Touch a Mzungu

     Generally, on my walk to and from work, the the only things that I walk past are the goats, cows, and chickens; however, today while I was walking home through "Shantytown," I passed a group of kids.  (Kids are everywhere here - probably because Uganda most likely has one of the highest fertility rates in the world.)  Because white people are such a novelty in this part of town, the kids usually stare at me...might wave...might yell MZUNGU (which means foreigner) in disbelief, but today as I was walking, 4 or 5 kids began yelling "MZUNGU" with a little more enthusiasm than I have seen before.  They then charged me and began grabbing my legs, my clothes, and whatever else they could get a hold of.  I think it is kind of like a game of chicken - who is brave enough to touch the mzungu?  Apparently all of these kids...haha

Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore

                Similar to Dorothy and her journey to Oz, in the past week, I have been transported to a world very different than my own.  Although moving across the world will inevitably introduce me to a completely different culture and a whole new set of experiences, I feel like I am adequately prepared.  Not only was I mentally ready for a big change in my life, my family and I have numerous friends who have traveled/worked/lived here.  Additionally, the large expatriate (foreign) community has necessitated the need to provide all modern amenities and conveniences.  Pretty much anything that I want, I can find here – it just might cost an arm and a leg.

                Anyways, to give you a quick rundown of what has been happening my first week in Kampala, I have moved into a house with two girls (Ann and Melanie) in their last year of med school at the University of Minnesota.  We live in Kamwokya, a neighborhood that would be equivalent to Cherry Creek by Colorado standards.  It is a fairly safe neighborhood, although we do have a giant metal gate with barbed wire on top as well as armed guards that are at our house 24 hours a day.  Kampala seems to have a thriving night life, which means that every night about 11:30 pm, the music begins.  Then every morning, the roosters wake me up when they begin crowing at about 6 am.  And don’t forget – mosquito nets are definitely a must to prevent malaria.

The view of Kampala from my window

We live within walking distance to Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), where I work.  MUWRP is a government (I think militarily-associated) institution mainly focused on developing an HIV vaccine, although they are also looking at avian influenza and ebola vaccines.  My lab is very international – I have a British supervisor, a German post-doc, a Ugandan, and another American.  

                During my first week, I have definitely hit a few bumps – everything from losing some of my luggage (which has now been returned), to getting lost on my way home from the airport, to (by far the most tragic) my roommates’ friend who was in a bad boda (motorcycle taxi) accident the night arrived, which he did not survive.  From what it sounds like, he was an incredible person – brilliant, compassionate, and full of life.  Both of my roommates are devastated by this loss and will be travelling the next two weeks to try and grasp what has happened.  Despite this tragedy, I have a good perception of the city and am hopeful that I will enjoy my time here.  Within the first week, I have already met many interesting people from all over the world and have numerous thought-provoking conversations.  And can’t even imagine who else I will meet and what else I will experience throughout the next 10 months.