Misconceptions

I've been thinking a lot about the different stereotypes and misconceptions that people have of Africa in general, and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. The most common questions I've gotten have been: 1. Will you live in a mud hut? 2. Will you have electricity or running water? and 3. Are the people civilized?

Ridiculous questions, right?! At the same time, I really don't have a good response to them, seeing as how I really have no idea what conditions I actually will be living in. Obviously, the people are civilized, I'm pretty sure I won't be living in a mud hut (not in the middle of Kampala, anyway), and I'm fairly certain that the majority of places in the city have running water and a good amount of electricity. But I really won't know until I get there.

For these reasons, I'm really excited about finally getting to Uganda and being able to say exactly how it is there, at least from my perspective. At the same time, it pretty much JUST hit me that I'm leaving tomorrow night. After it feeling like the trip is years away, it's finally here, and I don't know how to process it! I guess I won't really until I actually arrive in London, and then Entebbe.

Until then, happy February! See you on the other side of the world!