Now Departing from Platform 9 & 3/4

Looking at King's Cross on the London tube map made me think that if I had no knowledge at all of geography and world events, I might be tempted to imagine sub-saharan Africa as some far away and fantastical land like Harry Potter did when he first entered the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I have never spent a significant period of time in a truly rural area and much less so in a rural area of Africa. Perhaps I'm more prepared for a weekend of camping than 4 months in the bush. The Ugandan village where the rainwater harvesting project will take place is called Kitezo in south western Uganda and I have yet to find it on any map. Believe me I've looked at several. What should I expect from Uganda? I'm not really sure. Although I've read loads about it and have spoken to many people who have been there, I'm trying my best not to have any assumptions that will shape the way I perceive my next four months.

I will be meeting up with Geoff and Dax today in London and the three of us will be traveling to Uganda together tonight. This is actually my second posting from London so keep scrolling down beyond the photos to see the first note I wrote about my time here.

London highlights have included:
- Seeing so many dear friends and reconnecting with old colleagues over tea and pints
- Attending the Monet, Whistler & Turner exhibit at the Tate Britain Museum
- Attending the Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas musical
- Exploring areas of London I had never seen before (ie. Putney)

Further observations:
1) Londoners seem to be more into health and fitness. I keep seeing commuters on bikes, people jogging past me and a growing sportsware clothing market in a way that I never noticed before. Perhaps the fact that the media is reporting 1 in every 5 Britains are obese is having an impact on people, or perhaps I never paid close enough attention to this trend before.

2) Despite the observation above, the British are still massive consumers of chocolate. The chocolate vending machines I see on all the underground platforms are always empty. It must be because my friend Carey is doing such a brilliant job over there at Cadbury Schwepps.

3) Much like my fellow graduates from Ryerson Uni in Toronto, many from my age group in London are working for investment banks or consulting firms and are at the stage in their young lives where they are looking to purchase a home. Once again, I am an anomaly among my peer group. I work in the not-for-profit sector and am quite far from any of my financial goals. However, unlike many of them I am actually passionate about my work.

Alright now...no one's looking. It's time to run straight into the barrier with all my kit and hope for the best. Once that train departs, next stop...is Hogwarts...er Entebbe...