Well, potentially contrary to my circumnavigator’s spirit, I’ve decided to stay in the airport during my current ten-hour layover in Brussels. I was originally routed to fly from Entebbe to Doha, then Doha to Milan to arrive in Milan seven hours ago. But, due to recent airspace bans for Qatar Airways, my first flight would have been almost three hours longer than it was supposed to be, which would cause me to miss my Doha-Milan connection. I initially hoped to get to Doha and just cross my fingers that my second flight was delayed. However, the Entebbe airport officials would not let me check in to my first flight. I do think that’s reasonable, but I also think it was partially due to the newfound plane passenger limit: because the plane had to carry extra fuel to flight for the extra few hours, there was a new, lower weight restriction which limited the number of passengers the plane could hold.
So, yesterday afternoon, I nervously waited in the corner of the Entebbe airport to be updated about the possibility of rescheduling my flight. I stood, fidgeting in my designated, out-of-the-way waiting position, fearing that if I looked at my phone, I would miss something important. About forty five minutes in, a Singaporean woman in a similar position as me helped put my antsy, annoyed state in perspective. It was as if she had a prepared sermon with calming words of wisdom regarding the crap airport officials deal with each day, how lucky we were to be where we are, and how slight changes to our plan will not affect that. So, I snapped back to reality and thankfulness and focused on accepting the travel flow, whether that would be through Doha or Brussels–as it turned out–to get to Italy.
And so, continuing to go with the flow, I took this extra-long layover as a blessing in disguise. I’m taking this day in a comfy airport lounge to relax and re-WiFi, to organize some of my disjointed notes from Kampala as well as compile all messages with my Milan appointment times–scattered throughout WhatsApp, Gmail, and Facebook Messenger–and compile them into one nice calendar. (Yes, I know the city center is just a short train ride away, but I also spent a wonderful weekend in Brussels last summer, and I just enjoyed a delicious waffle right here in this airport.)
Unlike in Kampala, where I interviewed many researchers and government officials, in Italy, I will interview Milanese residents with a wide variety of professions, yet who all share one thing in common–their involvement in GAS organizations. ‘GAS,’ or Gruppi Acquisto Solidale, are grassroots networks found throughout Italy, which collectively organize direct food purchasing. While regional food provision is embedded within Italy’s agricultural and cultural history, GAS have been crucial in the endurance of local food systems (LFS), and represent a key portion of Italy’s modern LFS amidst increasing internationalization of its food supply chains. Furthermore, while GAS are founded upon the principles of economic and ethical solidarity with food producers, their benefits span into consumers’ own lives, such as by providing consumers with a reliable source of high quality food.
Additionally, the city of Milan holds a leading status its leading status in global food security initiatives: In 2015, Milan hosted the “Global Food Security Challenges”-themed Food Expo and led implementation of the internationally-recognized Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), which is a consortium of city leaders who work to “develop sustainable food systems that are inclusive, resilient, safe, and diverse” (Milan Urban Food Policy Pact). So, in addition to GAS Organizers, I will interview some researchers involved in the created of the MUFPP, which interestingly (relevantly…) enough are both involved in GAS organizations, as well…
I’m not in Italy yet though, so in one last effort to Budapest airport effort to be chill and accepting of all I encounter while travelling, I’ve decided to include a not-so-research-related blog post on this research blog. Below are some words from my winning WiFi location in Kampala: an Irish bar at 2 p.m.:
I’ve been in Uganda for about 11 days now (11/99!), and I have learned an incredible amount. In addition to the ridiculous number of pages of notes I have collected on urban agriculture and food security in Kampala, here are some other fun takeaways/words of advice to myself for the next six countries I visit:
- 1. Make sure you know what transportation/traffic is like in a city before choosing where to stay. The obligation to get home before dark when you live 90 minutes from the city center is a bummer.
- 2. Agree on prices beforehand.
- 3. Engage meaningfully with other travelers and locals. Staying with a host family here, I was able to discuss meaningful topics every day and learn a lot from discussing these topics with people who have vastly different perspectives than my own. I hope to continue to seek out people who want to talk about more than the tourist sites and the best beers even when I stay in hostels, and thus am constantly surrounded by “hostel talk,” in other locations.
- 4. Understand the benefits and drawbacks of being American. Government officials may be happy to take an hour out of their work day to speak to you at a minute’s notice, but you may not be allowed inside army barracks and therefore unable to visit some very successful beneficiaries’ of the urban agriculture programs those same government officials coordinate.
- 5. My skin is capable of turning one shade darker than pale ghost–although the dirt definitely helps accentuate my new tan!
- 6. Follow the local food “rules.” If the family members you are staying with don’t snack during the day, do not eat snacks during the day, or you will be screwed by the time dinner arrives and you are not hungry.
- 7. Except don’t follow local food customs if they make you drink less water than you should.
- 8. Also, be wary of eating too many fried foods.
- 9. Accept help from strangers. My first day here, I struggled within the mass of ~1000 parked taxis in the city center to find the correct one to take home. I initially thought it was inappropriate for the grocery store manager to leave his store to help me find the right loading stage, but about fifteen minutes and with help from fifteen more Ugandan men later, he dropped me off in front of the correct taxi. Moral of the story: fifteen knowledgeable locals > one wandering Muzungu in trying to find her way home, and people are so kind and helpful!
Which taxi, again?…
- 10. Keep earplugs nearby in case the chickens “cockadoodledoo” too early or the church across the road decides to play music all night again.
- 11. Understand that fake wedding band you’re wearing won’t prevent you from being asked out by the guy riding on the motorcycle next to yours.
- 12. Suck up the ATM fee, or you’ll find yourself only able to visit places that accept credit cards and thus miss out on some great, local experiences.
- 13. I think my mosquito repellant might actually attract insects?…
- 14. Google Maps isn’t always right.
- 15. “Free WiFi” signs are sometimes a lie.
- 16. Just because your blog is located on the Northwestern Office of Undergraduate Research’s website doesn’t mean you can’t reference your pale skin or unrealized motorcycle dates on it. (@URGOffice, is this okay?)
Sad to say goodbye to my wonderful host family in Kampala!