5/19/09 – KAMPALA, UGANDA

I stepped off of the plane only vaguely aware of my new location. We’re often chided not to be so focused on the destination as to forget the journey...but I was so involved with the mundane of my journey I almost disregarded the destination. The wonder of landing in Africa was an unfamiliar realization. But it hit me – suddenly and acutely – literally attacking every sense. First it was smell. Not foul or off but an increasing difference from the boxed air of the plane as I walked down the strip. I took in a deep breath and was struck by the inability to articulate just what I was smelling. And as the smell became stronger before leveling off, the feel came next. My sweatshirt needed for the chill of the plane suddenly felt heavy and oppressive. The sticky warm air clung to me and I was both relieved and shocked by the sudden change of my environment. The black of night left me unable to see my own feet in front of me and I was dumbstruck as we all piled onto the bus. So new. I was trying desperately to take in my surrounding without missing anything and failed. Never is it possible to see and experience all that is in a moment. It seems unfortunate but it occurred to me the trip had but just begun and there would be many an opportunity, an uncountable number of more moments to try and take in the most of what was to be had. I had to snap out of my trance, however, as I realized we were driving down the “wrong” side of the road. I panicked, needlessly, before remembering the left was indeed the “right” if not the correct side to drive on. Something tells me it will be just one piece I will see as backwards. It’s day one in Uganda and I can only imagine that my life, like the roads, is about to seem terribly backwards and to be flipped completely upside-down.