You are lost...

This is what Ugandans say when they haven't seen you in a while. This may be what some people think of someone who hasn't updated their blog in nearly 5 months...

So I've been lost, I freely admit that. In the time between posts a lot has happened; the world has fallen into some pretty major economic troubles, the United States has elected and inaugurated a new president (hurray!) and 2009 is well underway.

My sister Sara came to visit over the New Year and we had a great time catching up, rafting the Nile (picture), visiting the Abayudaya and relaxing a bit. I'm looking forward to visiting her in Zambia sometime in the next year.





Here in Kampala, Uganda, things are moving forward. We've received shipments of product, are setting up some exciting partnerships and moving forward in the formation of BASE Technologies. This is mostly what has been keeping me busy for the past 5 months. Though I'm still hashing and playing frisbee - I ran my second half marathon in November, and recently I participated in the 7 Hills Run that took us up and down 7 of the hills that Kampala is famous for.
(Soo, Teeny and myself at the Red Dress Hash)




I've been asked and have accepted to stay with BASE on for an additional year. I figure with all the stuff going on in the US, keeping a stable job with a company that I love is the best option for me at the moment (sorry mom and dad!). The good news is that this gives you all an additional 12 months to plan your visits to Uganda!

Also, I'm going to do my best to be more inspired to write and keep this updated... late new year's resolution, but feel free to send badgering emails to remind me too.

Bananas!

Uganda has, as far as I can tell, about 18 different kinds of bananas. Ok, I’m exaggerating but they really do have at least 4 or 5. One is matoke, which I really haven’t figured out exactly what it is… unripe banana, plantain? Either way, not really that delicious to me. What is delicious though is the mini-banana, as I’ve started calling them. These bananas are sweet and about a third of the size of the giant, tasteless bananas we have in the states. Some friends and I are considering a venture to import them into the US. We think they will be a real hit but we can’t decide whether to market them as “snack-size bananas – perfect for that small craving!” or “diet bananas – 1/3 the calories of regular bananas!” What do you think?