When 30 Cents is too Expensive

Three Cheers for Teva shoes! Mud-proof, rain-proof and clunky, they draw stares from local Ugandans who sport very nice, polished, shiny shoes and somehow manage to keep them that way on these clay and asphalt streets of Jinja. But I had a choice: to pay 1,000 shillings—-30 US cents—-for a boda boda (motorbike), or trudge the muddy streets & sidewalks to the internet café one mile. I chose the mud. Either I am very cheap, or I am acclimating to the economy of a developing nation—or both. The cafe’ staff took my shoes to the back and washed them for me(and I washed my feet in the restroom), giving me a pair of their beaded sandals to use during my 6 hour report-writing session. Ugandan hospitality is amazing!

Another fabulous thunderstorm overnight! Mind you, for a Californian, this is heaven on earth. Waking at 3am to sprinkles that developed into hardcore rain, I turned off my best friend on the equator: The Fan so that I could hear the rain and thunder, rocking me back to sleep. Not long after, the power went out anyway. Again. This is a daily occurrence.

Now, what’s significant about this almost-daily loss of power, is that I live 2 miles from the Nile Hydroelectric Dam. Barista Andrew told me that the electricity is exported to Kenya, leaving Uganda crumbs of this precious juice. I had more electricity and WiFi in Laos and Cambodia in the remotest of villages.

Going to work yesterday, I hopped off the taxi in my pretty dress and high heels (yes, proper attire is expected in Uganda), bruising my thigh as I squeezed through the passengers and tight exit. A minor problem, considering the first gentleman I meet on my clay path to St. Stephen’s was on crutches. I said good morning and touching his shoulder asked why the crutches: Electrocution! he said with a smile. One foot had lost some toes and sported incredible swelling, and an opposite arm revealed where the bolt exited his body.
Another day in the life of an international development worker.