Espen and I decided to take a trip to the north east coast of Spain. We got to be really good tourists, and we now know all about Antonio Gaudi.
We had great fun, and got to see a lot of nice things. And of course, a bit of shopping too. The most interesting shopping experience was the local market, where they sold all kinds of things. The best buy: A gift for my sister, chinese coups and plates (well, I am not too sure if it actually is chinese, but it looks like it, it looks nice and I like it), and shoes for 3 euros:)
But the real reason I am writing this, and what really made me pissed, was that on our first day in the city, someone, some really bad members of the human beings decided to make my visit to Barcelona a little less nice than I had planned. These or this person, I do not know how many there was, somehow justified for themselves that they were more entitled to my belongings than I was. So, as magicians, they managed to open my purse (with a zipper on it), take my cell phone, open my wallet and completely emty it for money and my kreditcard, only to nicely close the wallet, place it back in the purse and close it with the zipper. All without neither me nor Espen noticing. Was I angry when I found out? YES.
However, for unknown reasons they decided not to take the whole wallet, or the whole bag for that matter, so that I still had my Visa card and all the other stuff left in my wallet. How nice of them!
The next morning, I paid a rather interesting visit to the policestation, and got to be interviewed by a young, spanish man, speaking English as good as he could. He gave me a document in spanish telling what was stolen, and I intend to give this to my insurance company.
And then I hope that I will get my money back, and money for the new phone I had to by. What else do I pay insurance for??
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Back to.. reality?
We spend two days at the orphanage, which was to be found 1.5 hours outside Kampala, in Masaka Road, south east in Uganda. I cannot find words to describe what it was like yet. Richard, the director needed to get the files which contained information of each child (about 500) organized, so that was my job while being there. I hope it will be of help in the future. The surroundings were beautiful, and you could actually see the Lake Victoria from there. The children who are living there have been taken from the streets of Kampala, but they may be from up north or even Rwanda before they ended up in Kampala. The reason for ending up on the streets are various, but the most common reasons are that the parents are dead or not capable of taking care of their children. This includes child abuse. I heard a couple of stories,where the childs mother died, the father found himself a new wife,who was not fond of the child and thereby beat her up and kicked her out of the house. Another girl had actually killed her own mother,
We were taken to meet some of the youngest children at the orphanage, and they started singing and dancing with us,that was really great!
It was a very emotional experience, but at the same time, it is good to see that someone are working to help these children. The director is worried that if noone acts now to get the children from the streets, Kampala may within ten years become somewhat like Nairobi, with huge criminal problems among streetchildren that have become older and developed high scale criminal gangs.
We spend one last evening in Kampala, and of course we had to visit Bubbles one last time as well! There was supposed to be a live music evening, as it also was, but it was good when it ended, because it was not very.. nice to listen to. However, it was a very nice evening and we met up with people we just met as well as people we had met before.
We went to have dinner at Mamba Point, Italian restaurant, and once again, too bad we didnt visit it before. The food was soooooo good! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And they knew the true meaning of the service consept!
It was a long night, which resulted in Mia not getting up as early as planned the next morning. Ellen and I went to do some last minute shopping, and I got myself an extra suitcase, since I had to much stuff to be brought home. The rest of the day was spent on packing everything, and then Kaja came with us to the airport when the time had come to head back.
The flight was good, I ate, slept, ate and went off the plane in Brussels. Nice city! It was freezing cold (at least for two Mzungus without winterclothes and used to nice warm weather!) so I had to buy myself a scarf and some gloves.
And of corse I had to do a bit of shopping as well:)
We met up with two of Ellens friends whome used to be her colleagues in India.
Then we went back to the airport and flew home.
Espen met me at the airport, and we went directly to Kongsberg.
The first meal I had in Norway for three months was.. a cheeseburger, but damn it was good!!! Farris Bris, and salty liqorice. Mmmm.
Some of the things I am noticing that I no longer have to worry about is that there is no sand in the food I am eating, there is no mosqitoes that I have to worry about, nor any other sticking animals. There IS a toilet, and it is clean and not about to fall apart anytime soon. And there is HOT water...
Norway is cold. It is strange to be back, and I have to admit that I think I miss Africa already. However, I still have not met any of my familiy or friends, so I am really looking forward to that!
And to get started with the master thesis and to get myself organized as I am right now actually homeless!
FOR NOW, THANK YOU AFRICA!
We were taken to meet some of the youngest children at the orphanage, and they started singing and dancing with us,that was really great!
It was a very emotional experience, but at the same time, it is good to see that someone are working to help these children. The director is worried that if noone acts now to get the children from the streets, Kampala may within ten years become somewhat like Nairobi, with huge criminal problems among streetchildren that have become older and developed high scale criminal gangs.
We spend one last evening in Kampala, and of course we had to visit Bubbles one last time as well! There was supposed to be a live music evening, as it also was, but it was good when it ended, because it was not very.. nice to listen to. However, it was a very nice evening and we met up with people we just met as well as people we had met before.
We went to have dinner at Mamba Point, Italian restaurant, and once again, too bad we didnt visit it before. The food was soooooo good! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And they knew the true meaning of the service consept!
It was a long night, which resulted in Mia not getting up as early as planned the next morning. Ellen and I went to do some last minute shopping, and I got myself an extra suitcase, since I had to much stuff to be brought home. The rest of the day was spent on packing everything, and then Kaja came with us to the airport when the time had come to head back.
The flight was good, I ate, slept, ate and went off the plane in Brussels. Nice city! It was freezing cold (at least for two Mzungus without winterclothes and used to nice warm weather!) so I had to buy myself a scarf and some gloves.
And of corse I had to do a bit of shopping as well:)
We met up with two of Ellens friends whome used to be her colleagues in India.
Then we went back to the airport and flew home.
Espen met me at the airport, and we went directly to Kongsberg.
