former slave cave, where Zanzibarians where kept by the sultans that used to rule the island. So we had a great time, and escaped the island before the sketchy people got...too sketchy. Because the island is such a tourist destination, locals have become very adept at getting peoples money and following you around, etc. The ferry right back was in rough seas, so almost everyone was puking (not me, of course), so that was pretty enjoyable.
Then comes the truly epic part of our journey...a 56-hour train ride. It was only supposed to be about 40 hours, but there were a few misshaps, including the need to replace the entire engine. May I mention, that this train is the most reliable train in all of East Africa. No joke. So, what at first seemed like it would be unbearable, what with living for almost 3 days in a roughly 4 by 6 cube hurtling over poorly-constructed train tracks, the train ride was pretty cool, and we met a lot of great people, including a Tanzanian woman who took us under her wing and porbably saved our lives by showing us that we had set up our beds completely wrong, thus putting people on the bottom bunk in danger of being smooshed to death, and we also spent time with a brit makin a BBC documentary about the train. He filmed us for quite a while, so be on the lookout for a hour-long BBC special about us and out travels. Just kidding. Maybe.
After disembarking the train aaaand a few more bus rides (during which we almost froze to death....no one told us it is winter in Zambia!!!) we arrived in Livingstone, Zambia, which borders Zimbabwe and is home to the illustrious and elusive Victoria Falls. We got our first night of sleep in almost a week that was not on moving transportation, and then saw the falls, which is indescribable. Kind of blows Niagra out of the water. Everyone else did the gorge swing, which is one of the only ones in the world and involved jumping off a cliff into a 3-sceond, 50 meter freefall, and then swinging at 2.5 Gs over the river gourge. Despite the fact that its very safe and that everyone else loved it, after getting all harnessed up I just could not make myself lean backwords off of the gourge edge. I think I'll get over it. A much tamer activity, we went on a river cruise in the evening with unlimited...beverage. And we even saw some hippos and crocs along the way. Today we have just been wandering and admiring the developness of Zambia (big streets, shopping malls, steady electricity...)which is so unlike anything we are used to in Uganda...basically, the US is going to be a big shock.
So, we are coming up on the last week, which is great because it means we are almost home, which I am greatly looking forward to, buuut this week is also almost all travel, with a few days to say goodbye to Kampala in the end. So, we're looking at a 6 hour bus ride, another 2 hour bus ride, a repeat of the train ride which will HOPEFULLY not be as delayed again, and then a 24-hour bus ride bringing us into Kampala. Yeah I'm crazy, I know. We should all probably be checked in to the loony bin upon arriving home. But until then, staying has definitely been worthwhile, and I am anticipating coming home even more and am definitely ready for it. I'm also really excited for airplane food and movies on the flight back. Mmm.
First we bussed it to Tanzania. The 20-hour bus ride was surprisingly bearable. In Arusha, we went on our safaria. The good news is we saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other magnificent things. The bad news is that our guide, who was recommended to us by someone else on the trip, was outright crazy. He was significantly drugged up for most of the day, racking up traffic violations and being well...a little too friendly. However, we deftly escaped the situation after seeing our fill of animals.
On to Moshi, Tanzania. We stayed at a backpackers hostel here, and had a guided hike to a waterfall in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our guide was amazing, and he took us through the village in which he grew up, and brought us to this breath taking waterfall where we climbed and went swimming the the freeeeezing water. In Moshi we got to have REAL coffee, and Zanzibar pizza which is just....amazingness. Tanzanian food far surpases Ugandan food in every way.
Another busride to Dar es Salaam, which is this crazy mix of India, Africa, and Europe. It's very Muslim and has great architecture and just feels...alive. We bought fabric and had more awesome food. I have gotten used to waking up to the Muslim call to prayer aruond 5 am... I kind of like it though. We then took the ferry to Zanzibar, an island that is part of Tanzinia but might as well be its own country, which it used to be. The main town is Stone Town, with crazy and really interesting architecture. We stayed on the coast, in Jambiani, right on the beach. The water was this absolutely crazy color of aquamarine that I would not believe existed in nature unless I saw it. We just chilled on the beach and made friends with a few rastas, one of which had a pet monkey and was rasta CERTIFIED by the rasta institute in Dar...hardcore. The aforementioned rastas hennaed our hair and nails and tought us how to cook a Zanzibar meal, which was really fun. Back in Stone Town we took a Spice Tour, which sounds kind of weird but is a really cool tour where you are taken to see different types of trees and other plants, and see where nutmeg and henna and cinnamon and chocolate and other things come from. Once again, amazing lunch, and also a trip to the ocean and a former slave cave, where Zanzibarians where kept by the sultans that used to rule the island. So we had a great time, and escaped the island before the sketchy people got...too sketchy. Because the island is such a tourist destination, locals have become very adept at getting peoples money and following you around, etc. The ferry right back was in rough seas, so almost everyone was puking (not me, of course), so that was pretty enjoyable.
