Next steps

Hello my dear,

I'm checking in again from my regular coffee shop in Jinja and my plans have changed once again. I feel like I've done my work here in Bugembe and I would like to see and experience more of Uganda. That's why I will be returning to Kampala next week! I will be couch surfing there for a week, spend a few days in a hostel, and then I will be flying to Cairo in just under 2 and a half weeks!

The decision was not easy for me. After weighing the options of staying or leaving for a while, I ultimately decided to go. I will continue to support the project and will definitely come back in 1-2 years (as soon as I can!). But again, there is not much for me to do here on the ground!

I am still struggling with the food, but once I leave, I will have control over it again. So, I will initially only eat eggs, avocados, fruits, and vegetables :p

Uganda is famous for its gorilla trekking tours, and I'm really interested. But do you know how much it costs?! $500-$5000 WTF... that's my budget for the whole world trip! I'm currently trying to find alternatives, and I have already met some guys my age and I hope they can get me a discount :)

Well, that's it for the news. I think once I'm back in Kampala, there will be more to tell!

Insight of the day: Do you know that feeling when you think that people in poor countries appreciate everything more and are satisfied with much smaller things?

Well, I can only speak for Uganda, but unfortunately, I have experienced that most people here are obsessed with money. It's crazy how they rip each other off. Christian priests offer HIV healing blessings for the equivalent of 500 euros. That's about 1.7 million shillings! And people who believe and trust fall for it because they don't know any better.

Why did I just bring this up:

At our place, there has been a shitty atmosphere in the past few days, but no one tells me what's going on. Sarah just spilled the beans.

She lost her job as a nurse, and now this guy wants 500,000 shillings from her (150 euros). I'm close to giving it to her so she can go back to work. But I don't trust this guy and I don't like the fact that he is taking advantage of the desperation of a young mother!

I will discuss this with her again. I wanted to buy her homemade jewelry for 2-3 euros per piece and take it with me and try to resell it. Maybe that's a start for her.

Well, I will check in from Kampala next week! See you soon