The trip from Seattle to Entebbe, Uganda was every bit as tiring as I’d feared it would be. I had at least been reassured that Entebbe was the right airport through which to arrive in Kampala, one of those many niggling worries I had in the final few days.  It is amazing how hard it is to pack for 90 days.  Even though Kampala is a major urban area and thus I could likely replace anything I really needed, somehow missing packing something essential seems so wrong.

When the seatbelt sign went off after my 27.5 hour travel odyssey, my first thought was “Oh my what am I doing?”  Fortunately, that feeling passed quickly.  The Entebbe airport looked like most other airports, and as I was led to expect, getting the visa was a straightforward process.  I am now the proud owner of a 60 day visa for Uganda.  Since I am returning to the US in late September for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, I will have the chance to get another visa and not have to worry about getting into trouble with the Uganda immigration authorities.  I consider this a good thing. J

Arriving at night meant that I didn’t get to see much on the 40-some odd kilometer drive from Entebbe to Kampala, so my first real view of Kampala came the next morning on the drive into the UNICEF office, but day one at the office will be the subject of the next post.

I am currently staying with one of my new colleagues at the office while I look for someplace to live here.  She’s got a beautiful back garden and we’ve already had some very pleasant and relaxing evenings on her back porch sipping wine, looking at the foliage, listening the birds and insects, and enjoying the temperate evening weather.

Next up, day one at the office and morning one, in all its (at least for the morning loud) glory.