It was September in Ranana.
I dragged my suitcase out of Heathrow Airport and took a deep breath.
The air was cool and damp, carrying the distinct scent of a foreign land.
I opened my phone and sent Charles a message to let him know I had arrived safely.
He replied instantly: Great to hear you got there! Take good care of yourself there!
Then came a voice message, a whole string of reminders: "Dress warmly; it's freezing in Ranana right now. If you run out of money, just tell me—don't try to save too much. And remember to video call me this weekend. Miss you."
I smiled, listened to each message one by one, and texted back: Got it, you take care of yourself too.
Charles sent another message: Your sister asked me to check if you'd arrived.
I was taken aback for a second, then replied
