So, I spent last weekend in Kampala and then made my way to the bus park Monday morning at 11:30. Of course, the conductor of the bus told me we’d be leaving in an hour and no other buses would leave before then. And of course, it was 2 ½ hours later (and an hour after seeing a different bus pull out) that we finally pulled out of the park. So what can take 3 hours in a private car, ended up taking 6 hours by bus. But I made it! I arrived to find my colleagues finishing up a day’s work, so I dropped my bags off in my old room and had them drop me off in town for dinner. We haven’t had power all week (Sunday thru Wednesday at 5 pm), so we’ve been depending on the generator to get us through the work days. The weather in this part of the country is much cooler and rainier than in Jinja (although today looks gorgeous!). Life is generally much quieter. And although the quiet can make you lonely…it is also quite peaceful. So, for now, I am reacquainting myself with my old hometown in Uganda and getting used to the lifestyle here again. For this is where I found myself last spring; this is where I found my happiness and peace and I just cannot give up on this trip until I try to make things work here. Even this past weekend I was still thinking about leaving Uganda early and just getting home to the comfort of loving family and friends and true friendship. But I hate the idea of going home and having people ask me about Uganda and me just not wanting to even talk about it. I have missed out on so many things at home since coming back here (Election Day, a good friend’s wedding, 10 year High School Reunion, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, Inauguration, Steelers big Super Bowl win, Luke’s birthday this week, and Maeve’s birthday next week…just to name the big things) and I was willing to give those things up to be here and have another amazing experience…but to miss out on those things for the experience I have had so far, it’s just not okay. So, I am really giving it my best shot and diving into work and hoping to make the most of the time I have left. And in a few weeks, if I still find myself not feeling right about being here…well, I will cross that bridge if I come to it.
And for another quick kayaking update: I got my stitches out after 8 days and got back on the water the next day to attempt that Grade 3, 50/50. I was really nervous getting in and out on the rocks but managed to survive the day without any new cuts. I also made my way down my first Grade 3 keeping my balance and just barreling through the big waves. It was amazing! Charlie decided I would be fine to try the Grade 3 section of the river which has about 5 rapids…so on January 26th we headed out with five other friends and I attempted to tackle a section of the river I had never seen before. Unfortunately, these Grade 3s (which seemed like Grade 4s and were much longer than 50/50) were also harder to get into than 50/50 and I ended up swimming 3 of them (3 of the most insane swims I have ever had on the river). As Zoe said after the first one, “that was an epic swim mate!” Two of the swims were my fault because I lost my balance turning through the boiling water trying to get into the rapids and in the other one I was making my way through just fine but ended up playing bumper boats with Charlie as we went through one of the bigger waves and when our boats hit, we both lost our balance. Since Charlie has been doing this for 11 years, he just rolled back up, but me…well, I had to release my skirt and go for another swim! I was so frustrated with myself during those swims and disappointed in my failures, but all of the others seemed to think it was okay…they explained that they had all learned the same way, we all swim, you just have to keep trying and practicing. Fortunately, I ended the day by conquering the Nile Special rapids…one of the longer ones…I didn’t go into the famous wave, but rather paddled down the middle of the river so that I could attempt to make it down the entire series of waves. I even managed to surf for a few seconds on top of the third wave…it was an amazing feeling to get down that rapid without flipping or swimming! A few of the people I kayaked with that day have asked when we’re going again…I just kind of chuckle to them. I do think that I could do it if I had a chance to practice a bit more…but I’m not sure there will be time now that I’m living 6 hours away. Maybe I will give it another shot, maybe I won’t...but at least I can say I tried kayaking Grade 3 rapids on The Nile River in my own, single person Fluid Flirt kayak once! P.S. I sold that kayak the day I left Jinja…so if I do get on the river again, I will have to borrow a boat…
I love the picture where you can see me on the back of Hassan's boat as he paddles me to my boat which Koa is lifting above his head to get all of the water out. Too funny!
