Nakumatt and Bunabumali

Michelle here

Tuesday afternoon, we arrived back to the Red Chili camp site in Kampala and hopped on some bodas to go check out Nakumatt Oasis (what Lisa refers to as a third world Walmart). What we did not realize was that it was rush hour, in a city that we did not know,  and still with a slight language barrier trying to get 5 girls on 3 different bodas with 2 phones to the same Nakumatt… We were in for a ride of our life. Kristen and I have decided that Lyndsay has bad boda karma because Lyndsay's boda always has some sort of problem like stopping for gas, somehow getting turned around, getting a flat tire, getting stuck in a ditch, or having other mechanical difficulties. Kampala rush hour traffic is nothing like I have ever seen before and I have been to New York city a time or two. How a city can direct traffic with only one stop light, no sort of street signals or right of way for a matter of fact, and a ton of round-a-bouts, I do not know? I would like to see my dad (mr city boy himself) maneuver his way around this city in one piece. After weaving in and out of traffic, swerving around cows in the middle of the road, and ducking under truck doors to avoid getting knocked off the back of our bodas, all 5 of us arrived safely to Nakumatt. Lisa wasn't kidding when she compared it to Walmart. We were able to buy cheese, ice cream, cookies, and some basic ingredients for Douglas to make BLOODY MARYS. It was amazing. We made it back to camp where we meet up with some of our safari friends to have a couple of drinks and play some cards. Grandpa will be soo proud… I am teaching people all over the world how to play Liver Pool Rummy.  

Wednesday morning, we woke up relatively early so we could start our trek back to Bududa from Kampala. We started with a "express" bus to Mbale where we would then catch a matatu back to our stomping grounds of Bududa. In Bududa, we have become so used to rural poverty that is spread out along mountain sides and in between minze (corn) and bean fields connected by scenic dirt paths lined with palm trees, mountain streams, and mud huts. But in Kampala, like most city living, it is filled to the max with lots of people, cars and bodas, market places full of fresh produce, streets that were lined with public wasteland, junk yards full of rusty old cars and car parts, a couple of "skyscrapers," and every tinket corner shop imaginable. It is just people living on top of more people, stores on top of more stores, and trash on top tons and tons of trash. We started driving through town and after being here for almost a month and a half, I still can't get over the level of poverty that these people live in on a day to day basis and with a smile on their faces. AND THE COLORS, the colors here are so vibrant and beautiful. I think that it is because we see so many different shades of greens and browns of the landscape that when we see all the different colors of the tropical flowers, the women's gomazs (sunday best dresses), the wraps that they swaddle their babies to their backs with, the children's school uniforms, the laundry hanging on clothes lines, and the trim of the window shutters and door frames that they stand out like a diamond in a box of dress up jewelry. I never thought poverty could look so beautiful. 

We made it to Mbale where we had our first "black market" experience, walking in and out of dark and dingy alleys lined with hats, dresses, shoes, purses, and more. Then we hopped into yet another matatu back to Bududa. Nothing too exciting to mention on our matatu ride besides fitting 24 people in it (most people we have crammed into a matatu yet) and made it back to base in Bududa. 

Thursday morning, we went up to Emma's school again to teach. This time we taught the nursery children and P1-P3 basic health and hygiene of brushing teeth, proper sneezing tactics, and washing hands. The little ones enjoyed coming up to the front of the class to demonstrate washing their hands to the abc song and making bubbles with the soap. Then we talked to P4-P7 about their dreams, goals, career choices, and the importance of standing in school. We brought in candy for the older children for an incentive to get up and share their dream jobs in front of the class. Then the younger children did another song and dance for us and we had another photo shoot with all of them. They are adorable and need so much love and attention that we were more than welcome to shower them with. We had a meeting with the teachers that turned into a discussion about salaries and the lack of school funds that then turned into a working lunch meeting. Everywhere we go, people are showering us with hospitality and cornering us in a room until we eat. It is a huge slam in the face not to eat their food but feeling bad that they barely have a roof over their head and food on their plate, we ate in great company with the teachers. Then we headed home after a big rain, down the slippery hills for another adventurous ride on the back of bodas.  Intermingling some walking, we made it down alive.

Quick cuddle session before we boda-boda back to the clinic.

Contemplating how we can bring each and every one of these children back to the US with us.