Friends, I'm heading to LA today to pick up my sister & her family!! We're going to spend the day there, then head back to San Diego tonight. And they're going to be with us for eight whole days! Eight!
I'm in heaven : )
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sarah: Arrival
The Ugandans are coming! The
Ugandans are coming!!!
Kelsey and Deno, that is. They arrive in country today!!
This is a big day for all people who love and know Kelsey. Since I won't see
her in the flesh for a while,
I'm going to celebrate the day with a glass of wine.
Later of course--it's only 7:50am here.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Kelsey: America
I have been in Africa for 4 and a half months. This is the amount of time I require of myself before I can miss anything from home or complain about anything in Africa.
What you think I have been complaining during this whole blog? No. I have not. You will see.
I spent a few summers during college in different parts of the world working with short term mission teams. While this was one of the most educational experiences I could possibly have, short term teams can be difficult (annoying). Last summer I was in Haiti for the summer and I had been in Uganda since January with only one week in America between them. My second month into Haiti a short term kid told me that he missed American food so much that when he got home he would drive straight to McDonalds and then immediately to Chipotle. Then that night he would eat at Big Boy and Dairy Queen. Because 6 days without American fast food is basically starvation and torture. The kicker was this team ate American food their entire trip anyways. Plus the family who was hosting them makes some killer amazing everything food. It is literally impossible to miss American food if you are staying with Corrigan. I actually miss Corrigan food when I am back in America. For real.
Denis and I are planning a visit to America for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am very excited. Christmas in Africa (no snow) is just not the same. I mean they don't have Santa Clause here. My neighbor is named Santa and everyone thinks that is normal... It is not.
These are the top six things I can't wait to experience in America!
1. Infrastructure. I can't wait to drive on roads as smooth as butter. Roads without potholes. Roads that have pavement. Roads that have laws or just some semblance of rules. Soon I will be riding in a car and I will not be wondering the entire time if this will be the car ride that kills me. Even more important than roads, running water. Water that comes out of the tap that you can drink! Drinking water delivered right to your home! Electricity that never goes away. That means living without the constant anxiety that the power will go off at any moment and stay off for 36 hours. Oh and fast internet! My itunes account has really been missing me.
2. Autumn and the beginning of winter. The end of winter is the worst. I want snow until mid January and then I want Spring. We could completely get rid of February and March if it were up to me. It feels strange to be here and not have the weather change even the slightest bit. We are literally on the equator and the weather is exactly the same all year round. Its always June in Uganda. Winter in America means snow, hot drinks, sweaters, socks and all things cozy. I can't remember the last time I wore a sock. Uganda is wide open spaces under a giant sky but not cozy.
3. Food. Cheese and salad and fish tacos and frozen yogurt. I really love Ugandan rice and beans but more than that I really love love food that is not fried! Everything we eat is fried. The beans, the rice, the vegetables, the bread, the eggs, the potatoes, all fried. Today I ordered a salad in town and it came with french fries. Not as a side dish but mixed into the salad. I have suspected this but it confirms that in Uganda french fries are a vegetable. What kind of a sick place is this? I can't wait to eat grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, ethnic food, breakfast cereals, skim milk, goat cheese, and tons of fresh pico de gallo. Yum.
4. Blending in. I want no one to notice me. That is the dream. Walk down the street and not have anyone look at me. No kids to touch my skin to see if the white rubs off. No creepy men yelling things at me. No one trying to charge me triple because of the color of my skin. No one to yell Mzungu (whitey) and stare. I want to be invisible.
5. No bugs. Mainly no mosquitos. No itching or chances of catching deadly disease from tiny flying insects all around you.
6. Family and friends. Or at least the ones who have not abandoned me for other states! You know who you are California, Colorado, and Michigan. Send my people back. Also D.C. please send Juli Smith, who never lived in IL but I feel like she did and I miss her like crazy. Thanks. But seriously can't wait to see my fam. My parents are sort of horrible at having children who live far away. And by horrible I mean they are awful at picking up the phone and calling their children. My sister and I complain about it all the time. You know those parents who even when you grow up they still want to know what you are doing and who you are with and what time you will be home, even though you dont live with them? Those are the opposite of my parents. My dad is very pragmatic and my mom is very chill. I once asked them if there was anywhere I could go that would make them worry about me (and therefore call me to check in on me). My dad answered, Afghanistan. So if I go to war they will worry and maybe call. But until that happens they will assume everything is peachy.
Speaking of America someone posted this picture on facebook of how America sees the rest of the world (yay ethnocentrism) and it cracked me up. Especially Canada.
See you soon America!
What you think I have been complaining during this whole blog? No. I have not. You will see.
