Travelling Home: Saturday 30.06.2012, and Sun 01.07.2012

We got to the airport with no trouble – in fact getting there at 10AM rather than the 10:30AM we were aiming for – leaving me with a very long wait at the airport. But we boarded, and that was fine.

They announced my allergies – listing almost all of them, though I told them that they only needed to worry about dairy and gluten. I got a spare seat next to me again, which was nice. The flight went smoothly.

I wish I could say the same thing about the airport. I ordered a soy hot chocolate from the café. They didn’t wash the stirring utensils. I told them that they really needed to have separate ones because anaphylactics will die or sue. I drank my HC anyway and went on the internet. 15 minutes after that, I left the internet café and staggered a bit of the way to the bathroom before having to sit down. A staff member of the airport asked me if I was all right. I said no, I was having an allergic reaction. They got me a wheelchair and wheeled me to the medical clinic, where they gave me meds. They helped, but not completely, as it was too late for some of the symptoms. I them got wheeled to the first class / business class lounge so I could rest, though it is very unrestful battling an allergic reaction with a bunch of rich people watching you.

I slowly recovered, and wheeled myself over to the internet inside the 1^stclass lounge, and looked at my emails. Found out that my lift was not going to be picking me up, and that they would reimburse me for the cab fare… which I don’t have. Exactly the news you want to hear when you’re in a wheelchair. I’ll have to catch the sky bus, then a train, then walk 20 minutes with my luggage. I am obviously unimpressed. (Edited to add that I sent a scathing email to said lift, informing them that I was in a wheelchair, and they were able to arrange a lift.)

I got wheeled to the boarding gate, checked in, then wheeled to the assisted mobility entrance, and wheeled onto a lift to take me up the stairs. I then had to walk to my seat. I was a little unsteady, but managed okay, and was fully seated before everyone else came on.

Then the fun began. We wanted over an hour with everyone on board before taking off. They announced I was allergic to nuts (one of the few things I’m NOT allergic to). The staff gave me normal bread (which I saw) and they confirmed that it was normal bread – which I can’t even touch without scrubbing my hands afterwards. And given my recent reaction I was extra cautious – and extra cross. It meant that the whole meal was potentially contaminated – so I missed that meal. At least I didn’t really want it, because I was still feeling so sick.

Next was my snacks. Someone decided that it would be really nice if they spread my snacks with cream cheese – was that okay? My reply was only if you think me dying during the flight is okay. As they had already done it – no snack. I did get a dinner though, thankfully, because that would make over 16 hours without food, with the meals previous to that being vomited out of my system. (For medical reasons, I am not supposed to skip meals.)
Fortunately, my baggage is MUCH lighter going home – 19 kg lighter (exactly) in total. It would have been lighter but the bag they gave me as a present is pretty heavy. I am very thankful for that.

Day Seventeen: Friday 29.06.2012

I got up early and finished packing. We will be staying in Kampala 1 night, then I’ll have to show my handbag (the gift one – it has wooden beading) to customs in Australia, and I won’t want to do much unpacking, so I made sure it was all very carefully arranged with things I need near the top and washing all in the backpack and gifts all together, etc. I get home at 10:30PM and go to uni the next morning (leaving at 8:15AM for a 9:30AM class).

I said goodbye to Mary and Beth, then Esther, Anne, David and I prayed together. John came back from the Bushikori from off with a present from my beautiful Shamim, of avocado and passionfruit. I ate one passionfruit. I can’t take them home due to customs, so we will give the rest to Grace and Jerome, who don’t get much of these in Kampala.

The car ride was long. It rained a bit on the way, and some of the roads flooded, but we got through all right. We went back to the same hotel, even being given the same two rooms (though we swapped).

Being a Friday, the night was noisy, but I managed to sleep all right. I’ll sleep through pretty much anything after all of my health issues a few years ago.

Day Sixteen: Thursday 28.06.2012

The morning went much as many other mornings did. I went to P2, hoping to see Shamim before I left, but she was sick. She is often sick (I was concerned about HIV, given that her parents died of it, but she is negative). I decided that I would buy vitamin supplements from Beth to give to her at school each day, as she probably can’t get a very balanced diet at home (you eat what is harvested), and so much of the year she is probably low in vitamins and minerals. I’m not normally the biggest vitamin fan, as I know a lot of people just take everything they can, which isn’t good for them, but I think in this case it might actually be a help. The Omega 3 Salmon oil+ will hopefully be good, as she probably doesn’t get any fish and limited protein.

After break I went to P5 for a maths lesson, then P4 for a science lesson. The teacher spent most of the lesson asking me about the education system in Australia. They were especially impressed with the HECS scheme, where you don’t have to pay for the university degree up front, but do so when you are working. Here it is all up front, which makes university degrees (especially long ones) out of reach for most people. I know 3 people have asked me to help them go to university – one directly, the other two in more indirect ways. It is very hard, especially for those wanting to study medicine or law.

I ate lunch, and then Ignatius interviewed me for my send off. One of the questions (because all the single young males apparently want to know, and all the mothers of single males – Christine has already offered me her son!) was, of course, my marital status. I was defined as, “single, and contented but available”. I also specified that I want 20 children (it’s my main deterrent here – actually, it’s my main deterrent in Australia too, and very effective), and Ignatius said, “Well, that rules me out. I mean, I could have 18, but 20!”

The send off was nice. Ignatius was MC; Dan and Anne made a speech each, I made a speech, and we exchanged presents. I gave the textas the YPs gave me from my church, and a PSB from me. I was given a handbag, a purse and a pair of thongs (flip flops). Them Richard (who is a pastor)lead everyone in prayer.

Then everyone hugged me and said goodbye to me. I passed out my email address to everyone who wanted it. People made requests of things for me to bring with me when I come back – things as diverse as a 3 translation Bible to laptops (for 3 different people – even 2^nd hand ones cost a lot more in Uganda than in Australia, which makes them massively out of reach for most people) to duplo and books for the library.

I spent the evening praying and reading. There is a lot of need here, and there is so much that needs to be done. I cannot possibly help all those who want help and request my help. But I can pray that God will make a way for these people.