Finally after 72 sleepless hours, three flights, and four countries, I have arrived to my destination Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic. I knew that leaving Uganda was going to be difficult, but I did not realize it was going to be as hard as it was. I cried for the majority of my flight from Entebbe to London and I feel like I left a little bit of my soul and a lot of my heart in Uganda. As I was checking my bags at the airport in Entebbe tears were streaming down my face and the woman helping me asked, "Dia, what is the problem?" My tearful, shaky voice expressed "I don't want to leave this country. I can't leave this country." She joyfully replied, "Sweetheart, you can leave this country because you can come back and I know you will." She is right. I will return to Uganda, for I feel my time there wasn't enough and my work there is not done. My life will never be the same, now that I have been to Uganda. The people, the culture, and the landscape have all been the most extraordinary and beautiful things I have ever experienced. Now that I have left the country I can interpret things slightly better. The humbleness and kindness of the people is something I don't think exists in many other places in the world and that alone is something to make a country proud, unique, and ultimately ideal. It's no wonder the one man I ever fell in love with comes from this country.
A few days before my leaving Uganda, I told my mom about Fina (Josephine), who was one of my most beloved students. This girl is 12 yrs. old, extremely bright and intelligent, and just an extraordinary individual. I see so much potential for success in this child;however, due to her families economical status she will never be able to recieve the proper education or attend university. Josephine dreams of becoming a nurse. A nurse makes 150,000 Ugandan Shillings/month, which is approximently $75 and this is considered a good job. After telling Jospehine's story to my mom, we decided to sponsor Josephine so she can attend boarding school and make her dream a reality. The program head told Josephine we would be coming to her home to speak with her family about something. Curiously, Josephine asked about what and the program head just told her it would make her parents very happy. The next day we travelled by foot for an hour and half to Josephine's home where they had prepared a four course meal for us, complete with meat, fresh corn, jackfruit, and sodas. All of which, are luxuries in the village. After eating and feeling like we were going to explode, we told Josephine's family about the sponsorhip.The whole family (mother, father, and ten children, which includes two sets of twins, a blessing in Buganda culture) began clapping and the mother could not stop crying. The family called for the village priest who performed a prayer service for my family and Josephine. Josephine's mother and father profusely expressed gratitude and told me that I will forever be Josephine's second mother and tht my family and I are always welcome to their home. It was an unforgettable exchange of kindness and I have promised to visit Jospehine at least once a year. The morning of my departure Josephine arrived at my home at 8am with a basket filled with avocados, corn, passion fruit, and mangos. She wouldn't let go of my hand and asked me to take her to California with me. I smiled at Josephine and hugged her tightly and then I put on my sunglases to hide the tears that were forming in my eyes. I didn't say goodbye because I know I will see her many more times.
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