Day 72: Plans ahead....

So it is winding down to the last two weeks I am in Uganda. I can’t believe how quickly this time has gone by. Some weeks were painfully slow and others went by in a flash. I feel like I’ve been here for 6 months and not 3, and yet I feel like the summer went by so quickly. Not sure how that’s possible. But anyway, this is our last week in Mbale, so we’ll be spending it presenting our report to the staff here, saying goodbye, and getting people’s contact info and stuff like that. I will truly miss the TASO staff bc they are so genuine, hardworking and just all around good people. They work so hard!! In the US, there’s no way we’d work until 7pm after coming in at 8:30 am…or at least you’d have to pay us for the overtime. And forget about weekends. The staff here do that. A lot. And for a couple weeks they couldn’t pay staff bc there had been some accounting issues. I mean…what?? Let that happen in the US…there would be a strike before anybody would even set foot on the premises. And if someone did, they would a half-assed job until that check rolled in. They are so inspiring with their dedication.

We’ll be heading to the capital, Kampala, this upcoming Sunday. Here’s how our week (after this one) will go:

Monday: Presentation of our gender based violence report to TASO HQ in Kampala (may get my hair re-braided later in the day or go to the movies!)

Tuesday: Heading to Western Uganda with one of the TASO staff we became good friends with

Wednesday: Heading to Rwanda early in the morning. Going to see the Genocide museum there and spend time in the capital Kibale. While I’ve been in Uganda, I’ve read 2 books about the Rwandan genocide, “Shake hands with the devil” by General Romeo Dallaire (UN General) and “An Ordinary Man” by Paul Rusesabagina (the hotel manager in Hotel Rwanda). These books were incredibly great testimonies and gave different perspectives on what happened. It’s going to be so moving to step foot in the country and even places where many of the massacres happened. Really looking forward to it.

Thursday: Head to Kibale, in Western Uganda …we’ve heard it’s very beautiful there

Friday: Back to our TASO friend's family's house, spend a few nights there

Saturday: Friend's House

Sunday: Back to Kampala, might get my hair done today instead. Packing and getting ready to go home!

Monday (the 24th): Entebbe airport, heading home!

I’m not sure how much access to internet I’ll get next week so this week, so in addition to writing about the randomness I encounter each day, I’ll also wrap up my final thoughts on this trip. I know that when I get back home and I’m not going through homesickness I’ll be able to reflect on and comprehend everything I’ve experienced. So these reflections are just the tip of the iceberg.