The first meal I had in Norway for three months was.. a cheeseburger, but damn it was good!!! Farris Bris, and salty liqorice. Mmmm.
Some of the things I am noticing that I no longer have to worry about is that there is no sand in the food I am eating, there is no mosqitoes that I have to worry about, nor any other sticking animals. There IS a toilet, and it is clean and not about to fall apart anytime soon. And there is HOT water...
Norway is cold. It is strange to be back, and I have to admit that I think I miss Africa already. However, I still have not met any of my familiy or friends, so I am really looking forward to that!
And to get started with the master thesis and to get myself organized as I am right now actually homeless!
FOR NOW, THANK YOU AFRICA!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Last week of Africa
Came back from Nairobi by bus last night, after traveling for almost 15 hours, and was very pleased to find Kaja and pizza at the grand hostel when we arrived!!
After finally deciding not to extend our stay, we went by ferry from Zanzi to Dar es Salaam, and met up with Siri for dinner, very nice:) Early (at 7) the next morning we went by bus to Nairobi. The company is supposed to be the best in this region, called Scandinavian Express. We got our ticket the night before departure, and got the two last seats, in the middle all the way in the back. On the company's web page, it says that the busses are in a very good condition, with toilet, A/C and more. However, we did not see any of that. What we got was a shabby bus with no functioning suspension (stoetdemper). Lets just say it was a bumpy ride for 16 hours. But what we did get was to see a BEAUTIFUL landscape in Tanzania and Kenya, the bus had to slow down not to hit giraffes and zebraes, and for a Mzungu from Norway, that is cool! Ellen's friend, Phyllis came to meet us with her brother Moses, and we stayed with their family the whole stay. They were sooo nice to us, and we had a really great time there. We went to the national museum, to a giraffe center were we got to hand feed the giraffes, on the top of KCC with a view over Nairobi, a rather poor safari walk in Nairobi NP, the Karen Blixen museum, and finally, we made it to Hells Gate NP. That was fantastic!! We rented bicycles and went cycling among zebraes and giraffes and many other animals. Luckily it was only plant eaters around;) And I was very happy to finally get to see a bat eared fox!! So nice:). We also went to the "Hells gate" with a guide, and at the lowest we were 125 feet below sealevel. they are building a large geothermal plant in the area. The water in the ground was HOT, you could even boil eggs there! We went in to Masai land too. Our guide that happend to be a masai, invited us to a masai village and told us about the oppurtunity to stay in a cave in masai land, a whole night and wach wild leopards eat. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in this world. I think I will have to come back. It was a beatuiful landscape, great smells from the trees and and... just GREAT.
We are supposed to do some voluntering at a childrens orphanage these last days of our stay, but since I can not reach the contact person today, I am not sure of what is going to happen.
It feels somewhat strange to think about that I am leaving this continent in a few days, but I am at the same time very much looking forward to see Espen, my family and friends again, its been a while.
Some words at the end, that will not make much sense in English so I will have to write it in Norwegian. Ellens quote after seeing a Masai man at the roof of a house:
- Det er bedre med en masai paa taket, enn ti i handa!
After finally deciding not to extend our stay, we went by ferry from Zanzi to Dar es Salaam, and met up with Siri for dinner, very nice:) Early (at 7) the next morning we went by bus to Nairobi. The company is supposed to be the best in this region, called Scandinavian Express. We got our ticket the night before departure, and got the two last seats, in the middle all the way in the back. On the company's web page, it says that the busses are in a very good condition, with toilet, A/C and more. However, we did not see any of that. What we got was a shabby bus with no functioning suspension (stoetdemper). Lets just say it was a bumpy ride for 16 hours. But what we did get was to see a BEAUTIFUL landscape in Tanzania and Kenya, the bus had to slow down not to hit giraffes and zebraes, and for a Mzungu from Norway, that is cool! Ellen's friend, Phyllis came to meet us with her brother Moses, and we stayed with their family the whole stay. They were sooo nice to us, and we had a really great time there. We went to the national museum, to a giraffe center were we got to hand feed the giraffes, on the top of KCC with a view over Nairobi, a rather poor safari walk in Nairobi NP, the Karen Blixen museum, and finally, we made it to Hells Gate NP. That was fantastic!! We rented bicycles and went cycling among zebraes and giraffes and many other animals. Luckily it was only plant eaters around;) And I was very happy to finally get to see a bat eared fox!! So nice:). We also went to the "Hells gate" with a guide, and at the lowest we were 125 feet below sealevel. they are building a large geothermal plant in the area. The water in the ground was HOT, you could even boil eggs there! We went in to Masai land too. Our guide that happend to be a masai, invited us to a masai village and told us about the oppurtunity to stay in a cave in masai land, a whole night and wach wild leopards eat. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in this world. I think I will have to come back. It was a beatuiful landscape, great smells from the trees and and... just GREAT.
We are supposed to do some voluntering at a childrens orphanage these last days of our stay, but since I can not reach the contact person today, I am not sure of what is going to happen.
It feels somewhat strange to think about that I am leaving this continent in a few days, but I am at the same time very much looking forward to see Espen, my family and friends again, its been a while.
Some words at the end, that will not make much sense in English so I will have to write it in Norwegian. Ellens quote after seeing a Masai man at the roof of a house:
- Det er bedre med en masai paa taket, enn ti i handa!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Zanzibar
Ive been at Zanzibar for one week now, and I really dont want to leave this place, it's soo nice!! Its just like paradise. Ellen and I have stayed up north in the village of Nungwi, and just relaxing at the beach and went snorkeling a couple of times. (Ellen has got her divers lisence too!!).
