June 25, 2009

I am on a British Airways Plane, destination - Entebbe, Uganda. I can’t even believe it. I’m going to Uganda! Uganda! I’m going! There’s no turning back. As I checked in to board the plane my boarding pass wouldn’t scan, so I was upgraded to business class! I’m sitting in this overly comfortable seat, with two large arm rests and there are two spoiled tired children sitting in the seat behind me. One just began  crying, his name ironically is Alex. Go figure. I sure hope these defiant young kids get a hold of themselves, or at least that their parents do. They’re crying over a stuffed animal, oh my. No one is sitting in the seat next to me and it would be awfully nice if it stayed that way unless someone from our trip could come sit next to me. Zach Barrows (our trip leader) is trying to pull the chaperone card to get the seat - hopefully it works (he deserves it). I just saw a thumbs up and we’re good to go! Looks like Zach will be sitting next to me for the remainder of the trip. The kid behind me finaly stopped crying and it seems as if we’re almost ready to depart. I’m sitting right next to the window too - I get to look right out at the continent of Africa as we make our journey! Hopefully the clouds will subside and I’ll be able take at least a glance. We’re waiting now for things to settle down because apparently someone checked bags to our plane but never boarded. For security reasons the plane cannot leave unless the person returns or the bags are removed - so here we will wait. A baby sitting in the rear pipes up to make a cry for attention as I sit watching the bright lights of Heathrow International contrast against an ever darkening sky. I can’t believe this is reality - it’s just too unreal. I think of my parents and I think of my good friends - the people who have helped to shape me into the person I am today, they’re so far away - but I still feel that we’re so close. 

Our plane is finally pushing away from the gate and soon the safety video will play on the t.v. in front of me. The constant humming of the plane continues as our safety demonstration begins. The wheels turn ever so slowly as we make our way onto the runway, preparing for takeoff. Again, the baby in the back begins to cry. The instructional video has ended, all seat belts are fastened and we begin to move down the runway - my heart racing all the while. I take out my camera, this is a video I need to capture, I can’t ever forget our departure to Uganda. Our ascension into the sky, only to end when we have arrived in Entebbe - then and only then will we descend t a land I have dreamed of visiting for quite some time. Our take-off has been delayed as we wait in line behind flights leaving for Saudi Arabia and Quatar. Slowly inching forward we are coming closer and closer to the moment we lift up into the sky. Air India joins the line and I immediately think of my Uncle Chris who flies planes in India for Spice Jet. I hear the turbines spin faster and my excitement increases. We turn the corner and we’re next in line. Time to go! Our time has arrived at last! A hesitant pause before we blast into the air - this is the final moment of stillness, a deep breath before the adventure begins. We round the final corner and we’re off we’re flying, we’ve made it into the sky. The view of London from thousands of feet up is absolutely breathtaking. When you look to the window and gaze down at the city - a forest of bright lights cover the landscape. As we move forward we leave the forest of lights behind us and move to a more rural landscape, one where bright lights are all but non-existent. We are now above the clouds on the horizon line. Yet to my delight the clouds are few. I truly don’t know what else to say. This reality is so out of the world - it honestly blows my mind. I’m going to Uganda!

June 24, 2009

I’m sitting in a plane on my way to LONDON, ENGLAND! Oh my freakin’ God this is crazy. So much for being creative and succinct with my writing - I’m just too excited! This is crazy, this is ridiculous. I just finished watching a movie (He’s Just Not That Into You).... in the sky! We’re on a British Airways flight and the flight attendants have accents! One has an Irish accent (from what I can tell) and when she asked me if I wanted some tea or water I thought she said, “Tear water”, so I kept asking, “What’s tear water?” Oh my! First stupid mistake of many. It still hasn’t hit me which is so odd. It might not even hit me when I’m there. The true surprise might be when I’m on my way back home to the world of privilege and disconnect, fast-paced life and expectation. I mean, I’m going to Uganda?! Good Lord this is so CRAZY! Absolutely unreal. Everyone else is sleeping, but I cannot - I’m on a rush of adrenaline - I’m eyes open, ready to go! These past few days in D.C. were incredible. Yesterday over 2,000 people descended upon Capitol Hill to bring the stories of those who have been affected by this conflict to the leaders who have the power to change policy. Tom Shadyac (the director of Evan Almighty, Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar, etc.) spoke with us yesterday (might I also mention that he funds the Schools for Schools Program) and really put things into perspective. We are the leaders, our politicians are the followers. They represent us and it is our duty to show them what it is we care about. We care about the voiceless, we care about the child soldiers in Central East Africa. We care and we have voices that we aren’t afraid to use. Last night when all was said and done, the group I was with had met with Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma and representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts.  Both strongly supported the northern Uganda Recovery Act and LRA Disarmament Act of 2009. (Although Senator Inhofe has a little stipulation over money - but that could be easily fixed when the bill goes to committee.) Some kids from our group later traveled to the House Floor with Representative Royce of California to get Representatives to sign the bill. Apparently the method was very effective and over 50 Reps signed on! Later on that night when everything was done we were walking around the Washington Monument and granted the opportunity to go to take the elevator to the top and view the nation’s capitol during its most beautiful hour - it was spectacular. On our way back to our sketchy morel we stopped by a 7-11 and bought pints of ice cream to eat. As we returned to our rooms around 12am there were sketchy men drinking beer and checking as out as we walked up the stairs. The fact that we stayed at a Days Inn Motel only added to the experience and made me realize that as long as you have a place to sleep and loving adventurous friends in your company - your accommodations really don’t matter.

