Back Home

I arrived into Denver about 2 weeks ago. I’ve had two full weeks of reconnecting with friends here. I just wanted to check in to say I’m alive, kickin’ & enjoying the comforts of the familiar. I miss my friends in Uganda dearly.

I leave Wednesday to see my family & more friends in Ohio – looking forward to that!

No huge culture shock yet – that’s usually the biggest question I get. More than anything I’m continually amazed at the convenience of life here: electricity, hot running water showers, restaurants of amazing food at every turn, microwaves, and really, really, REALLY fast internet! If anything, some days I just get overstimulated by the quick pace.

I promise to post more soon.

Isn't it great to be back home ???

It actually is good to be back in Manchester. Seeing family and friends, catching up with people and being able to share whats happened in the last few weeks has been great fun

Some things though, do make you scratch your head a little bit in bewilderment!

I've been back at work 3 days. The credit crunch is hogging all the headlines. Ive been working in London today. I shared my flight back with a girl who works for my company and has just been made redundant. She has worked for the company for over 8 years , won't get much in terms of a payoff and to be honest, was in a bit of a state this evening. Where do i want to put my own security, in a multinational corporation or something with much more permanence,. Yes im talking about the creator of heaven and earth, God himself. I know where my loyalties lie!!! I've also been watching with interest the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the struggles of AIG and Merill Lynch amongst countless others this week. Listening to the doom and gloom merchants in the media, the world as we know it is about to end . Once again, Im grateful for being able to put my faith in a God who does not change and remains a constant in my life throughout everything!

Tonight, i went out to catch up with a good friend. We visited a fairly well known bar in South Manchester to have a chat and watch some footy. We must have been there 30 minutes when the guy next to us interrupted to ask why we were talking so much and would we shut up so he could watch the football in peace. Not surprisingly, this moron was sitting by himself. I was quite proud of myself for ignoring this idiot, walking off and finding somewhere else to sit. I was tempted to respond, but he was probably just looking to light up his pathetic little life with a fight. Im sure you can find people like that anywhere in the world, but its a bit depressing...i've only been back in the UK 3 days and have to put up with that rubbish. I'll pray for that guy anyway!!!

Chariots of Fire

I made it home this afternoon...finally. My journey home was not without its problems unfortunately. I actually landed at Heathrow yesterday evening, but because British Airways took over an hour to deliver my bags i missed my train to Manchester. Not the end of the world, I guess I should be thankful they at least managed to get all my luggage delivered to the right place!!!

On the flight home, I watched the film Chariots of Fire. Its a great film - the story of Eric Liddle is very inspiring. A devout Christian, he remained loyal and faithful to God, even when it looked like observing the Sabbath would make him miss his event, the 100 metres at the Olympics. Of course, he ended up winning the 400 metres and went to China to complete his calling as a missionary soon after.

His kind of unwavering commitment, complete faith in God makes a remarkable story. Its something I really need to think about now Im back home in Manchester. What has the last 6 weeks been all aboout? Where is it leading to? It would be easy just to settle back into things here, where everything is clean and comfortable, but its really important now that i don't just settle for a life that is second best, that i really push on and try to see everything that God has for me. The last 6 weeks has been an amazing experience, but i don't want it to just stop there. At least i don't think i do!! Please feel free to challenge me if you see me around in 2/3 months and see that im falling into this trap. For me, its quite an easy thing to do!!!

Anyway, im going for a hot bath, putting some clean clohtes on and heading out to catch up with a few friends. Speak soon!!!

Rwenzori Mountains

In July I took a few day trip with some other Medair workers, Jonelle & Claire, to Fort Portal and the Rwenzori Mountains in Western Uganda. It was a five hour bus journey from Kampala that began our trip with 2 of our 3 backpacks stolen off the bus! After a trip to the supermarket and to the local market, we had found enough second-hand clothes and new soap to get us through.

We stayed just outside of the national park in a community-run camp and took a hike with a local guide. The 'hill' we climbed was quite steep, as you see below. But the views were spectacular! At the top we should have seen the snowy peaks of the Rwenzoris, but it was too cloudy.

