I am loving the what? Uganda.

Kampala… what a place. After some tearful goodbyes and a 24-hour transit, I finally arrived: tired, excited, anxious, and with a broken lap top (hence the delay in posts). After being here just over a week, I’m what the locals call “fresh meat.” And I must admit that I have felt the name somewhat fitting at different points during my stay: as I stand in confusion as to what taxi-bus to board; laying in bed, unable to sleep because the nightclub underneath my guesthouse is blaring “Ice Ice Baby” at 3 AM; wishing I knew the word for “slow down” in Lugandan as I careen down a hill on a boda boda (local transportation on the back of a small motorcycle).

Despite all of these initial misgivings, I have found the city and people to be incredible. It has also been enjoyable to learn the different lingo that Ugandans use and the confusion that often ensues because of my prior ignorance. When driving one day, Dr. Carol (my host counselor and the Ugandan equivalent to my Grandma Lola) almost hit a small car ahead of her because the car failed to put on its “indicator” (blinker). To maneuver out of the situation, Carol had to “revance” (put in reverse; opposite of advance maybe?) her Toyota. After getting off of the taxi-bus one morning, I asked the conductor politely for my change and received only a dumbfounded expression. Another muzungu (local word for white person that children often shout at you) on the taxi kindly informed me that I should be asking for my “balance” instead. Last night I was sitting at an outside restaurant with a local girl when it started raining and she suggested we “shift” inside…

However, the most interesting communication quirk I have encountered thus far is “the what?”. In an academic setting, many lecturers will stop mid-explanation and insert “the what?” and then proceed to answer his or her own question. On my first encounter with “the what” I kept trying to answer the impossible questions posed to me. For example, on my lab tour with the lab manager Fred, I got quite confused when Fred said:

“In our lab we primarily study the what? Tuberculosis transmission. It has become an increasingly serious problem because of the what? Close living conditions. While here you will be completing several experiments focusing on the what? Organism’s genome.”

I must go now because I am running out of the what? Internet café minutes. Posts should be more frequent since I have purchased the what? New laptop. I just wanted to let you all know that I have arrived safely and am having the what? Fabulous time.