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Published: April 22nd 2007
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Hi,
I feel as if time either flies by or is at a complete standstill depending on the minute. This past week brought clarity, pure bliss and desperation...also depending on the minute.
At a few points this week I was feeling ready to be done with my time in Uganda. I felt like I was stuck in a few days of there being just enough time to not do anything productive in my internship and too long before I could see all the people that I have been missing. For a few of the days I retreated into my room and just read books, wrote in my journal and watched a trillion episodes of Arrested Development. Then of course, my mood would do a complete turn around and I would have surges of creative energy and I would bust out some paper and draw or go run around Mukono with my video camera. That’s what the whole week was like, either not wanting to leave the house or having the time of my life living in Uganda. My room mates are all in agreement, I am a strange kid.
I do believe I have found a hidden passion.
I have come to realize that I am obsessed with the moments "in transit." The ones that involve 10 hour long bus rides into the mountains or reckless rides tearing down dirt roads on the back of a truck. I have just recently accepted the fact that, most of the time I look forward to the moments in which I am getting to my next destination more then the time I spend at the destination. What the heck does this mean?
My favorite moment of my Ugandan experience came to me on Friday. I hopped into the back of a pickup truck along with 15 other Ugandan Counselors and Joanna the Canadian volunteer. We barreled down the destroyed dirt roads to some rural village to go plant trees. Holding on for dear life, I could only laugh as my friends sung praises to their home land as we almost overturned into the four foot ruts that make up the roadways of Uganda. At some points the road was so bad we had to get out and walk while the driver gunned through it. If that wasn't enough fun for me, the ride home could possibly one of my favorite
(yet most dangerous) moments of my life to date. After sitting in a field chomping on sugar cane and spitting it at each other the representative of the king of the Buganda region finally showed up to say some words I couldn't understand about some king I didn't know anything about....wahhooo...right? Best part about it, as soon as he started to speak it began to pour buckets upon us. No one wants to run for cover while the rep for the king is speaking so we just stood there. This is no problem for me, I love standing in the rain. Eventually he shut up and we all planted one tree in holes that were already dug (another wahooo... could be put here.) We all loaded into the back of the truck again to make the two hour trip back home in the downpour unleashing itself upon us. The rain must spread some crazed toxins into the Ugandans because I suddenly found myself holding onto the roof of the truck in partial fear and mostly amusement as we powered through the ruts that were now completely filled with water. Somehow, we made it through without getting out and walking once.
The entire time, my Ugandan friends were standing in conga line cheering and singing and being tossed about while the littlest one held on for all of them. Luckily she is a strong little bugger and managed not to let go and send them all flying off the back. This was probably one of the stupidest choices I have ever witnessed in action, but hey what are you going to do? I loved every second of it and don't get me wrong I was cheering and singing right along beside them.
Each day, I continue to learn more and more about myself. I am pushing myself to search for truth and continue to question the mystery I live in. The serious side of my journey here is balanced by the utter joy I find in the simplest situations. I continue to laugh and dance and run around acting like a fool, because that is such a huge part of who I am. Just last night, I was bursting into Disney tune after Disney tune with my roommates and then woke up this morning and learned how to drive a Boda Boda (moped of sorts.) I am having a blast and I can't wait for my friend Jillian to come and be a part of the life I have created for myself here. Two and a half more weeks till she gets here!
As I write this, the desperation that overtook a few days of the last week has dissipated. I feel as if I have done the work I needed to do at MACRO. My editing students can now successfully cut together videos and I am excited to head to a village tomorrow for the whole week. It’s hard to believe that I will see your faces in just over a month. See what I mean? Time either stands still or flies by.
Have a good week,
-Emma
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Carol
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Brave Love
Wow, what are doing in Uganda? How great!! Don't ever give up traveling and experiencing places. I am leaving for Uganda tomorrow from Texas and can hardly wait.