Life in Uganda
Uganda is a country rich in resources and diversity. Not only there are 54 languages and hundreds of tribes but the country is hosting thousands of refugees from Sudan and Congo.
The food is simple but so delicious and organic (my body was happy for once). My favorite were rolex and samosa. It was there I drank the sweetest most amazing juice.
The local means of transportation are mottos and taxis. I learned to drive a motto and amazed the locals (white boda-boda lady who would ever imagine).
East Africans would address you as muzungu (which means white). Walking the streets you could expect to hear this 10x per day “Hey, muzungu I wanna marry you”, “Hey, muzungu do you want to be friends?”. Fun fact (quite easy to foresee) prices are determined by the color of your skin but also by means of transportation you are using or which part of the city you are coming from or the clothes you are wearing (this applies for natives). That being said everything is negotiable and nothing is fixed.
Time is a relative concept. You show up when you show up, when it rains you don’t show up. That’s something that took time for me to adapt to. Another thing I would consider a cultural shock is locals being so straightforward (I’m straightforward but that was another level) and the use of English. For example they would say “you have a funny face” or “Krista, it seems you gained some weight (with this food was impossible not to)” or “You look a bit heavy” or “This girl so stubborn eh (which means funny, not stubborn as we know it)”.
I spend substantial time in various Ugandan hospitals accompanying my friends. Generally in terms of health Uganda is pretty safe and they have great hospitals. I did not get sick at all for the 4 months I was there only bitten by mosquitoes A LOT (take repellent, drink your pills everything will be good)!