Interesting article

A favorite view in Uganda

Recently a friend posted an article on facebook that resonated with me in many ways.  Here is the link for any who are interested:

http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/what-happens-when-you-live-abroad/

The article talks about the dissonance of living abroad- how we often talk about when we will move "back" with our other expat friends, and then find that moving back is complicated.  The end of the article reads:

"So you look at your life, and the two countries that hold it, and realize that you are now two distinct people. As much as your countries represent and fulfill different parts of you and what you enjoy about life, as much as you have formed unbreakable bonds with people you love in both places, as much as you feel truly at home in either one, so you are divided in two. For the rest of your life, or at least it feels this way, you will spend your time in one naggingly longing for the other, and waiting until you can get back for at least a few weeks and dive back into the person you were back there. It takes so much to carve out a new life for yourself somewhere new, and it can’t die simply because you’ve moved over a few time zones. The people that took you into their country and became your new family, they aren’t going to mean any less to you when you’re far away.

When you live abroad, you realize that, no matter where you are, you will always be an ex-pat. There will always be a part of you that is far away from its home and is lying dormant until it can breathe and live in full color back in the country where it belongs. To live in a new place is a beautiful, thrilling thing, and it can show you that you can be whoever you want — on your own terms. It can give you the gift of freedom, of new beginnings, of curiosity and excitement. But to start over, to get on that plane, doesn’t come without a price. You cannot be in two places at once, and from now on, you will always lay awake on certain nights and think of all the things you’re missing out on back home."

That last part about lying awake on certain nights feels very true- often while I am going to sleep in the States, I think about the world waking up in Uganda and what is going on there.  And while I was in Uganda I would count the time difference to the States and wonder what people were doing there.  

I think having two homes can feel melancholy but is also enriching and stretching.  It fits well with the quote I have on this blog that says people who have lived abroad are "magic creatures who always know there is another way".

A favorite Stateside view

Road Trip

On Saturday I left for a road trip to Durham, North Carolina and then Washington D.C.  This is my first full week off since starting back in August and I want to soak in every minute!  My first stop in Durham was to visit my friend Melissa, who moved there fairly recently with her family.  My visit coincided with her birthday which was perfect.  We got to review how many various birthdays we have celebrated together, starting with an eventful one in Uganda in 2000.  Now she is a pastor in NC and I was able to see her church and hear her preach on Sunday which was wonderful.  One thing about Melissa's family is they love activities so I tried to keep up while we spent time in the hip city of Durham and surroundings.  A few highlights:

Birthday picnic in Duke Gardens

Crepes before the Full Frame film festival

Checking out the city, across from Monuts Donuts

A walk along Eno River

We also went out for a few meals, to a Durham Bulls baseball game and had some fun family time.  Knowing they will be around the area for a while makes me look forward to more future visits.

My next stop was to see Meghan in D.C.  It turned out to be perfect timing for the cherry blossoms which was not at all planned for me!  Meg and I also got in lots of activities and time together despite the few days and her work schedule.  

At Dupont Circle

Cherry blossoms on the tidal basin

Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

One more of the cherry blossoms!

Getting to see different places, catch up with friends and have some space from work has felt very good and refreshing.  I'm hopeful for a few restful days back at home and appreciative of the time off.  Getting to see a college friend and a Uganda friend helps remind me of the other pieces of my life that are still important despite the different daily routine of my current life.

Almost Spring!

Spring officially starts this week and I am ready!

A few things I am looking forward to in the spring season:
-  celebrating Easter with my family
- participating in a Maundy Thursday service at my church
- going for walks in the park after work
- having a week off in April to travel to North Carolina
- longer days of light
- green on the trees
- some upcoming changes at work
- putting my jacket, hat and gloves away
- daffodils!  The ones pictured above are from the Philadelphia flower show.

Anything you are looking forward to in the coming months??

I ♥ Musical Theater

The past 3 weekends I have been to 3 musicals- a show at a community theater in Wilmington, one on Broadway and one at a middle school where a friend teaches.  While very different shows and professional levels I loved all of them- because I love musical theater.  Growing up we would listen to musicals on long car rides, go to them as a family for a special event and we participated in community theater and school plays.  All this led to a great enjoyment of the singing, dancing and general over-the-top spectacle of musicals.   Returning from Uganda this was something I was excited about enjoying in the States- while Uganda has plenty of it's own music and culture, there is nothing quite like musical theater (except perhaps a British pantomime every Christmas).  

