Africa

I arrived at midnight and was greeted by Rev. Isaac Nsereko and his secretary Annet.
Ah Africa. The air is moist and warm and I am in the shadows of the night. Faces only appear as white teeth. People are a blur and I am whisked away by my new companions to Uganda's capital city, Kampala.

Mind your step, the side walks are broken. My friends have a sixth sense about their feet and I have to concentrate to get my barrings in a world where lights are dim and cool night air brings people to gather under the street lights of a city that has expanded beyond its infrastructure.

Annet greets me in the morning to take me around Kampala. Changing money is the first order of the day. Old bills receive a lower exchange rate, 1700 shillings to the dollar. New bils will bring 2002. Who would have known. It is not in the guide book.

We hop a motorcycle and we are off to manage all the shopping as there will be little where we are going. We head to the African Culture Center and we barter and shop for Suna and the sponsors. The dollar creates instant rapport and we smile and laugh our way through a dozen booths gathering necklaces and earrings and baskets for all.

Then off to the Parliment building and the guards take our pictures. Food, by now we are starving and then and then and then ..... whoosh the day is over, still in a blur and even the cold shower feels good.

In a city of 1,400,000 people I have seen only four other white faces today. My economy hotel is a refuge from the chaos of dodging traffic and minding my step.

I am here I am well. I am now in Masaka close to the Nserester Institute. Tomorrow graduation day.