I feel like I’ve hit a wall and I can’t really see what I wrote, never-mind the page in front of me. Time to sleep a little before London - 3 hours and 50 minutes remaining and I haven’t slept at all! It’s just the excitement of it all...

June 22, 2009

How do I begin?! It’s the end of Day 1 and already I feel like I’ve known these people for weeks. The people I’ll be spending the next two and a half weeks with are absolutely incredible. They’re inspired, motivated, and filled with an energy that just makes me smile. We’re all so different, but we all have one thing in common - our dedication towards helping those in northern Uganda. I arrived to the baggage claim greeted by 10 or so of the fellow trip winners. It was interesting meeting those I’d only previously talked to on facebook. But they’re all so great and as I began talking to them I immediately knew everything was going to be alright! We spent last night (and we will spent the rest of our nights) in Arlington, VA at a Days Inn Motel. It’s a little sketchy but only adds to the adventure. I’m in a room that has the capacity of 2 with 4 others (5 total). Alex Ammons, Rachel Hendrix, Jenny Thompson, & Amanda Schaffner. We’re all having a great time, we get along to well. I feel like I can’t put anything into words right now, maybe I’m just too tired. Until later...

June 21, 2009

My adventure has begun. The adventure of a lifetime. Washington D.C. - London, England - Uganda, Africa. I’m sitting in a C&J bus on my way to Logan International Airport where I will depart for Reagan International in Washington D.C. There I will be handed off for the Schools for Schools trip at 4:30 pm. I’ll be meeting the 14 other girls and 5 guys that have also been anxiously awaiting this day. The day we will meet, TODAY! Today, June 21st, the day we descend upon Washington D.C. armed with our passion and persistence. We will see the war in Uganda come to an end - this IS how it ends! June 22-23 thousands of us are raising our voices. I don’t know if I can even put into words the pure excitement that is racing through my veins, it’s so exhilarating. I have no idea what to expect, there’s so much I will learn, so much I will experience. It’s daunting to go on this trip, many think I’m crazy for going - but it’s something I need to see for myself. We’ve been working to build schools for the past 3 years for children half a world away - the fact that I’m traveling half a world away is crazy! I never thought it would happen, but it is, and it’s incredibly surreal. It hasn’t quite hit me yet. I don’t really know when it will. Maybe when I take my first step on Ugandan soul? Maybe when I get on the plane - destination: Uganda? Who knows?! It’s such an unreal thing.

I’m sitting here, thinking of all these things - of the next 18 days, of how crazy this all is. The Cosby Show is playing on the bus’ televisions as no one watches, my Father sits quietly researching itouches and my Mom is reading articles on Uganda and Lobby Days. The driver announces the amenities provided as the less than interested passengers stay in their own little worlds. I am sitting, knees up, crouched over in my seat. I’m listening to my ipod playing the good old Beatles. The song, “Come Together” a song played in the Hippie years when power to the people was hailed. When the youth took a stand - the youth came together. The youth are coming together now, today, for peace in northern Uganda, peace in the Congo, an end to Joseph Kony’s terrors. We want justice! We fight peacefully for the rights of those we have not met, because their lives mean just as much as outs. We’re all human - we all lead lives we perceive to be meaningful, so we must value the lives of others! We must think of more than ourselves - we must open our eyes to our similarities and not our differences - to our rights, our hopes, our dreams. I see a passion in my generation and I feel lucky to be able to spend two and a half weeks with those individuals who stand out amidst the rest.

I’ve arrived at the airport! We’ve gone through security, assembled all our things, and taken deep breaths. I’ve eaten half a banana nut muffin and 3/4 of some mozzerella/tomato sandwich (it was delicious). I’m sitting diagonal from the door I will enter just before 10:05, the door that will lead me to the plane that will take me to Washington D.C.! My mom is still reading articles, and my Dad is still surfing the web, though he is sitting across the way so he can charge his laptop. my Mom just took a break from reading her articles to steal my phone and text Julie. 

We’re being called for our flight!

I’m on the plane now, it’s extremely tiny. The row on the left only has one seat while the row on the right has two small seats placed as close together as possible. The pilot just finished reading and explaining safety protocol and we’re moving at last. I will not be returning for 18 days! The engines are revving, the turbines turning, my mind is racing. This is actually happening?! It can’t be?! But it is, it is! I’m going to D.C.! I’m going to London! I’m going to Uganda! This is real! It’s reality!

We have taken off. We are in the air. We are in the sky. My ears are popping. Up, up, up we go! The fog that surrounds us leaves no visibility, the sun reflecting off the fog blinds us. It’s like this bright light enveloping our plane. An older woman and young struggling journalist sit behind me talking of life, youth, and education. My Mom takes out her articles (she’s reading again!). 

We’ve begun our descent to D.C. and my ears are completely blocked/ I have my ipod turned up quite loud, yet my music is stifled by the loud engines and cabin pressure beating  against my ears. An old familiar song plays, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. This song reminds me of  Lobby Days past - bowling at George Washington University, a room filled with young activists singing in unison having the greatest time of their lives, while changing the world! I’m going back to Lobby Days, but this is How it ENDS. We should never come back to lobby for northern Uganda, for we desperately need this situation to end, support must be given. If we’re back hopefully it’s for a different cause, or in celebration of a victory. But these next two days we come to tell congress, we come to tell Washington, tell the world, that 23 years too long have these people been suffering. This is how it ENDS, this is our cry. 

We’re landing in D.C.... and the adventure begins!