Friday evening started off a fantastic weekend around Kampala. A couple girls and I went downtown to get our nails done, pedicure and manicure, for only 10,000shillings! That's less than $5! Sorry guys out there, but seriously that's a deal. After nails we headed to a quick dinner and then on to a professional basketball game. Basketball is fairly new in Uganda, but it's extremely popular and the game was great. There's a bit of confusion distinguishing between college teams and professional teams, because they seem to be interchangeable and the college players get paid like professional players. We watched a game between Kampala International University and Ndjebe University. We all went to cheer on my friend Nathaniel that works at the Embassy. He's pretty much living out his lifetime dream to play for a professional basketball team, and has found a use for his 6'5 stature playing with the Ugandans! Hearing Ugandan hecklers was entertaining enough with insults like, "Uncover your face you broomstick!" "If we lose this match you're all buying me a beer because my weekend is screwed!" followed by banging and various chants.
Saturday morning we headed to a football field near a police station. They had planned one of the most unique events I'd ever heard of- Boda Polo. At the event, benefitting victims of human trafficking, everyday boda-boda drivers drove their motorcycles as Americans and Europeans sat as passengers and whacked polo mallets against the ball and into goals at opposite ends of the field. It was an event not only endorsed by the police, but there was a Ugandan police team that even took part in the tournament! An ambulance stood on call, prepared for any expat flying off of bodas as they zoomed around the field, but the event was so unique it was hard not to love it. We left the field before the rain came pouring, and took a break napping and watching a movie. That evening we had a great BBQ with about 20 people and then headed off to the Silent Disco. I can't believe my school has never put on an event like this! When you walk in the club, an attendant hands you a set of wireless headphones that are linked to various DJ's playing music around the club. You can switch the channel on your headset and find different music whenever you want! Don't like the music you're dancing to but you see one of your friends going crazy? Look at their channel and soon you're listening to the same music! Everything I did on Saturday was so original, hanging out in Kampala was just as good as going on a trip outside the capital.
