Travel First days

Day 1 trip 2

I had Tameray drive me to the airport. Once again to journey, Once again travel, what I do to do what I do I am going to Africa, I do not have much planned but have a loose idea of what I would like to accomplish.

I traveled first from Nashville to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to Paris. On the way I thought I’ll have a glass of wine. Then a second. I do not know if it was the malaria medicine or the pressure in the cabin but I got very light headed, Then very hot and cold sweets. I when to the back and literally fell over on a couple seats. The cabin crew brought me to the back and laid me down with my feet up and gave me some ice for my head. Once I felt better I went back to my seat. This happened 3 times on the 9 hour flight. On the third time to the back I threw up and felt much better. I was not able to sleep but at least I was not terribly sick. In Paris I checked into the Flight for Africa and they asked if I was alright. They sent me to the medic and I had to get a clearance to get on the Plane for Entebbe. It was a long and interesting flight to Africa. I was next to the soundman for a Ugandan group call the Elephant Man. He had been on tour in Europe and was returning home. Of course he was in First class but his crew was in coach. Haha. We arrived 1.5 hours late to Nairobi. I had told George and Kathy that I would meet them in Kenya but only got to pass them briefly on the plane. Kathy had been worried about me but George said that “Art can take care of Art” This of course is true. I do tend to find myself in situations but am very creative on the ways I recover. We fly to Entebbe and I sat by a young Indian man who works for a NGO that does water wells in remote areas. Once in the airport I stood by the baggage carousel for about 15 minutes before it became apparent that my bags had not made it. They would not arrive till the next day. I met Andrew the Director of Desana in Uganda and off we went to Kampala. I tried to call Rebecca because I believed I was staying with her, well not WITH her but I the boys house, geesh, but her number was not working. Michael was going to pick me up at the Sheraton but I was going to call her when I got to Uganda and tell him to leave. After not being able to reach them I was asked by Andrew if I would like to spend the night with him. Michael it turned out had been at the Sheraton and after I did not arrive the hotel asked him to move his car to the parking garage. That is when we showed up so we missed each other but like 15 minutes. He ended staying there all night and we met for breakfast and place called 1000 cups of coffee. Man I forgot how good fresh Ugandan Coffee is. I felt terrible about not meeting him. Rebecca felt terrible about not giving me Michaels number and Michael I think felt horrible missing a night of sleep.

The next morning George and I were going to go up to Shegonda and see the work that Desansa had done up there. They had built the best building in the Marumbe province. They call it the Whitey House like Obama lives in. Well not exactly. We met John and Emma. They had set up a VIP meeting for us. Remember me in a tee shirt and 50 hours in the same clothes with no bath.  They had the representative from the King of Luganda, and the magistrate from the Provence. Also about 6 VIPs from the district, board of Education, and city government.  If that was not bad enough they asked us to a speech day. We wanted to meet the Chief Medical Official because we may had an in for some equipment to be donated. Of course today it would be in front of 3000 people and they asked George to speak. May be a good thing I had on a tee shirt. We then went to Mobende Hospital and had a tour. I imminently remembered the smell of death. Babies and mothers on cold unwashed concret floors. burns, AIDS, TB, broken bones.I coulndn’t take pictures. Not that I was not allowed. I wouldn’t show the dentist’s chair. blood and mud cover the exposed filling were the vinyl had torn away years ago. We then went to a clinic where things were much better, except for the 200 people waiting for their turn to be seen by the 1 doctor that day. Some days there is no Doctor, but still hundreds show up. Then back to Kampala, Now my clothers had shown up and I called Michael again and invited him and Rebecca to dinner. They were both very tired. After I had put them through a lot. I stayed again at Michael s and this time there was power. 

Well long enough to take a shower and wash off 3 days of travel.