Monday, July 29, 2013
wedding, field trip, and bukoko!
Carol invited Noah and I to go to a wedding with her on Saturday. I met Noah at the school a little before 4, and we walked down to Bunga and got a taxi to take us into Kampala. There we would go to a taxi park and find Carol and her son. Well, Noah got a little confused on which park to meet at, so we spent about 20 minutes walking around downtown Kampala. It was neet to be able to look into some of the shops there. We finally find the correct one and asked around to figure out which taxi we needed to get into. We figured it out and climbed on in. Carol, Noah, and I got in the back row. Carol's son Ashely sat in the row infront of us. I was smart and had a water in my bag. Carol knew that I would, and instantly said "hey, I want some of your water". I knew I would be thirsty too, so we decided to buy a water if someone walked by. Noah was by the window and bought the water. After closer inspection... there is no way this water was safe, and we referred to it as "the typhoid water" and made fun of Noah for the rest of the day because of it. I then decided, let's all get a pop, because those are safer. I got us four, and we all enjoyed. While we are driving to the place, we leave the main road and it gets VERY dusty. I luckily had a scarf in my bag to cover my head and nose. Carol climbed under with me. We were laughing the whole time. People in the taxi looked back to see what we were doing because we were making so much noise.
When we got to the wedding it was about 6ish. I made predictions we would eat around 9:00, Noah told me it would be 7 at the latest. It was 9:30. I have gotten good at their African time. At the school we refer to it as "African time or real time". The teachers laugh every time as they ask each other. Carol went to the latrine for a short call. When she came back she said, "those were nice!" Well... about that. I went later on... 1. no light. 2. still just a hole in the ground with TP and a jerrycan of water. 3. one stall had the TP on the ground. 4. it was tiny which makes squatting awkward. While I was in there, Carol says to me, "Hey you lady (her usual start of a conversation to me), you don't use that jerrycan of water in there, that is for those who cover their heads. come out here and use this sink" I still have no idea what she meant by that, but what Momma Carol says, I do. The rest of the reception was very nice. The gifts are brought directly to the bride and groom while music is playing and the person takes it up to them dancing. I ended up getting back to the seminary at about 11:45pm.
Sunday we went to Namugongo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namugongo
We went as a school. About 60ish kids and a handful of teachers. We went to an outdoor mass that lasted about 3 hour. Then it POURED on us. Then we ate :). When we got back to school the teachers and I decided to go down to a local bar and have a few drinks. A 16oz beer is about $1.10. Good price!
Today Bernard took me down to his place to play with his bukoko (chicks). They were so cute and fluffy and I loved them! While we were down there a many that often times sells shirts to Bernard came up to talk to us. While I was taking pictures, he said he wanted his taken.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
village life
Tuesday night Father Ben got a call from Father Michael saying his niece would be here to get me Wednesday morning to take me to the village. (Educate Uganda is an organization from Omaha. I met the lady behind it last year, so she asked me if I could go to one of the schools she helps fund to work with the kids on letter writing to their sponsors.) His niece got to the seminary about 10:30. I guess she was supposed to get there much earlier. We headed towards a bodaboda to take us into town. Father Ben came out of no where in his car telling Joan (Father Michael's niece) that she was not going to be taking me all the way to town on a bodaboda. He didn't want to call his grandparents (he has decided he is moving into my family as mom and dad's new grandson that is much loved) that something has happened to me.
So he drove us partway to town, then we got a taxi most of the rest of the way. We took a bodaboda to the taxi park and waited for a taxi to fill to take us to where we needed to go. A second niece, Liz, met us there. It took about an hour for the taxi to fill. The whole time we were sitting in the taxi, people were trying to sell us stuff. They were selling watches, pop, bread, candy, everything. One man said "Would you like to buy some biscuits?" I shook my head. Then he asked, "Would you like to have a son with me?" Oh my!
