We purchased a special gift (a gift basket) for Merones and her family, and then took Monica to go and meet them. No vehicles available so we took motorbikes, which is always a good time, especially riding back with 9 fresh eggs in your hoodie front pocket!
It’s been nice visiting Sanyu a couple of times now, but we really gotta get saving for a house for her :)
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Monica, Jamie’s good friend from back home, recently made the awesomely spontaneous decision to fly out and visit us here in Uganda. So we’re pumped. This past weekend we drove out to pick her up. The day ended up being a funny one as we wanted to try and grab some entertainment at the same time so long as we were in the city, but nothing worked out. We tried to see a musical in the theatre (Sound of Music), but it was sold out. We tried to go out for a nice meal, but our order of nachos somehow came back in the form of leafy salad with potatoes, olives, and canned tuna lumped on top. We tried to go swimming after a long hot day in the car, only to have it promptly cloud over and turn freezing cold. So, an interesting day. Then we realized, after waiting at the airport for an hour for Monica, that we had accidentally driven up early and her flight wasn’t until the next day!
No matter, because she’s here now and it’s great to have friends here! We took her from the airport to Mpigi, the place Jamie and I stayed at our first time in Uganda back in 2007, and hung out with the kids. ‘Twas good. Now, back in Kibaale, waiting for tomorrow morning when we’ll leave for a safari in south-western Uganda. Here’s some pics so far.
We get called Auntie and Uncle everyday here in Uganda. It’s a cultural thing, and it’s always felt a little bit weird. But no longer! On April 24th 2010, weighing in at 6 pounds flat, and standing at 18.5 inches tall, Chloe Elizabeth was born to Lana (Jamie’s sister) and Ben Rempel. Congratulations guys, and happy birthday Chloe!
This is a cop sitting on the roof of my truck. He vaulted up there while I was still inside... the AK-47 told me not to complain
Jeff got word that the FIA East Africa Rally Championship was going to be coming to Uganda over the weekend, and I decided to check it out, so into the truck for four hours of driving with high hopes. It was pretty cool compared to other rallies I’ve attended… none of this “tow your car to the track” business. Nope – when I first arrived in the city there were Rally cars trying to drift around the first traffic circle to a throng of screaming boda drivers and cheering cops, engines pinning off the rev limiter with no mufflers. Later, driving down the main road in the city and pulling out to pass a slow fuel truck I had to quickly duck back in my lane, or else be hit head-on by some crazy guy in a Subaru at full throttle.
So, it was a fun time. I didn’t get the greatest spot to sit and watch, and rain came and ruined the end of the day, and it took two hours just to get out of the stadium where the first stage was being held (actually the King’s palace grounds), and I got ripped off buying a fake program, only to be ripped off again buying an official program that was no better (I should have clued in when they spelled “race” as “rece” on the front cover), and I had an interesting run-in with some drunk fans. But honestly, I didn’t expect any different. Here’s a few pics.
