June 2/2010 – Getting back to the beginning!!!

This is a dark country; I am not sure of it is a dark continent, but it is really dark in Uganda. Now I know that many people may be wondering what I mean by dark and that I am stating the obvious; however, this is not about skin complexion (though I will cover race and ethnicity sometime, I am sure), but rather, this about electricity and lighting.

This was my very first impression as I came out of the airport last night. Street lights are not popular and many areas do not have lights on and even when they are on, it is a dull glow. Electricity might be expensive but I cannot get over the darkness.... I love when the sun comes up and chase the darkness away. The sun is bright here!

I was not too excited about the location of my lodgings – let me be honest: I am just a little scared; it is incomplete, dark and I am the only one in the building. There is a bar next door which is accessed by the same entrance as my ‘hotel’ which is what makes it a little iffy. However, I am dealing with it!

The day (by default, the trip) started quite ingloriously; apparently the KLM staffer did not think I was in the check in line because I was not in the queue – I had pushed my suitcase under the barrier so that I do not have to struggle with it as I meander the rather circuitous rat path that has become standard fare in airports. Even on telling her I am in the line and has come through the line, she chose to be difficult. I think that she was in a bad surprise – I was not about to let a rude KLM staffer tell me that I was not in a line that I had stood in for the past 40 minutes. I told her this much and let her know that I am not accustomed to autocracies – not sure where she is from but here in Canada, if I am telling you in front of a number of people who can dispute my statement if it was incorrect, show some respect for my honesty! Amen....

The KLM plane was huge – double deck; the executive class is truly executive. However, economy class is tight – tighter than say, the Caribbean Airlines flights. It was a very uncomfortable journey – and imagine that it lasted for many hours.....way too many for my liking. I was seated next to a Ghanaian Canadian who was going home to get married. He was quite excited, as he should be, and could not wait to arrive home. He has been living in Canada for about ten years... next to him sat a lady from Spain... she did not share where she was off to.