It has been a lot more troubling than I had previously thought the keep this blog updated as much as I can, and there has been some difficulties the past month that I’ve come across, and ill later get to that.
A lot has happened over the past month since my last post, and ill try my best to explain everything without writing a best selling novel. A week after my last post, myself, 4 of my fellow colleagues, our internship coordinator and our friend Yasin had traveled to Kabale (Ka-ball-eh) district for our one week vacation on Lake Bunyoni.. We had stayed on ‘Bushara’ island and it was so nice and peaceful. As much as I love and enjoy Jinja town, it was delightful to get away from urban life and experience the natural, artistic landscape of Uganda’s southwest countryside. We had stayed there for 4 days 3 nights. Kabale district is not like any other Ugandan district, the first being that it is the coldest place in Uganda, and for the first time I had to wear a sweater since I left Canada! Definitely the second and most recognizable feature of Kabale district would be the natural landscape itself. So green, un-touched and natural, it’s definitely a place I’d like to go back to in the near future.
The time of our vacation could not have been better for myself, as during that time I was going through a not so happy time. Maybe it might have been a combination of sorts, or maybe it was just inevitable that a first time international traveler goes through. Over the course of roughly a week, everything felt completely against me, nothing ever seemed to cheer me up. Shortly after I had gotten back from vacation, everything slowly started to go back to normal for myself. I don’t look at that week, as a desolate time, but the aftermath of it seemed to have positive effects. The only explanation I have for such a feeling was that it had to have been a transitional phase of sorts. Leaving behind who I was in Canada, and starting a new life here that I will bring back to Canada. It’s not going to be an easy task to get back to my “normal life” that I left behind in Canada; I can feel inside that I’m not the same person who I was when I left and I believe that its not going to be easy to understand that.
Just recently at work we had a one-day camp full of games and activities for the youth who live in the village of Namulasa, also the location of my office. It took a lot of work to get this organized to make it happen, and it was well worth it. To see the youth having fun, enjoying themselves was well worth all the work that had gone into it. The village I work in is no bigger then a couple city blocks, but is inhabited by a lot of people. Working here I have got to know a lot of the youth that live here. Working with the youth here is actually a lot of fun, there is never a day when someone is mad, sad or just feeling down. Everybody is always so cheerful, and that alone makes it rewarding to work these people.
With less than a week left, it’s kind of an odd feeling, simply because since the time I had been accepted, 4 months felt like a long time. Four months in Africa sounded unreal. Now that the clocks ticking until our departure home, it’s sort have really hit me in the face. However I don’t really tend to think about home or leaving usually until the day before. I just enjoy everyday that it is, I’m here to enjoy and work in Africa, and I’m not here to think about or miss home. Home, Friends and family will always be there and they’re not going anywhere. I’ve seen home, I grew up there, which is exactly why I love Africa so much. Everything is so different, so new to me. It’s definitely going to be worth it coming back on my own in the not so distant future.
Not to long ago I was asked why I don’t keep in contact at home that often, to myself 1 phone call home a week seems to be plenty. I do not Skype, nor do I phone home more than once or twice a week. Although phoning home is great and comforting, I only have so much time here in Uganda, which is why I try to enjoy every minute that it is. Why spend so much time communicating back home when I could be doing something else, I’m in Africa! My family is definitely going to be at home when I arrive, which means I have all the time in the world to tell them all about my journey here. Enjoy what you have with what time you got.
Most importantly this trip has definitely opened my eyes. I wasn’t lucky at all getting this internship, my hard work and past involvement with social justice is what got me in here, and goes for show that with hard work and patience, the reward may be great, and I definitely enjoyed this internship. Hard work and commitment to something I desire can and will get me places, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for myself. Could be anything, but we’ll see.
Till next time everyone
-Peace
