Back in Africa

After a wonderful trip home and a harrowing 5 day journey back--complete with delayed flights, a missed connection, 3 flight itineraries, unexpected overnight stays in Istanbul, Entebbe and Kampla, one lost bag (and of course, no change of clothes) and a mean case of jet lag--it’s official, I’m back in Africa! 

It was so great to be home for the holidays, to see my family and loved ones, and even make some new friends!  I enjoyed hot showers, not having to mess with a mosquito net, and not having to keep a wary eye for roaches. I also got my fill of Christmas cookies, every type of ethnic cuisine I could get my hands on, and of course, my pizza fix.  It was hard to leave and return to Africa, and even more so with a rough journey home.

My first night back in Uganda, the power went out (of course), and I thought, “Oh yes, I am back in Africa,” and I kept my headlamp handy the rest of the evening.  Car rides through Kampala were to say the least, terrifying. And I had my first experience of a 7 and a half hour public bus ride from Kampala back to Soroti.  It was cramped, but not as bad as the matatus, and there were no live animals on the bus, so that was a bonus.

I was welcomed back warmly by my coworkers.  Though as a testament to how much I enjoyed the food in the US, when one of my coworkers first saw me, she exclaimed, “Kim, you look different! You are fatter!”  In Africa, I believe this is a compliment, as it means you are doing well, eating well, healthy, etc.  In a place of scarcity, to look fat is a good thing.  At least, that’s how I’m going to take it. :) 

My room was as I left it, though with the addition of 5 dead (or mostly dead) roaches.  At least they weren’t all alive and kicking though, and for that, I was grateful.

I also received warm greetings from the vendors I regularly frequent in the Soroti market. I had two different vendors notice that I had been away, saying “You are back!  You have been lost!” whereupon I explained that I had been away for holiday in the United States. 

I’m still hoping my missing luggage shows up since since there were lots of goodies in there, both for my coworkers and myself.  We’ll see...  Though as I make my way back around Uganda, I am reminded again of how much more I already have than many people here, so I will certainly survive even if the bag is never recovered.