I love you, Gulu. I love you, Group 2.

August 4, 2009

I know its been awhile. At this point, no one is probably reading my blog anymore. They know I’m back safe and sound. I’ve already seen or visited with many of my faithful readers. Yet, I feel like another post is necessary.

Living was momentous and deserves documentation like all the other days of my trip. I may have waited so long to write this, because I don’t won’t the memories to fade. And, I’m wondering if once I write them down and finish off my trip if they’ll begin to fade away. As much as I am excited about another school year at Clover. Beginning it means, the summer ends and I think that’s why I’ve been in no rush and in ways avoided getting back into that routine.

Friday before I left was spent running last minute errands and packing up. I made my final tailored market purchase and was very pleased to have that summer dress and it was ready for Friday night. Though Friday was one of the hottest days I had in Gulu, packing proved to be much easier than expected (esp. when I realized later at Backpackers using Amy’s scale that I was under the weight limit).

Matt organized a final group dinner together at Bamboo for Friday night. We dressed up once again, except this time in clothes we had gotten made and it reminded me of preparing for our meet the teacher dinner.

We left Gulu on Saturday. Lisa, Kate, Lindsey, and myself claimed the back row of the mutatu. What lovely ladies to be surrounded by on our last long trip. However, I was the lucky one who got the jump seat. I sat and propped on pillows and laid on Lindsay and Lisa but never could get comfortable. I decide to not try to sleep instead of trying to sleep and getting irritated when I couldn’t. We made a quick stop in the Kampala craft market and then headed on to Jinga.

Jinga is noted as the source of the Nile River and is a wonderful place to enjoy nature by relaxing and exciting adventure activities. Sunday morning a few folks bungee jumped. I so glad they did and enjoyed it. I never did and completely enjoyed being photographer. I think if you listen to some of the film footage you can hear me squealing and yelling and I wasn’t even the one jumping. Then our group split some to raft and some to jet boat. I jet boated. It is this little speed boat, ran similarly to a jet ski. So for almost an hour, those of us on the jet boat, spinned, bounced, and whirled our way through a section of the Nile. It was a blast and then I had the rest of the day to shower, relax, read, and hangout with the other jet boaters. All the while the rest of our group was rafting their class 5 rapids and experiencing Catherine dislocating her shoulder. When they returned we had a few more to bungee jump, then we made our way back to Kampala for a late supper at Sam’s. All the while knowing our moments together are coming to a quick end and so in a sense a felt that a kind sober somberness existed.

Monday morning, we left Uganda.

All the time changes occurred. We stopped in London and again in JFK. Lisa and I spent the night (and by night I mean like 2 hours of awakeness and 3 hours of sleep or some combination of the sort) in a hotel, along with Jon, Michael, and Tammy. At that point, I was ready for the traveling part of travel to be over. Yet, I was glad for the refreshing shower, even though the journey would be over so soon. Lisa and I fell asleep on our beds with Michael and Tammy in our rooms using the internet, unknowing when they left.

My hardest moments, the moments of definitive realization that I was leaving, the most emotional moments:
-My boda ride back from Bamboo on Friday night.
-Reading my “Share the Love” letters on my bed Friday night after I returned from Bamboo.
-The plane landing in London.
-Leaving Ryan in London.
-Getting through customs in JFK and leaving the bulk of the group at the airport.
-Leaving Lisa in Charlotte.
-Meeting my MoM in baggage claim.

I love you, Gulu. I love you, Group 2.