Last Day in Bukoba

Sad post today :(

Its our last day in Bukoba and I have already had to fight back tears. I really cannot believe the time has gone by this fast; it seems like last week when we got here. I have had such an amazing time and being a part of this community has taught me so much. I so badly want to come back someday!

We have made the most of the past few days. On Monday evening we brough some soccer balls to the Masai who guard the dorms at Bukoba Secondary School. We started up a match, and it was so much fun! Turns out "football" does not appear to be a common sport for the Masai (I guess killing adult male lions with only a spear is a little time consuming), so it was shockingly a pretty even matched game! I continue to find ways to re-hurt my ankle at least weekly, but I'd say soccer and dancing with the Masai was absolutely worth it. We watched them do their jumping dance (youtube it people, really cool!) & they pulled me in, gave me a club, and asked me to join. Really cool right? Okay, yes, except if you've seen my vertical jump (its probably half an inch) so compared to their foot and a half jump it was really just embarrassing. I'm so glad we got to see and do that though! They way they jump and the music they make is really impressive--I'm excited for the Masai tour on Safari!

Yesterday we went to the clinic in the hospital and observed some really interesting cases. We got to compare X-rays of a dislocated shoulder before and after seperation, and saw a patient who was just in a really serios pikipiki (motorcycle) accident (ie his ear was really not even connected to his face anymore! The surgeon made sure to tell us he'd be doing some "plastic surger", which I really think he just meant some serious suturing). I bought y'all souveniers this week as well and last night we took our hosts and everyone we've met/thats helped us out to dinner at a family style restaurant! It was great to be able to treat the people who have been so kind to us here.

The ferry is leaving tonight, so we are spending today packing up. We said goodbye to the school, and they told me they wanted me to stay and continue my organic chemistry coursed. Dont doubt for a second that I didn't do a quite logistical analysis of how I could stay! Too tempting.

I will never be able to forget how friendly and welcoming the people in Bukoba have been! The ferry will take us to Mwanza in the morning, and we will be driving to Shinyanga to work with an organization, House of Grace, that helps people with leprosy. We will be there for 3 days, then we will be traveling through Serengeti for Safari! If there is one consolation for leaving Bukoba, its definitely the prospect of exploring a new city and tenting in the middle of Serengeti National Park in less than a week! I'll take lots of pictures :)

I may not be able to get to internet, so this may be my last post until Amsterdam! I will be so excited to see you all, have some fabulous American food (aka, Mom will you please make me a chicken ceasar salad with milk and chocolate cake for dinner on the 27th? You're the best!), get a hug from my momma, be once again reunited with my long lost roomate, see my puppy and tell you all about this trip!

Prepare Minnesota for me!

Xoxo
Carly