For all of the movies and documentaries focusing on the majestic beauty of Africa showcasing elephants and lions and wildebeests, the true landscape of Africa is steeped in blood and tears. For the first time, I see beyond the glossy pictures and videos of the DVD box set. Beyond the tourist’s eye, into how many…Continue readingNot Planet Earth: Life in Northern Uganda
Category: Exploring Africa
Life in a small town outside of the capital of Uganda–Jinja
Plunging head first into the mighty White Nile might seem like a stupid idea if you are hundreds of feet above. Thankfully we are young and stupid aaaaannnddd also strapped to a bungee cord. First Eric. Then Natasha. And finally myself. I partially blacked out when he gave the command to jump so I can…Continue readingBungee Jumping Over the Nile River
The waning days of February were spent as a political refugee in neighboring Kenya and Tanzania soaking up the sun as well as the molten barley and hops. Politics held center stage in Uganda with the ever controversial presidential elections which came and went without much conflict or change. Natasha and I left Jinja on…Continue readingExploring Zanzibar on the Swahili Coast
On the bus to Kampala, worrying about other transport, accommodation, thieves, and possessions, plugging into my iPod levitates my mind to a divine state. It drowns out my thoughts with each beat turning the passing landscape into a slide show of bananas and mangoes, cassava and jack fruit, stores and billboards. The colors are distinct…Continue readingTaking in the Sights and Sounds on the Way to Kampala
My first encounter with indigenous pottery proved to be educational and fun. Despite the terribly long drive to Kitungesa, almost 40 kilometers from Jinja, Alice, Lisel, and myself all had a great day learning about the process of a professional potter named James. Alice knew his sister from the Dembe group who made the arrangements…Continue readingLearning from the Master: Ceramics Lessons in Uganda
The last two weeks, Chris, James, and I have been digging 150 post holes to drop in and pack 7 foot poles then run 5 strands of barb wire around them all. We had 2 local men, hoes, spears, and loads of hot drinking water. The land is owned by the UAPO and will be…Continue readingThe Toughest Job of My Life: Building a Fence By Hand in Africa