One Banana, two banana...

I got into Uganda on saturday, the 27th and have been here in bujugali falls since then . So far, its been amazing. the country the absolutley beautiful. The campsite is right alongside the nile, and ican see a beautiful little playspot from my tent in the am, and hear the water at nite. I had my first day at the clinic,doing boring things like data entry, but i got to meet the staff, some nurses, another volunteer, annie, the program coordinater, esther the cook dr dan and an american student named shannon here with Foundation for sustainable development. I get to go on my first followup today, going to rural villages with translators and village aids and questionaire to assess how the mozzie nets are being used, holding up, etc. Itlooks like my days are paddle in the afternoon, volunteer in the am. Jessie the founder of SPH isnt here yet, she will be here in three weeks or so, but her mantra is to paddle as much as possible due to a dam project that will erradicate this section of the nile river in the next two years. (such a shame)

SO ididnt realize until i got here that i am staying at a rafting company, complete with everything that entails, including rafting videos (carnage!) bars, and loudmusic. i may end up moving to another site nearby which is quieter, we will see. my first nite here there was a full moon party at another rafting company, which meant that allt he drunk custies, and the guides, me and Annie, (my boss) jumped into one of the rafting trucks to head down to adrift on dirt roads, holding on the frame work as the truck bounced along, with people conducting so that one half of thebus was singing one banana two banana three banana four banana, while the other half is going nah nah nah nah... i was pressed up against a few locals singing at the top of their lungs, a toursit who kept trying for in the jungle, on a bumpy, amazing welcome to uganda busride. i didnt last very long at the party before i took a boda (mototaxi) home to bed. In short, i think im gonna like it here...

London, Heathrow Airport.

Allright! Second time is the charm. The first time i tried typing this, i couldnt figure out how to sign into my blog for the life of me. ''technologically savy'' are not the words that normally come to mind when i describe myself. I am sitting in London's Heathrow Airport, at an internet cafe in hour 7 of my 12 hour layover.

The first leg of my trip is going well- I got to Philly in plenty of time last nite carrying a backpack, a duffelbag, a sleeping bag, and my kayak, which had been wrapped in a tarp, duct tape and NRS straps, and looked so much like a dead body i am amazed they didnt stop me right there to arrest me. To my suprise, they gave me no trouble at all, didnt even officially weigh my boat. Picked it up, guestimated the weight, and carried it off. Now all that remains to be seen is that it actually makes it all the way to Entebbe. I cant imagine misplacing something that obtrusive, but, stranger things have happened.

So far, Heathrow has been uneventful. London looks gray and rainy, no suprise there i am told. I did not make it out into the city- i wasnt able to reach my friend, i didnt want to wander around london inadequetly dressed in the rain, carrying my bedding for the next three months. Plus, i fell asleep in some great chairs for approximatley 2 hours; a fabulous nap after a long flight.

It feels as though i've had a lot of waiting so far on this trip, allowing me plenty of time for self reflection and analysis. Part of me loves waiting around here, wandering, just watching all the people who pass by. There are so many types, nationalities... its really incredible. I saw an older couple dressed in matching ensembles of jeans and red sweaters, beautiful indian saris, African Kabaah robes, and super trendy European girls dressed in all black wearing hordes of makeup. (i of course fit right in, wearing polypro, a backpack, and carrying a nalgene and a sleeping bag- ha) I love the looks i get wandering into the super expensive stores they have lining the moving sidewalk, gucci, salvatore ferragamo, chanel, harrods, symthson of bond street... I've never understood how somepeople manage to stay so beautifully composed and put together when they are traveling. I always feel like a mess. Welp, thats about all i have for now. My next flight leaves around 9 pm British time, and deposits me in Entebbe around 8 am, where my escort back to NRE and SPH should be waiting.

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Uganda or Bust

Its hard to believe, but i head out tomorrow evening. I've definatley been less strssed as i try and get all the last minute details together. Even so, im super excited to finally be going. As great as it has been hanging around Swarthmore the past couple of weeks, im ready to go and do something. Even better, I DO have an arranged ride from the airport to where i am going, which is a definate plus. So things are really starting to fall into place. I am bringing one big suitcase, my kayak (anyone know how to travel internationally with a boat??) and one carry on bag. Here i go, Uganda or Bust. I am flying to London, where i have a 12 hour layover, and will hopefully get to meet up with an old friend. Then, the next night, it is off to Entebbe. After Entebbe, i get to take a three hour taxi ride to Jinja and my new home at the NRE campsite. My trip will look something as follows: (check the maps for the arrows)
As I head out i just want to say thank you again to all of my donors, and please be sure to look for updates.