We were finally on our way. It took about 3 hours to get to there. One of Father's relatives met us at the taxi drop off and took us to the school. There were 70 kids on the list that were being sponsored. We wanted to get letters from all of them. We split them into groups to work with them little by little. Father's nieces were a great help because of my accent, may kids couldn't understand exactly what I was saying. We had them decorate the letters with colored pencil. The kids treated the pencils like gold. They were so excited to use them! We got a lot of cards written the first day, but we needed to go back the second day to finishing up with some that we did not get.
That night we went backt to Father's house. He has a very large family who stays in the same house, or one of the 3 that surround it. Because we were traveling, we missed lunch, so there was some yummy pork waiting for us with a fresh pineapple. I ate and was very happy :). After eating Joan, Liz, and another niece Rita took me on a walk to show me all around the plantation. They showed me the borehole, which is about a 5 to 10 minute walk away, the only place to get water near by. Then they showed me the tomatoes near the borehole. We walked back to the house then behind it to see the pig, cows, bananas, pawpaws, and all the land. It is such a pretty area. We picked some pawpaws and took them back to the house with us when it got dark. All of the kids sat outside and at the pawpaw, which wasn't completely ripe, so it was crunchy. We sat under the starts and talked. There are no mosquitos in that area, so it was a beautiful night. Then we went inside. I was first to take a shower, which I ended up needing a little help to figure out which jerrycans of water went where and so on. I got it all under control with the help of Liz. After my shower I learned there is only one kind of card game here. It is very similar to UNO, but it is played with a regular deck of cards. We played for a while, I lost every game, Father Michael won the majority. At about 9:30 we had dinner.
After dinner we sat around watching the news and chatting until about 10:30. Then it was bedtime. Because there are no mosquitos, there is no need for mosquito nets. It was wonderful to sleep without one. There were beds/mattresses/people sleeping everywhere in that house. It is such a loving big family. It was nice.
We got up the next morning to go to the school to finish the letters. Before breakfast I went outside to go to the latrine as well as brush my teeth. I saw little baby chicks, bokoko, and I wanted to play with them. They wouldn't come to me, even though I was calling to them :(.
After breakfast we went to the school, got the rest of the letters we needed, then after a bit headed back to the seminary. It was a great couple of days.
Today I am going to a wedding with two of the teachers. I do not know who the wedding is for, and we are only going to the reception... should be interesting.
Father Michael said to me at breakfast: "Have fun at the wedding! Don't party too much. Don't drink...the local brew...although it is really good...and completely safe because the alcohol kills all the germs...and it is really good..." Well thanks for that statement :)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
...the poopcident...
Everyday at 10:30 the bell rings meaning it is time for break. Morning break means tea and chapati. Chapati is fried flat bread... Pretty much delicious greasy carbs on the shape of a circle that brings so much happiness every time I bite into one. The tea is good too, but always really hot. I am sitting in my new favorite spot with Fred to the left, Bernard to my right, and the plate of chapatis near by. I am enjoying my chapati and I feel something set hit my arm. I think maybe Fred spit/slobbered on me. Nope. Definitely bird poop on my arm. Keep in mind I am indoors... Well, I am sandwiched in, and have a chapati in my hand. I look at Bernard who gives me an odd face wondering what is next... And I scrape of off with the edge of the table and go about my break happy, just knowing I need to wash my arm when I get up. I have finished about half my chapati and I want a drink of tea. I lift it, feeling the steam hit my nose I blow in it, smiling because I know just how good it will taste. (There is sooooo much sugar in it, it is like candy.) I take a sip, ouch! Still too hot... I blow again. SPLASH! Tea hits my lip and nose. I look at my tea, I look up, I look at my tea, and I make a sad face. James says, "uhhhh what was that??" I look sadly at the group, "someone just pooped in my tea :("
Vincent takes my tea, dumps it out, fills me a new one, and I scoot down the bench.
Later in the afternoon I discuss this with Fred who has NO clue it happened. I said he was crazy, he was sitting next to me and even scooted away from him after. Bernard says,"I'm whiteness to all of this! I saw both times and can say it happened!" Fred told me sometimes he comes in and finds white poo right there.
