Eye of the Tiger

Hello All!!!

Well I am finally here. Sorry its taken a while to update- I haven't had access to the internet since I got here. Getting here took a VERY long time- From the time I left my hotel in Sydney, till touch down in Entebbe, I was awake for about 37 hours- I managed to get a nap or two, but sleeping vertically does not give one the greatest rest. Once I arrived in Entebbe, I got picked up by a girl named Audrey and a taxie driver Max. The song from Rocky- eye of the tiger will forever be my Uganda song now, as that was Max's song of choice as we were leaving the airport. It was so amazing to finally be in Africa- after such a long wait- and flight to get there! I'd have to say, I jumped straight into an adventure as soon as I stepped foot in Uganda, as the taxi ride was more like an adventure rollercoaster! [Drag racing eat your heart out!] There seems to be NO rules when it comes to driving i've gathered, just get where you need to go, as fast as you can! Of which we did- I found it best not to look- as everytime I did, it looked as if we were about to have a collision! This experience was a big fat "Welcome to Africa" and secretly, I loved every minute of it!

We arrived at Esther's place [she's a lovely teacher in Kampala and I'm staying with her a few days before I go to Kabale], and I slept for about 17 hours. The next day I managed to get up and go for a little exploration outside the compound where we're staying. Its a big dirt road with brick houses all around. The kids I saw were adorable and kept calling me Muzungo, which means "white person". I didn't stay out for long, as my jetlag started coming back again!

Yesterday Esther and I travelled to Garden City, which is the 'Chermside Westfield' of Kampala. I even got to travel on a Bota Bota which is a motorbike. Both of us hopped on the back and dodged our way through traffic [again better not to look where we were going!]. It was heaps of fun though. But daddy do not look up what these are, you'll only have a heart attack! hehe. All in all it was a great time.

Today we are going to an orphanage in a place called Tula- they don't have a lot of support, so its a very poor orphanage. The kids sleep on the floor and don't get a lot to eat, so I think it will be a very eye opening experience. Really looking forward to it.

Suprise! I haven't actually taken ANY photo's in Africa yet- but today at the orphanage I will. I hope to capture something that I can take back to Aus and show people how fortunate we really are.

On tuesday I will be traveling to Kabable by bus with Audrey. This ride can take up to 12 hours on a VERY bumpy road, so wish me luck! Good thing I would have recovered from Jet Lag by then. I think I will miss Kampala- even though its insanely busy- I like it here. I'll be back in Feburary though, so I can visit my sponsor child.

Well better be off. Don't know when I'll get to write next, but know I'm doing well, I'm totally loving it here, and am going to find it extremely hard to come back to Aus I reckon. Good thing I love a lot of people back home- or else I might of stayed! hehe.

Talk soon,
God Bless,
and thanks again everyone for your support- I wouldn't be here without it! Thank you!!!

Love Olivia