Welp thats about all ive got, the next time i write it will be from an internet cafe somewhere in Uganda... Time to go finish packing and get this show on the road!

propane...

so apparently it is illegal to fly with propane in your luggage- a fact i learned at REI (one of my unofficial sponsers) today. So... i dont know what that means for me and food, other than i will not be bringing Tony Gill's campstove with me to cook on. Details, details...

countdown: 9 days

after a fun weekend up at Colby, i decided that it is time to get down to business, and start packing. Scary stuff. . Today i spent a large portion of the morning setting up my tent and mosquito nets in the living room in an attempt to figure out the ideal set-up. I still havent figured it out. I have at least three mosquito nets, all of which i guess i will bring to make a game time decision.
the tent i will be living in for the next three months was also one i called home for the past summer- thats right, by the time january is over, i will have spent 7 months, or the better part of a year living in a tent that i cant stand up straight in. (because i am SO tall... ) Here are some pictures of me, and my tent.

So for those of you who have been wondering where, or how i will be living; there is your answer. I am renting a campsite at Nile River Explorers (www.raftafrica.com) for $3/ day- the most economical option. While the campsite is patrolled by security guards, i am stil not sure as to what exactly i am doing for food (i.e.. planning on cooking my own, buying, etc) I am planning on brining my (okay, tony gill's) campstove and some propane, but thats about as far as ive got. I also dont know what i am doing in terms of the WET SEASON- read: extreme weather. Im hoping for the best.. . wish me luck!

its all starting to come together...

so i finally bought my plane ticket, and have an official date of departure. OCTOBER 25th
Whoo hoo.. Its crazy to realize that this is finally happening. All that is left now are all the tedious little details, dealing with bank accounts, packing, running errands. Im sad that im missing the last north country weekend and guide party up in maine, but i did need to take the time to figure everything out.

One of my bigest dilemas thus far has been in regard to packing. Specifically: Do i bring my kayak and kayak gear with me? For those of you who know me, and know uganda, this should come as n o suprise. One, i am terrible at making decisions, even something as small as ordering food, and two: Uganda has some of the best whitewater in the world. It would be a shame not be be able to paddle because i dont have a boat. Yet, at the same time, i am not going to Uganda purely to paddle, though paddleing is why i discovered SPH and a part of why i decided to volunteer there. (it did help that they actually emailed me back) For now, i have decided to bring my paddle gear. worse comes to worse, i get to paddle the famed white nile (eek) I mean, how scary can it be, they teach beginner clinics there??

Some Basic Malaria Facts

Malaria is the biggest infectious disease killer worldwide. 500 million people get malaria annually, and 3 million children die from malaria each year, the majority of which are residents of sub-saharan Africa.

In Uganda, Malaria is the biggest killer of children under 5, (30% of the under 5 population die every year) and is responsible for the majority of maternal health problems, such as miscarriages.

*Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito
*18% of Uganda's GDP is spent combatting malaria
*Malaria is both treatable, preventable, and curable.

The Soft Power Health Clinic and Jessie Stone

The Soft Power Health Clinic was started by Jessie Sone in 2004. As a whitewater kayaker, Dr. Stone had already done extensive travel in Uganda and else where, and had seen the effects of malaria first hand. Appalled by the lack of treatment and knowedge of malaria in Uganda, Stone decided to open her own clinic as a way to give back to the local population. SPH provides education, prevention, and treatment of Malaria in rural Uganda. Soft Power Health is working with a Ugandan based non-profit, Soft Power Education to implement various education programs including work with other NGOs. The education and prevention program aims to make villagers responsible for their Malaria prevention with the goal to make the program sustainable and managed by Ugandans. For more information on Jessie or her Clinic, visit The Soft Power Health website by clicking on my favorite links above. Or check out Jackson Kayaks team page, www.jacksonkayaks.com/team