Then comes the truly epic part of our journey...a 56-hour train ride. It was only supposed to be about 40 hours, but there were a few misshaps, including the need to replace the entire engine. May I mention, that this train is the most reliable train in all of East Africa. No joke. So, what at first seemed like it would be unbearable, what with living for almost 3 days in a roughly 4 by 6 cube hurtling over poorly-constructed train tracks, the train ride was pretty cool, and we met a lot of great people, including a Tanzanian woman who took us under her wing and porbably saved our lives by showing us that we had set up our beds completely wrong, thus putting people on the bottom bunk in danger of being smooshed to death, and we also spent time with a brit makin a BBC documentary about the train. He filmed us for quite a while, so be on the lookout for a hour-long BBC special about us and out travels. Just kidding. Maybe.
After disembarking the train aaaand a few more bus rides (during which we almost froze to death....no one told us it is winter in Zambia!!!) we arrived in Livingstone, Zambia, which borders Zimbabwe and is home to the illustrious and elusive Victoria Falls. We got our first night of sleep in almost a week that was not on moving transportation, and then saw the falls, which is indescribable. Kind of blows Niagra out of the water. Everyone else did the gorge swing, which is one of the only ones in the world and involved jumping off a cliff into a 3-sceond, 50 meter freefall, and then swinging at 2.5 Gs over the river gourge. Despite the fact that its very safe and that everyone else loved it, after getting all harnessed up I just could not make myself lean backwords off of the gourge edge. I think I'll get over it. A much tamer activity, we went on a river cruise in the evening with unlimited...beverage. And we even saw some hippos and crocs along the way. Today we have just been wandering and admiring the developness of Zambia (big streets, shopping malls, steady electricity...)which is so unlike anything we are used to in Uganda...basically, the US is going to be a big shock.
So, we are coming up on the last week, which is great because it means we are almost home, which I am greatly looking forward to, buuut this week is also almost all travel, with a few days to say goodbye to Kampala in the end. So, we're looking at a 6 hour bus ride, another 2 hour bus ride, a repeat of the train ride which will HOPEFULLY not be as delayed again, and then a 24-hour bus ride bringing us into Kampala. Yeah I'm crazy, I know. We should all probably be checked in to the loony bin upon arriving home. But until then, staying has definitely been worthwhile, and I am anticipating coming home even more and am definitely ready for it. I'm also really excited for airplane food and movies on the flight back. Mmm.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
End of program, beginning of interesting African adventure
So, it is basically mind blowing that the program is OVER. It officially ends tomorrow but I am signed off today so I can go out of country. Most of the week before last was spent working on our papers day in and day out, but then we all handed in our outcomes of about 60ish pages, which felt wonderful. Our last night in Kampala we had a goodbye dinner with our families, which seemed like it might be very awkward but it was actually so much fun and was amazing bonding with the families. It turns out my little sister is a redonkulous dancer; she was by far the youngest one on the floor.
This past week we went as a group to King Fisher Resort in Jinja, which is home to the source of the Nile and many rapids and water falls, etc. We all had to give our presentations, but besides that it was a nice and relaxing week with some pool swimming involved. And then all of a sudden we have landed back in Kampala, and it seems we are in this strange liminal period where things are over but we are still here. But, things will get much more exciting very soon when I leave on the bus for Tanzania with my four friends. Here is a lowdown on the next few weeks (per my mother’s persuasion):
Sunday, May 17—Bus ride to Arusha, Tanzania (21 hours….yeeeesh)
Monday, May 18—Arrive in Arusha and find someplace to stay
Tuesday, May 19—Safari! See lots of awesome animals
Wednesday, May 20—Travel to Moshi, Tanzania, and hike in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro
Thursday, May 21—Bus and ferry to Zanzibar island
Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25—Staying on the beach in Zanzibar, swimming, snorkeling, etc
Tuesday, May 26—Getting to Dar es Salaam and taking the sleeper train to Zambia
Thursday, May 28—Arrive in Zambia, visit Victoria Falls, hike, etc
Tuesday, June 2—Take train back to Dar es Salaam
Thursday, June 4—Spend a couple nights in the capital, Dar es Salaam
Saturday, June 6—Return to Kampala, Uganda, via bus for one night
Sunday, June 7—Get to Entebbe, where the airport is
Monday, June 8—Return home! Layover in London and be back in Boston by around 9pm
Of course, everything remains tentative and subject to common occurrences such as bus companies going out of business, mudslides, swarms of giant garbage eating storks, military coups, etc. Just kidding, it won't be that bad.
