Kampala, Uganda

Africa my Africa
Africa my motherland
Mother or Fatherland
Childless you went almost
But he that intervened
The God of all nations

Africa my Africa
Mother of nations great
Nigeria in the west
Ethiopia in the east remains
With labor pangs
You brought them forth

Africa my Africa
Father of Egypt
To the north, be so planted
And Zimbabwe, the south remains
And for Africa that mothered them all

Africa my Africa
Your discovery had brought you pains
Children and grandchildren
To the great sea you lost
Continents with them were fed

Africa my Africa
In Vain labor no more
Loose a child, but to no one
Your great nations do protect
For he shall intervene
When you cry for help
-Toris Okotie


After departing the cloudy skies of Addis Ababa, Kampala exploded with brightness. From the deep, green richness of the grass to the bright, red earth that lined the roads. The exotic yellow bananas that dotted the trees and the fresh mangoes and pineapple sold along the streets to the dark blue waters of Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile River. Dark brown faces walk the roadways, many wearing bright, African print dresses with baskets resting atop their heads. The ride to our compound is mostly smooth till we arrive in Kabowa, the name of our district within the capital of Kampala. I find myself starring at everything i see, out the left-passenger seat that is, for Uganda is a former British colony.

We arrive at the AFAA house, (a foster home caring for 18 Ugandan orphans) my new residence for the next seven weeks.

In the military, we spent months reading multiple six inch regulation and airway law books, working in simulators and countless lectures training to be Air Traffic Controllers, but it wasn't till I actually talked to a live Pilot, after graduating, that I ever really learned anything. So far, it has been two weeks in Uganda and I am learning that book knowledge is pointless without actual experience. Initially, I was nervous to be the youngest one on a potential property cite talking to managers and developers who have MBA's and decades of experience, but I quickly learned that timidity will get you nowhere...