Hello friends and family -
Let me tell you that Uganda is an amazing place full of amazing and interesting people. Erin and I have been mostly just aclimating to our new home and surroundings. Already though I've installed a water heater in their home. The power is one only half the time so they'll get warm showers about half the time, a huge improvement according to them. Erin is working on a flower/herb box for Holly. Actually, when I say we're doing it, I mean more that we're supervising. The people here insist on helping and doing the hardest parts... labor here is unbelievably cheap. However, everything isn't very cheap. A dinner in town costs $10, groceries for the week are about as much as home surprosingly. Anyway, on with the stories...
Maybe I told you my somewhat rude introduction to Uganda. The car broke down on the way to Lira from Kampala so we had to find "alternate methods of transport". Erin and Holly luckily were able to get a comfortable ride home, but Ben and I had a heck of a time. We took 3 more vehicles, of which only one was somewhat road-wortht. They crammed us in to a little minivan twice with 30 adults ( probably a dozen more babies). I'm not kidding , in a van designed for no more than 10. We also had goats who were kicking my legs and bleating in my ear and ckickens which continued to advance towards me until one actually started to peck at me. But I got back at them.... On Friday Ben and Holly had a party that Erin and I helped prepare for. Erin bought and carried on her bike 4 chickens, and I slaughtered some of them. That night was surreal ! Everyone wanted to make a speech, and it went on and on with speeches that made little sense ( they were in English so I could understand the words). After the speeches was the dance party. Ben is so in his element here. He put on the techno and started busting a move... they LOVED it. It was unbelieveable, they were getting up and mimicking Ben and his crazy ( by everyones standard) dance moves. Then the music woudl be turned off and an elder from the Acholi people would teach us all a traditional African dance. Then they'd ask for more techno, and on and on this went... I was laughing, crying, and simply awestruck the whole night, it's really hard to capture in words the perfect melding of cultures and joys that happened.
Today I rode Ben's bike around town and just explored and people-watched. I got in a couple bike races with the Boda-Bodas. They are the primary means of transport here in Lira. They pick up people and have them sit on the back of their bike and race through town, it's quite fun, and cheap !
There is so much to write about. I made a list to remind myself of the important things to mention, but it's a home.. so you'll have to wait. Nect weekend we're going to a friends village outside of town. They've been preparing for our arrival for weeks I'm told. We hear also that they've been preparing 4 kinds of traditional dancing and singing... can't wait !! We're both healthy and happy. Thanks for lending your ear (or eyes I guess).
God bless,
Josh and Erin
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