This past week we went as a group to King Fisher Resort in Jinja, which is home to the source of the Nile and many rapids and water falls, etc. We all had to give our presentations, but besides that it was a nice and relaxing week with some pool swimming involved. And then all of a sudden we have landed back in Kampala, and it seems we are in this strange liminal period where things are over but we are still here. But, things will get much more exciting very soon when I leave on the bus for Tanzania with my four friends. Here is a lowdown on the next few weeks (per my mother’s persuasion):
Sunday, May 17—Bus ride to Arusha, Tanzania (21 hours….yeeeesh)
Monday, May 18—Arrive in Arusha and find someplace to stay
Tuesday, May 19—Safari! See lots of awesome animals
Wednesday, May 20—Travel to Moshi, Tanzania, and hike in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro
Thursday, May 21—Bus and ferry to Zanzibar island
Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25—Staying on the beach in Zanzibar, swimming, snorkeling, etc
Tuesday, May 26—Getting to Dar es Salaam and taking the sleeper train to Zambia
Thursday, May 28—Arrive in Zambia, visit Victoria Falls, hike, etc
Tuesday, June 2—Take train back to Dar es Salaam
Thursday, June 4—Spend a couple nights in the capital, Dar es Salaam
Saturday, June 6—Return to Kampala, Uganda, via bus for one night
Sunday, June 7—Get to Entebbe, where the airport is
Monday, June 8—Return home! Layover in London and be back in Boston by around 9pm
Of course, everything remains tentative and subject to common occurrences such as bus companies going out of business, mudslides, swarms of giant garbage eating storks, military coups, etc. Just kidding, it won't be that bad.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Decisions...
Ok so, somehow quite a bit has happened over the last week. Firstly, going back to stay with my family was the best decision. Arriving home was really great—everyone was there, including and especially Eddie! And it was good to see everyone and they all had questions about my time in Gulu so we just sat and talked for a while and had dinner together…and then watched Saw V to top everything off. Lovely bedtime film. Because the boys are home, I am back in Irene’s room (the housekeeper), but I know her a lot better now so I kind of enjoy it. And being back in Kampala is really nice, so different from Gulu but I'm used to it now, and I sort of relish the hecticness after the calmness of Gulu.
I guess actual life has not been that interesting, mostly just coming into town every day to work on our big papers due Monday. Mine is going really well, and it is mostly all written so now I am just fine-tuning. And it is 60 pages! Ack! But, we have been café hopping, trying different places out where ever there is a place to plug in our computers, and I have discovered a lot of nice places, including a coffee shop with wireless at the top of this HUGE skyscraper that does not feel like it is in Uganda at all, and a café in a gas station with amazing quesadillas and chocolate chip cookies (actually, there was a mouse in said café that crawled on my friends foot and I felt obliged to take it outside, at which everyone in the restaurant stared at me for about 15 minutes). I have also been hopping on boda-bodas to go home instead of the taxi, because night boda rights are just too enjoyable to pass up.
But okay, the big big news is that after a few days of complete indecision, I have decided to stay in Africa for three weeks after the program ends to travel! I have always thought of this in the back of my mind, but just never thought it would work out. But all of a sudden, the deadline for changing my flight was looming near, and I realized four of my good friends had planned a pretty awesome trip involving traveling in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia, and it was just too good to pass up. So, now my summer seems quite shorter, and I am going to be somewhat broke in the upcoming year, but oh well, when would I ever get to do this, especially with good friends? I am still kind of in shock that I am no staying, but it does seem like the right decision, and I am definitely excited.
