Oh Kampala

September 14, 2016

We were talking on the drive in this morning about how so many things that used to be so foreign to us, now have become so everyday. Things that shocked us from the bus in 2010 and 2012, now seem normal.

But just when you start thinking that, there comes new things to add to the adventure. This morning on the drive into the office we saw a matatu knock a boda and send the driver skidding on the tarmac (translation- a van that acts as a taxi hit a motorcycle taxi and he went skidding on the road). Fortunately, it was not serious, the boda driver dusted himself off, picked up the bike and everyone carried on.

Right after that, there was a police vehicle a few vehicles behind us with lights and siren on. In Canada, everyone would work together so that the vehicles can get out of the way for the emergency vehicle. That really doesn’t happen here because there is no where to go. Even at 7 AM, there is a lot of traffic and it is not easy to maneuver.

Shortly after arriving in the office, we noticed that the traffic was even worse than usual this morning. Turns out the bank right across the street was robbed this morning. If the facilities office was still where it was in 2013, I would have had a bird’s eye view of the goings on. However, the office has now moved to a bigger space that works well for them, but is less conducive to being a “looky loo”!

What a great day it was for the facilities team today. The morning was spent hearing Greg teach about more principles. Then the afternoon was spent doing some hands on work on air conditioners here in the building. We all know that hearing information is good, but hands on experience is the real teacher. Greg is so in his element here- building into the lives of others who are so very eager to learn. It is a tremendous privilege and blessing to be here and we are so thankful for the opportunity we have been given.

Since we didn’t get out of the office until 6:00, we went for supper at a restaurant just a few blocks away. In Kampala, EVERYTHING depends on the traffic, or as it is known here “the jam”. That is the only thing I can truly say I hate about Kampala (and of course snakes, but God has protected me from seeing any of those here!). Even when we left the restaurant at 8:00 PM, it still took us 45 minutes to go the 3 or 4 kms back to our hotel.

It seems that the theme of today’s post is traffic. It is the most exhausting part of the trip for us. Driving on the opposite side of the road, watching out for bodas, pedestrians, and other vehicles, while trying to avoid the really big pot holes and slow down for the huge speed bumps, requires your undivided attention and is mentally exhausting.  Our children will be thrilled to hear that Pop has resurrected his favourite Ugandan phrase “An inch is a mile.” Yup- nothing more to say!