Sarah: Come Back Films

You know those films that you always come back to? The ones that resonate and stay with you? The movies you put on if you are working on a project because you know every line by heart? Yes? Well, these are my movies:

image from here

The Holiday

It's a feel good movie. I think part of the allure of this film for me, is my experience of the first time

I saw it. I went to see it in high school, with my good friend Emily. And it was a good time. The

thing I like most about this movie is the dynamic between Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and the old man

down the street. I could do without Jude and Cameron's superficial relationship--but hey, it makes for

a good movie, right? But--who doesn't love that scene in that kick ass fort with Cameron, Jude, and

 Jude's adorable movie-children? I love me some berry kiss.

image from here

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This is my all-time favorite movie. It's a true love story about two people who get caught up in the

mundane, stagnant stages of love. They stop seeing each other for who they are, and instead, see

all the flaws and imperfections. Eternal Sunshine shows us what can happen to our relationships if we 

stop working at them and allow ourselves to see the worst. By traveling through his memories, Jim

 Carrey's character realizes why he loves Kate Winslet. And then fate brings them back together. What

 I love about this film is that every time I watch it I discover something new. Whether it be a new quirk 

of one of the charactersor a new detail in the set, I'm always excited to see what I'll discover next.

The creativity of this film is out of this world and it's so well acted. I'll meet you in Montauk.

image from here

Away We Go

First of all, the combination of John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph is genius. They compliment each other 

so well. In the first few scenes, I didn't really like Maya's character. She seemed kind of controlling

and teacher-ish; always correcting John's character. But as the film progresses and you get to know

John's character, you can understand (not condone) some of her frustrations. The characters are

realistically flawed and they are just searching for a good place to raise their child. Along the way,

they meet some crazy characters and come face-to-face with some deep, life issues. It's a 

beautiful, funny, sensitive love story that I can watch over and over.

image from here

Pride & Prejudice

I love this book. And I also love this movie. The subtle growth of love between Elizabeth and Mr.

Darcy is enough to make any girl swoon. Also, the mutual realization of their flaws is something

that I think many of us can relate to.While I'm not Keira Knightley's number one fan, I think she did a beautiful job portraying Elizabeth Bennet. I also love the way the family dynamic is captured in this movie. We can all relate to a time when our parents and siblings embarrassed us. The cinematography is beautiful. The beautiful landscapes, the camera work--I mean the dancing scene with Elizabeth and 

Mr. Darcy is breathtaking. This will always be a film that I will come back to and watch. 

What are your favorite, go-to movies?

Sarah: Arrival

The Ugandans are coming! The 

Ugandans are coming!!!

Kelsey and Deno, that is. They arrive in country today!!

This is a big day for all people who love and know Kelsey. Since I won't see

her in the flesh for a while,

I'm going to celebrate the day with a glass of wine.

Later of course--it's only 7:50am here. 

Sarah: Homesick

I know I'm going to sound crazy in this post--but here I go:

I've been feeling homesick lately.

image is from here

 In the comment section of this post, I told Kels some of the things I'm missing about Elgin:

Kels: "Is Papi the only thing you miss about Elgin?"

Sar: "No. I also miss cooler weather, changing leaves, Al's creamery, the convenience of JU's gym, only being 1 hour difference from my family (and a 6 hour car ride away),and my lovely/spacious apartment. However, El Faro doesn't even compare to the awesome Mexican food going on here."


Good Mexican food is my silver lining.

Time doesn't seem to progress here. I'm pretty sure it's because of the 24/7 sunshine. You might think I'm bragging, but as a girl who grew up near Lake Erie, with lake effect and all that jazz, I'm used to the cold. And I didn't realize that I would actually miss it. The changing seasons have always defined the holidays, my clothing, even sometimes my mood. And now--it's constantly sunny. Since September, it has rained twice. I miss maple trees and the changing colors of leaves. I miss the chilliness of November. I miss the need for a scarf and cute hat. I will especially miss the first snow of the year (which I think has already occurred?) which has always brought me some inexplicable joy. I dedicate one whole page of my journal to the first snow of the year. I hope it gets colder here.

