Saying Goodbye... and Thank You

27 March
The rains finally came- last night it poured for a long time and this morning it is cooler. Instead of fetching water from the spring, Mary had the girls pull water from the cistern and pour through a cloth filter into the barrel. Normally this job is done by the one boy who lives here who does it each evening when he is home from school. Millie wasn’t able to haul the jerry can up (the cistern is deep and not that full even after the rains) so I took a break from my laundry to help. It was heavy but doable and it took 7 jerry cans to fill the barrel. I brought out my camera and Deborah was very excited to take some photos. Here are the first pictures of me in Uganda. I think I still look the same.

Technically running is not playing… but I couldn’t help but include the photo taken from my window of a three year old running down the lane with a large knife in hand.
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to update this blog again before leaving. I’ll include safari pictures and photos from the big party at Future Diplomats Education Centre later this week if I can or once I return. I’ve been thinking about what I’ll miss, and not miss, about Uganda- here are a few thoughts:

What I won’t miss-

1.Covering my mouth with my skirt in the latrine so I don’t inadvertently inhale a fly
2.Breakfast, or really the lack thereof
3.The red dust… in my mouth, my nose, my hair, my eyes and stuck to my skin

What I will miss-
1.The night sky
2.The amazing fruit
3.A Ugandan smile which transforms even the most sour or angry appearing face
4.My evening walk to the view of Lake Victoria and the calls of Naaaluuunnnggaaa along the way
5.Snuggling with Gloria at dusk as we wait, and wait and wait for dinner.

This trip has been an incredible learning experience and adventure for me and I wouldn’t be here without the support and love of some important people. My grandparents Walter and Patricia Sowecke unknowingly made it possible for me to come to Africa. I thank them for their generosity and I thank Walter for instilling his dreams of travel and adventure in me. I also thank the best boss in the world, Susan Loucks, for not just making it possible for me to leave work for such an extended time, but for encouraging me to go when I was getting cold feet. I also thank Nancy, Gary and Alexei for giving Hintza a special place by the woodstove while I was gone and David busy. Finally I thank my best friend and partner, David. Your encouragement, excitement and faith in my ability to set out on my own were the greatest supports before and during this journey. The next adventure is one we’ll take together.