I spent one month in Uganda, East Africa! The irony of this trip is that 20 years ago while I was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in WEST Africa, I dreamed of visiting Kenya. I am not sure who I met or HOW they influenced me so, but I wanted to see this side of the continent.
Like most times when I’ve relinquished my false notions of control and allowed life to FLOW, this was MORE than I could have ever imagined. The East coast is different than I expected. The temperatures are milder. Uganda has a little more 46 million people – a significant contrast to the over 1 million people in The Gambia. With such a vast population and as an outsider, the cultures are not as easily distinguishable. The food is not as spicy and the traffic in the capital rivals that of major cities in the US – again, very different from my experience in The Gambia!
My trip was a dream come true! To see Uganda and meet so many people interested in collaborating with my colleague and me was phenomenal! The kindness of strangers was equally OVERWHELMING! The land is breathtaking – LUSH in every regard. These are the things I’ve dreamt about.
And as my time abroad settled, there were minor conveniences I missed. I missed sleeping without a mosquito net or insect repellant. I missed arranging my own schedule and ironically, driving myself to destinations. And I missed hearing the voices and being in the company of loved ones. There is a 7-hour time difference from my family and friends on the east coast so trying to coordinate catch ups were challenging.
Still, I’m grateful. This trip was one of a lifetime, another highlight of my personal and professional journey. I am ecstatic about the possibilities our time abroad helped to solidify for our students, as well as the students attending our key partner institution. And I know there are possibilities beyond what I can see or imagine that this venture is preparing me for. What new adventure are you embracing this summer?
If you’ve been following along this year, you know I committed to spending this entire year writing (more) about JOY! The last few years of pandemic plus have been challenging. We’ve lost a lot and I believe the collective, as well as individual grief, will journey with us for many years to come. I’ve felt “pressed on every side” to not wait for the storm to pass, but learn to dance in the rain. This blog series is one of the many ways I am doing just that. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading along. And even more so, I hope this has inspired you to consider the multitude of ways you can co-create and intentionally cultivate joy.
Sending lots of love your way,
Sabrina