I have been to Africa 4 times before. Those were short visits of no more than a few weeks. Coming to live here for over 8 months presents more complex logistical issues. Being an American from a highly consumer-oriented society like that in the States, I had become quite comfortable with wide access to goods and services.

Now, to be frank, living 7 years on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands help prepare us for life in Africa. Even though we lived in a US Territory there was a certain shortage of goods and it was not easy to just click onto the net and order something. UPS and Fed Ex regards the islands as an international destination and price their delivery services accordingly. So we learned to order with delivery through the Postal Service or freight forwarders.

Uganda is a step further, a big step further. There are no Home Depots, no Wal-marts, no easy or uncomplicated delivery services. There are shopping malls and lots and lots of shops. Just not exactly the kind we are accustomed to. Kampala has a lot to offer. It does not conjure up images of safaris on the African savannah. It is a busy, contemporary, growing and thriving African city. There are some great hotels here, magnificent actually.

And there are thousands of cars and buses. Traffic is a tangled mess most days, and in certain districts absolutely impossible. If you are driving a car for errands or shopping, it can take most of the day just to get to your destination in the city, and then there will be the impossible challenge of finding a parking place. So most locals forego cars and ride on the back of a scooter piloted by a local driver. There are even more of these two-wheeled wonders. They are called boda boda's here. For a few shillings one hops on the back being careful where you grab on, say a quick prayer, and close your eyes. The boda boda driver pays no attention to one way street signs, no attention to stalled traffic, no attention to pedestrians. He just weaves in and out and gets you there in a hurry.

Boda bodas are all over the country and comprise the most often used form of mass transportation. There are surprisingly few accidents but when there is a collision it is understandably quite serious. The rules of the road, such as they may be, consider them as part of the ecosystem and make accommodations for them. Ugandans are by nature mild-mannered and courteous. They speak softly and with deference. Until they get behind the steering wheel! Then they become maniacs. They will make 3 or 4 lanes out of 1, pass on blind corners and hills, hit speed bumps at breakneck, or I should say, break axle speed. I do not drive in the city or on the major roads. We have a driver who has the nerves and fortitude to brave the streets.

So, life in the city when it comes to traffic takes some getting used to. But there is more to Africa than traffic. I'll post some entries about life in the village and on safari. If you've not been to Africa, you really should come here. It is an experience not to be missed.