I started off strong by seeing two shows in England, Jersey Boys and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Jersey Boys in London

Both shows were really well done, and seeing a show about New Jersey in England was pretty great.  Fairly soon after being back in the States I got to meet up with Abby in New York and see Evita on Broadway.

Evita in NYC

Ricky Martin played the lead and was fabulous!  It was the first time I had ever seen the show and loved sharing the experience with Abby.  My next travels were to Prince Edward Island where my mom and I saw Anne of Green Gables (yes, a musical) and the play On Golden Pond.

Anne of Green Gables in Prince Edward Island

There was even a song in Anne called Kindred Spirits- while a tourist attraction for sure, it was a fun one and very appropriate for the trip.  After my travels of the summer it has been fun to see more "local" shows.  In September my mom and I saw Next to Normal, a different kind of musical with rock songs and about mental illness, very well done by a smaller theater.

Next to Normal at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia

Then for Christmas I got my parents tickets to Catch Me if You Can in Philadelphia, based on the movie of the same name.  Lots of good songs and singing and dancing.

Catch Me if You Can at the Academy of Music.

Then a few weekends ago I went to a local theater group in Wilmington for the first time who put on Ragtime- a very ambitious play and they totally pulled it off!  I am looking forward to going back there in the future.

Ragtime in Wilmington

Lastly,  Mama Mia last weekend (picture in the previous post) and Oliver yesterday.  Coming up are hopefully Memphis and Into the Woods, both in Wilmington.  Thats a lot of musicals!  I don't know if I'll keep up this pace but for now I am enjoying this aspect of life in the States.  

A visit with a friend

Over the weekend I went to New York City to visit Annie.  Annie was an intern in Uganda for one of the first years I was there so it was pretty exciting to get to see each other and catch up!  The fact that she lives in NYC is an added bonus.  We got to talk so much about Uganda, life since then and current jobs, while also doing some pretty fun stuff.  I told Annie at the end of the weekend that it was so refreshing for me to be able to talk about Uganda all the time.  And with someone I knew was interested! Here are a few pictures from my quick trip: 

Arriving, getting Starbucks and waiting in line for theater tickets

Getting to see Mama Mia, a very fun show

Visiting The Strand bookstore, 18 miles of books!  (I bought only one)

A restaurant that serves only macaroni and cheese- yum

View of the Brooklyn Bridge and beyond

At the new World Trade Center site, 40th floor

On my train ride home I felt very grateful for all the different friends I got to know in Uganda.  Living in Uganda it sometimes felt like there were so many people in and out all the time- new students, new interns, other staff, visitors.  But one of the good things about it has been that so many people who shared my experience are now in the States.  I am hoping I can continue to visit with those friends as those shared memories help to connect my current life and Uganda!

Quick Comparison

I am definitely still adjusting!

Why Africa?

When I tell people about living in Uganda they will usually ask, "But why did you want to move to Africa?"  Usually I respond by saying something like, "Well, I studied abroad in Kenya when I was in college and always wanted to go back."  That usually satisfies most people's curiosity and then come the typical follow-up questions: what did you eat there? did you see lions? were you safe? (answers: food, yes and yes.)

Really the answer to the Why Africa? question is more complex than that.  When I started college I knew I wanted to study abroad and looking through Gordon's academic handbook they listed about 12 options.  One of them was Daystar University in Kenya and it seemed like the most "out there".  Most people study abroad in Europe and I wanted to do something different.  I remember working on the application freshman year and then getting ready to go to Kenya sophomore year of college, feeling nervous and excited.  That semester is what made me want to go back.  While the semester had it's ups and downs I felt connected there and appreciated the pace of life, hospitality and culture.  A few (somewhat blurry) pictures from those 4 months:

Soon after my arrival in Kenya- I was wearing shorts!  Not totally clued in yet but happy to be there.

Laundry in the Daystar courtyard

Had to put this one in for Eddie and Lisa!

