FIRST IMPRESSIONS June 3

What a place of contrasts. Beauty abounds. My first impression of the Eby's home is "paradise." It's hard to imagine a more lush or fertile place. From where I sit on the porch, I can see white, pink, orange, yellow, red, and purple flowers of all shapes and sizes. All sorts of birds make unfamiliar calls which I have never before heard. Geckos scurry across the porch. Varying fruit trees can be found. In the Eby's yard alone are avocado, jack fruit, coffee, and bannana trees. The earth is so fertile that clilppings of most plants may be stuck in the ground and they will grow. Passing storms roll in quickly and water the earth for 30 minutes, and then the hot equatorial sun re-emerges. There was one shower this morning and another looks to be rolling in from the South over Lake Victoria. Driving along the dirt roads, one can see 4 ft high anthills scattered about the fields. Along with the expected assortment of chickens, goats, and dogs in the village, there are also oxen with horns that must be three feet long. apparently they are quite docile, though I don't intend to get too close.
Dave said that his goal for his property is to show people the potential beauty of Africa, in contrast to much of what is seen. It is far more bleak when you descend the hill on the outskirt of down where the Eby's live and enter the more crowded parts of the city. Here you find masses of people. Everyone seems to be walking or biking somewhere, but with no clear purpose. The economy in Kampala is actually better than most of Africa, but it is still impoverished. Many of the motorists are on Bodabodas (small motorcycles) - an extremely dangerous mode of transportation here in the city. Dave says a typical week in the city will see 30 transportation related deaths - mainly people on Bodabodas. I have yet to look inside one of the small square huts which comprise the living quarters for people here, but hopefully that will come soon.