Life Section

While Othy and Moses were waiting to get out of quarantine, I was waiting for the baby to arrive. I moved into Al’s basement apartment and passed the days doing Sudoku puzzles, watching positive birth videos, and making folded paper Christmas trees for Theresa’s Christmas sale. It was almost helpful to have a test period for the apartment to figure out heating (Al found some portable electric heaters) and some issues with the boiler that was causing the CO detector to go off. I slept upstairs twice just to be safe when the alarm went off on two different occasions. I enjoyed sharing meals with Al and Theresa and watching the occasional movie or football game.

While in quarantine at my parents place Othy and Moses experienced fall leaves and snow for the first time. Moses had many new books and toys to keep him entertained including toys that I grew up with like Mister Potato Head and Duplo. I think that my parents enjoyed the extended one-on-one time they got with Moses.

I had tried my best to be physically and mentally ready for my due date, but perhaps subconsciously my body wanted to wait until Othy and Moses were out of quarantine. The day after Othy and Moses finished their quarantine and moved into the apartment I started having mild contractions!

Othy and Moses finally arrived in Canada on November 17th, the day before my delivery due date. Their journey took a similar route to mine. They took the Butembo Kasindi road to the border, drove to Entebbe, and took a flight that had a long layover at Schipol airport. Othy travelled without a stroller and so I advised him to look for a children’s cart at the airport. He found a different kind of cart but managed to improvise and put Moses in it. He said that they walked all over the airport and Moses pointed which direction he wanted to go in at each intersection! Othy said that Moses travelled fairly well. The Kasindi road was exhausting and he only had trouble on the plane during takeoff and landing. He enjoyed looking at the planes at the airport and walking up and down the aisles on the planes. Othy underestimated the number of diapers he would need and did not succeed to find more during the trip and so had to ration them lol! My mom went and picked them up from the airport. My mom said that Moses was dazed and was looking at them like strangers, but when she sang “Skinamarinky Dinky Dink” song, he broke out into a smile! We thank God that he brought them here safely and that we got to have an extended time with our family in Canada.

I’m super proud of my husband Othy for completing the Washington Mendela Fellowship this summer. It was disappointing that it had to happen during Covid and therefore had to be done remotely, but I think he still gained a lot from the experience. It worked out that Moses’ visa was delayed because it allowed Othy to travel to Kinshasa for an in-person graduation ceremony that was held at the US Embassy for the Congolese fellows. A few days after returning home from this event he prepared to leave with Moses for Canada. I was not there, but here are some photos that Othy shared with me.