Dream of going on an African Safari? Want to Volunteer in Africa?

Hello Friends, Family and Everyone else,

Life in the Pearl of Africa, UGANDA, is wonderful! I am keeping myself very busy working for the Wild-Path African Safari company:
http://wildpathug.com/index.php

I am also implementing a Volunteer-in-Africa organization, Musana Volunteers Program:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=212694698130&ref=ts

I want to organize YOUR SAFARI and/or VOLUNTEER experience in UGANDA!
Please check out the Wild-Path Safari website above. And check out the Musana Volunteer Program Facebook group if you wish to make your trip to Africa both meaningful and life-changing. Email me at hannahwillowgray@gmail.com

Wild-Path Safari Company can arrange an authentic safari and other adventure trips to fit your budget in the most phenomenal country in the world. Guaranteed to see Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Crocodiles, Gazelles, Bucks, hundreds of bird species, and even Zebras!

I understand that traveling from North America/Europe to Africa is a BIG trip both financially and in terms of distance. However, visiting EAST AFRICA is something that YOU ALL MUST DO in your lifetime. Uganda is the most beautiful, welcoming, and environmentally diverse country in the world...
...yes, I realize I am very bias but rightfully so ;-) It is time for you to explore and/or volunteer in Uganda!

Ignore whatever you read in the newspaper. Turn off your MSNBC, CNN, & FOX News. Change the Radio news show...
...and Come Home to Africa...the cradle of humankind. As you will soon learn, there is so much more to this continent than the immense poverty you see and hear about in the news. Come and see for yourself!

Uganda has the Source of the Nile River. Countless animals on land, lake and sky. Staggering Mountains, vast Savannah's, Crater lakes, lush Monkey jungles, rolling green Hills, and massive Waterfalls. The sweetest fruits. Temperate, sunny weather. The kindest people. Hundreds of diverse cultures and languages all within a small radius.

Want to Volunteer in Africa?
Want to go on Safari?
Want to do both? .... Well, you're lucky you know me!
What are you waiting for?
Email me today and start to plan for the most amazing experience of your life, guaranteed.

Please pass this email along to anyone and everyone you know.
Thank you! I hope to hear from you soon.

live from the Pearl of Africa,
Hannah

hannahwillowgray@gmail.com
+256 7850 24775 (Uganda cell)
facebook: Hannah Willow Gray

City of Lights

On Christmas Eve Eve we hopped on a plane and made our way to picturesque Paris (read: Paree). The best part of flying with a non discount airline (Ryan Air, Easy Jet) other than being allowed checked luggage is the complimentary drinks. Thank you for the crisp champagne Air France and for flying from Tegel to Charles de Gaule.

On Christmas eve, we were joined by a good friend and went for Raclette at a cute restaurant in Montmarte (home of Amelie Poulin and Moulin Rouge) and subsequently swore off cheese for the rest of 2009 (unsucessfully).

Of course we walked around looking for all the tourist sights and architectural gems the city has to offer, but I'll let Lucas cover that story. We constantly got caught in the trap surrounding Notre Dame Cathedral, where we took our Christmas 2009 photo.

We saw lots of other stuff too, among our favourites, Le Centre Pompidou and Avatar.

After many exhausting days of walking the city, we twice sat down to a movie. The second was Max et Les Maximonstres (Where the Wild Things Are).. those French, they have a new word for everything!

 

Thinking it would be a fun experiment, I only brought along our zoom lens (55-200) which Luke enjoyed at some times more than others ( we practically had to walk to les Champs Elysees to get a full shot of the Eiffel Tower).

