At the Detroit airport, I checked in my luggage and, upon seeing my flight number, I grabbed my handbag and headed to the boarding gate. The journey took us through the Netherlands, down to Rwanda, and back up to Entebbe. The stark contrast from the size and development of the airports from Detroit to Entebbe is the perfect illustration of how far apart countries can be. At the airport, my brother and friend, Daniel, eagerly awaited my arrival. It felt wonderful to be back HOME. My first decision upon arrival was whether to take the northern bypass express route or directly through Kampala. I had seen videos of Uganda’s elite “flying ninjas” jumping and robbing  cars along the Express route. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to brave that particular course.

My initial excitement about being back home was short-lived, overshadowed by lingering questions about what lay ahead. Settling back into life after an extended stay in another country proved to be a challenging transition. It took a couple of weeks for me to readjust to Uganda, especially as I reconnected with close family and friends. Additionally, I caught up on my trial cases, only to confirm my skepticism that litigation in Uganda is not as fast-paced as in other places. A case I had left a year earlier had not even been scheduled for a hearing. The Ugandan justice system moves at a slower pace than most. As the year progressed, I began exploring career-defining opportunities. This involved resuming a part time teaching role at my alma mater and practicing law in Uganda.

My experiences in Uganda, the United Kingdom, and during my Fulbright journey in the United States were remarkably diverse. Having had the opportunity to travel across three continents, I feel fortunate for the insights gained. This year, I delved into the intricacies of American culture, as detailed in my blog post about the American promise (accessible here). The enormity of the United  States was evident in everything, as I had been told – from the expansive streets, to the preference for driving huge pickups commonly referred to as trucks. The public transport system, however, proved to be less than satisfactory for me.

During a train journey from Michigan to Chicago, I encountered disruptions, with the train being canceled more than twice. Faced with uncertainty, I ended up paying for both a bus and train, unsure if either would operate. To add to the challenge, I’m still awaiting a refund for the canceled trips. This experience sharply differed with my time in the U.K., where the train system, at the time, operated efficiently. On a positive note, the legal training I underwent in the U.S. was enriching, and interacting with American JD students in the law school and other departments provided valuable insights. However, I also had to adapt to the mandatory tipping culture in the U.S., which was a notable difference from my experiences elsewhere. Let’s just say in Uganda, I have adjusted back to factory settings.