First bit of information: DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. This was something I had been used to! It was the same situation when I lived in Mexico. I actually don't remember it being this hard though, maybe because I only showered once a week back then. Anyway, back to Africa. We were told not to drink the water. AKA Don't open your mouth in the shower and certainly do not brush your teeth or drink anything from the sink. Good to know.
It was so much harder!
We had a tough time adjusting to the time difference, even though we suffered from serious sleep deprivation from the flights. We woke up at 4am and couldn't sleep, but luckily I purchased some sleeping pills in the US before, just in case. We popped some of those, and then we were out until about 10. Lou and Jeri went to the mission office to work for the first half of the day so they could get some things done before taking time off to take us around the country. Here's what it looks outside their apartment!! And this too!! (It took me forever to upload these pictures and finally had to just put them on youtube)
When we woke up, they had left instructions for breakfast while they were gone. We got ready for the day, ate, and then Lou came back to pick us up. We went to the office to pick up Jeri. We met a slew of missionaries who had been at the office, and also a few people who work there. Susan. AP's. Victoria. Veronica. Some sister missionaries. One of them said "I have a disease, I can't shake hands, I must give hugs to sisters." It was so sweet.
After leaving the office, we drove through town to the International Market. It sort of looked like a secluded area off of the road with a large grassy area in the middle of a row of small shops. There were about 25 or so, and each of them had pretty much the same type of thing inside.
They had painting on fabrics, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, animal statues. All sorts of things. Just a little variation from store to store. When you saw what you were interested in, you'd ask the storekeeper "What's your best price?" and the bargaining would begin.
We found some great things. Everything is made of ebony, mahogany, or soap stone. Well, those are the most popular. Their currency is the shilling, but the exchange rate is crazy. About 2000 Uganda Shilling is equal to $1. We bought all these great animals for about 8000 Shilling and it really is a deal. There was 1 lady who really wanted to sell us some bracelets. It was one of the first stores we went in, so we wanted to look around. She kept trying to sell before we left. I didn't know what to do, so I told her we'd come back. In her lovely African accent, she said "You won't come back." It was kind of funny, but she was right. We spent all our shilling we had exchanged for the day and didn't go back. We said "you won't come back" the whole trip, and it became a little joke. Sad, but funny.
There was another lady we met at the International Market who was an excellent sales woman. She would smile, and touch my arm, hold my hand, talk to Collin, and then to Lou and try, but not be pushy, to sell us. It worked though. We got a few things from her and went on our way to the next one.
Every once in a while, the vendors would call us brother, sister, mama or papa. It was funny to see their tactics to get us into their store. Instead of saying "come in" or "welcome," they all say "You're Welcome" with the same dip in their voice. It was great.
After hitting up both of those markets, we made a quick stop at the Mission Office again, and then back to L&J's apartment where Lou made us a homemade dinner that was delicious. He's such an incredible, creative cook. I need to take some lessons.
This was on the road to/from their apartment! Right in the middle of the road! This was a typical sight!!! So fun!!
They live in a nice apartment in a safer part of town. Their apartment complex has 4 levels, with 2 apartments on each floor. Three of the apartments have Couples from the mission living in them. The Barlow's are Humanitarian missionaries and the Beachley's are Perpetual Education Fund (CES/Seminary/etc) missionaries. And the AP's live in a smaller building right next door, which is like a duplex. They live on one side while the guard (Henry) lives, who also washes the cars and such. We always felt safe with Lou and Jeri. We never stayed out in town late at night and with a guard and big gate to enter their apartment, it was always secure.
No comments:
Post a Comment