The international part of Monrovia’s central post office. See more images of the post office in the upcoming addition of BBC Focus on Africa magazine.

On Wednesday afternoon, I left Monrovia and flew to Kampala. I’m here for an assignment, and a bit of a vacation, and I have to say, it’s wonderful to be back. I’m seeing this place with different eyes. What before looked shoddy and inefficient now looks like a thriving African city with a robust economy. I can’t believe how fast the internet is, and I’ve eaten amazing Indian food, Italian food, Mexican food, and of course, matooke (that’s for you K.R.!) and reveled at how cheap everything seems after Monrovia’s inflated prices.

Last night at a party a group of old friend bear hugged me when I walked in the door, and then proceeded to argue about the Kabaka and the Mzee. It felt so good to see old friends and hear familiar banter.

Everyone asks me what Liberia is like. I hesitate, and find that the best way to explain it is to compare it to Juba, in south Sudan. They look at me and shudder and ask when I’m moving back to Kampala for good.

We’ll see, we’ll see. I’ve got a lot coming up when I get back to Liberia next month, though sitting at La Fontaine right now, drinking a wonderful cup of coffee, watching images of Monrovia’s amputee soccer team upload at breakneck speed on my FTP client, and enjoying a sunny and temperate afternoon, it’s hard to think about leaving again.