As if I didn’t feel bad enough already about having brought so much luggage, when I arrived to what is to be my home for the next year, a young girl (who could be no more than 12 years) came up and greeted me, then she proceeded to grab the heaviest of my three suitcases, gracefully placed it on top her head and moved quickly toward my bedroom. I was still dragging the last of my suitcases when she returned for that one as well.
Welcome to Africa.
My flights were uneventful. To be honest, I was so exhausted leaving Rome that I didn’t really have any feelings or deep thoughts. Nor could I recollect my long list of expectations, both realistic and romantic; essentially, I lacked all emotion. Which is strange, especially when considering how long I’ve worked and waited for this moment?
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia left me with an unfortunate impression of smoke; people can smoke inside the airport. Again, why I had such a problem with this I have no idea? In the past, I’ve rarely hesitated to partake in the occasional activity of social smoking. But this was so awful. I tried to sit facing the wall-to-wall windows and look out onto Africa. After all, it was my first time to the continent! I was supposed to be experiencing something amazing, right? After years of reading, studying, and writing on anything and everything historical, social, economic, and political, it was all right there. But instead I complained to myself about all the smoke blowing in my face.
However, there were nice shops full of typical African merchandise, beautifully-colored dresses, and duty-free alcohol and perfumes. All the flights were destined to someplace cool, like Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Ghana, and of course, my flight to Kampala…
And my arrival in Entebbe (Kampala) Uganda was pretty sweet.
Welcome to Africa.
My flights were uneventful. To be honest, I was so exhausted leaving Rome that I didn’t really have any feelings or deep thoughts. Nor could I recollect my long list of expectations, both realistic and romantic; essentially, I lacked all emotion. Which is strange, especially when considering how long I’ve worked and waited for this moment?
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia left me with an unfortunate impression of smoke; people can smoke inside the airport. Again, why I had such a problem with this I have no idea? In the past, I’ve rarely hesitated to partake in the occasional activity of social smoking. But this was so awful. I tried to sit facing the wall-to-wall windows and look out onto Africa. After all, it was my first time to the continent! I was supposed to be experiencing something amazing, right? After years of reading, studying, and writing on anything and everything historical, social, economic, and political, it was all right there. But instead I complained to myself about all the smoke blowing in my face.
However, there were nice shops full of typical African merchandise, beautifully-colored dresses, and duty-free alcohol and perfumes. All the flights were destined to someplace cool, like Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Ghana, and of course, my flight to Kampala…
And my arrival in Entebbe (Kampala) Uganda was pretty sweet.
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