So…September 13th officially marked one year living in Africa. And what a year it has been. When I arrived in Entebbe last year, I thought I would be spending 3 years in Kampala doing some sort of finance job and spending as much time as I could with my friends in Bufukhula. A year later and I sometimes don’t recognize my own life. Congo? Who would have thought?
So in no particular order, here is a list of highlights and lowlights from my first year in Africa:
So in no particular order, here is a list of highlights and lowlights from my first year in Africa:
- Landing in the under construction Entebbe airport with 5 large suitcases and no clue who was picking me up
- Looking at 12 or more houses then finding the PERFECT house
- Learning the words and melody to several traditional hymns
- Finding and volunteering with a fantastic church in Kampala
- Discovering that there really wasn’t that much for me to do with FH Uganda
- Learning that there was much I could do with FH Congo
- Leaving Kampala – hardest thing I did all year
- Elaine’s visit to Kampala and the trip to visit Janet in Kitgum
- Having stomach bacteria problems on the 8 hour drive to Kitgum!
- Spending time in Bufukhula
- Aunt Leslee…enough said!
- Soft serve ice cream and the bookstore at Garden City Mall in Kampala
- Café Bourbon in Kigali
- Spending time with my friends from FH training in Kigali
- Angela, Martha, Martin, Mary and Maria
- Buddy…cute puppy….terror of a dog
- The FIRE
- Seeing lions, giraffes, hippos and elephants in Murchison Falls
- Friday night card night
- Flambayed ice cream at the Orchid in Bukavu
- Renee’s coffee shop
- Being too stressed at work….having to take a mental health day
- Visiting the Buhozi feeding centre
- Jeff and his amazing brochettes and banana bread
- Satellite TV
- Skype…again enough said!
- Bad culture stress…French is hard
- Seeing Gorilla’s in DRC
OK...I could probably go on, but this should give you a good idea. It is hard to believe it has been one year; it has gone by very fast. And then at times, it is hard to believe I have two more to go; the time isn’t going by fast enough. These past few weeks I have had mixed emotions about continuing in Africa. I can recognize that this is work stress and culture stress talking. So this one year mark has been a good time to reflect, assess and pray for God’s continued support for my “mission” in Africa.
The one year mark is also a good time to have a party with friends. So, on September 13th I threw a little party and invited both my ex-pat and Congolese friends. We had a wonderful time dancing and laughing and lip-synching to Celine Dion (she is very popular in Africa). Have a look and meet some of my Bukavu friends.
My Friend Kim who works for the International Rescue Committee
Renee our resident Bukavu expert
Liz and I lip-synching to Celine Dion!
The Gang
The one year mark is also a good time to have a party with friends. So, on September 13th I threw a little party and invited both my ex-pat and Congolese friends. We had a wonderful time dancing and laughing and lip-synching to Celine Dion (she is very popular in Africa). Have a look and meet some of my Bukavu friends.
My Friend Kim who works for the International Rescue Committee
My friend Ric and I dancing
Renee our resident Bukavu expert
Liz and I lip-synching to Celine Dion!
The Gang
1 comment:
Yeah for 1 year! We love you!
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