Leaving Gulu

Sigh. Last post from Gulu town… It has been a fitting departure – me and my suitcase, on a boda, in the rain and mud, heading to the post-office bus where I’m sitting now. I’m feeling the proverbial bitter-sweetness that accompanies dramatic transitions such as this. I’ll miss the people and way of life but look forward to not being the focus of attention and getting some alone-time. I’m a solitary creature and there is really no escaping people here – even going on a run out of town requires that I be in the right mood to absorb the attention brought by my whiteness. The attention isn’t all bad though. I love the reception party every time I get home – a dozen neighbor kids run toward me after one spots me and sounds the “Chris!” alarm (video). In a semi-orderly fashion they each give me a high five with their own flavor. There are, of course, the quintessential as-hard-as-I-can fives but there are some that insist on being consistently gentle, and there are a few that are sticky more often than not.

Week...uhhh...idk

Coulda sworn I wrote something last weekend but I guess not. Last weekend everyone else on our project left. I have to say that it was a bit weird to see them all drive away as I walked to go get copies made for the next day’s work. It also made me realize my time here is wrapping up. I now only have a week left of work, a little traveling, and then I’m heading home.