The Christmas I had this year wasn't anything like the ones that I'm used to but I wouldn't have spent it any other way!

On Thursday the 19th myself and Georgia travelled back up to Kiahura where we would be spending Christmas and her birthday with all the girls. The 8hr taxi journey is a bit of a put off but luckily when we arrived at the old taxi park we managed to get in a brand new matatu (Big minibus taxi) and were allocated seats in the front with the driver. This was such a privalidge because the route that the taxis take goes through the Great Elizabeth National Park which is full of wild African animals. So there we were chilling in the front of this taxi chomping on my meat on a stick and corn on the cob whilst we were driving past herds of elephants, antelope, really cute wart hogs and big bunches of buffaloes. The savannah stretched as far as the eye could see, it was a real life stereotypical African scene.

On Christmas Eve we spent the majority of the day watching Sherlock Holmes on Kate's (our American friend) Apple Mac. In the evening the 9 of us girls had a nice set up of crisps, soda, popcorn and watched Elf! It finally felt like Christmas for us because here in Uganda there aren't any Christmas decorations, adverts, food.. Nothing.
On the morning of Christmas we all woke up early sat round the dinner table and opened our Christmas stocking that one of the girls Jodie had made for all of us. I got Georgia a ruby friendship bracelet, African key ring for her room key and a craft stuffed rhino to make up for the one she thought she "saw" at the national park. (But she didn't because all the rhinos are in the very north of Uganda) and her favourite drink. She got me a bar of soap, a snickers chocolate bar, my fave mango drink and two nail varnishes. Georgia said that I did best haha! Love my gifts though. After presents Steph was nominated to cook a fat fry up of bacon, scrambled eggs, beans and toast which was delicious. Once everyone was ready we walked down to Faiths (Stephs's hosts house) where we carried on watching Sherlock Holmes and the Walking Dead. Then we set off for Home Again orphanage where we had an African Christmas lunch with all the kids and played lots of games which ended up in a big water fight. It was so lovely to spend the day with the happiest, friendliest children I've ever met. In the evening we returned to Faith's where we made Christmas dinner no.2 consisting off meatballs, stuffing, mash, gravy and veg it was b-e-a-utiful!!
Funnily enough I wasn't homesick even though it was such a special day but it was so nice to have a phone call with all my family and hear about their day. On the 27th we treated ourselves to a day at Mountains of the Moon hotel in Fort Portal which is a lush hotel with a pool and spa facilities. Half the girls had massages whilst the rest of us chilled by the pool and soaked up the sun. As much as I love my little village Bukinda I am really enjoying having a break and travelling.
Tomorrow we're off to Jess and Abi's project in Mianzi which will be interesting as they live in a little room where they sleep, eat and cook with a tiny babula. They have a hardcore long drop without a seat like ours and have to walk to a bore hope to collect water.