Apologies to all for not writing the last two weeks. I have been so busy with my final paper, presentation, and of course my last goodbyes. Most of all I delayed this writing out of denial (not the Nile, but that is also true, we spent some time in Jinja the source of the Nile). I didn’t want to believe that my daily life would be changing. The fact that every time I was in a car looking out the window I would no longer have the same view of the same stores repeated shop after shop. I would no longer see the Chapati and Rolex makers (the Ugandan version of fried pancake with egg rolled into it). I would no longer be immune to the rapid swerving of cars to avoid pot hops, which I have become so familiar. I no longer need to utilize the skill of sprinting across the street knowing that two lights means it’s a car, and one light means it’s a boda boda, or a car with just one headlight.
I could not have asked for a better last few days. I got to spend quality time with all of my friends I had been sharing this experience with. We had two days in a convent were we got to hear everyone’s presentations on what they had been doing the 6 weeks we were apart. Then after all the presentations we got to go to a touristy resort in Jinja and just enjoy each others company and reflect on how great its been. When we got back, it was time for people to go their separate ways. By Saturday everyone was gone except two other girls who had a flight around the same time as me. The fact that everyone was gone forced the denial out of me, and transformed that emotion to nostalgia. I stepped out of the Jeliza hotel, where the experience all started, feeling I had taken a full circle. I reminisced about the first time I stepped out of those hotel walls terrified to walk on the street. This final day on my way to a meeting with my advisor I felt confident, and felt that no amount of men calling Muzungu could bother me.
I had a lovely last meeting with my advisor, which ensured me that I would bring all of my experiences from here back home with me. Though it was an emotional goodbye, it was a goodbye until next time. Next I made my way to my families shop where I met my whole family. I had my last cup of Buschera (sorgum and millet drink) my families specialty drink. Reminisced on the wonderful times we had. They walked me out of the store, and told me not to look back… but of course I couldn’t help it.
Lastly, made it back to my hotel to meet some Frisbee friends to find them so sad I was leaving. At that point I had to keep my head high for their sake and mine, so of course I like my denial take over again, and created this goodbye into something humorous. We hoped into the van with all of our stuff and waved goodbye.
Hopped onto the plane, and it was take-off. Luckily since it was 1am, and I had also taken some Dramamine I had no time to make this emotional and passed out. I woke up 8 hours later landing at London Heathrow. I stepped off of the plane and gathered my things at baggage claim, and found a bus. The efficiency was so amazing it all took about 20 minutes! Definitely something I was NOT used to. I stepped outside to wait for the bus. If anyone has seen the movie Coming to America with Eddie Murphy, it was quite a similar circumstance. I was wearing a small, light jacket, and FLIP FLOPS! Sadly I had no other shoes because I gave my other shoes away. The temp shock was so overwhelming I didn’t even notice until I got on the heated bus and my feet were frozen.
Welcome back to overdeveloped countries :)
My Ugandan family in the shop
one last glance out the window of Kampala
