The Source of the River Nile

I have learned many things in the past six months. And not just your typical first-year-of-teaching lessons learned, either. I have learned that with a fork and a bit of determination I can make something not entirely dissimilar to refried beans. I have learned that cockroaches can indeed run around after you've cut their heads off. For a lot longer than you'd think, too. And I've learned that I have this impulsive, and no doubt irrational, desire to journey by boat down the river Nile. From Lake Victoria all the way to the pyramids. I discovered this desire on a recent trip to the source of the Nile when my family visited.

On January 24, exactly one month after we normally would have had our family Christmas Eve shindig, my aunt, uncle, cousin, and cousin-in-law (there needs to be a better name for that, don't you think, Hannah?) arrived in Kampala to visit me. It was so great to see familial faces! None of them had ever been to Uganda before, and I so loved having them see where my life is lived nowadays. After getting a tour of both the school where I'm teaching now, and the middle school campus that Acacia will expand to next year, they brought all their luggage over to my house.

My roommate and another visiting friend witnessed the uproar of unpacking, and I think were a bit shocked by the mountains of loot that kept spilling forth. What can I say. My family's generosity abounds. And space in my living room does not. They brought me Christmas presents, chocolate chips, candles, REESES!!!, pinecones, taco fixings, clothes, Christmas cookies, and even a sewing machine they had previously brought over to Kenya. They also brought news and greetings from Oregon, lots of hugs, and their lovely persons, which was the best.

On Saturday we all journeyed out to Jinja, which is on Lake Victoria at the source of the Nile. On the way there the Zirschkys got a taste of the notorious Kampala traffic as we crawled through the city. I don't think I've ever seen anyone less concerned with the traffic, though, as they blithely took in the Ugandan scenery, enjoying the urban safari. We spent the night at Jinja with the Tuggy family and had a great time hanging out. In order to fully appreciate where we were, we took a boat ride on the lake and entered the official source of the white Nile (the primary branch, that then converges with the blue one to create the whole Nile). The funniest thing to see was the gift shops. Yes, gift shops. In the Nile. Literally. Apparently the Nile was at a high point, so the three little shops that are usually perched on a small Island in the middle of the river actually had the water of the river Nile running through them.

On Sunday, it was time to go to the airport and say goodbye to la familia. The four of them were only here in Kampala for a short visit, going back to Kenya so Bob could operate more and Kyle and Hannah could experience Kenya's excellent safari opportunities. But even though it was a quick trip, I was so so blessed and encouraged to have them visit. It was such a highlight.

If anyone else feels a hankerin to do some African exploring, I'd love to have you!