[Coellacag]

That is simply not true. Water that gives the locals no troubles at all can bring your stomach down for days. I have been to quite a few areas like that in my life and the best advice I can give is, ALWAYS drink bottled water. Water that is good enough for them isnt automatically good enough for your first worldy stomach. [rolleyes]

What you say is true. I almost never drank tap water while in Huancayo. I did get crippling bloody diarrhea that lasted a few days from eating some food. That was in the beginning of the trip, after that everything was A-OK. You are going to get traveler's diarrhea so just take some antibiotics and expect it. The point is, don't think you are somehow special or different. Don't insult the people. You should join their culture, not the other way around.

I couldn't stand it when I saw other volunteers refuse things from locals because it wasn't "safe" or "clean." I couldn't stand it when they would just eat American food and not partake in the local delicacies. Anticuchos, beef heart, is a delicious meal and I would never have known it if I never tried it. From my understanding of some different African cultures, you are expected to have something to eat any time you visit a person's house, no matter the reason. Even if you are only there for a minute to discuss business or you had just ate the biggest meal ever, you are expected to eat. Just try to be conscience of their customs and do your best to follow them.

Just enjoy your time there because it will go by fast and you'll hate leaving! I was terrified to return to the states after my trip.

A little off topic. One of the coolest things about Huancayo was the trash trucks. They were Mercedes! They also played music very loudly from huge speakers atop their roofs! The trash was not picked up on a regular basis so when ever the trash truck was coming through you would hear the music and take your trash to the curb. It was really quite interesting.

[Enrivaanonock]

Just dont drink the water down there. And be very careful about what you eat and from whom. Period.

[soipguibbom]

Whey hey, got accepted for a conservation project in Uganda! Four and a half months from February, it's no longer a dream but actually happening. Can't wait I've never been further than France, and that was a school trip 7 years ago, so may be a bit of a shock to the 'ol system. Anyone done anything similar?

congrats on that, sounds awesome,. should be a great adventure. I probably would do it, but even still, it's somewhat dangerous in a place like that. Even from a medical standpoint, you could be in the bush, and be bitten by a black mamba or somehting, and your good and fecked. anyways, from the freinds of mine who've done stuff like that in Africa, they said it's somewhat dangerous, you just have to be with people who know what they're doing, and where to go, and more importantly, where not to go.


also, not sure if you can find this, but the other night, i saw a great documentary, It was called "A Presidental Tour of Uganda" (i think) it;'s an NBC show, produced in High Def, one of the reporters (forrest sawyer i think) goes on a tour of the country w/ the president. It was incredible w/ beautiful footage. They went on safari's, saw the Mountain Gorrillas and ect... maybe it's online somewhere, maybe amazon. anyways, if your going to Uganda, you will probably dig it. It's practically a state spoinsored tourist video for Uganda, but a great documentary all the same. It wouldn't suprise me if the Travel Bureau of Uganda give it out. maybe it's online somewhere though, i'd love for you to see it since your going there though.

p.s. don't watch Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda under any circumstance before you go.

also, please wear a condom at all times, don't ever let that latex off your prick the entire four months..[rofl]

[Arexytece]

congrats on that, sounds awesome,. should be a great adventure. I probably would do it, but even still, it's somewhat dangerous in a place like that. Even from a medical standpoint, you could be in the bush, and be bitten by a black mamba or somehting, and your good and fecked. anyways, from the freinds of mine who've done stuff like that in Africa, they said it's somewhat dangerous, you just have to be with people who know what their doing, and where to go, and more importantly, where not to go.


also, not sure if you can find this, but the other night, i saw a great documentary, It was called "A Presidental Tour of Uganda" (i think) it;'s an NBC show, produced in High Def, one of the reporters (forrest sawyer i think) goes on a tour of the country w/ the president. It was pretty incredible. They went on safari's, saw the Mountain Gorrillas and ect... maybe it's online somewhere, maybe amazon. anyways, if your going to Uganda, you will probably dig it. It's practically a state spoinsored tourist video for Uganda, but a great documentary all the same. It wouldn't suprise me if the Travel Bureau of Uganda give it out. maybe it's online somewhere though, i'd love for you to see it since your going therew.

