Adventure Time!!!

some updates on my trip to Kampala, Uganda. I went a few weeks ago to visit my friend Sarah who was working there!

16 hours on a bus ride: and there is The Nile River!
Things you learn on a 16 hours bus ride: patience, the roads in Kenya are much worse than in Uganda, going through the Uganda border at 5am is ridiculous, the drive is beautiful, and you can read a lot of Game of Thrones.

Here is one of the markets! It is SO MUCH less overwhelming than Nairobi's famous Masai Market- let me tell you. I did get some cool pants out of this trip.

casually doing a handstand at the Baha'i Temple- gorgeous view of Kampala and it's hills- I was then yelled at, "This is not a place for physics, but for meditation and prayer" whoops- guess I will have to stop doing "physics" - that gave us a good laugh.

 Here is a panoramic view of the Baha'i Temple- It was truly beautiful.

This is the King's Palace. I didn't realize Uganda had kingdoms still- and two parliaments! One for the government does political affairs and the kingdom's parliament deals with cultural and traditional affairs. Learn something new everyday!

If I were religious- I could dig this.

Some old cars at the palace.

I lost some of the photos I have from our trip to Lake Victoria- but I tried Nile Perch (which was actually delicious), and we did a boat ride around sunset on the lake, which was beautiful! Hopefully I can recover some of those photos from a friend.

Any who... since then I have been working with Fruitful and dealing with some both amazingly generous and great people as well as some just terrible soul-less creatures. I mean that in the nicest way.  Unfortunately I had to meet some people who just don't care about, well, other human beings. Actually this was more fortunate than unfortunate. It was, yet again, another learning experience. Dealing with people who for some reason are working in the NGO/ development field with nothing behind them but their paycheck. I had to come across them eventually right? And now I know how to respectfully and rightfully deal with them. Time to move on ahead team.


Also my grad school applications are coming along slowly but surely. Anyone have any tips for writing a personal statement? You would figure since I love talking about myself so much a personal statement would come easily. But no sir (or mam). That is not the case. Alas another challenge to overcome in the next week or so.


Also a few friends and I went out for halloween! Which was a lot of fun, and went much later than I'm used to staying out. But we were the cast from Adventure Time! (cough cough- check out this posts' title), here's a photo of Princess Bublegum and Marceline:

ALSO A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MY BABY SISTER FOR NOT ONLY GETTING INTO HER TOP CHOICE SCHOOL BUT GETTING A SCHOLARSHIP. I am so so so proud of you Erin! go celebrate for me! And I will buy you a mango juice to celebrate once you get here :)


Last but not least- the adventure's I am about to embark on.

I have been planning this for a few weeks now, but it's official I am traveling for three weeks!

I am starting off visiting Eliza (my roommate from last year, and one of my best friends), in Tanzania and am going to kick it with her around the rural parts for about 10 days.... then off to Kigali Rwanda for 5 days, onto Gisenyi for 5 days (solo travel- SO EXCITED)...then finally to Burundi where I'm meeting Andrew who I have met both in Nairobi and Kampala. Then I fly back to Nairobi late on the 8th of December. BOOM !

Then NOT ONLY THAT but the day after I get back, Kyle is coming to visit, so the plan is to go exploring around Kenya, and I'll finally get to see Hells Gate and hang around Naivasha.


So basically I have an incredible few weeks ahead of me- If I ever get my grad apps finished that is.

I won't have internet in Tanzania but once I'm in Rwanda I should have time to post an update or two.


I could not be happier right now, I'm so glad I decided to take a year off and volunteer and travel. In the spirit of Turkey Day (which- I will celebrate while i'm in Rwanda)- I am thankful for the opportunity to work and travel and having the most supportive friends and family anyone could ever ask for.

don't forget to smile today :)