When I said I wanted to go on a boat trip, I had a calm evening with sunbading and reading at the deck of the boat in mind. What I got was a wooden boat, BIG waves (afterall it is the Indian ocean), and lots of water overboard making me soaking wet and frightened, as there were two lifejackets to be divided on a total number of 12 people. It got better when we arrived Mnemba Island that was the destination for snorkeling. I was snorkeling around on a protected reef, and swimming with loads of different fish, including nemo fish:) That was much fun!
Met a lot of people, mostly Europeans and locals (obviously a lot of Norwegian people around as the locals new some norwegian as well). There where some other girls from the course in Uganda there as well, so we had a really good time! Yesterday Ellen, Helene and I arrived Stone Town again. Helene went to Dar es Salam, whereas Ellen and I have been on a spice tour today. That was a wet, but fun experience. It was raining very heavily in Nungwi yesterday, and it seems like the rain reached Stone Town today. We saw loads of different spices and how they actually grow, and loads of fruit, I even had cocoa today!! It was yumy! We also entered a cave, where they untill 1890 hided slaves which they smuggled trough a tunnel to the sea and shipped to the Middle East.
The plan for the evening is to plan our trip ahead, as we have changed the original plan. We are thinking about going from Dar (Tanzania) to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, from there to Botswana and then finally Cape town. Then from there to Johannesburg and then back to Dar for a couple of days more at Zanzibar, then to Lamu at the north coast of Kenya, then Nairobi and finally Kampala, Uganda before we head back sometime in November. I hope we will find a nice and price wise friendly route.
I am doing very well, my health is good, and no bad experiences so far about anything.. well a couple, but nothing really bad anyway.
I have a lot of nice photoes, but it is difficult to find a public computer where I can actually upload them, so you will have to wait in exitement;)
Comments are appreciated!!
Ciao for now!
When I said I wanted to go on a boat trip, I had a calm evening with sunbading and reading at the deck of the boat in mind. What I got was a wooden boat, BIG waves (afterall it is the Indian ocean), and lots of water overboard making me soaking wet and frightened, as there were two lifejackets to be divided on a total number of 12 people. It got better when we arrived Mnemba Island that was the destination for snorkeling. I was snorkeling around on a protected reef, and swimming with loads of different fish, including nemo fish:) That was much fun!
Met a lot of people, mostly Europeans and locals (obviously a lot of Norwegian people around as the locals new some norwegian as well). There where some other girls from the course in Uganda there as well, so we had a really good time! Yesterday Ellen, Helene and I arrived Stone Town again. Helene went to Dar es Salam, whereas Ellen and I have been on a spice tour today. That was a wet, but fun experience. It was raining very heavily in Nungwi yesterday, and it seems like the rain reached Stone Town today. We saw loads of different spices and how they actually grow, and loads of fruit, I even had cocoa today!! It was yumy! We also entered a cave, where they untill 1890 hided slaves which they smuggled trough a tunnel to the sea and shipped to the Middle East.
The plan for the evening is to plan our trip ahead, as we have changed the original plan. We are thinking about going from Dar (Tanzania) to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, from there to Botswana and then finally Cape town. Then from there to Johannesburg and then back to Dar for a couple of days more at Zanzibar, then to Lamu at the north coast of Kenya, then Nairobi and finally Kampala, Uganda before we head back sometime in November. I hope we will find a nice and price wise friendly route.
I am doing very well, my health is good, and no bad experiences so far about anything.. well a couple, but nothing really bad anyway.
I have a lot of nice photoes, but it is difficult to find a public computer where I can actually upload them, so you will have to wait in exitement;)
Comments are appreciated!!
Ciao for now!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Slutt paa kurset, start paa reise!
Fredag hadde vi avsluttende eksamen paa de 15 poengene vi har tatt her i Uganda. Det var en tretimers eksamen og gikk forholdsvis bra. Kvelden ble tilbrakt paa fin indisk restaurant med deilig mat og drikke i regi av skolen. Var veldig hyggelig. Senere paa kvelden gikk vi paa vart stamsted, Irish pub, med det fengende navnet Bubbles O'learys! Very najs! Ble litt kanakas kan man si, men var veldig morsomt!! Store dager av loerdagen ble tilbrakt paa stamkafeen, Cafe Pap, med deilig frokost og kaffe. Deretter spiste vi deilig biff paa en,uheldigvis, nyoppdaget restaurant. Merker at jeg snakker mye om mat her naa, men har merket veldig godt hvor viktig mat egentlig er, saa naar vi kommer over noe godt, er det nesten syvende himmel!
Vaar gode venn Kristian reiste fra oss igaar kveld, og Ada og jeg skulle bli med paa flyplassen, ikke bare for aa si hade,, men ogsaa slik at vi rakk og overfoere de siste bildene fra pcn hans. Mens vi fikset det og sa hade paa utsiden av inngangen, sjoerte sjaafoeren vaar et stykke unna hvor han kunne parkerre for det var ikke lov til aa staa foran inngangen (kl 01.30 og INGEN biler). Bilen sto parkert maks 2 min. Da vi kjoerte ut av omraadet ble vi vinket inn og en politibetjent satt seg inn i bilen og ba oss kjoere tilbake fordi bilen hadde vaert parkert ulovlig. (Igjen, midt paa natten og ingen andre der). Endte med at det var 3 betjenter som hevdet at bilen hadde staatt ulovlig parkert, og at dette var alvorlig, de var nesten noett til aa ta det til retten. Ada og jeg torte ikke helt gaa ut av bilen og snakke folka til fornuft selvom vi veldig gjerne ville. Enden paa visa var at etter 45 min med absurd pisspreik fremmet politibetjentene forslaget om aa betale en liten sum saa skulle de la denne alvorlige overtredelsen gaa. Sjaafoeren prutet ned fra 50 000 til 30 000 shilling (ca 100 kr). Sjaafoeren hevdet at prisen steg ettersom det satt to mzunguer i bilen, og at han ville maattet betale 10 000 (30 kr) dersom han var alene. Daarlig samvittighet overfor han som vi fikk , betalte vi 2/3 av summen. Naa er jeg neimen ikke sikker paa hvem som har lurt hvem, men saann endte det da. Om Mia var frustrert og forbanna? JA.
