Dear readers,

Ahh... Our weekend at Lake Bunyonyi was spent swimming, eating flavorful food, and exploring the island. We reached our island by canoeing in a dug-out tree trunk. On the way there, the teams were: Theresa (Jeff's friend from college, currently working with gorillas, how awesome!), Jeff, and Henry versus us, Anna Rowe, and Macarena. Although they beat us to the docks, we beat them in spirit and fervor. We exhausted our vocal chords by harmonizing to "Let it Be", "A Hard Days Night", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and more. Our repertoire of Beatles songs was impressive: in total, a one hour duration. Occasionally,  Jackson, our canoe guide, would enthusiastically chime in.

When we reached the island, we immediately jumped in the water, relishing in the fact that we had schisto free water to swim in. Exhausted after our first work-out in Uganda, we headed over to the restaurant, eager for food.

Two hours later... the food finally arrived. The menu was a refreshing break from the delicious, yet endless combinations of posho, matoke, and Indian food, which we have been surviving off of for the past week. Over the next few days, we gorged ourselves on chocolate/banana crepes, quesadillas, and fries with guacamole.

The next morning, Mattie woke up with the birds. A few hours later, when Emilia finally pulled out of her slumber, we ate breakfast and went for a swim. Macarena, Henry, Jeff, and Mattie swam to the other side of the island. Macarena easily left us behind with her impressive breast-stroke, Henry held his own, and Mattie and Jeff were left in their wake. Mattie said, "Jeff, you don't have to wait; you can go ahead." Jeff responded, "I would, but I'm going as fast as I can."

On the opposite shore, we met a Ugandan woman who was washing her clothes by the bank. She introduced herself as Rachel, and offered to show us around the island. We planned to meet in two hours- surely enough time to get lunch. However, we thought wrong, and showed up an hour late. She was gracious and forgiving, and she gave us a beautiful tour of the island's vegetation and community. She pointed out their crops- sweet potatoes, bananas, and avocado-, and brought us to her home to meet her baby boy, Kevin. The Ugandan kids came along on the tour, yet had an easier time with the hilly terrain (Jeff and Henry offered their backs as transport).

We walked back, went for another swim, and then Mattie beat all the Harvard/Princeton kids at a word game (Emilia wants to point out that she was occupied with DJing and solitaire).

The next morning, we reluctantly left the warmth of our beds, and hauled up wool blankets to watch the sunset. Candles were lit, and we hopped around in the dew-strewn grass in an attempt to keep our socks dry.

On the canoe ride home, the teams were: Emilia, Theresa, Jeff, and Henry versus Mattie, Macarena, and Anna Rowe. This time, Mattie's team won, despite the confidence that Emilia's team displayed at take-off.

A sad farewell to Theresa and a bumpy car ride later, we were sprawled over living room chairs, jamming with Ugandan drums and our new bud, Sam. For Henry's Last Supper, we dined at Agip, and came home to watch The Lion King. The next morning, we said our goodbyes to Henry and headed to school.

Back to posho, matoke, and Indian food!

xoxo
Mattie and Emilia