Amsterdam

So, this will be my first post as I sit at an internet cafe at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. I am certainly in Europe, judging by the oh so tiny cups of coffee and abundance of cigarette smoke.

I am very excited, and not tired in the slightest. This is surprising since I've had very little sleep over the last 40 hours, and it is approaching bed time back home. Instead, I feel very engaged and awake. I have wanted to come to Africa since I was a little girl. Somewhere I got the idea that I would go to Africa and "learn to speak Zulu".

Actually, I think I do know - it was a National Geographic documentary that I saw nearly 20 years ago. I had no idea where in Africa they spoke "Zulu", but the image of beautiful Zulu women adorned with exquisite beaded jewelery in a backdrop of a golden savana has stayed with me ever since.

Lots of people are asking, "why Uganda?". The only answer I have is that my experience is more of Uganda picking me. I just knew I wanted to travel, and knew I wanted to do more than stay in hotels and tour around a country. I just opened myself up to whatever might arise. I met two dear friends who introduced me to a wonderful Ugandan nun, Hilda Bamwaine, who is living here in the United States in Redwood City. We have become great friends and with a generosity that has left me nearly speechless, she extended her network of friends and family to me as I travel to Uganda. This, along with many other accounts describing the incredible beauty and richness of this country, was a major inspiration for choosing Uganda.

I will arrive in Kampala on Friday night, and will stay in a nearby suburb for the first few days and in the general vicinity of Kampala for the first week.

After this I will travel to Hilda's home village which is near Kabale, close to the Rwandan-Ugandan border. Here is a community, that includes Hilda's sister Teopista, that has a very rural life. No electricity, and water is fetched 3 miles away out of the river. I will sleep in the thatched roof hut that belongs to Hilda's family, and am told I will be warmly greeted by the women. I have a suitcase full of soccer gear, clothes and other toys for the women and children of the community - thank you to everyone who contributed.

The lack of a clean water supply is obviously a grave concern. In addition to the obvious bacterial and viral risks associated with drinking water out of a river that is used for many purposes, malaria is a very heavy burden on the women and children who draw the water from the river. They are far more likely to catch malaria due to the constant need to visit the mosquito infested river bed.

I have discovered an organization called Drop in the Bucket that works to build bore wells in rural villages. Only $3500 pays for the construction of a new well, and I will be working to raise money to build a well in this village. They have built a number of wells already and say that the improved health of the children is abundantly clear only a year after a well is installed.

There are many many villages that lack clean water, and helping make it happen in one village is a very small thing, but I suppose not for that one village. I am hoping that as I travel to this community I can bring my community (you all) to them a little as well.

All for now, going to check on my flight status.

Much love to all,

Sara