As my time here has started to really wind down, I've been reflecting on the past ten months and everything that I have experienced. While I'm not quite ready to post the serious, sentimental blog that highlights what I've learned, I will post my top ten lists of things that I will miss about Uganda, and things that I definitely will NOT miss.
Top 10 Things I Will Miss:
1. The KIDS!!! Saying goodbye to them will be the hardest part about leaving. They are incredible kids and it is so tough leaving, not knowing if I will ever get to see some of them again.
2. Boda boda (motorcycle taxi) rides-simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating, but awesome nonetheless.
3. Kikomando-beans and chapat, my go-to meal here.
4. Super cheap taxi rides
5. Mangoes!! Best fruit ever!
6. The cost of living-everything is so cheap, and now I am returning to crazy high gas prices, great.
7. The stars at night, not having electricity consistently makes for some great star-gazing.
8. Watching English Premier League games every weekend! Especially since Man. U won the league this year.
9. The scenery on my daily morning runs. Truly beautiful.
10. The outdoor markets. They are crazy and chaotic, but also vibrant and entertaining!
And now...
Top Ten Things I Will NOT Miss:
1. Washing my laundry by hand. Never again will I complain about doing laundry in the states again, even if I have to go to a laundromat.
2. Taxi rides-getting jammed into a van with fourteen other adults, most of whom do not wear deodorant, is not all its cracked up to be.
3. Power outages. The headlamp Adam gave me for my birthday was clutch.
4. Building a fire out of charcoal and plastic bags. I will also never complain about cooking in the U.S. again.
5. Red dust-I am clean for about five minutes each day until I step outside. Thus my intense hatred for washing my clothes.
6. Being called "mzungu," especially by the people whom I see every day. Yes, I am still white, just like I was when you saw me yesterday.
7. Cold showers-although I must admit, my bathing speed increased dramatically over the past ten months. I am in and out.
8. Lack of a fridge. I miss left-overs.
9. Internet cafes-not a fan of skyping and having everyone in the room privy to my personal conversation.
10. Jerks who like to make crude comments towards me or run alongside me when I'm running.
Uganda has been full of ups and downs, I just wanted to briefly share a few of the highlights and downfalls of life here.
The SWB girls' team from Ndejje, Uganda
I just graduated from the University of Illinois where I played on the Fighting Illini's varsity soccer team for four years. The past three springs, I have served as the assistant coach to Champaign Centennial's Girls Varsity Soccer Team. Additionally, I have volunteered in Rio Verde, Mexico the past three summers as a coach for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes sports camp. I have a passion for coaching and working in Mexico really opened my eyes to how blessed young players in the United States are to have the opportunities they do to participate in organized sports. For this reason, I chose to volunteer for Soccer Without Borders as a long-term intern. The values that Soccer Without Borders promotes are values that I believe are important and I look forward to working with the kids in Uganda. This is a chance for me to step outside of my comfort zone and really give back to the game that has provided me with so many incredible opportunities. To everyone who is supporting me in this endeavor, thank you so much. I will do my best to send out updates of my experiences before, during, and after the ten months I spend living in Uganda. I am very excited about this adventure, but also somewhat nervous and even a bit scared! However, I am confident that my experiences over the past four years have prepared me well for what is to come and hopefully I will make a difference in the lives of the kids I will be working with!
Friday, June 3, 2011
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