Lets do it again: new country, new job, new friends, new flat, new star-over. This is my fourth leap into the unknown: and every time is a new learning experience I am so greatful for. Off to a country I have never visited before - without return ticket. My first week in Kampala was joyful, exciting and also provided some little chaos. About 7-Euro-cream cheese, mobile Money adventures and furniture shopping marathons – here's what it's like to land in Uganda and start from scratch. One week in Uganda = 47 to-do lists, 6 Hypermarkets, 1 Rolex (the food kind), and countless laughs. 

Hi! That was me during the last seven days.

In Uganda, people drive on the left side of the road. And every time I try to use the turn signal, I end up switching on the windshield wipers instead. The car setup is completely different from what I'm used to.

Only option: try to play it cool in front of the other passengers.

"Just testing the wiper fluid!" :)

There were a lot of shared laughs this week, which really helped build connection quickly.

On my first day at the office, I met a colleague wearing a headscarf. I greeted her using a few specific Arabic phrases I had learned in Jordan, intended for formal greetings. She understood me but quickly clarified:
“I’m not Muslim – just having a bad hair day.”
We both laughed.

Another moment that stood out: A colleague was congratulated with a cheerful “You’re doing so well!” - after failing to squeeze through a narrow gap between the wall and a chair.
Here, “You’re doing well” can also mean: you’re eating well, you’re looking healthy. Love the mindset!

After just a few days, I felt a sense of relief.
I thought: Yes, this is going to work.

A new job, a country I had never visited before - yet it already felt manageable.
Perhaps my previous experiences living in Kenya and Burkina Faso helped, as many customs and foods feel somewhat familiar. But I’m sure a large part of it comes from the people here: warm, welcoming, and reliable.

I mean, imagine signing a contract and booking a one-way trip to a country you’ve never been to. But Uganda… Kampala… it’s going to be just right.

Language Helps

One big advantage: everyone speaks English.
Since I don’t speak Luganda (the dominant language in Kampala), English makes everyday life and communication much easier. I can explain what I need and understand others without any language barrier.

The weeks before departure were intense:
Little sleep, endless packing, a mental checklist that kept growing—and then an overnight flight with no rest. Arrival didn’t mean downtime either. Quite the opposite.

Here’s what my first week included:

• Visiting nearly every hypermarket in town (and accidentally buying imported cream cheese for €7 – beginner’s mistake)

• Buying a water dispenser

• Signing up for water delivery

• Getting a local SIM card

• Searching for an ATM with reasonable withdrawal fees (spoiler: haven’t found one yet)

• Buying storage boxes to create some order at home

• Choosing and ordering furniture (most items are custom-made and take around 6 weeks)

• Checking out nearby playgrounds

• Building key relationships and delivering small welcome gifts from Germany (apartment manager, security guard, handyman, etc.)

• Visiting the new school

• Getting into the habit of always carrying sunscreen and mosquito spray (no malaria, please)

• Applying for a residence permit

• Learning to drive on the left

• Downloading Ugandan music I´ve heard in the stores

• Trying a Rolex (Ugandan street food: eggs and vegetables rolled in chapati bread)

• Buying towels

• Stocking up on basic groceries

• And of course: starting work and going on project visits

One of the biggest discoveries was how Mobile Money works.
It’s used for nearly all payments here. Basically, I withdraw cash and hand it to someone on the street who enters a star-hash code on my phone as if I’m using a Nokia 3110 again. No app, no internet—just a few codes, and suddenly the money is on my phone balance. I can pay for groceries, water, and even rent this way!

Other learnings and observations include:

• How people greet each other (handshakes last a while—even while the conversation has already started)

• How time is perceived (it’s often described through meals; when my landlady said she’d pass by “at lunch,” she meant exactly 1 p.m. - but I had to figure this out first!)

• Where it’s normal to bargain, and where not

• When it gets dark and which areas are better avoided afterward

• How electricity is paid for (it’s prepaid, when it runs out, it runs out)

Moving abroad always brings a few unknowns.

Right up until the last minute, I kept wondering:
What if I don’t like it at all?
Luckily, things have gone smoothly—apart from the seven missing suitcases (which have now arrived).

The smells, the lighting, the climate, and the sounds are all new.
Falling asleep in Kampala is a unique experience.
What I used to play on YouTube to relax—jungle or rainforest sounds—is now simply the natural environment around my home. It’s calming and makes me feel grounded.