Here it is, my first blog entry from Uganda! Been here almost 2 weeks now and they have been busy ones! On our first night we stayed with James & Isabel, a lovely couple employed by Project Trust. At the time however, we didn't quite realise just how luxurious there house actually is!

Last Sunday morning our hosts (a local person employed by PT to help us get settled) arrived and all the voluneers went our seperate ways. Myself and my partner Roxy (who now goes by Anne as Ugandans seriously confuse R's with L's. 'Loxy' didnt appeal, and 'Ira' instead of 'Isla' is becoming more apparent!). Anyways we travelled with David - our host - by public transport to our project. That was interesting to say the least! We were crammed into taxis (small minibuses really) wih our huge backpacks even though there was a;ready 2 peopls to a seat. One Ugandan man said 'in Africa, anything is possible'. Which I think just about sums it up! After the white knuckle driving (mum you'll be pleased to here the roads are only the 2nd most unsafe in Africa..) we finally make it to what would be our home for the next 10 months.

Well, what can i say. Its basic.. 2 rooms which aren't joined (quite glad really as one is crawling with ants, cockroaches, mice and who knows what else!) BUT both rooms do have electricity! Okay we may have to wash in a basin of rainwater the boil it to drink but hey we can charge our western devices like there's no tomorrow! And I need to mention our neighbours John & Esther and all the kids that live with them as they've been such a help!

Visited Hope For Youth Uganda (HFYU), the school we will be teaching at, last Monday. It is a basic school with no electricity and only a blackboard to teach with. About 260 kids are students here, most of them are poor or orphaned so no school fees have to ba paid. Oddly enough however, they all support English Premiership football teams. Arsenal being a favourite!

"Eh Mzungu, i love you!" is also a common phrase for us here. 'Mzungu' being a white person.. we are few and very far between! Apart from that, teaching is going better than expected and we're starting to find our feet. Of course I'm missing you all and sometimes it would be easier just to come home but this is what I've signed up for (not to mention spent over a year planning!).

Lots of Love across the world!!

Isla

xxxx

ps. one last odd thing, in Mukono there are boys sitting around who you pay to paint your nails!

pps. okay two last things.. its amazing how few times you need to use the toilet when it's a longdrop ...google it!