Sunday morning our group of 5 headed off to Gulu in northern Uganda for our weeklong rural excursion. Gulu in the past 30 years has been through civil war, which for some reason still has yet to be completely explained to me. All I (and the rest of Ugandan’s) really know about this war is that there was a rebel army who was trying to overthrow the government. Why they raped and killed their own Gulu citizens in the north is still the mystery that no one can seem to answer. I do hope to explore this a little more as we are here and living for 3 nights in Gulu homestays. But anyway, last night and tonight we are staying in hotels getting to know the city. It’s very nice here, and there are a lot more muzungu’s because there are a lot of NGO’s trying to help the post war rebuilding.
Monday we went to this place called Child Voices. It is an NGO that takes child mothers and their children, and educates them on special skills that they can use to build their own businesses, and it educates their children as well. The NGO was very nice to see, and the girls and their children were lovely. We got the opportunity to sit in on their weekly salon schooling.
When we got there they greeted us with a song, which many places tend to do when visitors come, and I’m still not quite comfortable with it. Anyway, after the song I asked the group of girls if any of them wanted to practice on Caucasian hair, and I found a few takers! The teacher sat me down, and before I even knew it she was braiding a weave into my hair. So, yes, I now have a weave in my hair. I’m one step closer to being a Ugandan! After an hour went by, it was time for my group to leave, but I was only half way through, and of course I couldn’t leave with half my hair braided with extensions! So, my lovely friend Veronica (shout out) stayed with me, and waited for me to get the full head and a half of hair (the weave is more than half of my original hair by the way). Two hours later my hair was done, and I got an AWESOME deal!!! Normally to get a weave it would cost like 30,000 to 40,000 Shillings, but it only cost me 7,000!!! Totally worth it. Well, there you have it, spontaneity at its finest! My head is a little heavier, and my scalp a little tender, but at least I don’t have to wash it as often considering its not real hair…
We waited an hour for a ride back to our hotel and got to play with the children, and a good time was had by all J and definitely a good story as well.
So today (tuesday) we are off to our rural home stay for 3 nights! I believe the only chance at cell phone reception is if I climb the highest tree on the top of the tallest hill... So goodbye for now!! I hope these two blog posts are enough to keep you satisfied. I'm sure I will come back with a lot to talk about as we live in the bungalows :)
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