Amelia’s Adventures

May 22

I Can’t Believe

I was gone for a month.

I was in Africa for that month.

The month felt like a year and a day at the same time.

Time was monster.  One that casually appeared at events, social and relational gatherings, and hid under the bed whenever it saw a schedule.

May 04

I’ve Landed

Till I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it’s bye-bye, goodbye, I tried
And I twisted it wrong just to make it right
Had to leave myself behind
I’ve been flying high all night
So come pick me up…I’ve landed
- Bens Fold Five
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May 04

From The Car

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Apr 30

Are We Awake?

I am in Ethiopia. Ethiopia!

Is it possible that after three weeks I still have a hard time fully comprehending that I am in Africa? When you dream and pray for years for something that is so close to your heart it takes some time for your heart to tell your mind it’s no longer a dream.

Apr 12

GSE Daily Top Ten: Day 11

New levels of comfort. Forced comfort. Wow. Extremely close. Crowded. Sweaty. Hot. Close. Did I say close? Adjusting body parts so we all fit into a car. Clear boundaries are crossed today in our vehicle. American men forced to give up their manly perimiters. Ugandan men don’t seem to notice as they sit very comfortably gazing out the window at the vast fields. We pick up more people as we go. Somehow we all fit. Intercultural clown car (except there are little smiles to be found on our melting faces).

Apr 11

GSE Daily Top Ten: Day 10

Already spent one week in Africa! Time is going by entirely too fast. I can’t keep up with days of the week, dates, times of day. It’s all racing in front of me as I pathecitally jog behind. I won’t even qualify for this marathon.

Apr 10

GSE Daily Top Ten: Day 9

My host mom trying to offer me wine so I go to sleep at a decent hour.

My ability to finally say no to the piece of chicken that found its way to my plate. However, I caved on the watermelon.

Apr 09

GSE Daily Top Ten: Day 8

Learning about Universal Primary Education in Uganda.
Discovering the daily challenges educators face in Uganda. For example, there are not enough schools to accommodate all the children that are of age to attend school.

Apr 08

Aba

Aba. I can’t stop thinking about Aba.
Heartbreaking is inadequate to describe how I feel for these children, especially my little boy Aba. To say there is a weight on my heart is too light

Aba.

I could honestly go home and now. This boy has reached something in me at a level I have never experienced before. [...]

Apr 07

Kindness from Kampala

Host families are one of the best aspects of Group Study Exchange with Rotary International. I have lived with more than 20 host families in the United States, Europe and Asia. I now have the opportunity to live with host famlies in beautiful Africa!