May-June.

I've gone AWOL on you!!! But not without good reason... Since my serene Mara trip, life has been just a little bit nuts.

The end of the semester whirlwinded in and out with exams, final projects, papers, grading and our homestay farewell, which was good fun. Meg, Margaret and I had quite an adventure trying to get matching matching outfits made for everyone (on staff). We did pretty well... :) And here we are in all our matching matching finery!

All that said and done, we set off on our semesterly Rwanda trip, this time I was at the helm of my own group. Which I managed with the great support of amazing coworkers. We had a really wonderful trip. One of the highlights was visiting the National Museum in Butare where we saw/participated in some spectacular Rwandan drumming and dancing...
After Rwanda we spent a couple of nights at Lake Bunyonyi for the Rwanda debrief.
We came back in Mukono for one night and then head down to Entebbe for our overall semester debrief. Here I am with my crazy students...
We got the students on the plane, breathed a huge sigh of relief, and then I had a quick week to wrap up and tie up all my loose ends to be gone for the summer. I had to leave early to get to the US for a Wilderness First Responder course scheduled to start May 16. During that week, Gwyn and I had the interns over for a last brunch and a big huge thank you for all their hard work and dedication over the past year.
And then... a crazy drive to the airport on inauguration day, two long flights and: hello Chi-town...! Where I was home for 24 hours and off again, two more flights and touchdown in MONTANA on Sunday evening. Monday morning bright and early I started my Wilderness First Responder course. Nine intensive days and certification test (which I passed! Hooray! I am now fully qualified and certified to respond first. In the wilderness.) before finally getting a chance to take a break and enjoy those fine hills of Montana. And wildflowers. And hang out with Greg and Allison.
And of course Kara and Mark... and enjoy SNOW (sort of), and soak in glorious hotsprings...
And become acquainted with Signe the wonderdog...
Kara and I then flew down to Florida for a few days. We met up with mom and dad and spent a long weekend moving Grandma into a smaller and more manageable apartment. It was sunny and warm and nice to spend good time with her. Here we are on an outing to the English Tea House for lunch.
Kara flew back to Montana and mom and dad I drove back up to Illinois stopping along the way to spend two nights with our friends the Browns. It was lovely to reconnect. We went out for some yummy tapas in Greenville the second night at The Lazy Goat. Yum!
On the road we got behind this Element with some mighty mysterious cargo! Its tinted windows made its cargo all the more mysterious... we spent a good stretch of road puzzling over what on earth the story was.
And finally... home again and some time to enjoy the rituals and rhythms of home, like Sunday morning walks at the arboretum.
... and afternoon strolls with Grandma.
Molly and John came to visit her family, so I got a day in with them and finally met the cute little Johnnykins!
And just this last weekend spent Saturday night in Chicago with Andrea enjoying her new neck of the woods and some fine dining in the back space of her beautiful Chicago apartment.
So lifes been good! SO good reconnecting and spending time with good friends and family, enjoying their space, conversations, good food, beautiful places... And I'm just going to keep on enjoying the rest of this summer, and more good people and fun places ahead before heading back home to Uganda mid-July.