I can't believe how long it's been since I have written last. So much has happened. There was meeting after meeting, facilitating discussions, activities with the students at both primary and secondary schools, visiting with guests (one was an Infectious Disease Doctor!), being stuck inside because of the rain, freezing my butt off when it reached down to 75 degrees, walking around the island, being tested for malaria (negative!), and so much more. But the biggest event, I AM HOME!!! After more than 24 hours of traveling (not including boat or land travel, just flying and layovers), meeting great people in the airport (even a law student from SC in Brussels), and finally breaking my flip flop in Washington D.C's customs area, flight delays, Starbucks coffee, and being starred at for wearing flip flops and a tank top when obviously the weather requires more warm cloths such as a coat and scarf, I am home safe, and sound...and a little cold.
I flew in last week, a little earlier than originally planned. The past few days I have been at home recovering from jet leg, unpacking, organizing and cleaning stuff, watching the shows on DVR, digging through my tubs of clothes to find stuff that will fit- my final weight gain was ten pounds, spending time with Brent and the kitties, and at all cost avoiding the Internet!
Saying good-bye was harder than I thought. I figured that since I had a few days in between leaving the islands, saying good-byes, and when my flight left that it would be easier, like an extended slow goodbye. I left the island on a Tuesday and spent the day in Jinja. Shanna was to head home on Wednesday, so Shanna, Ruthie, and I drove up to Kampala to spend the day before going to the airport. That night they dropped me off at the Matoke Inn. Even though I had 3 days before I flew home, I lost it during the goodbyes. Being in a room with 3 to 4 girls for the past weeks, it was strange to have a room again to myself and to be surrounded by quietness the next few days. Very lonely. But much needed time to just get lost in my thoughts.
After these few days of quiet and readjustment it's time to get back to the American life. Yep, flushing toilets. It's funny the little things that you miss when your gone and the things you miss when you get back... the pit latrine is one of them.
It seems so surreal that I am back, or that I even spent almost 8 weeks in Uganda. Almost like a dream. I keep expecting to wake up and be back under my mosquito net on the island, or wake up at home with my luggage by the door ready to head to the airport.
There are so many people, places, and experiences to describe and funny stories to tell, I do not know where to begin. So you guys ask away!
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