Monkey Bites and Mosquito Bites

6.19.09

Posted at a later date:

I can not sleep. For some reason I go to bed extremely early and wake up very very early. Right now it is 5:30. I have such a restless sprit. The American way of life is much faster paced than the Ugandan. I always struggle to adjust. Today we were trying to decide if it was patience  that drives Ugandans to perform tasks more slowly and be willing to wait for hours. Or is there no patience at all and it is simply a cultural thing. I am being taught to slow down my life and enjoy each moment in its utter simplicity.

 

 

As I sit here and write this I am attempting to not itch the multitude of mosquito bites I have acquired. Although I am a little more concerned with the monkey bite on my hand.. Did I mention we have a pet monkey named Rasta. He was being abused on the street and our Ugandan director, Morris, bought him. Rasta normally behaves himself and is very sweet, but today we took him to the orphanage and the kids scared him. He took his anger out on me. Let’s hope he doesn’t have any diseases! My bet was that I would get malaria, not some infection from a monkey bite. But I have officially cuddled with a monkey. It seems worth it.

 

We are working to clear and clean a room for me to transform into an art room. I am very excited. If you have any mural suggestions let me know! I am brainstorming how I want it to look. Soon I will begin teaching art with the kids and working on developing new crafts to be sold. I can’t wait to do that! Once we begin making new things I will explain and post pictures!

The Alchemist

6.18.09

Posted at a later date:

I am happier beyond any words I can put on paper. Nothing can describe how I feel. More than anything I just wish you could be here to see this. Right now I am reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelno which deeply discusses purpose. Purpose has been a reoccurring theme in my life. At one point he says “we all need to be aware of our personal calling... God’s blessing. It is the oath that God chose for you here on earth.” And he also says “to realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation”.

 

I have no doubts that I am exactly where I was meant to be. Almost every person that I am close with has a far different purpose and path than I do. This breeds doubt in what I am doing. My culture has told me that once I graduate I have to attend college right away, get a job, find a husband and settle down. But I honestly don’t believe my life will ever be normal.

 

But here is what we have been doing…

My flight got in at around 8 in the morning. Two Ugandans picked me up and we ran a lot of errands around Kampala (Uganda’s capital). I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. It seemed like the longest day of my life. But I had a lot of fun with Morris and some other Ugandans. We then went to Jinja and picked up some volunteers from another orphanage. I had been told that next we were going to the volunteer house. Due to my extreme exhaustion I feel asleep during the drive there. When I woke up I opened my eyes to see the orphanage before me. All the children were waiting for me. I was excited but overwhelmed. My energy level was nonexistent. A small girl was holding a sign that said “We love you Annie”. The children swarmed around me, grabbing at my hands and hugging my legs. There voices rang out " you are most welcome". And for the first time since last year I felt at home again. 

London Loneliness

6.16.09

Posted at a later date:

Right now I am sitting alone in London. Everywhere around me I hear strange languages and see unfamiliar faces. Being completely alone this time has forced me to realize certain things about human beings. We have a strong desire to be known. Even if it is just by the British woman sitting next to me at an airport restaurant or the Indian man who was inquiring about the “free the daliet” sticker that adorns the back of my laptop. Humanity drives each of us to long companionship. Which is why on an airplane the tendency is to indroduce yourself when you sit down. The desire to start up pleasant conversation does not steam from extreme interest in who they are, but the unexplainable need to share who you are. As I am writing this, a young European girl approached me and asked what type of phone I had. She then struck up conversation with me. And I was pleasantly surprised to have found someone interested in my life.

 

 

Well you came to read about Africa… not my random airport observations. But, sadly, I am not there yet. More to come!

All my love,

Annie