It Wasn't Random....

It wasn't random....

For magnificence, for variety of form and color, for profusion of brilliant life -- bird, insect, reptile, beast -- for vast scale -- Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.

~ Winston Churchill

It was not but three years ago when I returned from my one year venture in Spain, literally depressed to be basking in the California sun, a place, a state, a lifestyle so many people yearn to be. I ate and drank my sorrows away reminiscing on my time which was better spent in Donostia. My life seemed so dull and boring. As much as, I tried to relive my experiences in Spain by befriending every foreigner I met, it just wasn't the same. There were many times I procrastinated on school work searching the world wide web for cheap flights to well, anywhere foreign. Had I had the money I may have just jumped the gun and took off on another adventure. But I think now, with my more mature head, I subconsciously knew that my life needed to exist in Santa Cruz, California, where I was finishing up university and working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Education.

It was only eight months before I graduated college when I met the most beautiful, intelligent, and intriguing human being I have yet to encounter in my life. He happened to be from Uganda and he happened to make me the happiest person alive, quickly jolting me out of my state of depression. I never forgot about Spain, but I was now satisfied here in California sharing it with my new love.

Throughout the years, Leuben has been everything for me, my mentor, my teacher, my love, but most of all my best friend. He has taught me so much about everything from life to love to Uganda to the world as a whole. I am forever grateful.

Six months ago I decided it was time for me to endeavor on a short journey to his land of origin, Uganda, which I had already fell in love with. My love for the country just grew the second I stepped out of the airplane and could see nothing but greenery framing beautiful Lake Victoria.

I did my very best to experience everything possible while in Uganda, despite my short stay of only five weeks. While I enjoyed my first week staying at the Red Chilli Hideaway, a traveler's hostel, it was my excursions to the local nightclubs, restaurants, and markets, even the chaotic taxi park, where I was always the only Muzungu (white person) that I enjoyed the most. I appreciate the air of authenticity and realness that exists in these "tourist forbidden" places. For I did not travel all the way to Uganda to reinvent my life in California just with a change of scenery of different soil. I was in Uganda to learn about Uganda and Ugandans, and through that process, inevitably I would learn about myself. The process proved to be successful as I did learn more about Uganda and its culture, as well as, myself.

When I reached the Dominican Republic after my five week stint in Uganda, I began to realize that my curiosity about the country and the culture had not diminished, it simply had grown stronger. I have so much more to learn and experience in this East African country that is so small in the realm of the world, but so greatly rich and dense in culture and significance.

My life changed when I was in Kyetume (small village in Southern Uganda where I spent five weeks volunteering) in many ways. But the most significant being, my purpose and understanding of my role as a teacher became clearer. Teacher has become my identity. Even before I traveled to Uganda I was more likely to identify myself as a teacher, than say a woman, an American, or even Kelly. I still identify as a teacher, but it means something different to me now. Before I saw myself as a teacher restricted to the limiting walls of my classroom. Eventually, I saw myself as a teacher in the community. But now being a teacher has become so much more than a label or an identity, it's become my lifestyle in all that I engage in. I am a woman, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a graduate, a traveler, a writer, an American, a student of the world, Kelly, and all of these things make me the teacher that I am. I no longer see myself as a teacher with restrictions of limitations. I am a teacher in this giant world, that is really not so giant at all, exploring, learning, and endeavoring of a collaborative journey of knowledge. Uganda made me realize this and that is why I knew I must return.

Bored as hell for seven days in Santo Domingo, awaiting the arrival of my mom and sister, I had a lot of time to sit, think, and reflect upon my time spent in Uganda. I sat in an internet cafe for three hours one day, searching for ways in which I could return to Uganda realistically. Volunteering was not an option and neither was working in a local school as neither could provide financial stability. I stumbled upon the website for an the Kampala International School, Uganda. I proceeded to haphazardly click on staff vacancies and then what seemed like subconscious now, sent my resume to the principal. Within three days my correspondence with the principal began and nearly three months ago I received confirmation that I had been offered a job as Primary English/Language Arts teacher. Three weeks ago I signed and faxed the contract committing myself to two years of teaching and living in Kampala, Uganda.

I could not be more terrified, more nervous, but most of all more thrilled to have this amazing experience and opportunity. There are so many people who have inspired and motivated my decision and I truly cannot thank them enough. Life is tricky and challenging. One thing I have learned thus far in my mere 24 years of existence is that you just cannot wait for life to happen, you must go out and make it happen. Well, I suppose you could wait, you just may remain a miserable person for the majority or all of your time here on Earth.