Big Thoughts, Small World.

I feel a certain sense of freedom in knowing that not many people are reading this. Yet.

Time is flying by and I'm almost feeling rushed as I prepare to leave the country. Mostly, I'm exhilarated to do something meaningful, thrilling and a little dangerous. I also cannot wait to get back to Africa. There is something so viscerally magical and tremendously genuine about Africa - at least from my initial experience. I crave that absolute originality. After all, we all came out of Africa. I really believe there is something in our very genetic construction that knows the land and identifies with it on the most basic level. Being in Africa, for me, is aqcquainting myself with the majesty and profoundity of the story of human kind.

I'm also really excited to get to know the Ugandan people and their culture. Even after reading and researching I still have no idea what to expect. It will be very different from South Africa, I know that much. So far, I'm only nervous about having to tame myself and my American Girl ways... being loud, wearing pants and saying what I please... that sort of thing. I don't want to act like the stereotypical Western feminist (even though I am a pretty typical American feminist, college-aged person without the nose ring) that expects the world to change for/with her and her beliefs. Instead I want to understand the world as it is now, so I can better work to change it. We'll see how that goes.


3 weeks...

Vanities and Anniversaries.

Will and I celebrated our one year yesterday. We had a fancy dinner slightly above our means in a swanky restaurant with a great view of the capitol. I finally busted out the 1999 vintage J. C. Le Roux Le Valle South African "champagne." We exchanged small tokens (i got him ketchup, tabasco, chocolate and jelly bellys to bring to Uganda because otherwise he'll miss them) and he got me a simply beautiful silver engraved necklace. It has our names, but his is spelled with one L. No, it's not a tragic typo. I never can understand why his name is spelled with two L's since Wilbur only has one... He thought it was funny. I think it's just right ;)



This morning we had lattes. Tres Americano. A megamerican weekend (to nonchalantly quote Stephen Colbert), because we only have so many left.

Each day I yearn to see an African sunset a little more than the last.

For now...

In America.

These sunflowers reminded me of being very quintessential Americana, to symbolize this as my last month in the States for a while. Although, I found out they can grow anywhere in the world, and they do. All they need is sun. Me and the sunflowers...

As the moon and stars shift and August begins, I'm only a month away from embarking on the big trip. I have much to think about, money being the one thing that I can't shake. Who would have thought that when you borrow all that bread to go to school that they actually want you to pay it back...!

Enough trivialness, already. I think we're in need of some introductions. And let me tell you - I hate introductions. So generic. How can one shove human complexities and nuance into four simple boxes: NAME, FAVORITE FOOD, AREA OF INTEREST, HOME TOWN? [Sarah, tamales, international development, Sterling Heights, MI] that's how.

Okay so back down to business, why am I creating this.. blog (i'm sorry sometimes it's hard for me to say that word without snickering.)? To begin, I'm leaving for Uganda (around the Mbale district) in just over a month and I'll be there doing an internship with the foundation for sustainable development. I'll be working at the AIDS Information Center in Mbale Town, creating and implementing AIDS and reproductive health programs for women and children. For me, this is living the dream. There is nothing more beautiful than helping others and allowing yourself to learn from the people in an unfamiliar place. Humanity is universal, but privlege is not. We have a lot of work to do, and when is a better time to do it?

I'll be chronicling this adventure as frequently as I can. I'll try to be candid, honest and if you're lucky, funny.

But probably not ;)

Until next time.