I spent a few summers during college in different parts of the world working with short term mission teams. While this was one of the most educational experiences I could possibly have, short term teams can be difficult (annoying). Last summer I was in Haiti for the summer and I had been in Uganda since January with only one week in America between them. My second month into Haiti a short term kid told me that he missed American food so much that when he got home he would drive straight to McDonalds and then immediately to Chipotle. Then that night he would eat at Big Boy and Dairy Queen. Because 6 days without American fast food is basically starvation and torture. The kicker was this team ate American food their entire trip anyways. Plus the family who was hosting them makes some killer amazing everything food. It is literally impossible to miss American food if you are staying with Corrigan. I actually miss Corrigan food when I am back in America. For real.
Denis and I are planning a visit to America for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am very excited. Christmas in Africa (no snow) is just not the same. I mean they don't have Santa Clause here. My neighbor is named Santa and everyone thinks that is normal... It is not.
These are the top six things I can't wait to experience in America!
1. Infrastructure. I can't wait to drive on roads as smooth as butter. Roads without potholes. Roads that have pavement. Roads that have laws or just some semblance of rules. Soon I will be riding in a car and I will not be wondering the entire time if this will be the car ride that kills me. Even more important than roads, running water. Water that comes out of the tap that you can drink! Drinking water delivered right to your home! Electricity that never goes away. That means living without the constant anxiety that the power will go off at any moment and stay off for 36 hours. Oh and fast internet! My itunes account has really been missing me.
2. Autumn and the beginning of winter. The end of winter is the worst. I want snow until mid January and then I want Spring. We could completely get rid of February and March if it were up to me. It feels strange to be here and not have the weather change even the slightest bit. We are literally on the equator and the weather is exactly the same all year round. Its always June in Uganda. Winter in America means snow, hot drinks, sweaters, socks and all things cozy. I can't remember the last time I wore a sock. Uganda is wide open spaces under a giant sky but not cozy.
3. Food. Cheese and salad and fish tacos and frozen yogurt. I really love Ugandan rice and beans but more than that I really love love food that is not fried! Everything we eat is fried. The beans, the rice, the vegetables, the bread, the eggs, the potatoes, all fried. Today I ordered a salad in town and it came with french fries. Not as a side dish but mixed into the salad. I have suspected this but it confirms that in Uganda french fries are a vegetable. What kind of a sick place is this? I can't wait to eat grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, ethnic food, breakfast cereals, skim milk, goat cheese, and tons of fresh pico de gallo. Yum.
4. Blending in. I want no one to notice me. That is the dream. Walk down the street and not have anyone look at me. No kids to touch my skin to see if the white rubs off. No creepy men yelling things at me. No one trying to charge me triple because of the color of my skin. No one to yell Mzungu (whitey) and stare. I want to be invisible.
5. No bugs. Mainly no mosquitos. No itching or chances of catching deadly disease from tiny flying insects all around you.
6. Family and friends. Or at least the ones who have not abandoned me for other states! You know who you are California, Colorado, and Michigan. Send my people back. Also D.C. please send Juli Smith, who never lived in IL but I feel like she did and I miss her like crazy. Thanks. But seriously can't wait to see my fam. My parents are sort of horrible at having children who live far away. And by horrible I mean they are awful at picking up the phone and calling their children. My sister and I complain about it all the time. You know those parents who even when you grow up they still want to know what you are doing and who you are with and what time you will be home, even though you dont live with them? Those are the opposite of my parents. My dad is very pragmatic and my mom is very chill. I once asked them if there was anywhere I could go that would make them worry about me (and therefore call me to check in on me). My dad answered, Afghanistan. So if I go to war they will worry and maybe call. But until that happens they will assume everything is peachy.
Speaking of America someone posted this picture on facebook of how America sees the rest of the world (yay ethnocentrism) and it cracked me up. Especially Canada.
See you soon America!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Kelsey: The road to Jinja
I am finally recovered from Sarah's trip to Uganda. As in life has just now gotten back to normal and I am once again a hermit who never leaves my village and therefore never has to spend endless hours on horrible busses with peeing children and pooping chickens and smelly fish. Ugh the bus.
I was on the phone with an American friend the other day and she asked why I never leave Jinja and I told her that I hate traveling. Long pause. She was all um you know you moved to Africa right?
But I think the 48 hours that it takes to get to Africa and the combinations of buses, planes, cars, and motorcycles scares you away from ever traveling again! Its either that or I just don't want to wander too far away from my flush toilet at Denis' house. I really love flush toilets. Really.
So needless to say since Sarah left I have not been back to the big city. Kampala is nice because it has fancy things that we rural people (hill people) can't get, things that are essential for a happy life, like vuvuzelas. Do you remember that horrible sound from the World Cup? Don't you wish you could live with that?
