African Muzungu

We used to huddle on our bedroom floor, surrounded by barbies in various stages of dress. Our favorite item was always the wedding dress, and every barbie session would have to include a wedding story. Most definitely. Then what comes after the wedding? Baby of course! Melinda and I would spend hours thinking, dreaming, and talking about what it would be like when we were 'old' and had our own families. That dreaming continued long after the barbies had been permanently passed down to our little sister, Michelle. Last year, the first part of the dream was fulfilled when Melinda married her dream husband, JJ. It was beautiful wedding as we all basked in the beauty of their God-orchestrated love story. 8 days later, I moved to Uganda. It wasn't easy leaving my lifetime best friend knowing that the space and time difference would make keeping connected difficult. 7 months ago, when I teasingly answered Melinda's 'guess what?' question with, "You'...

I’m going back to the States next week. I really can’t believe that I’ve reached a year here in Uganda and it’s time for my first visit back!! The past couple of weeks I have to admit I’ve had quite a few sad days. Honestly, the thought of leaving my wonderful home here just makes me sad. Not that I’m not looking forward to seeing my family and friends Stateside, but I do really love life here. I love coming home to my cozy little house at the end of full days. I love making sour cream and cream cheese out of yogurt. I love sleeping in a cocoon of mosquito netting. I love spending time with my friends here. I love kids waving at me as I drive down the road. I love people’s happy surprise when I greet them in Luganda. I love hearing the children chime, "Ah-Uh!" when I say, "Hello?!?" Pretty much, I just really love life here. period. So in order to chase away the sad days and get excited about my time back home, I’ve been making a list of things I’m going to love ...

The car ride to the field location was quiet as we each played out in our minds what might happen next. Upon arriving, the Investigator told the muzungus to wait in the car while he and Sidekick interviewed witnesses and tracked down the Suspect. After what seemed like forever, and many elevated and dashed hopes as person after person knew nothing useful, Sidekick finally motioned for us to come. Straining our necks searching for the bags, we were finally rewarded when the Investigator and the Suspect stepped forward with the hoped for purse!!! The Investigator explained that the Suspect had been collecting scrap metal along the road to Kampala and found my purse lying on the side of the road. When he picked it up, he found my license and SIM cards in it and knew this was the purse of a muzungu. He started calling the contacts on the SIM card until he came upon Nat's number, and here we were. Apparently the thieves had sorted through the things taking everything electronic (and All...

So I'm telling a story that should have been told a week and a half ago, but wasn't. But it's just too good to let it pass by. Yes, it's long. But it demands to be written. Soooo one bright Friday morning, I woke up to go to language lessons as usual, but not quite as usual. Because that day was special. That day Natalie, Ally, and I were leaving straight from language lessons to go on a road trip to Jinja for some much anticipated girl time. We had the whole weekend ahead of us, and it was going to be grand. As I had packed that morning, I intentionally packed my DSLR camera and determined that I was going to be better about taking pictures of the group of us. After lessons, as Natalie pulled up to Margaret's place, she realized that the distribution point for Operation Christmas Child was just up the street, and workers from her children's home, Lulwanda Children's Home, was collecting boxes just then! When she asked me if she could borrow my camera I pull...

She's been buried next to her mother who died over a year ago from AIDS. There were so many people there. Her family is quite wealthy, and her story was so widely publicized that everyone around town knew where she was to be buried. I managed to keep the tears in check through the waiting for the body to arrive (it took several hours), the last prayers, and the traditional throwing a handful of dirt on the coffin. But when I was brought to Aisha and saw her burst into fresh tears seeing me, I lost it as well. I sat with her in the dust among the throng of people pushing and shoving for a better look at the grave, and we wept together. I don't even remember what I said to her. Soon, they were calling her away and I went to Mary. Again we hugged and sobbed together as I thanked her for doing her best to care for Liz and she wept that it had been in vain. I sat with them for some time, and Aisha told of her final moments on earth. At the very last, her pain was gone and she quietl...

Last night Liz died. Two weeks ago they moved her to Mulago hospital in Kampala, and the last report I had from her aunties was that she was improving with more consistent dressing changes. Then, yesterday a friend of mine visiting Kamapala went to visit her at Mulago. He found her when she had been transferred to the ICU ward and he was not allowed to enter and speak to her. He said that she had gotten worse and frequently wasn't in her right mind anymore, constantly talking but not making any sense. Last night I prayed for her again and woke this morning as usual to go to language lessons. After my lessons, I found out from my friend Sharon (who started this whole thing with me) that Liz had died in the night. Knowing that crying isn't acceptable here, I had to flee the room before sobbing into my hands. Later this afternoon I got confirmation from her aunt that she is dead, and they are moving her body even now from Kampala back to Mbale. Tomorrow I will go to her. To be wit...

They've moved Liz.!..!..!. Please excuse my strange punctuation...it's only because I'm still not sure whether that's disappointing or exciting. On Friday I was quite surprised to find out that the doctors here in Mbale suddenly decided they needed to transfer Liz to the main government hospital in Kampala, the capital. Mulago is the hospital where they transfer most serious cases to within the first week, but for some reason, Liz was kept here at Mbale main hospital until almost a full month after she was admitted, and then she was suddenly and unexpectedly moved. I'm excited that she should be receiving better care at Mulago now (read more experienced doctors and staff, better facilities, ect.), but I'm also really disappointed that I can't keep visiting her. I'm also disappointed that she might not be able to use the gel sent for her either...but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up. About a week ago a friend in the states had heard about L...