-- Looking for travel ideas in France or hotels in Paris and other cities? check this link: Hotels in Paris

Top 50 Travel Spots for Architecture Buffs

I was recently contacted by another blogger who wrote an article called "Top 50 Travel Spots for Architecture Buffs" - conveniently combining two of my passions. I don't think it is in order of architectural relevance, but the list is comprehensive and interesting, especially if you are planning a trip for the near future. Anyway, check it out by following this link: Top 50 Travel Spots for Architecture Buffs

Balancing like a Boda-Boda

I haven't had the inspiration to write since I moved back to Kampala...until now.
My life here over the past three weeks has been full of great ups as well as a few dips below sea level. However, I am finally settling in day by day. After weeks of being somewhat homeless, jobless, and overwhelmed, I have finally moved into a cute house in an area of Kampala called Kansanga. Kansanga is a few miles/km out of the central Kampala area, and only about a 10 minute drive to the beautiful Lake Victoria beaches. (This is where I happily spent my Sunday).
I am living with nice German woman, just a bit older than me, who is completing some research, and her puppy. Our guard, Mark, and our housekeeper, Grace, are both lovely and keep our compound very safe and clean.
Finding a home was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders though I'm still feeling the financial strain that most 20-somethings are feeling ...all over the world. Seems that jobs are not easy to find right now...anyone agree? :-)
Since coming to the conclusion that I should find an area of work to specialize in, such as teaching or counseling, I focused my sights on International Education. More specifically, Montessori Teaching methods (or something along these lines). If you don't know about the Montessori Teaching Method I highly recommend Google-ing it.
I found a local Montessori School not far from where I live here in Kampala and decided to check it out. This is an Integrated School which educates 28 students between the ages of 4 and 9, half of which have learning disabilities. Within an hour of talking to the Head Teacher I was offered a position as a Teachers Assistant at the school. This should be great experience in case I decide to pursue a career in International Teaching and go back to school for it next year. The children are presently out-of-class due to the holiday season but I will be helping with some odd jobs in the classroom during this month and officially starting my teaching internship come January. I am really excited about this new career choice!
As for a job with a salary....This is in the works.
Along with assisting with Mr.Tayeebwa's PhD research, I have a few leads on other jobs in Kampala such as working for a TV station, and collaborating on the creation of a Documentary film. We'll see what pans out...
Thanks to all my friends here who have been an enormous help with my house/job/life search.
A small anecdote:
Today, I walked up and down the lengthy Ggaba Road, where they make and sell any kind of furniture, wood carving, house decoration you could imagine. In search of shelves for my new bedroom, I bargained for what seemed like hours in the sweltering sun, to save what is the equivalent of $1.15. Now I am laughing at myself, but at the time, I was in so deep in the bargaining game that I truly lost track of how little money was really at stake. Eventually I picked out wooden shelf unit (something like what you would find at Ikea..except with an African twist) and a giant woven basket to put clothes in, paid the final "last" price and now had to figure out a way to get back to my house with all this. Solution: Boda-Boda.
The Boda-Boda, motorbike, driver strapped the shelves horizontally to the back of the bike with twine and rubber strings. Then behind that he somehow connects my gigantic basket. He jumps on his bike, then I sit squished between him, and my new shelves. I tell him to go slow (that was for you mom)...so of course every car, truck, lory, bicycle, goat/person walking, baby crawling passes us. As we are driving (balancing) the 4 km to my house he decides to strike up a conversation on the politics of Uganda vs. the rest of the world. I only caught every other word he said since the wind carried the rest, but lets just say he has issues with Museveni but loves Obama. I told him to join the club.
That's all for today. I will try to take some more pictures soon so you can all picture what I have described above.
Its funny how quickly you get used to seeing certain things while living in a new environment. I no longer think its strange to wait in traffic while a herd of cows walk down the center of the road, or see goats nursing on the sidewalk, or a bicycle carrying 15+ mattresses riding alongside a massive big-mac truck. This Is Africa.

Time to go eat the beautiful pineapple that sits in my kitchen...its calling my name.

Love to each and every one,
Hannah

p.s. Happy Birthday L.A.S.!

The Big Move

So, after many sleepless nights and days of my wheels turning, I finally decided that Nairobi, Kenya was not the right fit for me. The city and the University of Nairobi had much to offer, but despite the effort I put in, I did not feel settled nor comfortable in my surroundings. A combination of the need to be immersed in intense security in Nairobi due to a high crime rate, and time spent re-evaluating my future education focus** led me to make a big decision... 'I will move back to Kampala, Uganda.'