Var hjemme og i seng kl 03.00 i natt, og ble vekket kl 8 av skredderen som fant det for godt aa komme med kjolen jeg var lovt til torsdag, altsaa bare 4 dager for sent!. Litt grumpy da ja, og kjolen var ikke heelt ok, ,men skal faa den igjen i kveld og haaper han har faatt fikset det til da.
Betalte bare ca 80 kr for aa faa den sydd, saa det gaar heeelt fint!
Vi blir forhaapentligvis hentet kl 4.30 i morgen tidlig for aa ta fly til Zanzibar!! Noen fra kurset har ankommet allerede og sier vi skal glede oss, og det gjoer jeg!! Blir en natt i Stone Town foer vi drar paa nordkysten av oya. Vi har planlagt aa vaere pa Zanzi i en uke., foer vi drar videre til Mombasa i Kenya, og opp til nordkysten for aa besoeke den lille oya Lamu. Deretter drar vi opp til Nairobi og moeter Kaja og Ada der, samt en venninne som Ellen ble kjent med da hun jobbet i India. Gleder meg villt og haaper alt gaar bra! Siste uka skal vi tilbringe paa et barne hjem paa utsiden av Kampala. Ble kjent med et norsk/ugandisk ektepar som driver barnehjem for foreldreloese og trengte frivillige. Aner ikke hva jeg skal gjoere forelopig, men blir nok en larerik erfaring!
De siste ukene har gaatt veldig fort, og jeg maa innromme at jeg har blitt mettet paa inntrykk i Uganda. For to uker siden var tanken paa aa reise rett hjem veeeeldig fristende, men naa gleder jeg meg til vi skal paa tur og saa blir det hjem etterpaa, gleder meg masse til det!!!
Har hatt det utrolig bra her, veldig laererikt og spennende aa leve her og se hvordan ting funker, i mange tilfeller ogssaa hvordan det ikke funker!
I loepet av turen har det blitt mye bra sitater, og jeg har benyttet anledningen til aa skrive noen ned. De fleste sitatene maa dedikeres til Elin, fordi hun staar for endel av dem;)
- See! Der er det giraffer! En hel familie!!! (Elin i full ekstase over tre traer som kan skimtes over horisonten paa safaritur i Murchison).
-Its dog on the window! (Elin om dugg paa ruta i en matatu (taxibuss).
-See! En mann som jogger!! (Elin peker og utbryter dette om.. nettop en mann som jogger)
Personlig lo jeg meg halvt ihjel da jeg selv presterte aa utbyte noe som jeg ikke skjoente betydningen av foer jeg faktisk sa det...
Vi hadde gruppearbeid paa rommet mitt, og vi satt alle paa senga. Det var en plass mellom meg og en annen, og Martin sa, paa en mellomting mellom engelsk og norsk, at han ble cought midt i mellom. Uten aa tenke meg videre over utsagnet, flyttet jeg meg, lagde plass paa enden og sa : Saann! Naa er du ikke cought midt i mellom lenger!
Foerst da forstod jeg hvordan det kom ut og latterkrampen var et faktum.
Videre har vi
- Is it....filterkaffe tror du?
(Elin paa kafe'..)
-Det hadde jo vaert litt halvsnop..
(Kristian om aa dra paa Pap)
-I gaar vettu, that was the first time I realized it..
(Elin igjen;))
-He's quite hard...always.
(Noe om Steff som kom ut paa en litt feil maate)
-Miaaa, ae vill ha sjokolaaadee!
(Ellen om ,.. sjokolade i overfoert betydning)
Alt dette er selvfoelgelig mye mer artig for meg enn for dere,men deler det med dere allikevel!
Videre har jeg utvidet ordforaadet mitt og naa faatt plasst til flotte ord som mur, mursnop og mursnacks.
Internettkafeen jeg naa befinner meg paa, har aircondition, noe som passer meg bra, for i dag er det syyyyyykt varmt her i Kampala.. Er visst litt regntid her naa. Her om dagen satt vi paa balkongen (Ja, noen av oss har vaert saa heldige aa ha balkong!!!) og saa og hoerte paa kraftig regn, lyd og torden. Men idag er det altsaa skyfri himmel, og i mine planer skal det vaere saan n paa Zanzi hele den kommende uken:)
har kjoept meg endel jenteblader her nede, saann for aa faa et lite innblikk i hva som foregaar og hva kampala jenter er opptatt av...
I bladet CityBeat kom jeg over en side som heter lonely hearts.
Her er et lite utdrag fra noen av annonsene:
-Northern Ugandan woman, dark, slender good loooking and ready to make love, looking for a white guy for a strong relationship.
-Ugandan chatolic lady, 27, wants a single, respectable man, 30-40 yrs, learned, wealthy, God-fearing and ready to settle down and ready to test for HIVat least three times. No jokers.
-ugandan girl 19, looking for friends from UK, USA, canada, sweden and other countries
-Unemployed protestant guy wants a job and working lady resident alone,to love and be loved
-muganda muslim guy, light skinned medium size, searching for a muslim sugar mummy from all races particularly swahili and ugandan tribes. All I need is a serious relationship.
-ugandan guy, 24, would like to get in touch with a financially stable, fat and brown sugar mummy , 28-35 for a long term relationship.
... looking for a very fat driving lady..
-looking for a humble, intelligent reserved white girl resident in uganda...
To hele sider med dette!!
Har flere ganger blitt snakket til av ugandiske gutter som henger paa det vestlige kjoepsenteret og leter etter hvite jenter som alle er the love of their life!....
