Something I've learned.

Being in Uganda I have learned a lot. I feel as though perhaps parts of being here have not been as big of an adjustment for me as they are for others since I did live overseas so long, but there are no doubt still struggles. Even though I did live in Morocco, Uganda is a whole other world.

We talked about culture shock in my faith and action class yesterday. I do not think I have had any major culture shock, because I sort of knew what to expect. This does not mean that I love everything, but at least I was mentally prepared. Also, I think that since I have learned how to adapt in other cultures, it comes a little easier for me. At 12 years old I went from living in small town Bedford, Indiana having been only homeschooled, and in Catholic school, to a French public school. Then I went from that European life to being thrown into a Muslim country, going to an American school will all Moroccans. Then on Sunday's I went to church with pretty much all Sub-Saharan Africans.

My life has been a melange of everything. And I love it. And I truly believe that because I had to adjust to so many different cultures, coming here was easy in a sense.

At the same time, I can admit that despite my background of culture, I am still learning alot about people, and myself. Today I was handwashing my laundry and realized even a few small things. One, my clothes are never going to get good clean here, but that is ok. haha. Two, I will probably never take ANYTHING for granted again. Ever. Three, there are a number of things that used to drive me insane, that will likely never bother me again.

I feel so much more relaxed this past month or so than I have in a long time. Thankfully, I have a lot less work this semester. I was writing about 5 essays a week for Social Work back at Valley Forge, and here I do have a lot of reading and I am working over 15 hours a week at my practicum site, but I am so content.

There are a lot of difficulties being here. There are days that are hard, there are days that are easy. There are days that I am homesick for three different places, and there are days where I am just so in love with this place. Even on the days where I kinda want to go home, I love it here. I would not trade the four months that I get here for anything in the world.

The choice I made about a year ago to apply to the Uganda program, and the choice I made to come about 8 months ago, was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I have never traveled to live anywhere outside the United States without my family, and I really missed them being with me in a 'foreign country' at first. However, this is one of the best experiences of my life.

When I was applying I stressed myself out trying to figure out if I should come, but God pulled it all together perfectly, from application process to funds. Even here God has done so much in my life. In every way. When I finally decided to make the choices that were right for me beginning with Uganda and continuing with a number of other choices, that God showed me were right, my life has begun to fall together in ways I never imagined. There are still stresses in my life, and things that still have yet to fall into place, but I am finally learning to let go and trust God, and its making things so much better.