I'm picking a new tea spot. We also decided it was the double poopcident day.
Vincent takes my tea, dumps it out, fills me a new one, and I scoot down the bench.
Later in the afternoon I discuss this with Fred who has NO clue it happened. I said he was crazy, he was sitting next to me and even scooted away from him after. Bernard says,"I'm whiteness to all of this! I saw both times and can say it happened!" Fred told me sometimes he comes in and finds white poo right there.
I'm picking a new tea spot. We also decided it was the double poopcident day.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Music day
Yesterday when I got to school the teachers asked me if I would go with the group of music performers and represent the female teachers of Ggaba Dem. I said sure! I asked when we were leaving, they said 9:00. That was in about 15 minutes. I decided to walk down to the market and get a bottle of water since I have learned events like this can become long. I rushed down and back within my allotted 15 minutes.
I wait.
We all wait.
I go with the teachers for tea at 10:30.
We wait some more. Competition starts at 10:30.
Ohhhhh taxi comes! It is 11:30. We cram 30 kids, some costumes, 2 teachers, a conductor and a driver into the 15 seat van. We get to the school, very excited, start preparing as the taxi goes back to get more students. We wait for them. Finally we perform, the kids do well! It is a program for music, songs, and dances about malaria. We came in second place!! Out of two schools....
On the ride back I was smart and snagged a seat in the first taxi trip again. While we waited for the bus to load, I was talking to the driver. He asked if I was a teacher. I told him yes, he was shocked and told me I was too young! Then I asked him how his day went. He told me, "there was no blood". I took that as a good sign and climbed on in.
Tomorrow I am going for some sort of a sports day... We will see how that goes!
I wait.
We all wait.
I go with the teachers for tea at 10:30.
We wait some more. Competition starts at 10:30.
Ohhhhh taxi comes! It is 11:30. We cram 30 kids, some costumes, 2 teachers, a conductor and a driver into the 15 seat van. We get to the school, very excited, start preparing as the taxi goes back to get more students. We wait for them. Finally we perform, the kids do well! It is a program for music, songs, and dances about malaria. We came in second place!! Out of two schools....
On the ride back I was smart and snagged a seat in the first taxi trip again. While we waited for the bus to load, I was talking to the driver. He asked if I was a teacher. I told him yes, he was shocked and told me I was too young! Then I asked him how his day went. He told me, "there was no blood". I took that as a good sign and climbed on in.
Tomorrow I am going for some sort of a sports day... We will see how that goes!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
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Monday, July 15, 2013
It happened last week..
...and I must have been too traumatized to write. Haha.
Father Albert and I went for an evening walk after tea. (It just sounds so proper writing it out!) He took me up the hill to what he calls "the Gold Coast of Kampala!" (Kampala is built on 7 hills, it is one of the hills across from the seminary and has big houses.) Well, our walk started out just fine. Then, our of no where came a cow. Running right down the road, right at me! Father dodges to the left, I panic and scurry to the right, the cow has changed paths is looking deep into my eyes as it runs at me. I do what any logical person does. Runs and hides behind the lady with a baby. She picked up a rock and threw it at the cow. The cow trots off across the road looking back at me with a glare. Father Albert, laughs and shouts, "ok! I'm over here!" But wait! Where there is one cow, another one must follow, right?? So I again stay in close range to the lady with a baby and a good throwing arm. The second one doesn't come as near and joins his friend. I scamper over to Father and hope to quickly be on our way. He laughs at me and we keep walking. But wait... I hear the trot-trot-trot of another coming from behind. This time there is a metal road blocker thing so he can't get to us. Walk continues smoothly. We get to the top-ish of the hill. I look over and talk about how pretty and green all the banana trees are, but in the middle of the road there seems to be a rock saying, "hey, come look at the dirt road!". Annnnnd I stumble. One of those slow motion falls where you feel like you are falling for about 30 seconds and future you should be able to catch you. Well, I fell on my knee. A great mixture or blood and mud are caked on it. So not only am I being stared at as the only white person around, but everyone is looking at my knee because it is so obvious.