Making this big change was something I had to decide on my own, which was not easy. The thought of 'giving up' on a place I had only lived for 2 months bothered me, however I truly feel that life is too short to settle for something that just is not clicking. Impulsive or not, I am very happy with my decision.

I am now re-settling into a life in Kampala. I have only been back here a few days, yet I already feel at home in this vibrant, warm, bustling, little city. My friends here have welcomed me like family and I have so many helping me with the apartment/job search.

Starting in January I will be working as a Research Assistant for the brilliant William Tayeebwa, a great friend I met at Concordia University in Montreal. William's PhD Research focuses on land conflict in different areas of East Africa. This experience will allow me to work in the field and gain knowledge on a topic that is presently feeding the refugee crisis in East Africa.

My blog will be updated more regularly now that I have finally rooted myself. I put up some pictures of the 15 hour road trip that I took with 2 friends from Nairobi to Kampala. It was quite an adventure to drive that long and winding road, including real zebra crossings, giant craters, passing through the equator, and many monkeys!

I miss you all who are not here with me now, but thanks to skype, g-chat, facebook, email, etc I don't feel too disconnected. So please, keep the emails coming! (hannahwillowgray@gmail.com). I love hearing from you all.

xoxo
Hannah banana

p.s. Happy almost Thanksgiving to all my lovely Americans.

**I have recently come to the conclusion that it is important to have some sort of tangible skill in order to find work in the future. I am now considering different options such as becoming a Teacher or a Counselor...a skill I can combine with my passion for international development in order to truly make a positive impact in this world.
More to come on this topic...

Airfare Deals

This sponsored post is about a website specializing in personal airfare deals. You sign up, fill in some simple forms and they send you personalized emails featuring airfare deals and air ticket sales. I haven't used the service so I can' vouch for its effectiveness. However, as more and more of us are galavanting around the globe cheap flights could come in handy. Anyway, feel free to check out the website and see if it is useful - while you are there look into flights to Berlin and stop by for a visit. Beer is on me (well, Kristi actually).

Holiday Vacation

The holiday season is quickly approaching once again, much to my dismay. I hate the over commercialization and shitty gifts and cards we all feel the need to buy. But the good news is those of us who work - we all know this doesn't include me - get time off and that means we can travel. Kristi and I have been thinking about what to do and where to go. One of our friends along with their friends is renting a house in the Czech Republic for a winter holiday in the mountains. This is one possibility and definitely an affordable option. We were also thinking about a week in the well lit city of Paris - perhaps meeting up with a friend or two. We are exploring option and finding affordable places to stay which brings me to this website: vacation rental - a site that offers houses and apartments for short term rents. Check out rentals in these cities if you are looking for a place to go this winter: at the beach,Waikiki, Hawaii, or in the mountains, Stowe, Vermont.

Just another Nairobi night hosted by Akon and Wyclef <3

I had the most amazing Saturday night at the MTV Africa Music Awards (aka: MAMA) with my friends Jameel and Steve.

The entire night I was right up against the stage, only a few feet away from Akon and Wyclef...two of my favorite musicians, both of which were hosting the awards.
At one point I was up on my friend Steve's shoulders, close to where Akon was sitting. Finally, after the 3 of us went crazy shouting Akons name and me, waving my arms like a madwoman in the air, I finally got his attention and a huge smile. *Sigh.* Later on Akon was right on the edge of the stage close enough that I had no choice but to grab his leg… (I know I sound like a groupie but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do...especially when faced with supersexy superstar). I may even be on MTV Base on Oct 17th when the awards are televised.

All in all the show was incredible...and it didn't hurt that Wyclef, Akon, and a dozen other African artists & performers were practically next to me for the majority of the Awards.