We have very strict vuvuzela zones in this house.
I can't lie though, my favorite part is leaving Kampala. The further you drive away from city the prettier the world becomes. I wish I could make a graph of how my mood grows happier the further we get from the city. But I have not made a graph since sophomore year (of high school). And like everything else I learned in high school I have totally forgotten how to do that.
This hill covered with tea fields is my heaven. I swear I will live on this hill one day. In that clump of trees. In like a really crappy run down house but one with a beautiful bathroom with 3 flush toilets. Also I will have like 5 monkeys and local children will run away from me in fear. Run away from crazy monkey lady!
The best part of the drive is the awesome 'rest stops'. There are designated places along the road where people are allowed to sell food. Like 3 times. Its as if there used to be people all along the entire length of the road and then they rounded them all up and put them in 3 specific spots. That is the only thing that can explain the sheer number of people selling food at these rest stops.
They all wear lab coats that are either blue, maroon or white. (Speaking of white lab coats, last time I was on the bus a guy in a white lab coat came on and tried to sell us some herbal medicine, load of crap, from china. I asked him if he was a doctor and he ignored me and continued his speech. I heckled him, of course, until he admitted he was not a doctor and then he eventually left the bus. A woman patted me on the back. It was a proud day. But I mean aren't there rules about wearing a doctory coat if you are not a doctor? Like not if you are cold and need to get warm so you put on some random coat but if you are selling medicine and basically impersonating a doctor, that is so not allowed.)
It always starts with one and then if they start to lean into the car a million more will rush over and try to beat out that first one.
And then they climb into the car with you. Does anyone have any fanta?
Seriously can I please get an orange flavored beverage?
Oh please come on in. Join us.
For the love of God someone give me a fanta!!!
Denis is unfazed by the ten ugandans who climbed into the car with us. But he is not prepared to share his chicken with them. That is the line.
Word to the wise for any Uganda travelers reading this blog, this roadside chicken is the best chicken in Uganda. The best.
I was on the phone with an American friend the other day and she asked why I never leave Jinja and I told her that I hate traveling. Long pause. She was all um you know you moved to Africa right?
But I think the 48 hours that it takes to get to Africa and the combinations of buses, planes, cars, and motorcycles scares you away from ever traveling again! Its either that or I just don't want to wander too far away from my flush toilet at Denis' house. I really love flush toilets. Really.
So needless to say since Sarah left I have not been back to the big city. Kampala is nice because it has fancy things that we rural people (hill people) can't get, things that are essential for a happy life, like vuvuzelas. Do you remember that horrible sound from the World Cup? Don't you wish you could live with that?
We have very strict vuvuzela zones in this house.
I can't lie though, my favorite part is leaving Kampala. The further you drive away from city the prettier the world becomes. I wish I could make a graph of how my mood grows happier the further we get from the city. But I have not made a graph since sophomore year (of high school). And like everything else I learned in high school I have totally forgotten how to do that.
This hill covered with tea fields is my heaven. I swear I will live on this hill one day. In that clump of trees. In like a really crappy run down house but one with a beautiful bathroom with 3 flush toilets. Also I will have like 5 monkeys and local children will run away from me in fear. Run away from crazy monkey lady!
The best part of the drive is the awesome 'rest stops'. There are designated places along the road where people are allowed to sell food. Like 3 times. Its as if there used to be people all along the entire length of the road and then they rounded them all up and put them in 3 specific spots. That is the only thing that can explain the sheer number of people selling food at these rest stops.
They all wear lab coats that are either blue, maroon or white. (Speaking of white lab coats, last time I was on the bus a guy in a white lab coat came on and tried to sell us some herbal medicine, load of crap, from china. I asked him if he was a doctor and he ignored me and continued his speech. I heckled him, of course, until he admitted he was not a doctor and then he eventually left the bus. A woman patted me on the back. It was a proud day. But I mean aren't there rules about wearing a doctory coat if you are not a doctor? Like not if you are cold and need to get warm so you put on some random coat but if you are selling medicine and basically impersonating a doctor, that is so not allowed.)
It always starts with one and then if they start to lean into the car a million more will rush over and try to beat out that first one.
And then they climb into the car with you. Does anyone have any fanta?
Seriously can I please get an orange flavored beverage?
Oh please come on in. Join us.
For the love of God someone give me a fanta!!!
Denis is unfazed by the ten ugandans who climbed into the car with us. But he is not prepared to share his chicken with them. That is the line.
Word to the wise for any Uganda travelers reading this blog, this roadside chicken is the best chicken in Uganda. The best.
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