I wasn't lying about writing about it my journal.

I miss friends. Frank and I still haven't made any friends--and not for lack of trying. We're going out & exploring churches (which by the way-we think we found a good one!), so we're hopeful! Maybe for Thanksgiving we'll have our Somali neighbors over : )

Most of our time so far in San Diego has been so good. I would say 80% of the time we've been here has been wonderful. I go through stages though, where I can only see the rest of that homesick 20%. This homesickness is just  a phase...but I thought I'd share it with you. Feel free to send your cold weather my way. In the spirit of wanting to feel autumn-y, I'm making salsa chicken & black bean soup in the crock pot for dinner. I'm so excited : )

Sarah: Thankful

Thank you all for reading our blog! Kels and I are so

thankful that people are interested in our blog

and want to read about our everyday, 

sometimes adventurous

lives. You all

rock.

Kelsey: Sometimes you're the stalker and sometimes you're the stalkee

I am sitting in town writing this post. No power at home so I headed to my favorite restaurant to get a salad with french fries in it and use some electricity. Thank you very much.

Coming into town has been difficult lately. I have a stalker. I actually have a stalker in Mpumudde too but he is really old and easy to fool. My younger brother convinced him that I am renting a room in their house and I that I left a while ago for America. He was very confused when I ran into him on the road the other day.

I met my Jinja town stalker back in June. I was using my computer at a cafe in town and eating lunch. I was sitting near the window in this perfect spot where there is a breeze but it is still in a nook separated from the rest of the people in the cafe. Very peaceful. So this guy walks up to me outside the window as if I was sitting in a McDonalds drive through. He starts talking to me and I try to ignore him because I am so enjoying myself and I so do not feel like making small talk. I also felt violated. Like I am inside a building, to talk to me you should also have to be inside the building. Long story short he kept going on and on and he wanted me to come over for dinner (this is a kind of normal request) and meet his family so I said sure! Then I gave him a fake email address. I mean its just easier than explaining to him that I find him extremely creepy and violating and would never go home and meet any of his relatives.

Unfortunately I continued to see him around town every couple weeks. So for months now I have been telling him that I have not received his emails. I even gave him a second fake email address forgetting the original fake email address. The most annoying part is trying to get away from him once he starts talking to me. I think I am officially out of excuses and next time he talks to me I will have to come out with it and tell him that I just need to leave because... you are a huge creeper.

To be fair I did totally stalk a guy at Uganda Christian University (black guy in the poster not the white chick, that is Shanley).

During election time at UCU the candidates paper the campus with their picture. They never smile in these pictures and they are generally terrifying. I mean look at this guy. Is he running for dictator of UCU? So I would grab his picture wherever I could find it, I ended up with dozens and I literally wallpapered my room in my host home with his face. Wow that sounds so creepy when I write it down. I met him once in real life and I got him to sign one of his posters. I am an excellent stalker.

While I am typing there is a tv on behind me and they are saying that Gadhafi is dead. Uganda has had a really close relationship with Gadhafi. Like he had an affair with one of the royalty here or something? And the barracks that are right next to my home are called the Gadhafi barracks. You know us dictatorships gotta stick together. Gadhafi and Idi Amin used to be tight. Gadhafi was visiting Uganda during Museveni's (UG president) second term swearing in which was supposed to be his last term. And he famously told Museveni to forget about leaving power, revolutionaries to not give up power. So I guess Gadhafi kind of created this dictator. Well done.

I was at the local council's office the other day and a dark fat man came over to me and asked if I was from America.

me: Yes I am.

fat man: Your leader has bad ideas.

me: Wait are you saying that you do not like Obama?

At this point I am shocked. I know multiple children named obama, kindergartens named Obama, many restaurants and shops named Obama. East Africa freaking loves Obama. But this guy was pissed off that Obama was not on Gadhafi's side. Because between Obama and Gadhafi clearly Gadhafi deserves our support...

**Update** I am sitting in town at the same restaurant a week later still writing this post. It is like a freaky time warp thing. Uganda was upset about Gadhafi's death.