One Week

Wednesday August 15th, 2007 is the day we landed in Entebbe. It has been one week. So why does is it seem that we have been here so much longer. Maybe it is the transition from the Western world to Africa. Maybe it is the "back to basics" mentality that we have had to adopt. Hmm.
For me it is the clash of western world modern ideals and Uganda's adaptation to it. We have very modern conveniences here. Cell phones, Internet cafes, electricity. But to get to the Internet cafe I have to pass by mud huts, dirt roads, and bike taxis? People take bucket baths and cook on charcoal stoves outside, but use a cell phone to call next door to borrow more oil for the stew? Why is there no waste management system, but there is a cell phone dealer on every corner? There is an obvious gap in so-called "progress".
However, it is interesting to work with people who know way more than I do about navigating the world wide web, but do not know how to use Microsoft Word. Here, people have been catapulted into the 21st century without having to go through the trial and errors we did with technology. Cell phones have swept Eastern Africa, but basic telephone lines hardly made a dent here. Whereas in the US- basic phone lines are now almost obsolete. I love the fact that I was able to watch Drum Line (the movie) on cable last night but I resented the fact that I had to run out to the pit latrine during the commercial breaks. It makes you wonder.