Goats bark too!

As one author said, "Africa is a vast continent, a continent of people, and not a place for exotica, or a destination for tourists".  One of the thrills that I get here in Gulu is observing the local setting.  Since this blog is about my experiences as a volunteer in Africa, I notice almost everything (even the ordinary)  and would have something to write about it - just typical me.
Our family spent one Christmas vacation, up north in the Philippines.  We were privileged to be invited to stay at the mansion of one of the influential politicians in the area.  His compound had a mini-zoo, and to our surprise, instead of dogs guarding the entrance to the property.....we were greeted by a lion.  This was not in Africa, but in the Philippines.

Our goat guard for the day

Here in Gulu, Uganda at Okele Road,
no number, the green gate to our modest accommodations is guarded not by a lion but by a goat! Goats are common household animals here.

This goat is guarding those blankets for sale.

The toad guard

Other than our gate, the entrance to our main door is also guarded. One morning I was about to put on my walking shoes which are left at the entrance door.  I could not slide in my foot and I thought that I left my socks inside the shoe.  As I pulled the bulge from the inside, out came a frog!  Now this frog has abandoned our front door.  It is now guarding Liz's kitchen door. I understand that in some parts of Uganda, a monkey can just pop up in your doorstep.

Awaiting the changing of the guard

By the way, our goat guard changes everyday with no pomp and pageantry.