I have learned many things in the past six months. And not
just your typical first-year-of-teaching lessons learned, either. I have
learned that with a fork and a bit of determination I can make something not
entirely dissimilar to refried beans. I have learned that cockroaches can
indeed run around after you've cut their heads off. For a lot longer than you'd
think, too. And I've learned that I have this impulsive, and no doubt
irrational, desire to journey by boat down the river Nile. From Lake Victoria
all the way to the pyramids. I discovered this desire on a recent trip to the
source of the Nile when my family visited.
On January 24, exactly one month after we normally would
have had our family Christmas Eve shindig, my aunt, uncle, cousin, and
cousin-in-law (there needs to be a better name for that, don't you think,
Hannah?) arrived in Kampala to visit me. It was so great to see familial faces!
None of them had ever been to Uganda before, and I so loved having them see
where my life is lived nowadays. After getting a tour of both the school where
I'm teaching now, and the middle school campus that Acacia will expand to next
year, they brought all their luggage over to my house.
My roommate and another visiting friend witnessed the uproar
of unpacking, and I think were a bit shocked by the mountains of loot that
kept spilling forth. What can I say. My family's generosity abounds. And space
in my living room does not. They brought me Christmas presents, chocolate
chips, candles, REESES!!!, pinecones,
taco fixings, clothes, Christmas cookies, and even a sewing machine they had
previously brought over to Kenya. They also brought news and greetings from
Oregon, lots of hugs, and their lovely persons, which was the best.
On Saturday we all journeyed out to Jinja, which is on Lake
Victoria at the source of the Nile. On the way there the Zirschkys got a taste
of the notorious Kampala traffic as we crawled through the city. I don't think
I've ever seen anyone less concerned with the traffic, though, as they blithely
took in the Ugandan scenery, enjoying the urban safari. We spent the night at
Jinja with the Tuggy family and had a great time hanging out. In order to fully
appreciate where we were, we took a boat ride on the lake and entered the
official source of the white Nile (the primary branch, that then converges with
the blue one to create the whole Nile). The funniest thing to see was the gift
shops. Yes, gift shops. In the Nile. Literally. Apparently the Nile was at a
high point, so the three little shops that are usually perched on a small
Island in the middle of the river actually had the water of the river Nile
running through them.
On Sunday, it was time to go to the airport and say goodbye
to la familia. The four of them were only here in Kampala for a short visit,
going back to Kenya so Bob could operate more and Kyle and Hannah could
experience Kenya's excellent safari opportunities. But even though it was a
quick trip, I was so so blessed and encouraged to have them visit. It was such a
highlight.
If anyone else feels a hankerin to do some African
exploring, I'd love to have you!
