Finding my people: Home is where the heart is and my heart is here.

I am absolutely head over heels in love with Uganda. I have found my people. 

Knee deep in it and learning from the best!

My good friend once said, I pursue deep friendships, and I work hard to get them. This was, upon uprooting my life, and moving to Colorado where I knew no one. So of course, I wanted to kindle new friendships and I wanted to do so immediately. I am incredibly blessed in my life. No matter where I have moved, I have formed a new family (Missouri, Bolivia, Arizona, Kansas, Florida, and now Uganda). I have lived a life rich in love and connection.  I try to let to of any reservations, and open myself as much as possible to new experiences, cultures, and environments. I don’t know why I have found so many amazing individuals to adopt me and take me under their wings, but I’m going to keep rolling with it.

In Uganda, I have been met with open arms by my new family who has an equal desire for kindling deep intimate friendships. I recently fell very ill for about three weeks. This was so incredibly frustrating. There I was trapped in bed, trying my best to put on my game face and do the work I love and contribute to my dreams but unable to do so. For a little while I was able to work partial days while ill, but then my boss put me on house arrest until I got better.

Taking turns teaching how to cook traditional meals from our cultures

While I was sick my family showed me just how much they loved me. I had daily phone calls and texts from my friends (and even relative strangers who I only met once). They would send me inspirational quotes, uplifting videos, and up beet songs. They would check in on me and make sure I was getting the care I needed. They would make sure I was not over resting, was eating nutritiously, and was getting exercise. They would even offer suggestions on what could be ailing me and how I could cure it. People would visit me daily to entertain me and ensure I was recovering to there satisfaction. I had to leave my new family in Bududa (my sister and brother, nieces, and nephew) to go get treatment at a hospital 7 hours away. They called me every day. There were so many sad tears when we separated, and when I had to postpone my return. I have opened my heart, and revealed my close guarded to insecurities and painful history to so many friends here. They have accepted me with open arms. I could not be happier!

People ask me aren’t you homesick? Don’t you miss the States? I respond, how could I be? Home is where the heart it, and my heart is here.

Now that I have recovered, I am finally getting back into the game today!!! I am going to be conducting Topographical Surveys for some future bridge sites. If you don’t know what a topographical survey is, imagine gathering GPS coordinates and using fancy trigonometry to map out the elevations and distances of the different land features ( where each foundation will be built, where the river is, where obstacles are etc.) where a bridge is proposed to be built.

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