p.s. don't watch Blood Diamond or Hotel Rwanda under any circumstance before you go.

also, please where a condom at all times, don't ever let that latex off your prick the entire four months..[rofl]

I hear you, cheers epking. You know, you're so much like my Uncle (who I completely respect but disagree with a lot of things) it's uncanny. But all that is exactly what he said and I do agree with [thumbup]

[soipguibbom]

I hear you, cheers epking. You know, you're so much like my Uncle (who I completely respect but disagree with a lot of things) it's uncanny. But all that is exactly what he said and I do agree with [thumbup]

thanks bro. very nice of you to say that. I feel the same way about you and most who post here. when are you going? I find that trip pretty interesting, you should keep FMers posted on your experiences leading up to and then during (if possible) the trip. it's almost something you could do a blog or picture diary or something and it would be pretty compelling material..

[Arexytece]

thanks bro. very nice of you to say that. I feel the same way about you and most who post here. when are you going? I find that trip pretty interesting, you should keep FMers posted on your experiences leading up to and then during (if possible) the trip. it's almost something you could do a blog or picture diary or something and it would be pretty compelling material..

Yeh, hopefully will if I get the time. We'll see

Edit- btw, going in February.

[LxtdK9i4]

Even if it's hot, don't wear shorts. Tourists wear shorts...

[Arexytece]

Even if it's hot, don't wear shorts. Tourists wear shorts...

I hate shorts anyway. People would go blind just looking at my chins, they haven't seen the light of day since I was 10.

[Buincchotourbss]

Good stuff Tommyknocker! Africa is !!

[WhiliaStelt]

From the title of this thread, i thought Angelina had been at it again

[Arexytece]

Whey hey, got accepted for a conservation project in Uganda! Four and a half months from February, it's no longer a dream but actually happening. Can't wait I've never been further than France, and that was a school trip 7 years ago, so may be a bit of a shock to the 'ol system. Anyone done anything similar?

[Narcodran]

Do they have running water?

[ServiceColas]

Do they have running water?

not sure, but i know they have machetes. gl

[VrQsgM7c]

Hope it scares the crap out of you, it did me. Maybe you will see some good 'ol American generosity in the form of foreign aid flowing in when you're there.

In 2004, Uganda received well over $200 million in US aid, making it one of the largest US aid recipients in all of Africa http://vps.stanleyfoundation.org/ini...a_civilwar.php

[Oswczrdz]

Make sure get all the proper shots before going there, you don't want to catch anything.

[tobaccoman]

^^^^ indeed ^^^^^^^6 be sure to post some pics when you get them

[sjdflghd]

Check it

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

I'm serious.

[Edisesyethisp]

Last place on earth id go

Actually prob would rather go seirra leone less

But yeh go for it

[spapsinee]

My sister is going to Ethiopia and probably later to Sierra Leone.. What kind of research are you going to do?

[Arexytece]

Do they have running water?

Here's some pictures of Kampala.





Obviously there is running water in much of the countries Cities and towns like this. But probably not in some rural villages.

Make sure get all the proper shots before going there, you don't want to catch anything.

Of course, it's illegal not to.

Hope it scares the crap out of you, it did me. Maybe you will see some good 'ol American generosity in the form of foreign aid flowing in when you're there.

That's because Museveni was considered one of 'the new generation of African leaders' by the West. In other words, he's a dictator living under the guise of democracy and is pro-American. Almost none of this money goes to the people, and America is well aware of this

Check it

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

I'm serious.

That's North, I'm going South West to the source of the Nile at Lake Victoria. It's a big distance.

Last place on earth id go

Actually prob would rather go seirra leone less

But yeh go for it

Why's that?

My sister is going to Ethiopia and probably later to Sierra Leone.. What kind of research are you going to do?

The research will not be so much scientifically motivated as conservation based. So anything that will help understand how best to protect the wildlife and preserve/restore the habitat. Though I should think for the majority of time I'll be used for physical labour