Another Addendum

So I just wanted to elaborate a little on the events of the past two days. My heart has finally found it's purpose here, and I'm finally feeling like I've been able to do exactly what I came to do. I think that my future holds many more adventures, and whether or not I return to this area, is still to be determined. I would love to continue working with children, so I am feeling very good about my current career choice. I think it has only been in recent years that I've found a home with children, but there is just something that is so universal about the way that they play, laugh and interact with their surroundings; they can make anyone feel comfortable, even with a cultural barrier.

It is amazing to see the difference between the children in the orphanage (the Babies Home) and the children in the village. The kids that stay in the orphanage are not afraid of visitors-they run right up and just jump up until you scoop them off the ground. Some of the village children are fearful of our skin color, so it has been a very strange experience to be the extreme minority here. I am not sure that many of the village children have even seen a white person (that sounds so weird to say out loud) before...so we all look very strange and scary to them.

I am really excited to return home to all that is familiar. I am looking forward to everything that is such a luxury in this world: a washing machine, stove, air conditioning, my very own car for transportation and also just being in control of my life! I am not sure that I will remember how to drive my car...and it will be very strange to go for a drive and not be pointed at, waved to or yelled "mzungu" to! And, I can't wait to drive on hwy 41 again. It is amazingly safe in comparison to the crazy traffic patterns here.

I also can't wait to start working again. I am very much looking forward to seeing all of my coworkers again; I really miss you guys. Thank you to everyone for thinking of me often, sending positive thoughts my way and encouraging me when I have been so discouraged. And to all of my other friends and family, I can't wait to see you all too! It has been wonderful to talk to all of you....I also can't wait to have my Blackberry in my hands again. It has been such an adjustment to not have the technology to rely on 24/7. Although, I must admit, the power has been fairly reliable as of late. I will miss our stay here at Mum's. The staff has been wonderful to us; our chef, Joseph has been such a positive part of every day. His dinners are simply wonderful. After Tuesday of next week, our clinical experience will be over, and we will be off for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kampala and then leaving from Entebbe. I will be back in the US on Monday 14 June. I can't wait to see everyone again, but first, I will drag my suitcases into the laundry room, hop in the shower and then after about an hour, I will be ready to get out and tell my stories. I love you all! xoxo, R