Thoughts While Walking

Now that I have a nice new double stroller, the kids and I have been enjoying long walks through our neighborhood a few times a week. Here are some of my observations:

• When you go walking with two mzungu children in a double stroller, you WILL be a public spectacle. I have almost caused some rubber-neckers to crash.
• People here travel primarily by "boda boda." A boda is a motorcycle that is used as a taxi. They are absolutely everywhere and they don't follow any traffic laws. They are also very dangerous. For example, it's not unusual to see a woman sitting sidesaddle on the back of a boda holding a baby without a seat belt or helmet. 
• Men use machetes to cut the grass and shrubs. So it's not unusual to see a man, or a child, walking down the street with a huge machete. I have certainly not gotten used to that. 
• The flowers here are so abundant and unusual I often have to stop to enjoy them. Same with the birds. The birds also make very different sounds here. There is one that sounds exactly like a monkey.
• Sunscreen is a must when you are this close to the equator.
• Cars will often avoid potholes more than they avoid pedestrians. 
• Avoiding potholes is an art. 
• When walking, get ready to repeatedly hear, "Mzungu! Mzungu! How are you!"
• When it rains everyday, things grow more than you can imagine. It would take nature no more than a few weeks to take back over any property here. 
• The sight of the clouds rising over Mt. Wanale in the mornings is breath-taking. 

I am loving our walks. The chance to observe Uganda in the quiet of the morning is precious.