Well here I am on my very first trip to Africa.

I arrived at Entebbe Airport on Wednesday just before 11pm Ugandan time, which is two hours ahead of the UK now that we have British summertime.  My first experience of Uganda as I left the plane was that distinct smell when rain has recently fallen and the atmosphere is still warm. I progressed speedily through the airport despite having to wait for an Ebola check and then purchase a visa.  I was relieved to find an ATM as it was impossible to get Ugandan shillings in England. My taxi driver was already waiting for me with his little placard ready to take me to the Red Chilli Hideaway about an hour’s drive away.  I was led through the security gates of the hotel around the outside of the building to my room.

It was strange to wake up the next day having no idea of my surroundings.  I was surprised to discover a beach volley ball court and pool just outside my room.  The hotel comprised a spacious complex with lots of places to relax and freshly prepared food available all day.  So I spent the day chilling out in the warmth whilst waiting for my connection to Jinja.  The hotel runs a free shuttle bus into central Kampala three times a day.  I was booked on the last of the day and I had been told that the driver would liaise with the driver of the Pineapple Express taking me to Jinja. The traffic was abysmal and we arrived well after the Pineapple Express was due to leave.  I had no idea where to go, my phone wasn’t working and this particular driver didn’t seem to have a clue.  I had visions of being abandoned in a place currently facing a high threat from terrorism without a working phone and I definitely felt out of my comfort zone!  However, I am fast learning that Ugandans are very friendly, courteous and helpful.  I persuaded the driver not to abandon me and he managed to locate the driver. It transpired that I was to be the only passenger on the Pineapple Express and the driver had simply waited.

Henry was great and safely negotiated the crazy rush hour in Kampala and the rest of the 3 hour drive to Jinja.  Nightfall arrives sometime after 7pm and so we travelled through the Mabira Forest in darkness with continuous flashes of lightning lighting up the distant sky.  Henry was very happy to take me to exactly where the other charity workers were staying.

I am volunteering alongside Chloe, a recent graduate, who is hoping for a career in international development. She is very practical and has just spent six months volunteering in Bolivia and so she is much less green than I am. We have been settling in with the help of Emily and Calum, two English doctors at the charity.

Since arriving in Jinja most of our time has been taken up with sorting out accommodation.  The charity has just rented an apartment for volunteers in Magwa and a proper office space in the town centre.  Both places came unfurnished and it has taken the charity sometime to get every thing together.  Our apartment is actually quite luxurious.  We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room, kitchen and balcony. However, when I arrived it was completely empty save for a sofa and tiny fridge. A local business has been making the bed frames and some shelving but it seems to take the varnish a long time to dry! On the first night we had mattresses on the floor but have since enjoyed having bed frames and pillows too.  It’s taken a while to rig up mosquito nets to accommodate the differing bed arrangements.  Despite the net and insect repellent, I am still getting bitten and I spent the first part of this morning on a killing spree inside my net.  Let’s just hope that the anti-malarials are effective.  I’m very pleased that I have experienced no side effects so far.

We have just entered the rainy season and have had two nights of most spectacular thunderstorms.  It has been fairly grey during the day too but a very pleasant temperature for sleeping. A freight train runs close to our apartment, which took us a little by surprise on the first night!  It’s rather different to the sleepy silence of Fulbourn.

I have now met the rest of the charity team and have been given a brief induction and gained a vague idea of what I need to work on over the next three months. Emily and Callum don’t live in this part of Uganda and are off back home today. Therefore, we will be communicating largely by Skype.

I still haven’t yet managed to get my Ugandan phone number registered.  This may be because of the Easter weekend although life seems to have gone on largely as normal.  However, we have been told to expect fairly regular power cuts. Internet and email access is working very well as we have a little wi-fi device in the apartment.

I'll be in touch again in a few days.