I'm a Ugandan!!!

SO.. i don't have any pictures to post with this.. BUT today was a GREAT day!! It was the first time that i set out on my own to get from Ntinda, where i live, to Nsambya. I was a little nervous about going on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) by myself but i did it!! AND i didn't get charged over prices just for being white!! It was amazing! Before i left, Felix gave me his card in case i got lost. Jayan of course told me that no one would care if i got lost, but i know that is sarcasm for the fact that she DOES care that i make it there safely. I waved good bye and was out the gate. I flagged down an older boda driver wearing a helmet. The older guys go slower so you don't have to be worried about flying off the back end. I told him Nsambya babies home and he said 7 shilling. I said NO WAY! 5. He said 6 shilling, and i said no again and started to walk away. He said ok come on you sit. When i got all situated, i said Te gunde sabo ~ which means lets go sir. He said "you speak lluganda?!" and i said "yep!" Little does he know that i know about 12 words and that was 3 of them.. BUT he took me right where i wanted to go and i paid what i wanted to pay so it was all good! I felt especially awesome when he asked ME which way was faster through the center of town, or around the outside. Apparently i was VERY convincing that i knew what i was doing. He thought i spoke Lluganda, and had NO clue that i had never rode a boda by myself or ventured out in Kampala by myself either.

When i got to Nsambya i said hello to the receptionist and went up to see my girl. She was sitting in her chair watching Rocky IV in Lluganda on the TV. I am sure it was very thrilling for her, but that did NOT last long. I scooped her up and started talking to her, playing with her, and stretching her. She and i were on our own for a long time. I got her cup again and we practiced drinking water. She did SO great and i actually might have cried like a big dork because it was a huge success!!! Eating for her is NOT a good experience. She gets SO worked up that i was thrilled to see her drink from a straw and actually open her mouth for me to put the straw back in again. She was a lot more expressive today in her face as well. She gave some looks that is for sure. When it was time for "dinner" the orphanage worker brought the sippy cup over that i brought with me filled with porridge. It was extremely hot and i'm pretty sure Lola burned her tongue. She was SO upset. She was screaming and crying so hard. It was the first time i had seen her so upset, and i hated it. There were big huge tears. I tried to get her to eat as much as i could but she was so upset it didn't end well. I just held her and sang to her. Singing to her seems to calm her down, which is good because i like to sing to her.

After a while, i had to go so i went back down to the road and got myself a boda home. Once again, the Boda man asked for 7.. that must be the muzungu price.. but i paid 5. I was actually really proud of myself because we took a completely different route home and i still knew where i was. Being on this boda was a little more concerning then the other. He was an older guy but he was not playing around. He was weaving in and out of traffic and on the wrong side of the road. We almost had a run in with a giant truck but no worries, the brakes worked and i was able to hold on during our quick stop. We arrived exactly where i wanted to be and i walked home. I went into the office to let Jayan know that her dream of me being lost did not come true, and Wilson (our director) was NOT thrilled that i was on a boda! He was in the office and he asked where i was. When i said that i was at Nsambya, he said you didn't take a boda did you! AND i said ... in my MOST convincing voice.. of COURSE not Wilson! He laughed because he did not believe me At all! BUt i did try to lie.. hahah Come to find out that Felix and Jayan tried to call the orphanage to check to make sure that i had arrived... they DO really care despite all of Jayan's attempts to pretend she doesnt!

After dinner i went with Katy to The Surgery (the British Hospital) to have her leg looked at. Ironically, she has a 3rd degree burn from a boda boda ride gone awry. Dont' worry Dad... i was safe i PROMISE! haha

TIA! (for those of you new.. that means This is Africa!)