Father Albert and I get back to the seminary and the gate keeper says, "Oh! Did you fall??" I laugh and response, "Yeah, I was looking at a tree." Father quickly looks at it and says "Oh! Did you actually hurt yourself!? Don't tell mom. She won't let you come back here if we hurt you!!"
Father Albert and I went for an evening walk after tea. (It just sounds so proper writing it out!) He took me up the hill to what he calls "the Gold Coast of Kampala!" (Kampala is built on 7 hills, it is one of the hills across from the seminary and has big houses.) Well, our walk started out just fine. Then, our of no where came a cow. Running right down the road, right at me! Father dodges to the left, I panic and scurry to the right, the cow has changed paths is looking deep into my eyes as it runs at me. I do what any logical person does. Runs and hides behind the lady with a baby. She picked up a rock and threw it at the cow. The cow trots off across the road looking back at me with a glare. Father Albert, laughs and shouts, "ok! I'm over here!" But wait! Where there is one cow, another one must follow, right?? So I again stay in close range to the lady with a baby and a good throwing arm. The second one doesn't come as near and joins his friend. I scamper over to Father and hope to quickly be on our way. He laughs at me and we keep walking. But wait... I hear the trot-trot-trot of another coming from behind. This time there is a metal road blocker thing so he can't get to us. Walk continues smoothly. We get to the top-ish of the hill. I look over and talk about how pretty and green all the banana trees are, but in the middle of the road there seems to be a rock saying, "hey, come look at the dirt road!". Annnnnd I stumble. One of those slow motion falls where you feel like you are falling for about 30 seconds and future you should be able to catch you. Well, I fell on my knee. A great mixture or blood and mud are caked on it. So not only am I being stared at as the only white person around, but everyone is looking at my knee because it is so obvious.
Father Albert and I get back to the seminary and the gate keeper says, "Oh! Did you fall??" I laugh and response, "Yeah, I was looking at a tree." Father quickly looks at it and says "Oh! Did you actually hurt yourself!? Don't tell mom. She won't let you come back here if we hurt you!!"
Music, dancing, food, beer, and pens.
Saturday was a teacher's day conference. I was told to meet George at the school at 7:30 and we would take a taxi to another school to then board a bus to take to a seminary that has a lake and a conference. That was my information.
7:34 walk up to school. No sign of teachers, just a few students.
7:41 George appears with a smile. "Wow! You bazungu (plural mazungu) sure can keep time!
8:45 board the taxi to go to the school across town. More teachers have joined the expodition.
9:01 get to the school. Take a tour.
9:40 board the bus. The one that was leaving at 8:00.
10:00ish get to the lake and have a 2 hour mass.
Have a parade. Scrounge up enough seats for the 7 of us to sit together.
It is now 2:00. The deputy and I get a beer. I assume lunch is near. At this point in time I have has a cliff bar, and a gulp of water as I walked to the school to take my anti-malaria pill.
4:00 lunch is served. Mad rush to get in line. There will be NO shortage of food but, "please you first" will never be spoke in such a line. Sit down with a plate with 2 kinds of rice, pumpkin, matoke with gnut sauce, Irish potato, cabbage, greens, beef, and chicken. Start with my favorites: cabbage and brown rice. Slowly pick at the others, then pass my plate around. Kato has been eyeing my chicken thigh, fully aware of me not eating chicken. He dives on that.
We proceed to have more beers and some pineapple flavored waragi. People complain beer is expensive at 4000ugs. I think "16 ounce for under $2... Sounds like a deal to me!"