So when it came time to do an internship for graduate school I was set on going back to Africa.  Through lots of searching and convincing on my part, I ended up in Durban, South Africa.  Obviously it is a whole different country and place than Kenya so there was a lot to learn and adjust to there, but I still felt that connection.

At a Habitat build in Johannesburg

Dancing with the now president of South Africa (then VP)! - I am on the far left with the long hair

After being in South Africa and finishing graduate school I started looking for jobs overseas.  But I either didn't have the experience or language needed, and ended up job searching for about 6 months before taking a job in the States.  A few years later when the Uganda job came up it felt like the right timing, and I still felt that desire to move there.  

My first week in Uganda

So, now the question is- will I ever go back?  To visit? I say definitely yes.  To live there again? Maybe, not in the immediate future but who knows?  Right now,  I am glad I have spent so much of my life in different parts of Africa and think I am only richer for it.

A Material World

I was thinking recently about the various things I've been able to enjoy since being back in the States.  As I've talked about on this blog, I was grateful for the simpler and slower pace of life in Uganda which is different than the general pace of life in the States.  I think part of that simplicity was due to lack of options for entertainment, shopping, etc.  However, I have to admit that there are some very material things I have enjoyed since moving back.  Sometimes the options seem overwhelming but here are a few material things I've appreciated:

1. The roads and traffic
Having a car and being able to drive on paved, well marked roads has been such a relief.  I did not own a car in Uganda but when I borrowed a car or was a passenger it was a much more stressful experience with potholes, traffic and people walking along the roadside- not to mention boda-bodas.  I would say one down side of living in a city in the States is the on-street parking but my parallel parking skills have definitely improved!

A foggy morning in Wilmington

2. Access to books and magazines
Since I love to read I have really appreciated being able to go to bookstores, look at books and buy any book I want.  Also being able to borrow books from friends and family so easily has been fun.  I went to Barnes and Noble one night this past week and had a great time walking around checking out the many, many books.  I also started subscribing to a few magazines and have realized how great it is to read a magazine while it is actually current, instead of months later when someone sends it to you.

Recent Christmas gifts and purchases

Current issues of my magazine subscriptions

3. Food options
This is probably the biggest immediate enjoyment- access to so many foods all the time, with nice restaurants and grocery stores.  In Mukono there were grocery stores but I made many trips to Kampala to somewhat nicer shops, but even then not everything was available.  This weekend I went to Trader Joe's and the selection and treats is amazing!  I also went out for a really nice lunch and the service, options and presentation were great.  In Kampala a nice meal out was such a treat, so I am still finding that balance of not having treats all the time!

Delicious meal at Terrain in Glen Mills

Some Trader Joe's treats

4. Coffe shops
There are a couple of coffee shops within walking distance of where I live and I just like the atmosphere and of course, the hot drinks.  It is nice to be able to meet a friend at a low-key place or sit and use the computer while drinking a tea.  Again, Mukono doesn't really have any place like that (yet!) so having a few close by seems luxurious.

One of the local coffee shops (and my most frequented!)

5. Phone upgrade
When I started my new job they gave me an iphone.  Lets just say the change from my Ugandan and pay-as-you-go Stateside phone was a pretty big leap.  I kind of scoffed about "smart phones" before but of course now I use mine all the time to look things up, check my email, get directions, etc.  It would be hard to go back!

The phone upgrade

So that is a small summary of things I've been appreciating the past 6 months or so.  I think some of the novelty is starting to wear off, and I also want to find the right balance of enjoying some of these things within reason.  

Christmas and New Years

I am resting at home after a busy few weeks of Christmas and New Years celebrations.  I thought I would post some pictures of the holidays to give you a taste of the fun times!

Snow on Christmas Eve and then much more!

Ready for family Christmas

Traditional sticky buns and family time!

Brady and Dad taking a break from present opening 

Starting off New Years weekend with some skiing at Mount Tussey

Up we go- Bethany and Aaron on the ski lift

Plowing my way through a side trail- first time skiing since Uganda!

Extended family time in State College- Kaitlin and Chloe snuggle together

Gathering around for present opening

Lots of crossbow and hunting action- go Taylor!

Taking a snowy walk/ herding the deer

First Night in State College

Happy 2013!