The Meeting of Two Eternities

As I reclined on my twin-sized foam mattress, wooden slats now making themselves known due to the presence of my body's weight for the past two months, I began to recount the grand moments that have been my joy to experience over these past few months and to contemplate the coming weeks. In many ways, it was a moment that was infused with the essence Thoreau describes in the chapter "Economy" in Walden:

In any weather, at any hour of the day or night, I have been anxious to improve the nick of time, and notch it on my stick too; to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and future, which is precisely the present moment; to toe that line.

I was in that present moment, there on "my" bed, listening to the music coming from my friend Catherine's room and the chatter of women in the other room. The light pouring in... yet I was recognizing the recent past that had brought me to that moment and the coming future that would take me away from it.

My thoughts were simply streaming in and out of my consciousness; I was enjoying the simple act of thinking about me... exercising my intrapersonal intelligence as Gardener would call it.

The thoughts ran much like this:

My first days in Uganda:

• Sleeping in a hostel
• Seeing a school in Kampala
• Going to Bavubuka
• Learning of my co-workers

My first days in Gulu:

• Orienting
• Eating Acholi food
• Feeling Alone
• Getting used to being a "munu"
• Solo lunches and strolls
  

The Arrival of Group 2:

• Holding hands with Raysa when I first met her
• Intellectual conversations over pizza with Rebecca and Sarah
• Dancing a great deal

My work for IC:

• Making copies at the copier
• Shopping for food for the camps
• Keeping track of attendance
• Blowing off steam about co-workers
• Bringing in cookies
• The summation packet
• Active strategies packet
• Leading roundtable discussions at four schools
• Being a part of roundtable discussions
• Filming for the mission video for IC
• Making schedules
• Registering individuals for the conference
  

General memories of Gulu & Uganda:

• The kindness of Catherine and Danielle
• Understanding Acholiland better each day
• Marveling at the infinite bend of the sky on a sunny day
• Boda ride through a eucalyptus forest
• Dinner with Senith, an Acholi friend of Catherine's
• Inspiring conversations with Catherine
• Dancing with Raysa
• Flavia helping me in the market
• My seamstress's beauty and lovely attitude (and amazing clothing)
• Getting sprayed with mud by a car
• The most majestic safari
• The most relaxing rhino sanctuary
• Rebecca singing songs and playing the guitar
• Pablo being carried like a baby on Joe's back
• "Quiz Night"
• Our first dance as the Teacher Exchange
• Always prepared, incredibly bad for you food
• The incredible friendship of Jennifer
• Meeting Jolly at her house, and an unforgettable bonfire and story-time
• Watching the Acholi version of musical chairs (sans chairs)
• Finding American Food
• Getting beans, rice, and coffee for the equivalent of $1.50
• Being asked for my hand in marriage at least once per week
• The police showing up and unloading six guns on our front porch
• Playing many games with my roommates
• Dancing with Kevin and friends at Mother Theressa's Boarding School / Children's Home
• A small girl putting my glasses on upside down at St. Jude's
• Having no idea what to do with 15 babies at St. Jude's
• The sound of drumming in the distance
• The Acholi yell
• The infinite stars
• The rains, the rains, the rains

When I come home:

• Much love for my parents!!!!!!!
• A hot shower
• Healthy foods that are not just raw vegetables
• Retelling the tale too many times I'm sure
• A few days in NYC with my Uncle and Auntie
• Seeing Joshua in Chicago!
• Slam poetry in Chicago!
• Home with the cats and unpacking
• Chilling with Crystal
• Seeing Spoofy and Paige
• Hopefully going backpacking for two days with Nick
• Maybe a bit of a shindig
• Going with Joshua to Tennessee
• Beginning a new semester
• New outlooks in my education from my summer experience
• Having my field study in a middle school

At some point, I dozed off. I can't remember when. Yet, outside the present moment of the hall light, the light chatter, the stagnant air room, the music, and my heartbeat, my mind was traveling long distances in time.

This may just count as time-travel, my friends. At least, it does for me.

Thinky, thinky, thinky,

Karen