Arriving in Uganda

Traveling to Uganda was a long, but wonderful experience. Our first flight from SFO to Amsterdam took about 11 hours. Thankfully we had a short layover; only about an hour. Our next flight was shorter. It was about 8 hours. I think the excitement made the second flight seem much shorter also. Knowing that when the plane landed this time we would be in Uganda, made the flight from Amsterdam to Entebbe that much more exciting.

Upon arriving at the airport in Entebbe we were greeted and screened by women with masks on and thermometers in hand. Everyone had to have their temperatures taken before entering the country. As you know there has been much fear around the disease Ebola. The epidemic is in West Africa, which is far from Uganda. However, Uganda faces many other health issues such as HIV, malaria, and TB.  This is why our work is so important.

Leaving the airport was also a new, interesting experience. I have never seen a car with the steering wheel on the left hand side. It felt very different to sit on the right hand side as a passenger. Looking out my window, on our drive to Kampala, I saw many shops, bars, and mopeds (called “boda bodas”). The energy was enticing, even after our 19+ hours of travel. We couldn’t stop and join in the festivities as we needed to get to our hotel and settle in.

It is a pleasure to be able to travel to Uganda and participate in Meg’s wonderful work. I look forward to the weeks ahead and the valuable experiences I will gain.

-Danielle Calhoun