They have pork on a screwer that is amazing and juicy. The deputy and I got some to share with all the teachers. We all danced the evening away. We had all agreed on a 7pm departure. I was on the bus by 8, we left at 8:30. We all got stuck in the jam. We got back to the other school around 9:50 so after boarding a taxi it was about 10:30 we when we got to the long hill up to the seminary. The 5 other teachers who were in the taxi with me walked me up to the gate. It was a fun day!
Today I took a ziplock bag of pens to the school. They were all donate by schools around Omaha. Most of them were used, but still wrote. I gave Carol 6 pens cause she was asking me if I had a black one earlier today. When I took them to her she told the class they I had given them to here and they all clapped and cheered. 130 kids cheering for 6 used pens that were going to their teacher. It makes appreciate every little thing...
After school a group of kids asked a teacher if they could count there money. He went into his locked cupboard and got it out for them. 7200ugs. The kid wrapped it back up and left. I asked Fred what it was for. He said the kids of P7 were saving for a cross. They a wanted one in the classroom and had been bringing money when they could. I asked how much a cross was. 20,000ugs, or about $8. I gave Free the 20,000ugs. He was so grateful and said the whole class would clap for me in the morning. I told him I was happy to help get a cross in a classroom.
7:34 walk up to school. No sign of teachers, just a few students.
7:41 George appears with a smile. "Wow! You bazungu (plural mazungu) sure can keep time!
8:45 board the taxi to go to the school across town. More teachers have joined the expodition.
9:01 get to the school. Take a tour.
9:40 board the bus. The one that was leaving at 8:00.
10:00ish get to the lake and have a 2 hour mass.
Have a parade. Scrounge up enough seats for the 7 of us to sit together.
It is now 2:00. The deputy and I get a beer. I assume lunch is near. At this point in time I have has a cliff bar, and a gulp of water as I walked to the school to take my anti-malaria pill.
4:00 lunch is served. Mad rush to get in line. There will be NO shortage of food but, "please you first" will never be spoke in such a line. Sit down with a plate with 2 kinds of rice, pumpkin, matoke with gnut sauce, Irish potato, cabbage, greens, beef, and chicken. Start with my favorites: cabbage and brown rice. Slowly pick at the others, then pass my plate around. Kato has been eyeing my chicken thigh, fully aware of me not eating chicken. He dives on that.
We proceed to have more beers and some pineapple flavored waragi. People complain beer is expensive at 4000ugs. I think "16 ounce for under $2... Sounds like a deal to me!"
They have pork on a screwer that is amazing and juicy. The deputy and I got some to share with all the teachers. We all danced the evening away. We had all agreed on a 7pm departure. I was on the bus by 8, we left at 8:30. We all got stuck in the jam. We got back to the other school around 9:50 so after boarding a taxi it was about 10:30 we when we got to the long hill up to the seminary. The 5 other teachers who were in the taxi with me walked me up to the gate. It was a fun day!
Today I took a ziplock bag of pens to the school. They were all donate by schools around Omaha. Most of them were used, but still wrote. I gave Carol 6 pens cause she was asking me if I had a black one earlier today. When I took them to her she told the class they I had given them to here and they all clapped and cheered. 130 kids cheering for 6 used pens that were going to their teacher. It makes appreciate every little thing...
After school a group of kids asked a teacher if they could count there money. He went into his locked cupboard and got it out for them. 7200ugs. The kid wrapped it back up and left. I asked Fred what it was for. He said the kids of P7 were saving for a cross. They a wanted one in the classroom and had been bringing money when they could. I asked how much a cross was. 20,000ugs, or about $8. I gave Free the 20,000ugs. He was so grateful and said the whole class would clap for me in the morning. I told him I was happy to help get a cross in a classroom.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Comments welcome...
Student today asks, "Madam, what are your thoughts and views on Christopher Columbus?"
Ummmm...
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Sports day!
Today was sports day at the school. We invited 3 other neighboring schools to come play. The girls competed in netball and the boys in football (soccer). The my school did wonderful! The girls used the ball from Ryan during their games. It quickly went from a bright blue to a brownish grey, but it held strong as promised.
