Saving Lives and Stomping Out Disease: A Visit from the Trans-Atlantic Easter Bunny!

So, it has been almost three months since my last blog- Apologies! There is much to write about, but sometimes, when your mind is overflowing with ideas, troubles, and excitement- all in one week- it can be difficult to sit and write. However, I received something yesterday in the mail- and it deserves attention, and has reminded me to blog about a recent holiday- Easter.

Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk, when a package arrived from Kampala- it was an Easter Basket in the form of a Flat Rate Postal Package, sent from a certain NY duo (AC and US). AH! The joys of opening an Easter basket in Uganda- 1.5 months after the official day! Included in it was (in addition to the wonderful card that said, "SOMEBUNNY MISSES YOU" and note that said the basket is packed with love, love, love) a plethora of goodies: jelly beans, tootsie rolls, M&Ms, chocolate chip/nut fudge bars, a t-shirt that only needs air to dry and no ironing, makeup, Vanilla body wash, Goldfish, Bunny honey grahams, Caramel sticks, Easter egg dye, organic applesauce, and much more (plus, even Easter grass was there)!

At my office, when I receive these packages or cards, the staff always, without fail, say, "They really love you back home. They are really missing you." AH, it is so! Now, my stomach will be satisfied, I can show my friends how to dye eggs, and my teeth can get the sugar they deserve!

My Easter here was quiet and peaceful. I had lunch with some friends and spent time talking to the family back home. Here, people dressed up in Easter dresses, however, these dresses were like mini-prom wear! Very fancy. I tried to explain that in the States, Easter was a time to wear nice, Spring time clothes- however, usually in WI or MN, it is still cold during the Easter season, the beautiful dresses and handsome outfits are covered by wool coats or bulky sweaters. It was difficult to explain because Spring time does not exist in Uganda (there are only two seasons- dry and rainy), and children can be seen in fancy clothes year-round (although not always mended and not always 100% clean). However, on this particular day, all children were clean, mended, and happy- they could be seen walking down the road with their families, in Easter outfits. Eight hours later, in the US, I know my three nieces and one nephew were also in their Easter clothing- without the wool jacket or bulky sweater!