Sipi Falls and chapatti-a good weekend indeed

Wow! It’s been a while since my last post, which of course means a ton of stuff has happened, but I’ll just give you the goods. I actually haven’t been posting because I had a 10 page single-spaced monster of a grant dominating my life. But, I turned it in on Thursday, so it’s done forever! YAY

Just got back from a wonderful retreat to Sipi Falls in the more eastern part of Uganda, a bit past Mbale. The eight of us interns, PC’s Jonan and Kirsten and Kirsten’s friend Emily came. We stayed in cabin’s at The Crow’s Nest which over looked a beautiful valley all the way to the falls. The first night we got in fairly late, so we just ate dinner, played some cards and hit the sack. The next day we were all up bright and early to eat some breakfast and head to the falls. The hike was fun, a lot of uphill through mud on the way up, a lot of downhill through mud on the way down-it was a nice little reminder of the lack of exercise I’ve been getting here. The falls were beautiful, and there were amazing plants and animals everywhere. I saw and chewed on a fresh coffee bean for the first time. It tasted like any other plant, but it was still cool.

We headed down from the falls and back up the main road to enjoy a delicious local lunch at a roadside restaurant. We all weren’t really sure if the food was so delicious because we were all so hungry, or if it actually was that good. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed it-all of my faves- matooke, posho, rice, beans, greens, avocado and my absolute favorite-chapatti! After lunch we walked back up the cabins for a little more r&r before some intense games of Uno and going to bed at the obscenely late hour of 9:30pm (joking).

It was a very enjoyable trip and I’m happy to have been able to be there with all the swell peeps here. Now we’re all resting up before heading to dinner and then to the World Cup 2010 FINAL. WOOO Espana!

The project is on the rise! Flood Herbal Soap-coming soon to a Ugandan Market near you. We may be vending at a big fair this week, I’ll update more soon! And instead of putting a bunch of pictures of Sipi up, except for this one with me making a funny face since I figure it's more realistic than one with me smiling, I’m just gonna put up some pics of the typical food I’m eating here. I am loving it more every day.