Jinja - beer, burgers, psychos and good views

Last weekend was technically our weekend off but given that we worked uuuuuuber hard we all decided to take this weekend off instead. So myself and 5 of the internationals headed to Jinja. I think I wrote a little bit about this place before but basically Jinja is a town an hour away from my placement. It feels like a midwest town in the States. They have craaaazzzy looking birds straight out of Jurrasic Park!! Seriously scary looking things called Maribou Storks. I'll try to get a picture with one. They have big dangly skin that hangs from their necks, they're about a metre and a half tall and have maaasssiiivve beaks!! So we headed to Jinja. We're staying at a hostel, compfy beds, water, electricity, free internet, pool and goooooood food. It's 2euro50 a night for us...and the beer is under a euro...good times:)! I came down on Thursday night and met up with the others. I brought Herbert and Edgar along (the community volunteers in Nawanyago) dso everyone was really happy to see each other again and to chill out after what have been some really intense months in the community! The beer flew like wine ! After Herbert's "only" beer, I offered him a second one. Needless to say he happily accepted the offer and I could see he was loving it chilling with everyone again. He looked pretty upset about leaving so I convinced him to stay over with us!! We went out for a reaaaally good Chinese meal - Herbert's first EVER! The restaurant was really good too. So nice to have good meat again!! Shredded chili beef with veggie fried rice. It was deliiiishhhh. Then we headed back for beers and chats and stayed up for ages, way past our usual 10 o'clock bedtime!!! In Nawanyago once it gets dark there's not that much to do, especially at home without lights and we're usually knackered after a day of work and messing around with the kids so staying up late is pretty exciting! It's like being a kid again!

I had an exciting delivery! I got the package the parentes sent out! Thanks for that! Sun cream, vitamins, rehydrating salts, a few shpops cds, a mini disc & mic to try to record people (which I realized won't work with that particular mini disc player but I'll find someway of getting around it!! ) and sweets!! It was really nice to get a package, felt like a birthday present! Aaaaand I have it on good authority that the oral rehydration salts are killer hangover cures!! Cheers for that one Sims, I think you saved my life!! Which brings me on to last night....what . a . night!

We headed up to the second campsite up at a place called Bujugali Falls. The hostel overlooks the Nile and there are stunning panoramic views everywhere you look...except if you turn your attention to the stage where a Canadian dude whose having his 'leaving gig' is topless, wearing tight red leather trousers fancying himself as God's gift to live performance. God's gift to being an absolute sack! Haha, it was pretty awesome though. You have to understand that we havn't been out in about 3 months so getting to a hostel bar full of white people is really quite a scary experience. Not only is it scary under normal circumstances, but it's made that much more scary given that tonight is rock star themed fancy dress night and the Brits & South Africans have flocked in their dozens and made a huge effort! I chatted to The Edge, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger (the eejit in the red pants), Janice Joplin annnd PETER GRIFFIN!! He wasn't in costume though. He's just a man from North London who IS Peter Griffin off Family Guy. He made my night! Anyway, in keeping with the rockstar theme the singer made an entry on the back of a motorbike driving through the bar to the terrace where the stage was set up. There were flares going off, bottles being broken in large quantities..mainly by Megan, who was incapable of being near a bottle without it falling and smashing! I brought my new friend along too. He's called Blazeon. I saw him walking around in town with a guitar so I started up a chat about music and where I could get guitars, how much and all of that. He's really nice. A Ugandan rastaman and he writes loads of tunes so I was talking about the Shpops project. He's really up for us recording and gigging if we can! I spent most of the night jamming with him and the other half chatting nonsensically to randomers. I think most of the SPW crew have lost the ability to chat about normal things. We live in the constant company of STIs, rape, teenage pregnancy, reproductive organs, HIV & AIDS. All of us except Christy that is who is a livelihoods volunteer and complains that her topics are boring - Micro Credit, Entrepreneurship, Poultry Keeping etc..to be fair, if I was to choose between a chat about Paedophilia with Peter Griffin or chatting micro credit lending with Tarquin Wilson-Myles I'd be with Griffin every time. What a man! So Christy joined in the STI banter and we were happy to have her! It was great catching up on all the news from other placements and getting a chance to kick back with everyone. We stayed up until 6 with a bunch of mental South Africans. Scarily mental..they didn't sleep, and when we woke at 10 or 11 they were still up drinking just about to start a round of centurion. I didn't feel bad at all though thnaks to my Rehydration magic sachets! Lads (Kiely and the birthday weekend crew), thanks for bringing that one up! They work a treat!!
Today was spent sitting around all day eating and relaxing and I don't think there are many better spots to do it in! We're also planning the white water rafting trip for next month! Should be really really really cooool!! I can't wait!

I swapped my iPod with Anna (a volunteer in Busede) last week so I've been listening to BBC podcasts of 'Just A Minute' and 'I'm sorry I havn't a clue!'. It's been refreshing hearing jokes, wit, sarcasm and well spoken English again. Also, keep the link posts coming on my facebook. Thomas sent the funniest video I've ever seen! 'Gap Yah'. It took me an age to load but it was worth it. I almost wet my pants! Brought back the many memories of Leeds and yahs in general. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFjWR7X5dU

Not too sure what the plans are for tonight, taking it easier than last night, although that's not too hard to do!! Might watch a film. The girls have bought 'New Moon'. If it's anything as shite as Twilight it might be difficult to watch! Alternatively one of the guys in the hostel said he'd bring us out to town if we want so we'll see what happens. Having an absolute blast anyway!! Keep the texts, emails and video links coming! Tot ziens!!