On the flipside, after the MTV Africa Awards Show, we went to a local bar where I had another phone stolen... 2 down so far. I thought I was being "so smart" by not bringing anything valuable with me...except the phone...I checked my bag late in the night and it was gone before I could even think twice. I guess I learned my lesson...again.
Here is my new phone number:+254 718 650 283


On a way side note…my classes still haven't begun yet....I have orientation to the Institute of Development Studies program on Thursday. More updates on school at a later date.


Cherry on the sundae: I saw a huge baboon climbing the tree next to my apartment complex a few hours ago!

TIA = This Is Africa.

Medical Tourism in Thailand

As many of you know we have spent a lot of time in Thailand both living in Bangkok for about a year and traveling around the country exploring the islands, mountains, beaches and lazy rivers. The wonderful jungles and mountains with monkeys and elephants in the north were particularly captivating. Luckily we stayed healthy and fit during our time there and didn't have to experience much of the health care system first hand (other than one small trip to the hospital because Kristi had an eye problem). However, Thailand is famous for the high quality and affordable prices of it's hospitals, dentists, and other health care services. In fact, it has become an increasing trend to take mediacl vacations to this beautiful country of tropical paradises - more Americans are going each year to Thailand for medical procedures including check ups, dental and cosmetic surgery. It is often cheaper to take a couple weeks off work, fly to Thailand, get your medical procedure taken care of and then recover in a resort on a beach for a week, than it is to get the same procedure performed at home. For this reason the tourism department is promoting Thailand medical tourism. Check out the link to an article with more information. Everyone is aware of the health care debate going on in the states right now. Both sides of the aisle can agree something has to change however, no one is willing to actually make these all important changes. What I suggest is just ignore the whole issue, drop your health insurance policy and book it over to Thailand whenever you need something taken care of. It will save you money and hit the insurance companies where it hurts, their pockets! Besides, the food, weather, landscapes, ocean, are all better in Thailand.

Nairobi, Kenya to Kampala, Uganda and Everything In Between

I spent last weekend visiting the Maasai Mara, a few hours southwest of Nairobi.

Myself and two Canadian friends travelled by matatu, taxi, back of an open-air truck, and foot to get to our final destination, which was a small Maasai village, extremely removed from any sort of town or city. The landscape from Nairobi to Maasai Mara was so arid, I had expected more hills, trees, and wildlife. But instead my eyes travelled across the flat terrain dotted with shrubs, Acacia trees, wild ostridges, and gazelles which were meandering through the plains.

We spent the night sleeping with Maasai families in their dung huts. Despite what you are thinking, and any preconceived notions, this is the very first time I have ever slept in a hut in Africa. I stayed overnight with our guide named Sane and his family. Sane was the only one in the family who spoke english so he explained all of their traditions and daily rituals as his mother (his fathers first wife, out of three), heated masala tea, and cooked greens and ugali grain over an open fire in the huts "kitchen" area. As I stepped out of the hut at midnight to take a "short call" in the bush, I was overwhelmed by the night sky which glowed from the rays of a billion stars.

The entire night I barely slept, considering the rock hard logs I slept on, and the close company of an extended Maasai family by my side, but I wouldnt have traded that sleepless night for any other.

On Friday I arrived in Kampala, Uganda after being wide awake for a sweltering 13 hour bus ride. I left Nairobi at 6am on Friday morning and arrived sweaty and tired Friday night at 9pm. The smooth road, the wild monkeys, baboons, beautiful landscape and roadside markets from Nairobi to Kampala made the trip much easier. Upon arriving in Kampala I was greeted by so many old friends, and some new ones, then headed to an outdoor club to dance and reconnect with my Ugandan roots...hehe. I feel as though I have never even left, but its been over 2 years since I was last here.

On a random funny note, yesterday I was at a small cafe, and this Ugandan man invited himself to join me for coffee. After chatting for a bit he told me he would make me some calls and help me get a Ugandan passport. He said the good thing about a corrupt government is that you can get anything you want as long as you have the right connections.

I`ll keep you posted ;-)
Okay, you will hear from me again soon. Much Love,

Hannah