Last Day in Gulu Town

It's Thursday afternoon and my last day in Gulu Town. Gulu Town, which has become my home for the last 5 weeks. I can't believe I'm packing to leave this incredible place and even more beautiful people. Yesterday was my last day at St. Jude's. By no surprise, saying goodbye to my children and new friends was one of the most difficult experiences of my life thus far. My fellow intern, Hannah, and I asked the teachers to translate some conversations with the children we became particularly close to. We had the teachers tell the kids we were so thankful to meet them, that we will miss them, and that we love them. Only some of them could actually grasp the concept of us not returning, but others (including my buddy Juliet, 2) didn't fully understand. Either way, Hannah and I left in tears holding on to our memories and photos of St. Jude's.

One of the orphanage "mamas"

Some of the children who live at St. Jude's 

Helping paint hands for the new mural 

Part of the new mural 

My classmate, Hannah, with some of the residents 

Moses, one of the children with special needs

She has the most beautiful eyes 

Ken posing infront of the nursery school 

Juliet finally smiling for a photo 

Eman, the girl with autism & the first child I met at St. Jude's

Eman & I enjoying my last day 

Regina with her freshly painted flower 

Sunday, one of my closest friends 

Somehow I managed to survive, wish I could do it all again 

That time I hiked the Nile

WHAT A LONG WEEKEND!

So we left early Saturday morning for Murchison Falls which is about a 3 hour drive on bumpy roads (nothing new.) We spent Saturday on a short game drive then a couple hours boating down the Nile River. As soon as we boarded the boat we saw hippos right next to us. They are HUGE. And so funny...I kept feeling like they were laughing at us because they would make this really loud honking noise.

Also on the cruise we saw about 10 different crocodiles. I AM OBSESSED. I was about ready to sacrifice my body so that I could get pictures. They would just sit with their mouths open on the land..and some were swimming in the water..so sneaky.

Finally we arrived at Murchison Falls! Which is a gigantic waterfall that we hiked to the top to. And believe me it was not a easy hike. I felt like I was having an asthma attach (I don't have asthma) but our guide said we weren't used to the altitude. Once we reached the top we all stood at the drop of the falls so we got soaked! Except it felt so nice and refreshing considering I was sweating bullets (Sorry Davis, not attractive.) After enjoying the sunset on the ferry back we headed to our student hostel for the night.

Ok let's me just clear something up...I am not a diva. Believe it or not, don't let the looks fool ya! I can rough it with the best of them (Thanks to the Kirbys forcing me to camp growing up!) but this "student hostel" was another story. First off our doors locked...but could also be unlocked from the OUTSIDE. So safe. Then I found a lizard in my bed (flashback to The Parent Trap.) And lastly a warthog was outside our door....besides the fact we had to sprint to the bathroom to avoid the bats....So needless to say I was ready to be up at 5:30am get out the door for the big game drive.

The big game drive was INCREDIBLE. I have never seen so many beautiful animals so close before. We saw leopards, monkeys, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, gazelle type things. I kept wishing my dad was there, he would've loved to take pictures. Not to mention the fact that he has some talent in animal calls. Dad-- I'm taking you to Africa once I graduate. You. Must. Go. of all people.

So after the long day of safari I was excited to head to my "home" of Kakanyero Hotel. I can't wait to see my kids at St. Jude's tomorrow. I've been thinking of them the entire day and I can't believe I only have 3 more days with them.

As for you lovely people, thank you for keeping up with my blog thus far. It really makes it so much easier to know I have you as an incredible support system.

Until next time!

Baby hippo crawling around

Croc heading for the water

Murchison Falls! 

ON TOP OF THE NILE!

Male giraffes are darker in color 

Baby and mama 

Elephant friend! 

Before he turned to charge us....

My favorite little bug crawling on me 

St. Jude's march (not sure of the significance) 

Ken (left) and Nelly (right)..some of my favorite K1 boys! 

Eman, my little friend with Autism, making me walk her around..My Daddy used to do the same thing with me!

Chaco tan progress 

We are the youngsters—St. Jude’s….of Gulu!

Jared (one year) & I playing in my K2 class 

K2 class & I practicing traditional music and dance 

Hair braiding time

Another day at the St. Jude's hair salon with Sunday & Kabila on my lap 

A little hair twist from my friend Nancy 

.  I'm not certain why the pictures are at the top...but enjoy!

To catch all everyone up let me just recap these last few days…

1.     Attacked by red ants at St. Jude’swas ToTaLlY a BlAsT. 

2.     We decided that face painting would be a good idea Monday afternoon. Why? I have no idea. When would it ever be a good idea to take on 40 children when we were only manned with 2 paintbrushes??? So naturally I paint a snake on a little boy’s face and he immediately washes it off and asks for Spider-man instead. 

3.     My hair is braided. Currently 20 baby braids in my hair and I loveee it. Not cornrows, I repeat, not cornrows.

4.     Who knew I was going to be in Uganda during rainy season (obviously not me.) It will rain about once a day here but it still gets really sunny too...kind of like the beach. Yesterday it absolutely monsoon-ed and flooded the streets. Which was really fun until I realized how slick all of the eroded mud became and I slipped in my flip-flops. KeWL.

5.     I’m obsessed with St. Jude’s Nursery School and Orphanage. Literally obsessed. Today when I was leaving one of the little boys named Sunday teared up…so of course I teared up as well. There’s moments when reality hits me hard there. Today one of the social workers, Kane, told me that a girl I have become close to, Cecelia, has been at St. Jude’s since she was one week old. Her mother passed when she was born and her father did not want her and does not want to visit. I couldn’t imagine never having a home of my own. This cycle of growing up at the orphanage and seeing others grow older and leave is nothing new to her.

6.     On a happier note I’ve become friends with a 2-year-old girl named Juliet. She’s like the playground gossip queen AND she’s chubby…I’m in love with her and we’re basically inseparable.

7.     There’s an avocado tree at St. Jude’s *~*AnD i LoVe It*~*

8.     We were gifted a goat…an entire live goat. So we’re having it for our end of the trip celebration party. I’ve promised to try one bite in order to become more cultured.

9.     THIS WEEKEND IS SAFARI WEEKEND. So I’ll be hanging with my best elephant and lion friends Saturday & Sunday at Murchison Falls. Saturday we are hiking The Nile which I am NOT game for. I keep having flashbacks to this Discovery Channel story where a man was ripped out of his kayak by a crocodile on The Nile. Although I won’t be in a Kayak or in the water I’m not ruling this scenario out. However, I am trying to get my hands on a safari hat of some sort to even out the pro/con list.

10. And last but certainly not least…. we have hot water!! I had my first hot shower in 4 weeks yesterday and I am definitely not mad. The only problem is we have the choice of either scolding hot or still pretty cold. So it’s pretty fun trying to find a happy medium.

As I am writing this I am sitting on my balcony on the 3^rd story of Kakanyero Hotel staring out at Gulu Town. I truly love this town. Only one more week in Gulu, then it’s off to Entebbe!