Getting to work

Making the Abato School more beautiful

On our fourth day here in Uganda we began working for the children. We drove to the Abato School early (it’s holidays at the moment – school term starts at the 8^th of September) and started painting the new doors. The school was completely without doors for 6 months but now Moses had the opportunity to acquire doors for the school and our first job was to make them more colorful. So Anne and I both grabbed a brush, some yellow paint and gave these doors a new and more inviting look. We also tidied up the classrooms and got rid of stones or beton pieces that were still in there from the construction works. We used a Ugandan broom to outdust the floor and I can honestly say I would’ve not thought that there was so much dust in these rooms. But with hard work, a good cause in mind and the help of our new little friend Edward, who is twelve years old and super energetic, we got the rooms to sparkle.

Julian

We have arrived

We are in Uganda!
Because of you!

That was one of the first things I had read when I was in Uganda. It is a big ad for some bank but it kind of fits why we are coming to Uganda. We are here because of the Ugandan people, especially because of the Ugandan kids. We want to help the kids in Mpigi. But first things first:

We went to Frankfurt Airport in the late evening of the 21^st of August and checked in with Emirates. Fortunately we hit a sweet spot there because are luggage limit was 60 kg and we had … 59.4 kg. I’d say we did pretty well in terms of packing. Flying from Frankfurt to Dubai went without any problems. We ate, watched movies and slept a lot during this 6 hour flight.

When we left the plane in Dubai we were stunned by the heat. 32 degrees Celsius at 7 a.m. – ridiculous! We went straight to our gate (and by straight I mean it is a 30 minute walk because that airport is freaking huge…) and we knew from the very first moment, that we were at the right place. The other people at the gate were almost exclusively Ugandan. There were like 4 other Muzungus (Luganda for white people), 10 asian looking people and the rest was black and talked loudly with that certain enthusiasm you learn to adore about Ugandans. The second flight also went smoothly but when we arrived at Entebbe we had our first shock. Just two of our four bags arrived with us, the rest went missing. We had to fill out a form and were told to call the airport tomorrow to check if the luggage had appeared. Well we had no other choice than to take things the way they were and head to Mpigi.

The Kalanzi family was very warm and welcoming and we met a lot of people on our first day. Because besides Moses, Kirabo and Arthur there were also five nephews (?) of Moses and Kirabo with them in the house. Moses showed us our rooms, we had dinner, and then we went to bed- Exhausted but happy to be in Uganda.

On day 2 we were shown around, met some kids and went to the school the first time, everything was really interesting and we had an amazing talk with Moses about Abato, and what his plans are for us. He wants us to support him in every aspect of Abato especially the external communication and other administrative tasks.

Our luggage has also been found and we went to Entebbe one more time to pick it up on day 3. Our real work with the Abato Foundation would start on day 4 of our trip.

Julian
                                                                                                                                                                       Deutsche Version

Now leaving Germany

Uganda here we come

This is it. The day we've been waiting for, for the past 9 months. All the preperations are made, we said goodbye to our friends and families and in just a few hours we are getting to Frankfurt International Airport and take our airplane to Uganda.

I have to say I could not be more thrilled right now. Of course there's a weird 'we don't know what's coming' touch to it as well and Anne and I are as nervous as we are excited I am still 100 percent positive about this. We are going to Uganda. We are going to Mpigi. And we are finally going to Abato. I especially can't wait to talk to Moses and Kirabo in person, we have chatted so much this year that it almost feels like I have known them for a long time.

Moses is going to pick us up at Entebbe (Ugandas Airport). I wonder how it will be, will he recognize us? We will recognize him? Will he hold one of those signs? I don't know. But I cannot wait to find out.

As you might imagine this is a super busy last day for us: Getting all the documents together (backs have been packed since Tuesday), hugging everyone goodbye, making sure we didn't forget any of the important stuff (you always forget something - but you have to make sure it is not the important stuff ;) ) We have also been featured in a local newspaper today. They are doing a series on us, our trip and our volunteership for Abato and yes my mum bought not two, not three but four copies of the newspaper. 

Our parents and siblings of course are the ones most worried and also the toughest to say goodbye too. Anne and I have both never spent so much time apart from our families and this will make it as harsh for us as for them. They all know how much we love them, so no need for expressing it here, right guys?

To finish this I just want to say: Next time you read something from Anne or me, it is going to come straight out of Uganda. Amazing pictures, experiences and stories and about to be written down here. Stay tuned everyone, talk to you soon.

p.s. I am so glad Anne is doing this with me - she is simply the most awesome person I have ever met. Can't wait to experience such an incredible new world together with her.


Julian
                                                                                                                                                                       Deutsche Version