I guess I must be excited now as it is 4am on Tuesday morning and I can't sleep! I have so many things going through my brain about what still needs to be done and what is going to happen while I am in Uganda. I have 600 sanitary kits to deliver this year. That will take a major chunk of my time. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and all the people we worked with last year through ISEE. From Andrew's reports, things have been going well for most of our Mama Nguvu candidates but some have fallen on hard times as well with their homes and businesses being bulldozed by the government in an effort to show the international community that they are reducing the number of slums in Kampala. I hope we will be able to sponsor at least another 10 Mamas this time as well.
Things I still need to get... a small purell bottle of sanitizer (I have a big one but it is less subtle to pull that out of my bag each time I feel the need to wash my hands!), a mid-weight zip-up sweater/jacket (it will only be 24 during the day and 16 at night so I'll need something warmer in the evenings, especially after leaving the 39 degree heat here in Kelowna) and of course, a few dog biscuits for Simba for when I arrive. I am not sure when I might get to Game, the Ugandan version of Wallmart, to buy our usual box of doggie treats so I have to be ready for the first few days of comings and goings. The mzungu never leave or come back without giving the dog a treat! The locals think we are crazy.
I finally got my bags packed yesterday. 3 days in advance, not bad. My biggest stressor is always the luggage. At the moment, I have 4 x 50lbs bags, plus a small wheelie carry-on and my purse. BA allows me two checked bags then the other two are $100 each per flight. Westjet is always a wild card. Sometimes the luggage goes through without any charge, sometimes the luggage is charged based on what BA offers, and sometimes the luggage is charged per piece. Apparently, according to the website, the luggage can even be refused. That gets my heart rate up a bit!
Of those 200lbs of checked luggage and 40lbs of hand luggage, my personal items including clothing and toiletries weigh 15 lbs. My computer weighs 5. Then the bags themselves weigh 20lbs. This means that only 40lbs is actually things that belong to me! 150 lbs is sanitary kits and the other 50lbs are items for friends. I guess that's a good thing as I have some major shopping to do for a couple of fundraisers in Kelowna in the fall. Lots of room to fill as I will have my 2 x 50lb bags to bring back for free... until I hit Vancouver of course and check-in with Westjet.
Please, as always, keep in touch via comments on the blog, email, and facebook. Even if you don't think it is important, I love to hear from home. I will also be writing regularly on the ISEE blog: www.iseesolutions.org when I have internet (power can always put a wrench in those plans) and may even have wi-fi if Shamir sends me the password for my phone. Luckily I can get a data stick for the laptop!
"See" you on the other side of the pond!
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