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on Um Zayd wa Atheer (Uganda), 19/Dec/2011 07:27, 34 days ago
Getting ThereThere were sleepless nights but all were unnecessary. It didn't snow, my luggage was not overweight, the Clio groaned but reluctantly succumbed to over 100 kgs plus 3 passengers from Rugby to Chiswick to Heathrow and all the timings went to plan. There were last minute precious moments with the boys (big and little), a few friends and Laura my hairdresser. There were no tears this time. She and we have done this before and we do survive. We all know more about our thoughts and our feelings, even though it remains a mystery.So much time and energy has gone into this journey. Now it is finally happening and that in itself brings relief. The plane is full to the brim. The first time I travelled to Uganda the number of American missionaries overwhelmed me. On this trip they are replaced by Ugandans going home for Christmas. Children have been taken out of UK schools early. Their luggage is bulging with presents, including giant sized televisions, and they are dressed in designer clothes and decorated in bling. I kept thinking about the village volunteers in Miirya. What a long way some of us have come. Some of us have got left behind, perhaps.The plane was 'overlong' (Ugandan for late) but it didn't matter. We had arrived safely. There was barely enough time to sleep before meeting up with VSO on Monday morning. At this stage the details of my placement Gulu have suddenly become unclear. VSO has Strategic Plans! There have been lots of changes and there are more to come, which have unsettled me a bit, but I refuse to be pessimistic.Meanwhile I have arrived in Masindi, where I will stay until 14thJanuary. I have already seen John and Hakim. It feels good. I am having a quiet few days before throwing myself into Miirya but the welcome sounds are there. The mosquitoes drone, the cockerels crow and the dogs are barking. None of this disturbs me. They are all sounds of rural Uganda.I am here and will have to wait and see if I am getting there.