Culture Shock

ITS CURRENTLY 10:51PM UGANDA TIME, 2:50 PM USA TIME!
I see black- everywhere.
I taste red gritty dirt grinding against my teeth
I feel the sweltering heat for 12 hours of the day, until night fall when the heat recharges itself
I smell the people and their God-given scents
I hear beautiful languages of all sorts, with different accents and

And I am LOVING every sense that I encounter!! It is a SURREAL experience and me and by big eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hands are taking it all in.

The people of Uganda are BEAUTIFUL people. Not just their physical nature, but their mental and emotional natures are beautiful as well. I was severely impressed with their memory. We were all given Bios of each other and they either memorized or recognized each one of us. I said “Hello, My name is Danielle:…they follow with “ohhh pretty smile-Ford right?” Haha! And then later on they remembered I had a little brother and my family is from Barbados! I was impressed-seriously! I looked over their bios, but that did no good seeing as though pronunciations defeated me! I emailed a couple of students before our arrival and actually became really close with a girl named Robinah! (one of the ones I emailed).

We ate on campus today and I ate EVERYTHING, surprise, surprise. But I Matt and I said we would at least TRY everything that was placed in front of us, and I promised my mom I would not lose weight and EAT---soooo today we were given Uganda coffee-goats milk, yellow toast w homemade strawberry jelly, sausage, veggie packs, and mango-orange juice.

After breakfast we all mingled for seriously 2 hours will all the MUBS (Makerere University Business School students) one by one until we met everyone! One kid named Alex was explaining to us that semester tuition costs and it was 800,000 shillings a semester. We calculated Drake’s tuition per semester and it was TWENTY MILLION SHILLINGS. Alex was astonished; we asked him what could be purchased in Uganda for 20 Mill… he says with the CUTEST ACCENT EVER “yu cun buy a ploot of lund, a really nice carh, and a FAT CIGA” haha it was HILARIOUS! Best quote of the day!!!

After our first session we then proceeded to a campus tour. And it was HOT. I MEAN HOT. But it was short and sweet so it was fine. After this we loaded on the blue MUBS bus and headed to the Grand Imperial Hotel to exchange our American dollars for the Uganda Shilling. I exchanged 200 bucks for 438 thousand and 400 shillings! A kid thought he lost his 1000 American bucks- but he really left it back at the cottages. After we exchanged money we headed to lunch at a place called Nando’s- it was good!
I was walking right next to the Director of the University, Mr. Omagul, and we chatted it UP! He is a jolly African man. He was cracking up telling me how poor his country was and how they were all poverty stricken- I did not find this very funny but he was holding his stomach and throwing his head back just laughing so loud…I guess he is fine with his given situation, I know I am mad for a day when I am broke!

After lunch we headed to the Owino market… I was so excited for this event… but it ended up being a BUST. It was canal street on steroids and it was not the shopping experience I expected. Matter of fact- I felt past violated while in the not so “open market”. 4 guys slapped my backside. When I say slapped, I mean HARD. Two guys at once, one had the right and I glared and him and next thing I know ones smacking the left cheek. By this time I was irritated, violated and HOT. It was time to go.
My purchase of earrings was a rough one. Definitely did not buy anything from the Owino Market. Then Robinah had her sister come and show us really nice earrings! I found two that I liked a lot. But it got better once we got back to Red Chilli (our cottages) and outside of the lobby there was a little market lady with BEAUTIFUL and inexpensive jewelry. Definitely racked up there. One thing I forgot to do was bargain---but her gifts were hand made and were for a good cause (positive women victims created this brand) So I had to support them!

Tomorrow we are visiting the Uganda parliament as well as Buganda government officials--- should be pretty serious.. I am not into this whole micro finance and political thing.. but its still an experience. We were supposed to meet the queen but she cannot make it so there is a “surprise guest” instead. We must wear dresses or some form of nice outfits. I am excited!!

Okay, that is all for now!
Love you!
Making it because of the Lord’s Mercy!--Danielle