Well, That Was Quick...

I woke up this morning and carried on with my usual wake-up routine: roll over, check the weather here and back home, answer emails and whatever other messages I received overnight. This morning was no different, except that I paid less attention to the report from here and more on what would be happening back home over the next several days. It turns out, I’m in for a bit of a shocker, given that today there is a chance of flurries, and Saturday is also calling for snow. This is not what I’ve signed up for.

It’s hard to believe that I returned to Uganda just over 6 months ago. It’s even harder to believe that tomorrow I will once again be packing my things and heading back to Canada. It is a bit different, however, since I am only heading home for a visit, rather than an “I have no idea when or if I’ll actually be back” trip, which has been my previous experience. It further solidifies just how much this country has transitioned into my home. Instead of packing all my things, I’m only coming home with a pack full of the essentials (coffee/dirty clothes that I’ve been too lazy to wash on my own), while the remainder of my belongings will remain here without me.

I’ve have looked out at this view WAY too many times over the last 6 months.
Shout out to my Java House Jinja team. I will miss you the most (well, the coffee and bacon, mostly). 

These last 6 months have been some of the most frustrating, but rewarding times of my life. I’ve built some incredible friendships, explored a little bit more of the world, and challenged myself to face a few more fears. But, the thing I’m most excited about is the progress I’ve been making towards my professional life, and how slowly, but surely, I am on my way to creating my dream job. Life sometimes takes some unexpected turns, and even though it took me longer than I’d hoped to get to where I am today, I’m thankful to be at this point (although, there is still a long way to go!).

Over the last few days, I’ve spent some time with friends and just generally taking in the beauty that surrounds me. I feel overwhelmed to have finally found home once again, although it’s still tough to accept that the one person I wish I could call and share all of these experiences with is gone, and that she will never get to set foot in this amazing country, or see how far I’ve come in the years since she passed. It’s actually pretty crazy how much things have fallen into place in the last four years.

The view from my driveway, the morning of departure. 

Despite all the certainty that has been popping up in my life, I feel completely unsettled. I feel like I won’t actually be coming back, and this makes me a bit nervous. There is nothing foreseeable that would prevent me from returning. In fact, I have a hard deadline for when I need to be back. It’s weird. This could very well be a routine sentiment, as it’s the first time in a while that I’ve had some degree of stability in my life. Who knows. The only thing I really know is that I’m going to miss this incredible country and the amazing friends I’ll be temporarily leaving behind.

Here’s to you Uganda – let’s hope Canada has stepped up its game!

-the Orange Canadian