After the sports day many of the students were still around so we played a big game of catch/throw the ball at the person not looking. Some of the teachers even joined in.
Mom bought 4 jump ropes for me to bring to the kids here. I brought them to the school today. We tied them together to make 2 long ones and we jump roped for a long time. The kids did it for about 2 hours. They had many songs to jump to. I was able to jump in and jump just fine, but jumping out was a bit of an issue. First off I haven't done that since about 6th grade, and second, I had no clue it was my time to jump out because their songs were in local language! Finally one of the teachers, laughing at me, started yelling "JUMP OUT! You are finished!"
I am stating to think the teachers get more excited for the candy I take than the students.
Last year my mom, my aunt, and I all sponsored a different student. My student has since moved on to secondary school and is doing great. My mom's student wrote her a lovely letter. My aunt's student gave her two oranges. Sorry Rita, those oranges are not going to make it home!
As most of you know, I hate squirrels. I respect them and give them their space but I hate them. Here people love them because they kill snakes. I tried to explain why snakes are less scary than squirrels at dinner, but no one bought it..
After the sports day many of the students were still around so we played a big game of catch/throw the ball at the person not looking. Some of the teachers even joined in.
Mom bought 4 jump ropes for me to bring to the kids here. I brought them to the school today. We tied them together to make 2 long ones and we jump roped for a long time. The kids did it for about 2 hours. They had many songs to jump to. I was able to jump in and jump just fine, but jumping out was a bit of an issue. First off I haven't done that since about 6th grade, and second, I had no clue it was my time to jump out because their songs were in local language! Finally one of the teachers, laughing at me, started yelling "JUMP OUT! You are finished!"
I am stating to think the teachers get more excited for the candy I take than the students.
Last year my mom, my aunt, and I all sponsored a different student. My student has since moved on to secondary school and is doing great. My mom's student wrote her a lovely letter. My aunt's student gave her two oranges. Sorry Rita, those oranges are not going to make it home!
As most of you know, I hate squirrels. I respect them and give them their space but I hate them. Here people love them because they kill snakes. I tried to explain why snakes are less scary than squirrels at dinner, but no one bought it..
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Conference day
Friday was conference day for teachers all around the Kampala area. Students from many different schools performed songs, dances, stunts and more. There were guest speakers talking about practical teaching/learning. About how important the basics are. After that we all ate lunch. I was prepared this time, knowing we would eat on the grassy slope, I took my blanket I, uh, borrowed from the airline. (I had events like this in mind when I took, I mean borrowed, it.) The tag on it says "property of Brussels airline". A few teachers laughed and told me that was open theft!
After lunch the MC played the traditional songs of tribes or a particular area. The people from there were to go out and dance. At the end he was asking all the single ladies to put their hands up. Teacher Noah grabbed my hand and raised it. The MC was counting out how many hands he saw until he got to me. Then he said, "Oh! A mazungo that is single! Come up here madam!" I went up there and he asked where I was from. He told me he had been dreaming of getting a wife from Nebraska. He got down on one knee and proposed. Everyone was laughing. It was really funny. Then when I got back to the group, Teacher Benard said to me, "Number 5! What about your husband!?" Hahaha. For those of you who just started reading this year, last head when I was here a teacher named Vincent shook my hand the first day here. As he shook my hand be said "How did God know I wanted my next wife to be a mazungo??" I had no clue what he was talking about or if he was serious or anything. As the year went on, I learned he has 1 wife, but referred to the other teachers as his wives when he wanted something. I was soon known as "number 5" and him "husband". It was a great day!
Today I went up to the school for a bit and then to Teacher Carol's house for lunch. I had a Stoney with lunch and it was great! After lunch we went to visitation day. She asked me yesterday if I wanted to go and I said yes not having any clue what that was, but knowing I had no plans it sounded great. Visitation day is for students at boarding schools. Their parents come to see how they are doing, bring treats, pay school fees and such. We took a taxi there. The taxis should hold 15 people. Well.... We had a lot more. If the conductor thought we were about to get caught he would jump out and take a bodaboda, meeting up with us down the road. He thought it was funny that the mazungo laughed at this.