Naa maa j eg gaa, skriver forhaapentligvis mer fra Zanzi!
ciao
Vaar gode venn Kristian reiste fra oss igaar kveld, og Ada og jeg skulle bli med paa flyplassen, ikke bare for aa si hade,, men ogsaa slik at vi rakk og overfoere de siste bildene fra pcn hans. Mens vi fikset det og sa hade paa utsiden av inngangen, sjoerte sjaafoeren vaar et stykke unna hvor han kunne parkerre for det var ikke lov til aa staa foran inngangen (kl 01.30 og INGEN biler). Bilen sto parkert maks 2 min. Da vi kjoerte ut av omraadet ble vi vinket inn og en politibetjent satt seg inn i bilen og ba oss kjoere tilbake fordi bilen hadde vaert parkert ulovlig. (Igjen, midt paa natten og ingen andre der). Endte med at det var 3 betjenter som hevdet at bilen hadde staatt ulovlig parkert, og at dette var alvorlig, de var nesten noett til aa ta det til retten. Ada og jeg torte ikke helt gaa ut av bilen og snakke folka til fornuft selvom vi veldig gjerne ville. Enden paa visa var at etter 45 min med absurd pisspreik fremmet politibetjentene forslaget om aa betale en liten sum saa skulle de la denne alvorlige overtredelsen gaa. Sjaafoeren prutet ned fra 50 000 til 30 000 shilling (ca 100 kr). Sjaafoeren hevdet at prisen steg ettersom det satt to mzunguer i bilen, og at han ville maattet betale 10 000 (30 kr) dersom han var alene. Daarlig samvittighet overfor han som vi fikk , betalte vi 2/3 av summen. Naa er jeg neimen ikke sikker paa hvem som har lurt hvem, men saann endte det da. Om Mia var frustrert og forbanna? JA.
Var hjemme og i seng kl 03.00 i natt, og ble vekket kl 8 av skredderen som fant det for godt aa komme med kjolen jeg var lovt til torsdag, altsaa bare 4 dager for sent!. Litt grumpy da ja, og kjolen var ikke heelt ok, ,men skal faa den igjen i kveld og haaper han har faatt fikset det til da.
Betalte bare ca 80 kr for aa faa den sydd, saa det gaar heeelt fint!
Vi blir forhaapentligvis hentet kl 4.30 i morgen tidlig for aa ta fly til Zanzibar!! Noen fra kurset har ankommet allerede og sier vi skal glede oss, og det gjoer jeg!! Blir en natt i Stone Town foer vi drar paa nordkysten av oya. Vi har planlagt aa vaere pa Zanzi i en uke., foer vi drar videre til Mombasa i Kenya, og opp til nordkysten for aa besoeke den lille oya Lamu. Deretter drar vi opp til Nairobi og moeter Kaja og Ada der, samt en venninne som Ellen ble kjent med da hun jobbet i India. Gleder meg villt og haaper alt gaar bra! Siste uka skal vi tilbringe paa et barne hjem paa utsiden av Kampala. Ble kjent med et norsk/ugandisk ektepar som driver barnehjem for foreldreloese og trengte frivillige. Aner ikke hva jeg skal gjoere forelopig, men blir nok en larerik erfaring!
De siste ukene har gaatt veldig fort, og jeg maa innromme at jeg har blitt mettet paa inntrykk i Uganda. For to uker siden var tanken paa aa reise rett hjem veeeeldig fristende, men naa gleder jeg meg til vi skal paa tur og saa blir det hjem etterpaa, gleder meg masse til det!!!
Har hatt det utrolig bra her, veldig laererikt og spennende aa leve her og se hvordan ting funker, i mange tilfeller ogssaa hvordan det ikke funker!
I loepet av turen har det blitt mye bra sitater, og jeg har benyttet anledningen til aa skrive noen ned. De fleste sitatene maa dedikeres til Elin, fordi hun staar for endel av dem;)
- See! Der er det giraffer! En hel familie!!! (Elin i full ekstase over tre traer som kan skimtes over horisonten paa safaritur i Murchison).
-Its dog on the window! (Elin om dugg paa ruta i en matatu (taxibuss).
-See! En mann som jogger!! (Elin peker og utbryter dette om.. nettop en mann som jogger)
Personlig lo jeg meg halvt ihjel da jeg selv presterte aa utbyte noe som jeg ikke skjoente betydningen av foer jeg faktisk sa det...
Vi hadde gruppearbeid paa rommet mitt, og vi satt alle paa senga. Det var en plass mellom meg og en annen, og Martin sa, paa en mellomting mellom engelsk og norsk, at han ble cought midt i mellom. Uten aa tenke meg videre over utsagnet, flyttet jeg meg, lagde plass paa enden og sa : Saann! Naa er du ikke cought midt i mellom lenger!
Foerst da forstod jeg hvordan det kom ut og latterkrampen var et faktum.
Videre har vi
- Is it....filterkaffe tror du?
(Elin paa kafe'..)
-Det hadde jo vaert litt halvsnop..
(Kristian om aa dra paa Pap)
-I gaar vettu, that was the first time I realized it..
(Elin igjen;))
-He's quite hard...always.
(Noe om Steff som kom ut paa en litt feil maate)
-Miaaa, ae vill ha sjokolaaadee!
(Ellen om ,.. sjokolade i overfoert betydning)
Alt dette er selvfoelgelig mye mer artig for meg enn for dere,men deler det med dere allikevel!
Videre har jeg utvidet ordforaadet mitt og naa faatt plasst til flotte ord som mur, mursnop og mursnacks.
Internettkafeen jeg naa befinner meg paa, har aircondition, noe som passer meg bra, for i dag er det syyyyyykt varmt her i Kampala.. Er visst litt regntid her naa. Her om dagen satt vi paa balkongen (Ja, noen av oss har vaert saa heldige aa ha balkong!!!) og saa og hoerte paa kraftig regn, lyd og torden. Men idag er det altsaa skyfri himmel, og i mine planer skal det vaere saan n paa Zanzi hele den kommende uken:)
har kjoept meg endel jenteblader her nede, saann for aa faa et lite innblikk i hva som foregaar og hva kampala jenter er opptatt av...
