June 16, 2007 Dubai U.A.E. 8:30ish
If I lived in a perfect world, where things go as planned and all things turned out right-I would have already spent my first night in Uganda.
Turns out I haven’t even made it to Africa yet. As of right now I am in an Emirates plane that has been delayed because of missing passengers. So much has happened since I first arrived in Cincinnati. It was difficult, I was tired, severely panicked, and didn’t know what to do. But thankfully I have come out it one piece.
Originally I had 20 minutes to get from one plane to the next. I got checked in and to the right gate only to find that it had been delayed by ½ an hour, which soon turned into an hour and then 2. It was supposed to leave at 7:25, but it didn’t take off until 10pm.
I had a connecting flight out of JFK that left at 11, but it takes 2 hours to JFK from Cincinnati. I was freaking out a lot because I knew I was going to miss my flight to Dubai. Fortunately I met Sophia who was going to Dubai as well. We decided to stick together and help each other get there.
When we finally got to JFK, we literally ran across the airport, dodging people and luggage trying to find out flight that turns out left 45 minutes earlier.
JFK seems to be approximately the size of St. Helens. It has a nifty tram (which I later rode for entertainment purposes) that has 9 different stations. It was ginourmous to say the least.
We then went to the Delta service desk. They helped us rearrange our flights, but could provide no accommodations (even though John told me the right lingo to use when dealing with airport people ;)
It was about 11pm New York time at this point and the next flight for me came at 11:20am (on the 15th), while the flight Sophia was taking was 11pm on the 15th.
Luckily she had a brother who lived near by who came and picked her up.
After she left I went and found where I needed to get my tickets later (it was 3am at the time and the service desk opened at 7am).
I intended to stay awake through the night, but I passed out until 5 am curled up against the Emirates information desk on the cement floor.
I woke up and found an old man who was also waiting for the same flight. He encountered the same situation the night before as me. His name was Sam and he was a Biochemistry professor at the University of Texas. We kept each other company until the desk opened.
When the desk opened I got my itinerary. Not only did I have a 12 hour layover in New York but I also had a 24 hour layover in Dubai
I am now skipping ahead a lot because I just realized most everyone already knows this and I don’t have a lot of time left.
June 16th 2007 Uganda Entebbe 5ish pm
I made it! It is beautiful. It is about the temperature of an Oregon summer day. It’s greener than I originally thought.
I am so relieved to be here. Even with all my sleep in Dubai I am still really exhausted.
Everyone here has been extremely friendly (although the taxi drivers are very overbearing).
Paul picked me and another girl named Sarah up at the airport. He has dropped me off at a hostel in Entebbe and is taking Sarah to her village.
I found out there will be another volunteer working at VOLSET with me! His name is Joe and he is arriving tomorrow morning. I’m really excited and glad that I will have company during my stay here.
June 16th 2007 Entebbe 7am ish
I have officially spent my first night in Africa. I took my first shower, if you can call it that, which consisted of me bending down under this cold water faucet that was about 3 ft off the ground (since the overhead faucet was broken).
I woke up about dawn since I went to bed so early, there were bug noises all through the night, but when it started getting light birds were chirping, roosters were crowing, cows were moo-ing, it was louder than the crowd of people who were partying outside my window the night before. Thank god for the dorms, I can now officially sleep through huge amounts of noise. J
I’ve got about a ½ hour till breakfast. I really hope there is coffee.
Paul is supposed to get here at 10ish, and then take me and Joe to the village. I am so excited.
There is only ½ power apparently-not enough for boiling water. No coffee. I think I might cry.