I arrived last night from my trip to Africa. We spent a couple of days in Kenya (Nairobi) and the rest of the time in Uganda, visiting and working at the orphanage, the school (under construction) and broke ground for the new clinic (designed by our office).
It was heart-warming to see the changes in the orphan children's lives, they are healthy, happy and well cared for. They are just busy being kids, playing, receiving parental love and growing like weeds.
Uganda is beautiful, no doubt that their people and the place, steal your heart and bury it in the deep red soil, with the hope that you will return and see it grow. They certaintly kept mine for ever.
We attended Ronald's traditional tribal wedding (director of Aim for the Restoration of Hope) and it was a total cultural experience, since we mix with the locals as opposed to other Westerners who just hang-out in cliques and never really get to know the place.
We also, had quite a few adventures, we went on a Safari, tracking the lion and our vehicle got stuck in a marsh, so, we got out and helped pushed it along. The flies were merciless which led me to believe that the lions were close by and within 30 minutes, we were face-to-face with a couple of them who were stalking a buffalo herd. It is amazing how the wildlife has come back in East Africa.
I have to admit, that sometimes you go on an unexpected journey to far away places, searching, just to realize that home is where you dig your heels, raise a family and build a life. My soul has always known where I belong, our beautiful Palm Springs desert, where the sky is always blue and the mountains are at an arm's lenght, where my children, my husband, students, friends and colleagues, always reserve a place for this exhausted traveller and despite of it all, they are always waiting for me with open arms.
I have finally arrived home,
Ana