Leaving on a jet plane

Hello everyone. In two days I am on my flight back to the states. I don't know whether I am overjoyed, or heartbroken about this. It seems like I am just getting settled and relationships are just starting to bloom and already I am taking off. On the other hand I miss everyone at home, but after I see everyones faces again I will want to come back and see the ones I will miss over here. I guess it is more difficult to say goodbye to them then it was to you guys because there is a huge possibility I may never see a lot of these kids ever again. There are certain children that I have grown extra fond of during my stay. I know you don't know them, but I would still like to mention them just to let it out.
Meg: She has been a good friend of mine this entire time. She may be three years younger then me, but we get along great. Meg is funny, trustworthy, and so helpful. She has taught me how to wash clothes, to cut fruit, and to make a nice bed. Whenever she comes into my room she insists on cleaning and mopping.
Joseph: Joseph is the nicest boy I have ever met, and thats not an exaggeration. He takes care of the chickens at Sabina and loves to bring me to the coop to play with the baby chicks. He made me this beautiful purse out of yarn about a week ago and it is beautiful. Joseph doesn't have a mean bone in his body. I will miss his smile.
Viola: She may be a bit rough around the edges, but we have a lot of fun together. Viola is 10 years old and is the only girl here willing to play football with me and the boys.
Isa: Isa is about 7 and is the best dancer! He has these dreamy eyes and when he dances he doesn't smile, he just seems really into the rhythm and lost in the music. He is soooo cute and although we can't understand each other, we have managed to be good friends.
Derick: Derick is Isa's best friend. He is soft spoken and doesn't know English, but his smile makes me happy. Derick is not so good with language, but he is such a great artist.
Shakira: She doesn't know anything I say because she is still very young, but every time I speak she laughs as though I just told the best joke ever.
Micho and Raheeda: Two best friends. They are too young for school so all day long they skip around Sabina laughing and chasing each other. They don't seem to understand that I don't know Luganda so they are always talking to me and I just end up nodding and laughing when they laugh. When I speak English, Raheeda repeats everything I say. Micho has had malaria the last week, but is feeling much better.
Kaleem: Kaleem is so funny! I think hes about 10 or 11. He has these eyes that droop and hes always smiling. He loves the games I teach and is so great full for anything he gets. I taught him to say "you chillin?" and to brush the dirt off his shoulder. He is a really good dancer as well.
Ronah: The cooks (Aunt Agnes') 1 and a half year old daughter. She is so smart and so adorable! She has this high pitch voice and tries to repeat things you say. The last few days Ronah has been in the clinique (not a healthy place to be) with a bad case of malaria. We were about to take her to the hospital but then she started improving. Last night she came home and everyone is so relieved and happy about that. Today she is back to her old self.
Patience: Patience is the 1 year old daughter of Auntie Stella. The two babies crawl around all day, eat, and look cute. Patience is always content with a piece of cake in her hand.
Sharon: Sharon doesn't go to Sabina, she is in what is the equivalent of high school in Uganda and she is my age. I visited her school a few times and each time I went, we spent a few hours together goofing off and exchanging information about our cultures. I said goodbye to her yesterday and felt like crying.
There are so many others that I can tell you about when I get back, but for now let me tell you about these last few days.
I played football (soccer) the day before yesterday with the boys and scored two goals! It was quite the accomplishment. We then played Simon says, Pineapple banana orange, and freeze tag. Freeze tag had just begun when a boy started vomiting all over the grass. The children acted as if this was the norm and weren't freaked out at all. I however was. I took him down to where they nurse should have been while the kids continued to play. The nurse is away for 5 days and all aunt Stella said to him was go get water and bathe yourself. This boy is no older then 8 and I remember if I got sick at that age my mom would make me tea and a hot back, read me a story, and run her fingernails up and down my back. As time went on more and more children came down with malaria. Even Kawala! She rubs her throat and says "I'm a sicky". The nurse still hasn't returned, but these children are so tough.
During my stay I have learned about what hard workers Ugandans are. They do everything with no electricity. In the morning they wake up and do house work for a good 4 hours. Throughout the day they continue working, and yet are still happy to help you with anything you need.
The other night I visited Ronah at the clinique which is about a 10 minute walk away. This place was nothing but a small room with one bed, a few chairs, and too many sick people. Ronah sat on the bed crying "amazi. Amazi!" which is water. She was not smiling and looked so tired. We were scared for her, but she turned out alright and we are so thankful for that.
Yesterday I went to the farm school where Sharon and Athenins go. We spent the afternoon together and I had such a great time meeting all these great people. By the time I left I had recieved a few presents, and about 8 letters. Its so great to meet people here because they are so huge on staying in touch and meeting new people. The letters will be hung on my bedroom walls so you are welcome to check them out when I get back.
I have learned how to cut all kinds of fruit while I've been here. Everyday I have been making a fruit salad and they are soooo so so so good. Fruit is one of the things I will miss most about Uganda.

This could be my last post so I want to thank everyone for keeping up with me. Thank you Jasmine for checking in even though you are on vaca with your cutesie Drew. Thanks sisters. And Natalie, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! I saw your City Of Angels review and it was the best out of all of them! What did I tell you.

xoxo

~Madeline~