Thwarted

As I suspected, my carefully laid plans were, of course, thwarted. I got to Kampala without a hitch... well, okay, except that I didn't have any idea when/where to get off the bus, but that worked itself out... and then, there I was, looking at the native instrument exhibit in the national museum, when I got a call from my tour company. Apparently yet again someone cancelled, dropping the trip to too few people to justify taking us out. I was really irritated because I had come all this way, and being British the woman took some sympathy on my desire for things going as they've been planned. She offered me free accomodations in the campsite/lodge that the tour company runs until the next departure, which is on Monday. This one, she says, will definitely go. There are more than enough people and they've already paid in advance. So I toyed with just going back to Jinja, but I really do need a change of scenery and I've been looking forward to seeing the Falls... so I took her up on her offer. And here I am in the Red Chilli Hideaway. It's not luxurious, but they gave me a nice room with... wait for it... electricity! I have a light AND a fan. It's amazing. There are also proper working toilets on the campsite with no bats. It's heaven in Uganda.

My big task until Monday is to try to figure out what to do with myself. There are a few things to see, like the tombs of the Baganda kings, a nice resort by Lake Victoria and some cute fishing villages, a swamp where you can see the elusive shoebill, etc. So I should be okay.

I have to say, though, I'm starting to get a bit lonely. As a verbal processor, it is really hard to be operating in an environment where everyone's English vocabulary is extremely limited, plus you are an outsider so you can't really "download" in the way I'm used to. Plus, I completely abhor the other foreigners. I just don't think white people should wear dreadlocks. And, would it kill them to smile and be friendly to the Ugandans who work here?

So all of this said, I was actually really grateful when last night I was eating a grilled cheese sandwich here at Red Chilli and a Ugandan man in a tuxedo shirt asked if he could share my table. It turns out that he is a lawyer/human rights activist who had some business with a staff person at the Red Chilli. He was fascinating to talk to, because he serves as an election observer in Uganda, and he has some really interesting insights into the current regime. He also has political ambitions himself, so it was interesting to hear about that as well. I realized how much I miss talking about politics! Or just talking in general, really. Anyway, I'll be curious to see where the Ugandan government heads, and whether this guy will end up being part of it.

Okay, off to find something to do with myself.