To Uganda and back.

 School's out for 3 weeks!  I took the chance and boarded a bus to Kampala, Uganda last Saturday.  I spent the first 4 nights in Kampala and then headed on to Jinja.  Jinja is the source of the Nile River.  Amazing.  I battled the white water of the Nile for a day.  Some photos:

Our group: People from the UK, Netherlands, DRC (Congo), Uganda, and the US.

Our first set of rapids. Stayed in the boat on this one.

On our next line we weren't so lucky to stay upright.... tipping...

tipping some more... (yes that is me holding on as we go under)...

and finally into the rushing water we go!

This is a picture of our last line  - a girl in our group was nominated "flying squirrel."  Believe it or not, we actually stayed afloat!

It was an amazing, and thrilling day.  We flipped a total of 3 times - two of which I lost hold of the boat and rode the waves solo.  Don't worry, mom and dad, there was a safety boat!  I will say that the Nile River is much more intense than any rafting I've done in the states. I'd highly recommend it.

That night I stayed at the rafting river camp.  This was the view from the shower!

After rafting, I met up with friends in the town of Jinja.  My roommate has a friend who runs a baby cottage there, which cares for 51 children under the age of 5.  Here are some pictures:

Can you imagine doing this much laundry (hand washing, that is) in one day?  Cloth diapers, onesies, blankets, oh my!

Cute.

Babies and mommas in the beautiful yard.

Complete with a trike, just like mine from childhood.

My roommate and our friends from Jinja walking through town.

It was really peaceful and beautiful in Jinja.  These are two new friends.

After my time in Jinja, I boarded 4 different forms of transport to take me back to Kigali: 

1. Boda boda  (motorcycle taxi)

2. Matatu (van taxi)

3. Car taxi

4. Coach bus

I'll admit, it was a LONG way back home to Kigali, but most definitely worth it.  I arrived just in time to join some friends and celebrate Christmas eve... complete with mulled wine and Christmas cookies.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!