PS Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I guess actual life has not been that interesting, mostly just coming into town every day to work on our big papers due Monday. Mine is going really well, and it is mostly all written so now I am just fine-tuning. And it is 60 pages! Ack! But, we have been café hopping, trying different places out where ever there is a place to plug in our computers, and I have discovered a lot of nice places, including a coffee shop with wireless at the top of this HUGE skyscraper that does not feel like it is in Uganda at all, and a café in a gas station with amazing quesadillas and chocolate chip cookies (actually, there was a mouse in said café that crawled on my friends foot and I felt obliged to take it outside, at which everyone in the restaurant stared at me for about 15 minutes). I have also been hopping on boda-bodas to go home instead of the taxi, because night boda rights are just too enjoyable to pass up.
But okay, the big big news is that after a few days of complete indecision, I have decided to stay in Africa for three weeks after the program ends to travel! I have always thought of this in the back of my mind, but just never thought it would work out. But all of a sudden, the deadline for changing my flight was looming near, and I realized four of my good friends had planned a pretty awesome trip involving traveling in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia, and it was just too good to pass up. So, now my summer seems quite shorter, and I am going to be somewhat broke in the upcoming year, but oh well, when would I ever get to do this, especially with good friends? I am still kind of in shock that I am no staying, but it does seem like the right decision, and I am definitely excited.
PS Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Back in the K’La
So, I have just arrived back in Kampala from Gulu, officially done with my research and now just concentrating on writing my paper. Kampala is kind of a shock after being in Gulu for a solid 5 weeks. But, not nearly as shocking as the first time, and I like this city so I’m glad to have one more week here. And I was debating where to stay; I never thought I would go back to my family, but I decided that I kinda would like to do that, especially if Eddie is back which he might be. However, I am slightly concerned about Martin the stabber being there, especially since he called me the other week asking if he could have my iPod. Yet, while she doesn’t openly express it, I do think that my host-mother enjoys having me there. So, I am curious about how this week will go.
Looking back on my time in Gulu, I really really enjoyed it. My time with RHU was great and I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone at the organization… I have everyone’s contact so hopefully we will stay in touch. My parting gift to them was a bottle of barbeque sauce from the US, which was very well received. I will also miss Gulu itself, craziness and all. This past week I didn’t really do much work, just went to the market, to the pool multiple times, got really good food. Yesterday was a really good last day, involving finding an amazing craft store at an HIV/AIDS NGO, Indian food, trivia night at a local bar, and getting stuck in a crazy rainstorm on the way back.. The bus ride back today was also slightly amazing. Several chickens were on board, in very close proximity to being able to peck my feet. We also peed on the side of the road in complete view of all the other passengers and a bunch of soldiers. I also bought some cassava to suffice as breakfast/lunch, and it was honestly the size of my entire forearm. Thus, I shared it with many other people on the bus.
Well, I am going to take care of things and prepare to move back into my host family for a little bit, so until then~
Looking back on my time in Gulu, I really really enjoyed it. My time with RHU was great and I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone at the organization… I have everyone’s contact so hopefully we will stay in touch. My parting gift to them was a bottle of barbeque sauce from the US, which was very well received. I will also miss Gulu itself, craziness and all. This past week I didn’t really do much work, just went to the market, to the pool multiple times, got really good food. Yesterday was a really good last day, involving finding an amazing craft store at an HIV/AIDS NGO, Indian food, trivia night at a local bar, and getting stuck in a crazy rainstorm on the way back.. The bus ride back today was also slightly amazing. Several chickens were on board, in very close proximity to being able to peck my feet. We also peed on the side of the road in complete view of all the other passengers and a bunch of soldiers. I also bought some cassava to suffice as breakfast/lunch, and it was honestly the size of my entire forearm. Thus, I shared it with many other people on the bus.
