Anyone going to Wandegeya?

Our “classes” on this Dialogue are more experiential and work based learning opportunities. Each day half the group goes to Tunaweza, a pediatric center for physically and mentally disabled children, and the other half goes to the House of Charity, a religious convent and home for elderly and physically disabled people in need of normal daily care assistance. The easiest and most cost effective way to get to both of the sites is via public transportation. In Uganda, the streets are very crazy and very busy. There are hardly any stop lights or lines painted on the roads and there are boda bodas, or motorcycles, weaving in and around cars. We use taxis, which are considered public transportation, to get to and from the sites. Now I am sure some of you are picturing a typical yellow taxi cab sedan that seats 4 people, but that is not the case. Here the taxis are like Volks Wagon vans with rows of seat, a driver, and a conductor. They are bigger than a car, but smaller than a bus and seat around 18 people total. They are hot, squished, and confusing! There are no marked stops or stations here. Instead you find a group of taxis or wave down a taxi driving by you and ask if they will big you to the particular area you are trying to go. There are also known areas where many taxis gather that all of the locals know very well. For example, when we leave either place, we call out “Wandegeya,” which is the area near the Mekerere Guesthouse. If it is a busy area, many conductors will rush up to you to get your business. Once you find a taxi you negotiate the price and board. However, you never pay until you get out and you never use large bills. Some taxis will take your money and drive away if you do. The benefits of this system is that the taxis are everywhere, so you do not have to wait long. The taxis will also take you directly to where ever you need to go in the city. The cons of this system is that negotiating with conductors can be intimidating an overwhelming. Also, most of the time the taxis will hit traffic and will take longer to get to your destination. Today was our second day taking the taxis to and from our sites and no one got lost! I would say we are starting to get a hang of the culture and environment here.