There are certain things we cannot change in our turbulent world, but we don’t have to yield to the divisiveness and vitriol that has risen to the top of our social media and our community discourse.

Everyone could feel it. An energy that was palpable. A feeling that was indescribable. A realization that right now you are part of a moment that you could never possibly explain to anyone back home in a way that would allow them to understand exactly what just happened.

Maternal mortality is changing.  While emerging markets and improving public health is creating more opportunities for the people of Uganda and maternal mortality is actually the lowest in the region, the risk of either mother or child or both dying in childbirth remains outrageously and unacceptably high.  Just ask Emmanuel.

It is the mission of the Global Livingston Institute and it is the work that the Fulbright has fostered on the first of three journeys to Uganda to advance our collaborative work together with the University of Colroado Denver School of Public Affairs, the Buechner Institute and Makerere University.

Like all travel experiences our journey so far has been a string of highs and lows. To try and relate all of our encounters and and experiences from just these first three weeks would be near impossible. I can’t say that it’s always easy or fun but we’ve learned to appreciate the challenges and tough moments and understand that in truth they are what make traveling so important.