Well, I am going to take care of things and prepare to move back into my host family for a little bit, so until then~
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Real World: Gulu
So, things continue to be strange and interesting in Gulu. I don’t think I have kept you up to date on this issue but in our guesthouse we have a very interesting neighbor, Christine. She is an elderly woman on crutches, so obviously we all decided to be really nice to her. However, she was completely unreceptive. Then she started doing interesting things like cutting down the clothesline that I made, and complaining about us putting our gym shorts and other crazy clothing articles out to dry. Things then progressed as she threw a chair at Kathy’s head as she was doing crunches in the courtyard. She has also been throwing all of our clothes that she deems too close to her part of the guesthouse on to the floor. Then today, Kaitlyn had made a clothesline out of one of her scarves. Apparently it was too close to Christine’s room, and she took a knife to and chopped up the scarf. Then, she began swearing at us (in English!) and calling us American bastards and idiots. She then proceeded to make turkey-like gobbling noises and cackled loudly like the wicked witch of the west. Even though it may appear that she hates us, apparently Christine has been giving everyone in the guesthouse trouble, knocking over jerry cans etc, so the manager came to speak with her, at which she took one of her crutches and began wielding it about and threatening to hit him. After this ordeal, she slammed her door, made a lot of noise, and stared at us creepily. Everyone else in the guesthouse is equally weirded out, and exchanged knowing glances with us. Word on the street is that management is kicking her out tomorrow, but I know they will have to drag her out kicking and screaming. Despite everything, she is more amusing than anything else, and I don’t want her to end up on the street or anything because clearly life has played her some bad cards. But, tomorrow’s Christine installment shall be interesting none-the-less.
In other less dramatic news, today was a good day. Pancakes at Kope for brunch, then some fabric shopping in the market. Then we went to the !POOL! at the fancy inn in town, which was simply amazing. If there’s one thing I really miss, it is being around a giant body of water that we are allowed to swim it. But a pool suffices. And after swimming for a while, I felt much cleaner than I have after countless showers here with terrible water pressure that fails to actually remove dirt from my body. Then we went to the Obama Inn (so many places around here are called Obama—Obama butchery, Obama hotel…I wonder what they were called before this year. Bush Inn? I hope not. Bush Butchery? Maybe). Anyways, it was all Indian food and soooooo good. Indian food here always takes about 5 hours to come after ordering, but it was worth it.
As for “Real World Gulu,” apparently that is what the rest of our group in Uganda has been calling the 7 of us in Gulu, and it definitely is starting to feel a little Real World esque….you know, some strong personalities living within very close proximity to each other…but such is life. I really don’t have much research left to do, but I’m staying through this week before heading back to Kampala to finish this mongo paper. Fun fun.
In other less dramatic news, today was a good day. Pancakes at Kope for brunch, then some fabric shopping in the market. Then we went to the !POOL! at the fancy inn in town, which was simply amazing. If there’s one thing I really miss, it is being around a giant body of water that we are allowed to swim it. But a pool suffices. And after swimming for a while, I felt much cleaner than I have after countless showers here with terrible water pressure that fails to actually remove dirt from my body. Then we went to the Obama Inn (so many places around here are called Obama—Obama butchery, Obama hotel…I wonder what they were called before this year. Bush Inn? I hope not. Bush Butchery? Maybe). Anyways, it was all Indian food and soooooo good. Indian food here always takes about 5 hours to come after ordering, but it was worth it.
As for “Real World Gulu,” apparently that is what the rest of our group in Uganda has been calling the 7 of us in Gulu, and it definitely is starting to feel a little Real World esque….you know, some strong personalities living within very close proximity to each other…but such is life. I really don’t have much research left to do, but I’m staying through this week before heading back to Kampala to finish this mongo paper. Fun fun.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sudan Suckahs
Sooooo today... we went to Sudan! I won't lie, we mostly did it for bragging rights. Because it's like... Sudan! But we were very curious about how it would all work out because out directors kept our passports and wouldn't give them back to us, probably because they figured we would try and do exactly what we did... But we caugt the bus to Sudan at 5 am (argh kill me). During the bus ride, a box fell from the rafters of the bus and squashed me as I was trying to sleep. Awesome. But, we got to the Ugandan border town and went to customs. At first the guard was like "There is absolutely no way you can cross the border without a passport.” But we thrust at him every form of documentation we had on us, and after some sweet talking he wrote us a letter granting us entry. Then we hopped on over to the Sudanese customs, did some more sweet talking, and we were in! Southern Sudan is obviously a lot like Northern Uganda, but I suppose it's the novelty of it. We talked to Namile, the nearest trading center. One of us actually did some research while the rest of us walked around, shopped, took pictures, talked to a few nice people, etc. We then took boda motorcycles back to the border to get there before they got suspicious. We easily found a taxi back to Gulu, but of course after 20 minutes all the tires blew out and we waited for 2 hours dying in the heat as they went to find tires... And we took the most out of the way back, BUT we made it. So take that SIT, with your confiscating of passports. PS Not that any of you talk to my academic directors, but you cannot tell them that this happened. Shhh!
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