A day of firsts

Saturday January 28^th

Today started with American Pancakes for breakfast. Heidi one of the students from the States kindly cooked them. Eating them out on the veranda here with the backdrop of the Rwenzoris was a real treat.

                                Breakfast with Heidi form USA and Ruth from Germany

The main business of our day off was a trip to the bank in Kasese around 50Km away. Shared taxis is the main transport here There are no shared minibuses that come this way so that it is a matter of cramming into a car. On the way there were 14 people plus a baby and a chicken in a car with 7 seats. I think they felt sorry for us as were in the back row of seats with just one other adult with a child on his lap. The driving standard was actually very good for a change.

                                                           Only a little bit crowded!

I have an intrinsic distrust of ATM machines. Are they going to malfunction? Will they eat your card? Will the money actually appear? Today however all was well. There aren’t many countries where you can withdraw money and become an instant millionaire! We also had time to have a soda at the Virina Garden Hotel which is probably the best Kasese has to offer. 

                                   The Virina Garden Hotel gives you a warm welcome

This afternoon we had a walk with Helen and Dave Lyth in the nearby hills which was very enjoyable and in the evening a farewell goat roast for 2 German medical students who have been here for 6 months. During the speeches the chaplain commented that in Africa there is increasing individualism as in the West and the sense of community is being lost. “I am because you are” is a very profound phrase stressing that the very best of being here is being part of a community where ones identity is very much tied up with those around us and I think we could learn a lot from that understanding at home.