The countryside was so lush and green. It looked more like what I would have imagined the Congo to look like then Uganda. The hills rolled and crops appeared to be planted everywhere. As we drove we saw many cows and cattle with long horns. I am not sure of their name so I will have to look them up later when I have internet (I’m typing this in word then transferring it).
On our way we saw a wedding, and the people who were attending it dressed in their best dress. The women wore long dresses made of elaborate and shiny material with a large sash like belt and shoulder pads that stuck up and out. I managed to stay awake long enough to see were we passed the Equator and to get lunch. We had a street food called rolex, and I also had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwhich. I have no idea how I ate it all. I kept falling asleep on the drive. I managed to get a few pictures as we dorve, but most of them turned out blurry.We heard a rummor that one of Musevenii's wives lives in Lyantonde. It was confirmed later, but that kept me awake. For a while.
We dropped Jenna and Calire off at thier homes first. Their house had 15 kids playing out infront. They were all excited to see the Mzungu (white people). Next were Courtney and Sandara. The family invited us all inside. Their house had electricity, tile floors, and in house bathrooms. It seemed more like the west. Eliza and I were the last to be dropped off. We live in a smaller village outside of Lyantonde ontop of a hill near the hospital, a church, and one of the schools. Our host mom gave us warm welcoming hugs as our sisters took our bags. We protested, but she would not hear of us taking them. She forced us to sit down and eat mango, pineapple, watermelon, and had us drink juice. The fatehr joined a few minuets later, but he seemed cold and a bit off. As we ate a little boy came in on his knees and shook our hands. He smiled, but it was clear he can't speak English. Benen (one of our bosses at Salama Shield) asked if they had told us what kneeling meant. We told him they had not, and he explained that it was a sign of respect to your elders, but that we did not need to kneel because we were over 16. We rested a bit and had tea with electric lights. Then Eliza and I were shuttled into the shower room to bathe together. We were given a bucket, a jug of cold water, and a jug of scalding hot water. To shower we each put water onto our luffas, and then soaped that way, otherwise it would have been too hot. Dinner filled me up, and I dont' think I have been hungry since. Our beds are warm and comfortable.
