Out of the office and into a home!

After four months of living in the office, we finally moved into a real house today. On a hillside overlooking Lake Kivu, we have lovely sunset views from our back deck, and a garden plenty big enough (on a steep slope!) for growing some veggies.

I know I promised gorilla photos.....!!

Events in Kinshasa

For anyone wondering if events in Kinshasa are having an effect on life in Bukavu, the answer is ‘no’. Life goes on as usual here, and last night I was out having dinner with friends at Gerda’s Place (a review of which appeared on this site a few months back). Kinshasa is about as far from here as New York is from LA; different climate, different people, different language. For more information about Kinshasa events, take a look at the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5272300.stm

Back in Bukavu
Yes, I'm back in Bukavu! Had a great time in Gulu, Kitgum, and then Kampala. Enjoyed meeting our teams from all three northern Uganda locations: Gulu, Kitgum, and Lira. Hello to everyone up there! It was interesting to see how the scenery changes as one drives from the north back down to the south. In the north (Kitgum is not far from the border with southern Sudan) people mostly still live in traditional round huts built from mud and thatch. The countryside is generally flat, with some startling outcrops of rocks that reminded me of Australia's northern territory. As you go south, the land becomes more fertile and greener, and banana trees - absent in the north - begin to take over. Getting closer to Kampala it is obvious from the houses and the cars on the road that the south is much better off. It almost seems like a different country.

Today I visited the gorillas here in Congo. Will write about that tomorrow - for now I'm exhausted!


Here I am, outside our Gulu office.

Children from the Obung Lee Primary School Peace Club in Kitgum, northern Uganda.