Well it has been a tough start in Uganda. I arrived on time after enjoyable flights with KLM, but it soon ended when I went to pick up my luggage. I watched as slowly everyone else picked up luggage and finally realized none of mine had arrived. I did have my carry on luggage with extremely limited amount of clothing in it (couple shirts and change of underwear). I proceeded to the lost luggage area, getting there before others who also lost some of their luggage---I was the only one that lost everything. My first taste of Uganda was the absence of computers to track the computerized tracking code used on your luggae. I had to submit a paper report which took around 30 minutes and they would work on locating it. I was not confident.
I then left the airport to find Dr. Kabuye--a man I have only seen in one photo. Luckily we literally ran into each other and to my relief he is extremely nice and very funny. We drove to his house in a suburb, Gayeasa, outside of the capital, Kampala. I met his wife and child--just one year old. It was late and we had some dinner and then went to bed but my luggage situation kept me up most of the night.
The next day, Dr. Kabuye and I were going into Kampala to exchange money, setup my phone, and hopefully find out more about my luggage. I know LA traffic is bad but the city traffic here was ridiculous. There are traffic signs and some street lights but no one seems to follow them. It took us all day to complete out tasks--which we actually never did. I found out my phone won't connect to the internet and calls were not working properly. We had no luck finding the luggage at the KLM office, and unless I bought the travelers checks at the bank they would not exchange them. Things really were not going my way and I got bogged down even more. We headed back home, stopping briefly to pick up a pair of pants and shirts for me. In the store I ran into some fellow Americans--two Yale Medical students doing a medical mission here. However, neither of us could chat long so I never got their names. With pretty much a failed day over with, I got a hold of my parents to figure out my MCAT score which should have been loaded that day. I scored decent but it was at my lower expectation for a score. This topped everything off and I fell asleep wondering if this was the right idea.
But luckily this story is not a tragedy. Today we were going to head to the hospital for the first time. Before leaving I got word from my father that my luggage has been found and I will be able to pick it up tomorrow. In addition while my MCAT score troubled me, it has also strengthened my dedication to getting in to school. It might not be as simple without the great score but it should be good enough and maybe my submitting the primary application from Uganda will spark the admission officers interest...
I spent the day getting used to the hospital and to being the strange white man. Though because I am white and that I don a doctor's coat--all of the people look to me for help, I wish I had the knowledge to help, but sadly I am not a physician yet. It rained so not many patients came in but I did get to meet all the patients currently there. Most were women about to or after giving birth. Others were aids patients and pediatric care. There is one patient who is dying from a mix of TB and AIDS---very sad but a daily reality. The hospital is primitive though they do have new equipment just donated however the crappy power in the area does not allow them to use the new X-Ray machine. Luxuries such as disposable sterile gowns are non existant--cloth gowns used and steam sterilized but apparently sometimes used on more than one patient at a time---I and the doctor know that it could spread disease from patient to patient but it is all that can be done. So it will be different but there is optimism in the people's eyes and the doctor here is extremely well respected---no mal practice suits!
I have more I can say but I will try uploading some pictures soon and will update more then.
Adam
