It is always rather different from a child’s perspective and it is easy to forget that they are seeing and hearing everything for the first time. Last night both my Trooper and Princess had a melt down. It is an overwhelming experience for me so I can hardly imagine how they really feel. Most 9 year old expats, especially those working for large organizations or embassies would have been swept into an air conditioned car and driven from the airport to a large leafy breezy home without a slum in site. There is a district here called Kololo and that is exactly that. Then they would be chauffeured from home to country club to school and back again.
In sharp contrast my little princess has been walking through pot holes, past ditches filled with a grey and murky sludge, and past the most extraordinary array of smells. Uganda refrigeration seems to favour keeping the chickens alive and well in coops along the street. There is a huge sensory assault every moment and the combination of culture shock and home sickness is quite intense. She complains of having a pain in her chest all the time. Trooper on the other hand seems to take things in her stride but yesterday after the 4th Boda Boda drive and seeing poor children sitting in the centre of the street, seemingly alone, the sense of being overwhelmed hit her hard.
On the other hand they have met great people and when they are in the pool they are more than happy.
The milkshakes go down a treat too.
3limes 