Different perspectives

My middle finger on my left hand is a little stingy as I sliced it when cutting into a mango (they're cheaper than apples here!).

I've been thinking a lot. Unfortunately, too much to fit into a blog, or diary. You know what I mean? Really great ideas, observations jump into your head, and you think, "Oooh, isn't that clever/astute/profound?! Must remember it, or write it down."

Then you get distracted as you avoid being run over by a minibus.

Here's one of my thought trains.

When you travel as a backpacker, you see the country/world from a particular perspective which is very different from that of a Ugandan. For example, this Uganda would be rafting in Jinja, gorillas in the mountains, Murchison Falls and avoiding getting ripped off. Also, meeting other backpackers in fancy westernised hostels, discussing the relative merits of Nile Beer over Club beer.

For Ugandans, Uganda is home. It's different. They don't think of gorillas when they think of home. For me, I'm trying remain in the researcher frame of mind. I've not done anything too touristy yet. I'm reluctant to. I'm noticing other things like HIV in the headlines, the state of the health centres, the number of NGOs out here, how they're perceived etc.

This opens up lots of other 'Uganda's. There's the ex-pat Uganda who moved for who-knows-what reason. Then there's the development and humanitarian worker Uganda. What do they think/see?

I want to get into this world and explore it and really put my research into some context too. How do NGOs make decisions? How are they influenced? NGOs are big organisations, but they're made up of individuals, and I feel it's important to understand how these individuals are to add another layer to the picture.

Plus, it's fun because I've done the backpacker thing and it gets boring. Actual rafting may be exciting, but the idea of being able to go rafting doesn't excite me. Thinking and seeing a place/people from a different perspective is more exciting for me right now.

The Red Chili Hideaway is where I'm staying. There's such a hodge podge of people. I've met doctors working here because they just felt like it, young Ugandans earning money for their studies, ex pats who are now helping to run the place, 2 guys making a documentary, loads of 'overlanders' rocking up in massive trucks (merits of this form of travel? - Discuss), an anthropologist researching in a village for a year, volunteers, NGO interns....

Is this normal for guesthouses? I've never noticed anyone but the usual gap yearer back packer, lets get pissed/stoned/laid type.

Anyway, happy times. Loving it. Loving people, and I hope you're having a good time whatever you're doing after you stop staring at the computer screen.