I bladet CityBeat kom jeg over en side som heter lonely hearts.
Her er et lite utdrag fra noen av annonsene:
-Northern Ugandan woman, dark, slender good loooking and ready to make love, looking for a white guy for a strong relationship.
-Ugandan chatolic lady, 27, wants a single, respectable man, 30-40 yrs, learned, wealthy, God-fearing and ready to settle down and ready to test for HIVat least three times. No jokers.
-ugandan girl 19, looking for friends from UK, USA, canada, sweden and other countries
-Unemployed protestant guy wants a job and working lady resident alone,to love and be loved
-muganda muslim guy, light skinned medium size, searching for a muslim sugar mummy from all races particularly swahili and ugandan tribes. All I need is a serious relationship.
-ugandan guy, 24, would like to get in touch with a financially stable, fat and brown sugar mummy , 28-35 for a long term relationship.
... looking for a very fat driving lady..
-looking for a humble, intelligent reserved white girl resident in uganda...
To hele sider med dette!!
Har flere ganger blitt snakket til av ugandiske gutter som henger paa det vestlige kjoepsenteret og leter etter hvite jenter som alle er the love of their life!....
Naa maa j eg gaa, skriver forhaapentligvis mer fra Zanzi!
ciao
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tilbake i Kampala
Startet en laang blogg foer helgen, som forsvant da nettet plutselig hoppet ut paa skolen.
Nuh har jeg 4 min igjen paa nett, men kan oppsummere at jeg har tilbrakt helgen paa en oey i viktoriasjoen og at det var helt fantastisk!
Er naa kun to uker igjen av kurset, tida flyr! Har heldigvis faatt maks ut av den , og saa skal jeg vaere i Afrika og ta litt ferie noen uker til.
Hittil har to stk blitt bitt av hundene som vokter hostellet om nattan, jeg har blitt paaskjoert, og Kristian har faat kraftig matforgiftning.. heldigvis har alt gaatt bra!!!
Naaa skal vi spise indisk og saa paa kino;)
Skriver mer senere!
Nuh har jeg 4 min igjen paa nett, men kan oppsummere at jeg har tilbrakt helgen paa en oey i viktoriasjoen og at det var helt fantastisk!
Er naa kun to uker igjen av kurset, tida flyr! Har heldigvis faatt maks ut av den , og saa skal jeg vaere i Afrika og ta litt ferie noen uker til.
Hittil har to stk blitt bitt av hundene som vokter hostellet om nattan, jeg har blitt paaskjoert, og Kristian har faat kraftig matforgiftning.. heldigvis har alt gaatt bra!!!
Naaa skal vi spise indisk og saa paa kino;)
Skriver mer senere!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Never turn back while walking by the road...
Hei igjen!
Naa foeler jeg at jeg har mye aa skrive hjem om altsaa! Starter med torsdag forrige uke, da vi dro til sjimpansekonservatet paa Ngamba Island i viktoriasjoen. Var stas og hoere om arbeidet deres med aa redde sjimpanser som har blitt foreldreloese eller forsoekt solgt ulovlig. Forferdelige greier, men de som kommer til denne flotte oeya har det i alle fall veldig bra!! Haha, det var en av sjimpansene som ikke likte oss noe videre, saa tok likegodt rennafart og kasta dritten sin paa oss. Ble heldigvis ikke truffet, men noen av de andre i klassen fikk seg noen flekker her og der! Gikk derfra ganske fort, og fikk se da alle kom fra skogen for aa faa middagen sin. De er saa utrolig like oss mennesker. Vi har ca 98% lik DNA, og det merkes. Da vi kom av baaten i Entebbe ble vi moett av noen herlige apekatter som spiste noetter av handa mi,og DET var stas det!!
Loerdag morgen sto jeg opp kl 0430 for aa reise til Murchison Falls nasjonalpark. Afrikatiden er fortsatt intakt og vi sto opp saa tidlig, bare for aa vente paa bussen vaar i en time...zzz... men det var verdt det!!! Hadde en morsom tur for aa komme oss dit. Da vi hadde rundet en sving og saa utover baaare jungel, fikk vi beskjed om aa lukke vinduene for ssesse fluer*vet ikke hvadet heter paa norsk*, noen meter etter punkterte vi, og alle maatte ut av bussn. Da var de liksom ikkke saa farlige lenger likevel. Tidligere ga de en slags sovesykdom, men er visst ikke farlige lenger. Er foroevrig det som er grunnlaget for nasjonal parken ogsaa, tidlig paa 1900 ble omraadet forlatt grunnet denne flua, og da i 1952 ingen ville flytte tilbake, lagde de det om til np.
Vi bodde paa en studentkamp langs elva som skiller parken i to, 300m fra 5* hotell, men vi maatte skjoere buss dit for aa spise middag og frokost *,m,mmmmmmm en historie for seg selv* grunnet at vi kunne risikere aa moete paa boeffler, flodhest og lignende. Ah, for enopplevelse!!! Kjoerte langt uti parken og fikk se giraffer, elefanter og boeffler samt masse til. Men det raeste var da vi fant loever under et tre, var ca 5 m i fra de!!!! Luuuuuuuuuugnt!!!
Dagen etter var det baat paa nilen og se hippo og crocs, pluss pluss!
Tida renner ut her. men maa bare skrive om pedikyren kaja og jeg fikk utenfor hostellet, i en groeftekant i royken fra et baal, av to menn, for 5 kroner!!! Haha, og sef kom det masse folk fra klassen hjem akkurat da og fikk se oss!