Aside from the loss of peronal items, it was a lovely trip away from the norm.

We saw three different kinds of chameleon's on our hike.

The steep incline...

Can you find the chameleon?

As the sign says, we are 'At the Bottom"

And here we are at 'The Top'

On the way down...wishing there were signs to point out where the trail went...

Claire & Jonelle at a resting point.

Botswana

On Sunday we crossed the border into Botswana. As i've ventured further and further south, its just got hotter and hotter. Yesterday we measured 42 degrees at about 2pm. Sitting in our 4 wheel drive was hard work

So we crossed the border at a place called Kasangula. A ferry takes you over the Chobe river into Zambia! It was the usual story as far as Africa is concerned - people trying to get bribes out of you for everything...one guy for getting us to the front of the queue, one guy for showing us where to park on the ferry. Im sure you can imagine what its like, complete chaos!

The next challange was getting the accommodation sorted. Having just come from Zambia, where you can pretty much walk into any lodge, hotel or campsite and get a room for that night, we thought we'd find a similar situation in Botswana. Boy how wrong were we!!

You see, Botswana is a lot more developed than Zambia. Its full of tourists from South Africa, Namibia, Europe and North America. It was a lot of hassle to get somewhere to sleep! Botswana, predicatably, has made its money from diamonds. They even have streetlights here - you don't get them in Zambia, even in Lusaka! Everything is bigger, more modern and better looked after, but you know what i miss Zambia! The people there are just so relaxed, chilled out - it doesn't seem to be the same here in Botswana

Anyway, we've spent the last 2 days in Chobe National Park. Last night was just one of those evenings that will stay with me forever. The game in Chobe is incredibe, i spotted most of the big 5, lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino plus hippo, zebra, sable, springbok etc etc! you get the picture - the park has everything! We camped in the reserve, in an official campsite. The offical campsites in the park offer you no protection though, not even a fence! So, last night as the sun came down i was looking out on the chobe river, at the crossroads of four countries - Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with the cries of all these animals in the background. There was a herd of elephant in the distance, monkeys and warthog all around us. I have to admit i didn't sleep much - i was too scared! What an experience though

We will leave Botswana for Livingstone tomorrow and i only have a few more days left in Africa. I fly back to Heathrow on Saturday!

Muchomo - continued

In Swahili, so I've been told, muchomo is what you call a celebration of finishing something & it always involved roasting meat. So my muchomo was a goat roast - the most common meat here in Kaabong! I got to choose the goat between the two pictured here - but I refused to be present for the slaughter.

Sneaking in for the kill...yeah right

Luka & Yusuf cooking the 'treasured' intestines.

baby Joanna in the front, singing in the back

This whole past weekend has been a celebration with various people. On Sunday we went to one of our co-workers, Timat's house and enjoyed the best chicken I've ever had in Uganda! I even ate the gizzard as the honored guest!

Livingstone

So, livingstone ....this is where i am now!

I left Chingola on Thursday and travelled to Lusaka. Yesterday i got on the bus to Livingstone. It was a bit nuts - it took 7 hours. It was hot, sweaty, african music blasting out of a very poor stereo system, and trying to get hold of a ticket was bonkers. I sat next to an amazing person on the bus though and we chatted for almost seven hours..most Zambians are very chilled out and relaxed they are so easy to get on with!

Today i've been exploring Livingstone. The undoubted highlights was the Victoria Falls - an absoloutely awesome experience and very cheap as well...30p to see one of the 7 wonders of the world..not bad at all. Trust me, i came back to livingstone and wasted a load of money on tacky African art. Livingstone has a very chilled out feel to it...lots of cool bars and safari lodges and not too many tourists! i could see the Zimabawe side i didn't try crossing lots of police everywhere and exorbitant visa charges. The Zimbabweans don't seem to like us Brits too much at the moment, at leat there government doesn't!

Anyway, im off to Botswana in the morning. to Chobe National Park. Can't wait