Good Magazine Article September 2017

Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed. I think its a combination of things but one of the biggest parts for sure has to do with my job. I think being given the unique privilege of coming face to face with some of the worst stories humanity has to offer does something to a person. It certainly has for me.Their stories stick with you, ya know. I don't go home and sleep easy after long days on the field.

And so recently when an amazing publication in New Zealand called Good Magazine came alongside me and said they wanted to give me an opportunity to talk to their readers, I was so touched. Someone cares. Someone is listening. A magazine that could choose to focus on the top 10 secrets to healthier looking skin is instead choosing to lean into social justice issues like these.

So I wrote this http://www.good.net.nz/article/refugees-of-the-world and I hope you get a second to read the online version of the print story. And when your done the skincare story is probably on page 73. Because you know, that also matters. Just second to these people.

xo

The sentence that confirmed I'm having Reverse Culture Shock

Hope whizzes down that flat black driveway next to that darn perfect grass underneath the patriotic flagpole in front of the most amazing house.

You guys, I'm in America. Wisconsin to be precise. We're here as a family for Tutapona work for a week and then onto LAX for my little brothers wedding. And the SECOND I stepped off that plane onto American soil my eyes could barely take in all that was happening around me. But it was last night when I stood over the kitchen sink in a daze and said, “This kitchen sink is absolutely gorgeous.” and our host, Sherri put her hand on my shoulder and said, “Hunni, I think you’ve been in Uganda too long,” that I realised what was happening. Reverse culture shock.

 

See, when you’ve been living somewhere like Uganda for 3.5 years, certain things become normal. And then when you come back to your own culture, you realise that in fact you’re the abnormal one. Let me try bring it to life for you. Here’s my thoughts over the last 24 hours.

• Everyone and everything is SO clean.
• Goodness gracious this place is ridiculously orderly. Where is everyone?  
• Man that girls skirt is high. 
• Lock the doors. Especially the boot so no one can grab a suitcase and run.
• These cars are ginormous. Seriously who needs a truck that size?!
• Why are you staying in this traffic Carl? There’s a huge grassy area to the left you should just whip up the side.
• Since when did road signs have restaurants logos on them telling you which restaurants are at this turn off? 
• There is literally one person in each vehicle. Max, 2.  Why don’t people carpool? 
• Man that woman looks comfy sitting in her air conditioned car right now, sipping on her latte and chatting with her friend in her 4x4. Oh look, she’s pulling off the road to buy a donut. Of course she is. 
• Man, this neighborhood is stunning. These houses are like out of a movie.
• This driveway is so flat, the grass is so green and everything is perfect.
• This house has carpet that looks like one gigantic rug. Usually, you would have a shaggy pile rug but these people have their entire house in this soft, plush carpet. And it’s white. Shock horror.  
• We need to allow at least 15 minutes to run the bath for the kids and allow it to heat up (water speed resembles a drip and I usually forget to turn the water heater on). Oh wait, no we don’t.
• My children have left a ring of red dust around the perimeter of the bath water and we left Uganda three days ago. #bonedeep
• This couch is ridiculously comfortable. And it has a lever where I can put my feet out. Oh yeahhhh.
• This kitchen sink is absolutely gorgeous.
• Their fridge is incredible. Everything I could ever want is in this fridge right now.
• Out of the shower. Straight onto a bathmat that feels so soft I can barely handle it. There are three of them in the bathroom. And that shower was PIPING hot.
• These sheets are so freakin’ soft that I can’t get into my normal sleeping position because my knees are slipping on them!  I prefer sheets with bobbly bits on them for the grit.
• It’s 4am, I cant sleep. Lets have a look in that fridge. Queso (cheese dip with nachos). Tick.
• Yes, I’d like to try that Cinnamon Swirl bagel. Let me get a knife to cut it in half. Oh wait, it’s pre-cut!  
• Must stop using my car horn. This is inappropriate. 

Here's to the next 24 hours.

h.