It was a fun day.
After lunch the MC played the traditional songs of tribes or a particular area. The people from there were to go out and dance. At the end he was asking all the single ladies to put their hands up. Teacher Noah grabbed my hand and raised it. The MC was counting out how many hands he saw until he got to me. Then he said, "Oh! A mazungo that is single! Come up here madam!" I went up there and he asked where I was from. He told me he had been dreaming of getting a wife from Nebraska. He got down on one knee and proposed. Everyone was laughing. It was really funny. Then when I got back to the group, Teacher Benard said to me, "Number 5! What about your husband!?" Hahaha. For those of you who just started reading this year, last head when I was here a teacher named Vincent shook my hand the first day here. As he shook my hand be said "How did God know I wanted my next wife to be a mazungo??" I had no clue what he was talking about or if he was serious or anything. As the year went on, I learned he has 1 wife, but referred to the other teachers as his wives when he wanted something. I was soon known as "number 5" and him "husband". It was a great day!
Today I went up to the school for a bit and then to Teacher Carol's house for lunch. I had a Stoney with lunch and it was great! After lunch we went to visitation day. She asked me yesterday if I wanted to go and I said yes not having any clue what that was, but knowing I had no plans it sounded great. Visitation day is for students at boarding schools. Their parents come to see how they are doing, bring treats, pay school fees and such. We took a taxi there. The taxis should hold 15 people. Well.... We had a lot more. If the conductor thought we were about to get caught he would jump out and take a bodaboda, meeting up with us down the road. He thought it was funny that the mazungo laughed at this.
It was a fun day.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Rain, balls, earth quakes and more!
Last night there were 2 more earth quakes. That makes 3 for the week. I have been in bed for all of them, and it just feels as though someone is shaking the bed or even picking up a corner of it and dropping it.
For Christmas Ryan asked for a special kind of soccer ball (football here) that even with a hole in it, won't deflate. He got it and immediately handed it over to me and said it was for me to take to Ggaba Demonstration school in Uganda. I took good care of it as I traveled here, even had it in my carry on so it wouldn't "get lost". It made it safely and I was waiting for a good time to take it to the school. Yesterday after school the girls were playing netball. It is similar to basketball but there is no dribbling, it is all about pivoting and passing. There is now a barbed wire fence around the compound, (which means I cannot climb the tree as my short cut anymore) and within 30 minutes of the game the semi new ball they were using (usually a volley ball or soccer ball) got a hole in it from the fence. The school is having a competition with neighboring schools on Monday, meaning this was the perfect time to bring in the ball. I planned on bringing it the next day (today). While the kids played netball a group of other kids, a teacher, and myself all played with a 3/4 deflated ball. It was a game of catch/keep away/run around screaming on a hill top. It was a lot of fun.
I took the invincible ball, which will be referred to as "the blue ball" into school today. I learned through observation and teachers just being blunt last year, that I needed to be choosey in who I gave the ball to. Teacher Fred was conveniently the first teacher I came to. He has been the one I have come to trust when it comes to money and/or gifts to the school. I presented him the ball. He was so excited. He kept it up in the office/library/storage/room with the one nice table that is never used. He brought it out during tea time and showed all the teachers. He presented it as "Kelcey's brother has said that he loves our school and our students. He wants our students to be happy and be able to play. He has sent this ball for them all that way. It is not able to be broken." All of the teachers took turns playing with it and squashing it. They were so excited. One teacher who was particularly excited to play with it was having a great time, another teacher jokingly said to him "Did her brother say he loved the teachers?? NO! He said he loved the students! That ball is for the students!" Everyone laughed and confined to play catch in the "teachers lounge". They all commented on how we will be the only school with a blue ball!
