The Journey Begins

Mom and I arrived at the airport to find a line longer than the wait at Space Mountain. We patiently got in line in shock of how many people were all traveling on the same flight. After standing there for just a few minutes I decided to walk up to the front of the line to make sure that wee were in the right line, I discovered that there was a separate line for people who had already checked in online and just needed to drop bags so we slid over to that line and were able to drop bags quickly. I said my goodbyes and was on my way. I found my gate quickly and front that there was a delay…I had plenty of time to explore the Dulles airport! First flight was full of movies and some sleep, the lady next to me apparently liked my headrest more than hrs so we shared. As we landed I realized I was not going to make my connection and would get to spend a night in I Dubai. I was very excited to get out of the airport and see this amazing city. I happen to have a German friend who lives in Dubai so I facebooked him to see if he wanted to get dinner and then I went to the hotel that had been arranged and slept for a few hours. I then ventured to the Dubai metro and let me tell you DC could take some notes! It was the cleanest nicest metro…they had a regular class and a Gold class seating area. A few stops and I was at the Dubai Mall. From the mall you can see the tallest building in the world, Burj Kalifa. The mall was unbelievable, coming from a girl who has seen a lot of malls I can tell you this was the biggest, most diverse mall I had ever seen. Forever 21 was next to Channel, Aeropostale was next to Mont Blonc. After wandering they mall I went to the bottom level which was a huge aquarium and walked out side to see the dancing fountains. It was so interesting to see so many different kinds of people at the mall, there were men and women in traditional Muslim outfits, there were many different nationality all shopping and buying the same things. After the mall I met with my friend nd two of his friends for dinner and then I went home for the night and tried to sleep. The next morning I gathered my things had breakfast and went back to the airport for my flight to Enteebe.

My six hour flight to Entebee was quick and painless however the moment I got off the plane I was greeted by a two hour passport control line, I had decided to play a game on the plane and it carried over to the customs line. I was guessing which family was the family that I was traveling to RG with, I had narrowed it down to two families and after the two hour wait I had decided who they were. After finally getting through passport control I grabbed my bag and went to the front where I was told I would be met by the driver and the family. When I got to the front there was no one to meet me, okay there were several Ugandan taxi drivers surrounding me and talking about me…I would here bla bla bla musunga…loosly translated why is this white girl here with no one to take her.I called RG and found out that they had just left the airport not realizing i was there too. they swung back around and we packed my three bags into the van with the family’s nine bags and six people. Oh yes I was back in Africa! We traveled through Kampala, the capital, to a shop and got snacks and soda for the rest of the drive to our hotel. After arriving at the hotel we settled in and then walked to et dinner. I often forget why people are staring at me when I am in Uganda, I have learned to love it, I play a game that I am a celebrity and they all just want a peek. really they are again wondering what this group of musugas are doing walking the streets of Kampala. After dinner we went back paid our room fee of 100,000 shillings ($30) and went to bed. I got up and took a shower and then we were off to RG…oh wait I forgot the two hours we spent in the phone store getting Ugandan phones but that’s for another day