Joanita Male
I love travelling.
There is something exciting about leaving what is familiar behind and seeing life from a different perspective. For me, travel is more than discovering new places, it’s also about discovering the assumptions I’ve been carrying. The places I’ve visited have quietly changed the way I see the world.
Nairobi – About identity
Nairobi was one of the first places where I felt I belonged. I loved the pace, the energy and blending into the crowd.
Until I spoke.
Not speaking Swahili immediately identified me as an outsider. It reminded me that language connects people while preserving what makes each place unique. Nairobi taught me that we can be alike yet wonderfully different.
Cairo – About being seen
In Cairo, I hadn’t expected how easy shopping for clothes would be. For the first time, the clothes felt as if they had been created with me in mind.
It made me realise how different it feels when products are designed with the customer in mind. It also gave me a new appreciation for local manufacturing and reminded me that the best products, and perhaps the best experiences begin with a deep understanding of the people they serve.
Mauritius – About possibility
Mauritius taught me that size doesn’t define ambition. Despite its small population, it positioned itself as an international financial centre, building connections far beyond its shores.
The lush greenery and white beaches were unforgettable. What stayed with me most, however, was the mindset: growth begins when you decide your market is bigger than your geography.
Paris – About perception
Paris was one of those rare “pinch me” moments. Walking among the world’s most recognised luxury brands, I found myself wondering how it became known as the City of Love. Perhaps no one consciously decided it should. Writers, artists, filmmakers and travellers simply told the same story until the world believed it.
If a story can shape the identity of a place, why couldn’t Fort Portal become known as the City of Love? Perhaps the difference isn’t beauty, but the stories we choose to tell and the ones the world chooses to repeat.
Paris reminded me that places, like businesses and people, are shaped as much by enduring narratives as by reality.
Dubai – About vision
My time in Dubai was brief but memorable. Glass towers and ambitious architecture made me wonder how much of it had existed a few decades ago.
It left me with one thought: not every competitive advantage is inherited. Some are imagined first and then built with relentless intent. Dubai reminded me that vision can be as powerful as geography or natural endowment.
The greatest gift travel has given me isn’t simply an appreciation for the places I’ve visited. It’s a deeper appreciation for home: Uganda’s greenery, our warmth, our resilience and our potential. Every place tells a story. More importantly, it has the power to change the story we tell ourselves about the world, and about home.
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
Written by
Did this story move you? Every gift goes directly to Joanita Male — writers on Muwado earn from reader appreciation, not algorithms. Even $1 makes a difference.
Muwado weekly chart
Get Africa’s top 10 stories every Thursday
No account needed — just your email.
Want to follow Joanita Male and get notified every time they publish?
Create a free Muwado account →