Tomorrow there is a conference we are going to. There are 4 people from Canada joining our group. Teacher Bernard keeps telling everyone they are my sisters. I can only assume they are white... Haha.
Two students got caught fighting before school. When one boy was asked, "Were you boxing!?" He replied, "Yea." Teacher Fred looks to me, "Ahh! He has picked up your English!" Later in the morning those same two boys were fighting in the classroom. The head master called each teacher one by one to "cane and properly punish the boys". I was called twice but declined. The teachers laughed at me and said, "But how do you keep order with your students back home??" Good question....
For Christmas Ryan asked for a special kind of soccer ball (football here) that even with a hole in it, won't deflate. He got it and immediately handed it over to me and said it was for me to take to Ggaba Demonstration school in Uganda. I took good care of it as I traveled here, even had it in my carry on so it wouldn't "get lost". It made it safely and I was waiting for a good time to take it to the school. Yesterday after school the girls were playing netball. It is similar to basketball but there is no dribbling, it is all about pivoting and passing. There is now a barbed wire fence around the compound, (which means I cannot climb the tree as my short cut anymore) and within 30 minutes of the game the semi new ball they were using (usually a volley ball or soccer ball) got a hole in it from the fence. The school is having a competition with neighboring schools on Monday, meaning this was the perfect time to bring in the ball. I planned on bringing it the next day (today). While the kids played netball a group of other kids, a teacher, and myself all played with a 3/4 deflated ball. It was a game of catch/keep away/run around screaming on a hill top. It was a lot of fun.
I took the invincible ball, which will be referred to as "the blue ball" into school today. I learned through observation and teachers just being blunt last year, that I needed to be choosey in who I gave the ball to. Teacher Fred was conveniently the first teacher I came to. He has been the one I have come to trust when it comes to money and/or gifts to the school. I presented him the ball. He was so excited. He kept it up in the office/library/storage/room with the one nice table that is never used. He brought it out during tea time and showed all the teachers. He presented it as "Kelcey's brother has said that he loves our school and our students. He wants our students to be happy and be able to play. He has sent this ball for them all that way. It is not able to be broken." All of the teachers took turns playing with it and squashing it. They were so excited. One teacher who was particularly excited to play with it was having a great time, another teacher jokingly said to him "Did her brother say he loved the teachers?? NO! He said he loved the students! That ball is for the students!" Everyone laughed and confined to play catch in the "teachers lounge". They all commented on how we will be the only school with a blue ball!
Tomorrow there is a conference we are going to. There are 4 people from Canada joining our group. Teacher Bernard keeps telling everyone they are my sisters. I can only assume they are white... Haha.
Two students got caught fighting before school. When one boy was asked, "Were you boxing!?" He replied, "Yea." Teacher Fred looks to me, "Ahh! He has picked up your English!" Later in the morning those same two boys were fighting in the classroom. The head master called each teacher one by one to "cane and properly punish the boys". I was called twice but declined. The teachers laughed at me and said, "But how do you keep order with your students back home??" Good question....
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Earth quake
My excitement for the day was feeling an earth quake. It was about 150 miles away, but was still able to feel it here. Crazy.
Went to the school for the morning. It was nice to see the teachers and the students again. They were so excited :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Q!
Went to the school for the morning. It was nice to see the teachers and the students again. They were so excited :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Q!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Things are settling in...
I slept all day yesterday and only part of today :)
I went on a walk with Father Albert yesterday afternoon and ran into one of my students. He did not know I was in the country. He was very excited to see me. Today I ran into another group of students. They ran down the road to give me hugs. It was nice :)
I will start at the school tomorrow. It will be interesting to see my placement. The weather is very dry. They have not had rain for a very long time..
I went on a walk with Father Albert yesterday afternoon and ran into one of my students. He did not know I was in the country. He was very excited to see me. Today I ran into another group of students. They ran down the road to give me hugs. It was nice :)
I will start at the school tomorrow. It will be interesting to see my placement. The weather is very dry. They have not had rain for a very long time..
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