Jurassic Park

I've got to get this blog uploaded quickly-- the rain is coming. This blog covers Tuesday and Wednesday because I had no internet on Tuesday night. In actuality, those days could have been interchangeable because they were almost exactly the same. I managed to find my addiction of choice at the project house-- a book of crossword puzzles. So, basically I go to bed every night when my brain turns to mush and I can't think of a three letter word for 'feline'.

Right now I am sitting in a cafe having a latte and a burger. I love John's cooking, but if I have to have another rice dish I think I might go crazy. At work instead of having a lunch (I do have fruit and a soda), I have a late and gigantic breakfast that they serve at the canteen. And I'm using the term 'breakfast' rather loosely, as it isn't breakfast food as we know it and they serve it until noon. I have a cup of tea, 2-3 samosas, and 1-2 chapatis, which are mildly similar to crepes (made out of flour and coconut milk), but without the filling or any sauce. I purchased an East African cookbook, so I'll be making those for everyone once I get back.

For the past 2 days a flock (or should I call them a herd) of storks has taken up residence at the compound at the JCRC. These things are huge and prehistoric. They're like pterodactyls. Oh, and did I mention they are totally freakin' awesome? They are probably 3 feet tall with a 6-7 foot wing span. They also have a gullet (I'm not sure if that is the proper term) that looks like a cross between a turkey and a pelican. I'm not sure if they can fit anything inside it, but if they could, it would certainly fit a human baby. They also constantly chatter at each other by rapidly thumping their beaks together. I've been trying to think of how to describe the sound, and the best I could come up with is the sound a horse hoof would make if it were hollow. Oh, and just before I left, one made a noise like and elephant. All day long they sit in the tall trees, harass each other, break off branches, and generally make a big mess. Today one dropped a mouth full of sticks on my head as I was walking under the tree. Other than that, everything has been really low key.

A couple of people inquired about the status of the rooster next door, but I don't really have any updates because I wake up before he does. Right now my current animal menace are the big dogs that all the neighbors have and that sleep outside at night. One coughs, and then the rest of them have to talk about it for 5 minutes.

Here are today's picture selections. First is myself and my sweet friend George. Then some of the pterodactyls. This is just a shot taken in town-- pretty much like what much of Kampala looks like. The city is incredibly hilly and at a high elevation, which it why it is cooler here that much of Uganda. Last is a photograph of the tuberculosis ward at Mulago.

xo...G.