Today is the first time in at least eight years (maybe even twelve?) that I haven't had some Uganda shillings tucked away in my travel wallet. I always kept a few bills- just enough to get a taxi from the SP guesthouse to the nearest ATM.
My friend needed the shillings. She left Liberia today en route to the Philippines with a two week stop over in Uganda. She needed money for a taxi from the airport. I had the currency. Giving her the money was really the only sensible course of action, but I almost couldn't do it. It's less than $10, so it wasn't the value that made me feel a bit panicky as I handed over the bills. It just the symbolism those shillings held for me. I always kept them in wallet because I always intended to go back to Uganda, and I did- a lot of times.
I don't regret leaving Uganda, but I do think about it quite a bit. Giving away the money said to me that I don't know when (or if ever) I'll go back, and that makes me truly sad. I want to go and visit my program.Oh, gracious, do I miss my program. I want to go to Kampala and eat really awesome Indian food. I miss my cat.
Anyways, blah blah blah. Just wanted to let the internet know that I miss having some shillings in my wallet.
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1 comment:
Lol I loved your last sentence:) You are so funny.
On the more serious note tho...Leaving things behind is never easy ( case in point my last three emails) and perhaps you will bounce back and forth between grief and peace until one day you realize you really did need to leave it behind even if it was great for you at the time ( again case in point- my family life) So one day this too shall pass but until it does it is ok to feel sad:) Esp about missing familiar. You are missing a stage you birthed and nurtured. It will always be poignant to you.
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