New beginnings

So it’s official that I do not have that much self-control anymore. I used to think I was so in control of myself yet when it comes to food I think I have pretty much lost it. Two years ago I went vegetarian, well not really. I joined the pescetarian movement. I have been ravishing fish as though I were a whale. My daily habits have not improved as after being diagnosed with some dodgy ailment – I have had to cut off all sorts of weird foods that contain carbs and focus on eating high fiber and insurmountable amounts of protein – hihi. fish watch out here I come!

Well for the past several weeks since leaving Africa (which as you know is a country). I have been feeling extremely contained. There is something about an environment that is overly regulated that takes out the life and spirit from humanity. Before I tell you the most recent annoyance I have faced I need to give you some background which happened in 2002 on my first visit to the United States. My friend Ann and I were driving from Philadelphia to Harrisburg when our car broke down. We called the Towing Company and when these two men arrived to help us, one of them asked where I was from. I said, “Uganda.” He said, “Is that in Africa.”  I was impressed he knew where this was. And then he blew it. Just when I was thanking God that there was someone on this trip who knew a thing or two about the world, he asked me another question, “I have a friend in Algeria, his name is… do you know him?” 

So here goes. I have been receiving emails from an individual I met during one of my travels in one of the North American states, namely Canada :) . Well he had this friend traveling to one of the African states and sent me an email asking if I could meet up with her to help out and clarify some things about her time in this particular state which I have never been to. He wanted me to give her information on the culture, food, places to visit, what to be cautious about and all the stuff that she can’t find on the internet. Don’t we love sarcasm? It does save us from saying too much. Well I sent him an email explaining that even I would love to this visit this particular state and therefore I had nothing to offer. Some of my friends who saw the email were impressed at how much grace I expressed in my response. And I thought I was rude! He writes back stating that he would have loved it anyway if I could give her some advice because all she is getting is from people who do not know anything about this state. Dang! Dude! Really? So I replied saying that I honestly came from Uganda and not this amazing huge piece of land that was divided from my origin by his forefathers and if at all they had not done this I would have been able to help out. Well I did not really say that, but I said that I come from Uganda not that country that am sure you are all dying to know about where so much help was needed from me yet Google seems to know it all. 

At this point am thinking of taking him off my Facebook. Yeah that book that is allowing me to write the story of my life with some people I would rather avoid and pretend do not exist on the same planet as I do. I do purge my Facebook account from time to time and this particular individual who believes Africa is this one big place where everyone knows each other might just be on my purge list. 

I like new things. New beginnings always turn me on. I love adventure. I am from a very nomadic tribe. Even though my grandparents never really moved that much in search of green pasture for their cattle, I like to tell people that we are nomads. Ask any East African. East Africa ain’t no country even though the USAID website implies that it is - the things you learn from job searching.The thing is when the land was divided up to make up states, my tribe was also divided up. Presently you will find the nomadic people of Teso in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. As I was saying, ask any East African about the Iteso people. They’ll tell you that we are nomads. We move and we never really form ties wherever we go. This does not mean I have no ability to commit. I can even confess to you – my most prized secret at this time of my life: I am longing to meet my soul mate and have a family. I even dream of being in a home for several years with little breaks touring the globe. And when my children are come of the age where they can travel by themselves, I will practically chase them away if they do not globe trot. Some of the deepest lessons I have learned in life have been from travel experiences. 

So here I am at a new place. Yesterday all I did was stay in bed all day. I needed to find a new place to come away too. I guess by now it’s quite clear am not working on a job with people in an office. I have made over 68 applications, had one interview and six rejects. Including that one interview. Ah, I love Baratunde's writing. That previous line was random. I even had time yesterday to write to the Organization that interviewed me asking them to let me know why they decided not to take me on when the interview seemed to go so well. They did reply. They decided to hire a man because he would to survive the harsh conditions of working in Juba more than I would. What they did say was it was a tricky decision. Apparently he had more writing experience than I do. 

It’s almost spring. I am excited about this new season. Spring comes with so much hope for life and newness. I am looking forward to the flowers and the green. I am looking forward to a life of greatness, hope and love this season. To new beginnings!