Saa naa har jeg flotte rosa totter med litt hvitt paa.hahah
Naa foeler jeg at jeg har mye aa skrive hjem om altsaa! Starter med torsdag forrige uke, da vi dro til sjimpansekonservatet paa Ngamba Island i viktoriasjoen. Var stas og hoere om arbeidet deres med aa redde sjimpanser som har blitt foreldreloese eller forsoekt solgt ulovlig. Forferdelige greier, men de som kommer til denne flotte oeya har det i alle fall veldig bra!! Haha, det var en av sjimpansene som ikke likte oss noe videre, saa tok likegodt rennafart og kasta dritten sin paa oss. Ble heldigvis ikke truffet, men noen av de andre i klassen fikk seg noen flekker her og der! Gikk derfra ganske fort, og fikk se da alle kom fra skogen for aa faa middagen sin. De er saa utrolig like oss mennesker. Vi har ca 98% lik DNA, og det merkes. Da vi kom av baaten i Entebbe ble vi moett av noen herlige apekatter som spiste noetter av handa mi,og DET var stas det!!
Loerdag morgen sto jeg opp kl 0430 for aa reise til Murchison Falls nasjonalpark. Afrikatiden er fortsatt intakt og vi sto opp saa tidlig, bare for aa vente paa bussen vaar i en time...zzz... men det var verdt det!!! Hadde en morsom tur for aa komme oss dit. Da vi hadde rundet en sving og saa utover baaare jungel, fikk vi beskjed om aa lukke vinduene for ssesse fluer*vet ikke hvadet heter paa norsk*, noen meter etter punkterte vi, og alle maatte ut av bussn. Da var de liksom ikkke saa farlige lenger likevel. Tidligere ga de en slags sovesykdom, men er visst ikke farlige lenger. Er foroevrig det som er grunnlaget for nasjonal parken ogsaa, tidlig paa 1900 ble omraadet forlatt grunnet denne flua, og da i 1952 ingen ville flytte tilbake, lagde de det om til np.
Vi bodde paa en studentkamp langs elva som skiller parken i to, 300m fra 5* hotell, men vi maatte skjoere buss dit for aa spise middag og frokost *,m,mmmmmmm en historie for seg selv* grunnet at vi kunne risikere aa moete paa boeffler, flodhest og lignende. Ah, for enopplevelse!!! Kjoerte langt uti parken og fikk se giraffer, elefanter og boeffler samt masse til. Men det raeste var da vi fant loever under et tre, var ca 5 m i fra de!!!! Luuuuuuuuuugnt!!!
Dagen etter var det baat paa nilen og se hippo og crocs, pluss pluss!
Tida renner ut her. men maa bare skrive om pedikyren kaja og jeg fikk utenfor hostellet, i en groeftekant i royken fra et baal, av to menn, for 5 kroner!!! Haha, og sef kom det masse folk fra klassen hjem akkurat da og fikk se oss!
Saa naa har jeg flotte rosa totter med litt hvitt paa.hahah
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
4 uker i Uganda
Hellau!
Siden jeg ikke har faatt noen kommentarer paa engelsk, gjoer jeg det enkelt og skriver paa norsk!
Har naa tilbakelagt en uke paa landsbygda utenfor Mbale, og det var helt topp! Har traska rundt i tre dager og intervjuet boender (noen bedre stilt enn andre), og det har vaert i verdens vakreste landsby! Ble nesten helt lamslaat av naturen og stillheten, og alle de hyggelige menneskene! Var daler og fjell og og... saaaaa fint altsaa!
Naa sitter jeg med vond hals (har bank i bordet ikke vaert syk enda, men er redd det kommer naa) paa internettkafe og sjekker litt hva som skjer i verden, og saa skal Ellen og jeg gjore noen forsok paa aa bestille flybilletter til Nairobi og Zansibar, og kaaaanskje Cape Town, men er svindyrt ned dit! Testet ut et par travel agencies uten mye hell. Man kan jo tenke seg hvor fort det gaar.... og hvem har hoert om et smil og det flotte konseptet bak ordet SERVICE? haha..
Nei, skal enn gjoerra noe, faar en gjoerra det selv!
Ellers bruker vi denne uka paa aa skrive rapport fra feltuka vaar, som skal presenteres paa fredag. I morgen torsdag skal vi paa felttur til Ngamba Islands, og til helgen skal vi til nasjonalpark, gleeder meg!
Uka etter blir brukt ute i felten, men vi skal sove hjemme. The Grand Hostel ble nesten luksus naar vi kom hjem fra Mbale, saa er kanskje like greit;)
Hmmm... tja... og ellers... Lever livet. Har funnet oss en Irish Pub, som er full av Mzunguer og noen innfoedte, uheldigvis er mange av de prostituerte, saa vi har maattet utgi oss for aa vaere sammen med (de usedvanlige goodlooking) guttene i klassen noen ganger.
Men det er god stemning der, og spenndende og moete folk fra all over, og som ikke bare stirrer paa deg og roper Mzungu, how are you??? Ok, overdriver litt da, men begynner aa bli liitt lei av aa konstant bli tatt for aa vaere rik tursit fra vesten, da jeg bare er en stakkarslig fattig student fra Norge.
Anyways, naa skal jeg joine Ellen og se om vi lykkes i aa finne noen billetter, saa blir det aa handle ting til halsen min, og saa hjem til Grand og spise middag, saa legge meg i senga og proeve aa bli frisk til helgen!
Apekattene og edderkoppene hilser!
Siden jeg ikke har faatt noen kommentarer paa engelsk, gjoer jeg det enkelt og skriver paa norsk!
Har naa tilbakelagt en uke paa landsbygda utenfor Mbale, og det var helt topp! Har traska rundt i tre dager og intervjuet boender (noen bedre stilt enn andre), og det har vaert i verdens vakreste landsby! Ble nesten helt lamslaat av naturen og stillheten, og alle de hyggelige menneskene! Var daler og fjell og og... saaaaa fint altsaa!
