Two plane rides and 550km later I have arrived in Gamboula. The last few days in Kampala were a struggle as I balanced my excitement to move on to Gamboula, while focusing on finishing final assignments for the class at Makerere University. In the end, after a few very late nights, I left Uganda having turned everything in taking only the joy of being finished classes, some Ugandan coffee and a fun new hairstyle with me on the plane to Yaoundé!
Despite my initial hesitation, I really enjoyed my time in Uganda. Amongst the many lessons that I learned, I now realize that government officials are only people and I can talk to them just like I do anyone else, with a little extra observation thrown in. I was actually quite mortified to think that I would be spending a few days interviewing people who were the equivalent of a provincial premier and his aides. However, I surprised myself with the ease in which I took this new role, as a consultant, and I am eager to go Bangui to see what officials I can meet within the international aid community. In the end, our ‘mock’ consultancy in Uganda was a good exercise. We went to Kayunga District, we observed, we interviewed some 82 people and we were able to make recommendations as to where the Canadian International Development Agency could intervene in order to reduce poverty.
Now that I am officially finished all of the courses for my MA, I am in Gamboula to begin the final leg, my major research project. However, I have decided to take the week off, catch up with old friends, mourn the loss of Mama Maggie who passed away while I was gone, and just enjoy not being glued to computer for ten hours a day. I have no internet, only a quick chance here and there to send email for which I am thankful.
We arrived last night around 6:00pm and we could see a major thunderstorm on the horizon. I jumped out at Clarisse’s house, as per usual, and went inside for a quick visit. Apparently she and one of the missionaries had been going back and forth over who would feed me on arrival. Clarisse wanted to feed me, but the missionary was expecting me and one other person on arrival. Well, when I stopped in ‘briefly’ to say hi to the family, wouldn’t you know but the rain started to fall and the thunder and lightning was so strong that I was trapped and was ‘forced’ to stay and eat my favourite meal with Clarisse. By the time the rain died down enough to leave, I had eaten my fill and we walked to the missionary's house in time for tea and dessert. We had such a good laugh about it. Of course I wanted to eat with Clarisse and God gave me the perfect excuse to stay. We once again expressed our love for one another with words of thankfulness and amazement that God has kept us close over the last year and that he brought us into sisterhood in the first place. Her family is by no means perfect, nor is mine, but there is a lot of love. A thing of beauty.
I took a grand tour with Roy this morning, looking at all the work that has gone on in the last year. Summer production in the nutrition garden is in full swing and it is very impressive. The winter veggie season has come to an end and they are now in the process of planting many different kinds of beans, corn, peanuts and root crops of various kinds. I am excited to start my research project and to hear what Nadege, Clarisse and others think about the direction the garden could take. Next week we begin in earnest.
As I was walking around the station last night I had this feeling like I never left and that nothing had changed. Of course many things have changed, children have been born, others have died, but life goes on as it always has. I sat on the front lawn of the guesthouse today greeting friends who had come by to say hi. I am blessed with the love shown and I think this is what I miss most when I leave, the closeness of the community here. It is something to cherish.
