A Reflection of My Life after living in Uganda as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

My Family Visits Part I: Welcome to Uganda!

The New Year has brought my family to Uganda! Mom, Dad and Melissa came in mid-January for 3 weeks of travel and Ugandan life. It’s been a whirl-wind trip moving around East Africa and spending time at my site in Gayaza.

My good friend Celeste also had a happy visit from her mom and brother. We had the opportunity to introduce our families to the joys of local food together. Restaurants in Uganda are not always marked. You must look for certain clues. On our walk in search of food that day I saw a lace curtain flowing in the wind from a door at the back of a house. I also saw a hand washing station directly outside that curtain. We decided to investigate and discovered it was a restaurant. Originally, we all ordered fish. The first three people got beautiful chunks of fish. Then Melissa was next and got the head. I followed with the tail. Then the lady told mom, “This fish is over.” Poor mom had to change her order and ended up with a plate full of rice and a small chicken leg.


After our local food experience, I decided to ease my family into Ugandan food a little easier so I took them to the best pizza place in East Africa. It’s a cute little brick-firing place on the shore of Lake Victoria. My family has claimed it may be the best pizza they have ever tasted in their lives!


Soon we left the safety and calm of Entebbe to the craziness of Kampala. We walked and rode matatu’s (public taxi’s) all around the city. They got to see the mass organized chaos of the taxi park area and markets. They continue to be amazed at how many people are all around at all times. The dense population was not something they were expecting.




Amidst the business of Kampala is a little restaurant on Lake Victoria. They serve whole fish and chips. They don’t have silverware so the fish must be taken apart by hand. Everyone loved this experience. We’re not sure if it’s the best fish we’ve ever eaten because we ate it fresh from the lake we were looking at or because it truly is. Maybe a little of both.




After a few days in and around Kampala adjusting to the time difference and getting used to Uganda a little, it was time to start exploring the rest of the country. We rented a car to take us into the Southern Hemisphere were we spent the following week a and half traversing the South West of Uganda and parts of Rwanda. As Uganda is one of about 10 countries where the equator passes through, we had to stop and take a picture.

5 comments:

  1. I was waiting for a family post. I love the equator picture!

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  2. YAY!! Finally pictures! My favorite is the equator picture. But I must say... been there, done that (FIRST).

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  3. Oh fun! Glad your family got to see/experience part of where you live. Next stop, Ecuador, our equator monument is much cooler! :)

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  4. are you serious telling me that the best pizza might be in east africa?! i thought maybe i'd had it in italy. now i have to go there.

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  5. HOw wonderful to have your family visit. I remember your Mom telling us about the trip. It looks like you all had a great time. All of you are such special people; you have open, loving hearts that are willing to explore and take in others. Your Mom and Dad have given all you girls a spirit of adventure that you have used to help others; its great. I am blessed to have you all in my life.

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