Adjumani

Well, I hit the ground running. On Friday I flew in a little 6 seater airplane with Catharine, Megan, and Francis up to a town called Adjumani. The flight up was beautiful! Uganda is so green. Normally we would drive, but it has been raining heavily in recent weeks and the road is in terrible shape, strewn with cars and trucks that have gotten stuck. The trip should be a 5-6 hour drive, but the by-pass road that now has to be used would take us 12-14 hours! So, we were very glad to be able to go by plane.

The town of Adjumani grew up around the Sudanese refugee camps. There are perhaps 20 in the area. The city only provides electricity for 4 hours a day: from 7-11pm. Children of Hope has a site up here. Almost 150 students are enrolled in the project. While here we met with the site coordinators, the mentors, and some of the students. I am glad for the chance to meet the students and get to know them a bit.

Things take longer here in Africa. I’ve attended several 4+ hour meetings! Relationships are extremely important here. So, in meetings, things happen deliberately. Much time is given so that everyone has the opportunity to speak and share their ideas/concerns.

In Uganda, things are pronounced and phrased differently: At our hotel, Catharine is staying in a Suite (pronounced ‘suit’). I had fish fillet for lunch (fillet is pronounced as it is written, not with the usual –ay ending). When you walk somewhere, it is said you are “footing” it. A taxi is called a “special hire.” Cell phones are called “mobile” phones. You don’t say you attend a church, instead you say you “pray” at such and such a church. You don’t turn right, you “branch” right.