Oh what a beautiful mooooorning. Oh what a beautiful
daaaaaay. I’ve got a wonderful feeeeeling. Everything’s going my way.
Or at least close to it.
Today, I am getting my visa to Uganda! Let’s not start here
though.
Let me see, last time I checked in was a day or two after I
got back from Tanzania and Kilimanjaro! Ah.. that trip was so cool it’s worth
talking about again! But I won’t. For *your* sake.
Anyways, the past two weeks have been and interesting
experience to say the least. When I got back to Nairobi, I found out that Tim
and Mike(the two other Americans) were leaving for Ethiopia for a couple weeks
on the 16th. This meant that I was going to be all alone! And doing
all the work! But it was OK. I didn’t mind. I’d stuck ‘em with the bill when I
went to the Rift Valley for 3 weeks and then Tanzania for another. So in total,
they covered about a month for me. The least I could do was return the favor a
couple weeks!
So I got into a daily grind of teaching at the school in the
morning and going into the slums during the afternoon. Oh by the way, I spent
just about every dime I had on the Kili trip, so I had like no extra money
until like 5 days ago when my stipend rolled in. *whew* So I ate every meal at
the Amani Center. Didn’t go out to the clubs(which was probably a good thing). I
just did my work thing, and spent a good amount of time watching movies on my
computer.
But Then!
I went to Karen to see the girls off! Yes, it’s true. The
girls are gone(FREEDOM! Just kidding. But seriously). I was only going to see
them into the cab because the cab ride back was gonna be a little expensive for
me, but Sr. Serva from the convent worked out some sort of deal with the cab
driver and I was able to go to the airport. I didn’t have to pay a thing! I
love free stuff. So I waved good bye to the girl, and they went home.
Then I went back to the grind. Now, there is a little bit of
added drama here. I’d been planning this trip to Uganda for a couple months
now, but Sr. Judette(head nun or whatever at the convent where I’ll be staying)
hadn’t been in contact with me in weeks! I couldn’t reach her or anything, so I
was beginning to think that maybe it wasn’t going to happen which would have
really stunk. Because, if you’ve been paying attention today, you’ll notice
that the American guys are gone. Henry left awhile back. And now the girls are
gone. I was really looking forward to going on this dang trip if not just to
get out of an empty house! Also there are these two really nice German who just
*happen* to be visiting the same convent at almost the exact same time give or
take a couple days. SO I REALLY WANTED TO GO. But finally, yesterday Sr. Judette calls me, and now I’ve got a bus ticket to
Uganda, and I’m sitting in a coffee shop waiting for the Uganda High Commission
to get their power back so I can get my visa. I could get it at the border, but
I’d feel much better with it already in my passport now just in case something
goofy happens at the border. Hence *almost* everything is going my way. But it’s
still pretty close and no real complaints!
Now I haven’t just done *nothing* while being alone. I’ve
gone to the local pub a couple times, and, being alone, I was actually able to
make a few new friends that past couple days. It’s almost a little bittersweet
that I’m leaving tomorrow! There was the group of Norwegians staying at the
Amani Center this past week, and there was one kid who was half American. I
mean, West Coast. But either way he and I hit it off OK, and they’re going to
Kisumu for a week and back to Nairobi for a week. Unfortunately, I’ll be in Uganda
then.
It’s OK though. I’m super excited about going to Uganda. I’ve
been out of the country a couple times since being here(Uganda and Tanzania),
but neither time did I get a really good look at the country for more than a
few hours. This time I’m gonna go around a bit. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a cheap
rafting company to take me white water rafting on the Nile! They got some big
ole’ rapids there. When I’m not gallivanting about, I’ll be working in the
school doing something with sports. I’m not sure yet. In Africa, you’re never quite
sure what you’re doing until you’re doing it. But it makes life a little more
fun sometimes that way, too.
Sr. Judette told me that one of the reasons she was having
trouble contacting me was because the Internet was very sketchy at best out
there. So I’m not going to plan on another blog update until after I get back
to Nairobi on around March 10th or 11th. And when I get
back, I’m looking to set up a couple basketball hoops. I found a store that
sells them relatively cheap. I just gotta find a way to mount them now. But I’m
a man! I can build them, right? Haha we’ll see!
-Harris
PS
There aren't any pictures here because I still haven't remedied my lack of cameraness. All the pictures from Kili were from the girls' camera. So we'll see! Well, at least I will anyway.
To Mail Me
Anything:
Benedictine Fathers
Amani Conference
Centre
P.O. Box 32101-00600
Nairobi - Kenya
To Donate
Anything:
Southern Benedictine
Society
100 belmont mount
holly road
Belmont, NC 28012
(Write "BVC -
Harris" in the memo section of the check)
No comments:
Post a Comment