A Day in the Life...

Up at sunrise
"Good morning" text
Coffee, toast
Crossword puzzle
Email check

Smartly dressed
Walk to school
Dusty, dusty, dirty feet

















Reading groups
I love these kids
They try so hard
My heart I give

Break tea time
The teachers talk
Tindikumanya
I don't understand

Library lessons
Read aloud
More reading groups
We're quite a crowd

Matooke, rice and beans for lunch
Every.
Single.
Day.

Walking home
Dodging bodas
"Osiibire ota?"
"Nsiibire gye."
Said many, many times

Unlock my door...and
Privacy is mine once more

Hang the clothes outside to dry
Sweep gecko poop off the floor
Filter water
Burn the trash (sorry)
Watch out for snakes in the grass

Goats bleat
Cows moo
Voices sing
Drums beat
Repeatedly
Incessantly
I will go CRAZY!

Close the windows at sunset
Malaria we must prevent
Dinner, movie, glass of wine (okay maybe two)
Cold shower
Warm bed
Time to dream
And clear my head

Yes, there are other things
I could do instead
But not right now
Not just yet

So, one last Viber text
"Good night"
"I love you"

Time for bed.

Starting with a poem

As my departure for the Peace Corps came closer, people started asking me what I'd miss most.  So I thought my first post should be a reflective poem (yes, I like to write poetry) from my American perspective listing thoughts as they came to mind.  Twenty-seven months from now I'll be calling Uganda my home.  Maybe my final post will be another reflection poem too... what I'll miss about Uganda.

  
What I'll miss

My family
My friends
My three grand babies
Her wide-eyed smile
Her joyful laugh
His "Happy" dance moves 
And how he takes my hand to lead

My backyard view
Prairie grasses taking root
Might oaks standing guard
Deer, hawks, owls
Changing seasons

Morning kisses
Welcome home hugs
Pizza and Scandal nights
And the peaceful easy silence
He creates for me

Long hot showers
 Long hot showers
Long hot showers
And a washing machine

My tabby cat
My comfy bed
My tabby cat sleeping with me 
IN my comfy bed

Running buddies
Destination races
Beer flights in Philly
Homemade lasagna
Apple picking in the fall

Making a phone call
Fast internet service
Slow internet service
ANY i-n-t-e-r-n-e-t service
 

Cooking in the kitchen 
With my girls
Homemade macaroni and cheese
Laughter and "cheers" 
around the dinner table 

Two years in the Peace Corps
is a crazy long time
Living so far away
On African time

But a good friend reassured me
And helped ease my nerves
All these things will be waiting for me
Right here when I return.