Blog 2: in a tiny boiling humid sticky internet cafe. Equipped with RM keyboards which require sledgehammers just to punch in a letter at a time. Stacks of harddrives block the single fan attempting to cough already hot air around the little room, working tirelessly for little benefit. And how much for this service? 1000 Ugandan Shillings (USh) an hour - about 28p. We are well and truly here. Africa. Only 3 days in and I have felt like a resident native.

I was so prepared to be living in sticks and mud with no electricity or water. So I was gob smacked when we were ushered into our Entebbe hotel for the first night, to find 2 beds with nets AND a fan! We even had an en suite! With running water AND electricity. UK plugs no less! Needless to say me and Phil enjoyed our palace.

The leader of the volunteer organisation, James, picked us up, and immediately began the humbling and prolonged Ugandan tradition of welcoming all newcomers to his company. "You are most welcome. You are most welcome. You are most welcome". Eventually this phrase becomes as commonly associated with being introduced to people as blessing a sneeze. Consequently I feel very wlcomed!

Day 1 and we make a detour with James to a nearby charity programme started by an ex-professional footballer. Running an orphanage with about 32 beds, Daniel takes in local orphans and feeds them and provides them a bed. However he has another programme with the potential to collaborte with CALM Africa; he goes from school to school teaching football and running programmes. Sometimes featuring big footy names from Cameroon, he prompts lessons regarding HIV awareness and family planning and the importance of hygiene. As a result, 2 of his former pupils have gone on to become professional footballers, and many of the local orphans have become top of their classes. Mainly because they have the advantage of a stable lifestye with food and a bed to sleep.

After this touching first insight into the massive problems Uganda are struggling through, we took a beautifully scenic, but very uncomfortable journey to our house for the next 2 months. BRICKS. Not a mud hut! Very shocking. Once again James, and his wonderful wife Juliet who runs admin, welcomed us on multiple occaissions and showed us around. While small in size and fairly basic, it has character and all the provisions we would ever need. Electricity has a tendancy to cut out an dissappear for several hours, but it's simply not a commodity here. We have rechargable kits and candles. What more do you need? The house hasn't had running water for several months before we got there. So we have drinking water from jerry cans - similar to the office water stations back at home. Washing water comes from big Jerry cans brought from a well pump daily. This makes showering simpler but so much more enjoyable. Wake up. Boil a jug of water. Add to a wash basin. Top up with water from jerry can. Make it quick and feel refreshed. Beautiful! Going to the loo is also fairly interesting. Shan't elaborate. Needless to say it has made me profoundly appreciate water as a precious source. When the water came back yesterday I kept to the original routine out of preferance.

The food is also a chane of pace. Usually potato or rice or pasta featuring a source and a small side, the food is simple. But so delicious. This sums up the way of the Ugandan; not a scrap of indulgence. And what a relief it is to be in a community that is in such stark contrast to the fast-paced, business-template orientated UK social climate.

Everyone is a born and bred story teller; James described at passionate length about the Ugandan history; their tribal origins, the country's recent birth and struggles with dictators, civil disputes and the role of religion. This is a man's society, where every bloke has a political opinion, and is all too happy to engage in a light-hearted debate.

We're staying with two other volunteers; Hannah who is our age and Alison who is coming up to 40. Both of them have been as supportive and welcoming as the Ugandan people; a hopeful sign that good manners rub off on others! Both have allready been here for 2 years and keen to provide invaluable tips and friendly company.

So that is pretty much the basics covered. Uganda summed up in one word; hospitality - in every sense of the word. Don't be fooled that other countries in Africa produce people like the charming, welcoming, genuine individuals of Uganda. This is a country grounded in humility and are completely and utterlly unique.

Next step in our epic journey; coming face to face with the children we will be helping for the next 8 weeks.