Naa sitter jeg med vond hals (har bank i bordet ikke vaert syk enda, men er redd det kommer naa) paa internettkafe og sjekker litt hva som skjer i verden, og saa skal Ellen og jeg gjore noen forsok paa aa bestille flybilletter til Nairobi og Zansibar, og kaaaanskje Cape Town, men er svindyrt ned dit! Testet ut et par travel agencies uten mye hell. Man kan jo tenke seg hvor fort det gaar.... og hvem har hoert om et smil og det flotte konseptet bak ordet SERVICE? haha..
Nei, skal enn gjoerra noe, faar en gjoerra det selv!
Ellers bruker vi denne uka paa aa skrive rapport fra feltuka vaar, som skal presenteres paa fredag. I morgen torsdag skal vi paa felttur til Ngamba Islands, og til helgen skal vi til nasjonalpark, gleeder meg!
Uka etter blir brukt ute i felten, men vi skal sove hjemme. The Grand Hostel ble nesten luksus naar vi kom hjem fra Mbale, saa er kanskje like greit;)
Hmmm... tja... og ellers... Lever livet. Har funnet oss en Irish Pub, som er full av Mzunguer og noen innfoedte, uheldigvis er mange av de prostituerte, saa vi har maattet utgi oss for aa vaere sammen med (de usedvanlige goodlooking) guttene i klassen noen ganger.
Men det er god stemning der, og spenndende og moete folk fra all over, og som ikke bare stirrer paa deg og roper Mzungu, how are you??? Ok, overdriver litt da, men begynner aa bli liitt lei av aa konstant bli tatt for aa vaere rik tursit fra vesten, da jeg bare er en stakkarslig fattig student fra Norge.
Anyways, naa skal jeg joine Ellen og se om vi lykkes i aa finne noen billetter, saa blir det aa handle ting til halsen min, og saa hjem til Grand og spise middag, saa legge meg i senga og proeve aa bli frisk til helgen!
Apekattene og edderkoppene hilser!
Friday, August 22, 2008
3 week in Uganda
So, I`ve finally gotten a blog to post my thoughts and updates on.
I`ve soon been in Kampala for three weeks now, and time is passing by very fast. I have seen a lot already, and there is much more coming.
Last week, we went to see a community based organisation that works with health and environmental issues in one of the slums of Kampala. We have also been to a wildlife education centre and seen a lot of animals that have been taking care of for various reasons.
This Sunday, the whole group of app 25 students are off to a weeks fieldwork in Mbale, east of Uganda. I`m looking forward to it, think it will be very interesting, although the weather forecast says it will be raining the whole week. Not so funny!
I spend my days at school, listening to lectures, and then fieldtrips. From now on, there will be most fieldtrips, which is good, because that is what I came here for.
In the afternoons, we visit markets, going into town or just realaxing at the hostel. We get served three meals a day here, and it is quite Ok, except from the fact that it is the same food every day. So, some days we eat out, just to get the taste of something different. But I know I have no reason to complain, at least I have food to eat. I am not used to people coming up to me on the street asking for the food I am eating. That puts things in perspective.
I enjoy being here very much, I have never been to Africa before, so everything is new to me here. Uganda is beautiful, but in Kampala, there is a lot of pollution and some days it feels as if you can actually chew the air. The people are very friendly towards us, which gives you a good feeling. At some point, I would consider buying the t-shirt with "My name is not Mzungu" printed on it, because that is what they call us here, "hello Mzungu, how are you Mzungu, bye Mzungu!"
Although I am having a very good time here, I have started to miss my family and friends during the last week. But there is so much going on here, that I will soon get my mind on something else.
Right now, we are having a lecture on SPSS, an analyzing computer programme in social research, which I find very boring, since I am not going to use it for my fieldwork.
I wil continue writing this blog in English, if there are some non-Norwegians that reads it, so please let me know by sending a comment or something.
For now- have a great weekend!
I`ve soon been in Kampala for three weeks now, and time is passing by very fast. I have seen a lot already, and there is much more coming.
Last week, we went to see a community based organisation that works with health and environmental issues in one of the slums of Kampala. We have also been to a wildlife education centre and seen a lot of animals that have been taking care of for various reasons.
This Sunday, the whole group of app 25 students are off to a weeks fieldwork in Mbale, east of Uganda. I`m looking forward to it, think it will be very interesting, although the weather forecast says it will be raining the whole week. Not so funny!
I spend my days at school, listening to lectures, and then fieldtrips. From now on, there will be most fieldtrips, which is good, because that is what I came here for.
In the afternoons, we visit markets, going into town or just realaxing at the hostel. We get served three meals a day here, and it is quite Ok, except from the fact that it is the same food every day. So, some days we eat out, just to get the taste of something different. But I know I have no reason to complain, at least I have food to eat. I am not used to people coming up to me on the street asking for the food I am eating. That puts things in perspective.
I enjoy being here very much, I have never been to Africa before, so everything is new to me here. Uganda is beautiful, but in Kampala, there is a lot of pollution and some days it feels as if you can actually chew the air. The people are very friendly towards us, which gives you a good feeling. At some point, I would consider buying the t-shirt with "My name is not Mzungu" printed on it, because that is what they call us here, "hello Mzungu, how are you Mzungu, bye Mzungu!"
Although I am having a very good time here, I have started to miss my family and friends during the last week. But there is so much going on here, that I will soon get my mind on something else.
Right now, we are having a lecture on SPSS, an analyzing computer programme in social research, which I find very boring, since I am not going to use it for my fieldwork.
I wil continue writing this blog in English, if there are some non-Norwegians that reads it, so please let me know by sending a comment or something.
For now- have a great weekend!
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