I'm heading home for the holidays! I'm excited to see friends and family and to EAT all the foods I've missed...
At times, the last four and a half months moved at the excruciating pace of a snail, and at other times, I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted. At least I know I will still have time later on. I'm not done here yet.
I'll be back, but for now... I'm going to enjoy being HOME! (which is funny considering I don't actually have a home in the US anymore...)
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
One Term Down...
Dec. 7th marked the official closing of the school year for students at Maranatha Christian School. I was invited to attend the parents' meeting at 2pm, the afternoon of the 7th, with the promise to meet with the Head Mistress immediately following.
I've been told in the past that I can be overly optimistic at times (which is not necessarily a bad thing)... and I guess this was one of those times. I left home, fully expecting to be home by 5pm. I even left laundry out on the line, feeling confident I'd be back before dark. I mean, how long can a parent meeting take?
Well, first mistake...thinking the meeting MIGHT start on time. I did arrive a few minutes after 2pm knowing they wouldn't start exactly on time, but then stood around for about 45minutes before they declared enough parents were there to start the meeting.
Mistake two...thinking I would be able understand what was going on at the meeting. I sat and listened to about 4 hours of Luganda! None of it was interpreted, since I was really the only one there that needed it to be to understand. Every once in a while I'd hear English words thrown in there among the mess of Luganda, like "Sports Day", "school fees", and "Obama".
I sat wondering why I was even there...but at the end of the meeting all of the teachers were asked to introduce themselves in front of the parents, including me. The parents clapped for each of us, and I received an extra hearty applause after I spoke :)
Many of the parents came to greet me as they exited the meeting to collect their child's report card, saying in broken English, "You are most welcome. Thank you for coming!"
By now the sun was setting and I hadn't gotten to meet with the Head Teacher yet. I wanted to go over the exam results of the students I had been working with during the last term and set goals for the beginning of next school year.
Now rushing, so I could catch a taxi before it was completely dark out, I met with the Head Mistress. There were a number of interruptions, but I felt satisfied with what we discussed and headed home in the dark.
So, how did my students do? I am very happy with the improvements my students made this last term, especially considering the circumstances and situations that came up throughout the term! Of course, there is still much to be done...
All in a Ugandan Day's Work!
I've been told in the past that I can be overly optimistic at times (which is not necessarily a bad thing)... and I guess this was one of those times. I left home, fully expecting to be home by 5pm. I even left laundry out on the line, feeling confident I'd be back before dark. I mean, how long can a parent meeting take?
Well, first mistake...thinking the meeting MIGHT start on time. I did arrive a few minutes after 2pm knowing they wouldn't start exactly on time, but then stood around for about 45minutes before they declared enough parents were there to start the meeting.
Mistake two...thinking I would be able understand what was going on at the meeting. I sat and listened to about 4 hours of Luganda! None of it was interpreted, since I was really the only one there that needed it to be to understand. Every once in a while I'd hear English words thrown in there among the mess of Luganda, like "Sports Day", "school fees", and "Obama".
I sat wondering why I was even there...but at the end of the meeting all of the teachers were asked to introduce themselves in front of the parents, including me. The parents clapped for each of us, and I received an extra hearty applause after I spoke :)
Many of the parents came to greet me as they exited the meeting to collect their child's report card, saying in broken English, "You are most welcome. Thank you for coming!"
By now the sun was setting and I hadn't gotten to meet with the Head Teacher yet. I wanted to go over the exam results of the students I had been working with during the last term and set goals for the beginning of next school year.
Now rushing, so I could catch a taxi before it was completely dark out, I met with the Head Mistress. There were a number of interruptions, but I felt satisfied with what we discussed and headed home in the dark.
So, how did my students do? I am very happy with the improvements my students made this last term, especially considering the circumstances and situations that came up throughout the term! Of course, there is still much to be done...
All in a Ugandan Day's Work!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Jinja
I came back bruised, sunburned, and with bug bites all over my body, but it was worth it anyway...
Renee and I decided to take a few days to get away from Kampala, before she heads back home for good. With flights being so expensive, we decided to go to Jinja, just a couple hours away by bus.
Jinja is the home of the "Source of the Nile" and some of the best whitewater rapids in the world. So, how could I resist?
Most of my bruises came from the first BIG rapid we went through. I was thrown out of the boat and everything was a white blur! I was thrown out of the boat on the next class 5 rapid as well and then tossed around the boat a few times after that...
I did manage to stay in the boat going down the 15ft. waterfall though!
The next day, we took a well deserved "day of rest" by the pool...
The third day was spent lounging around with a book as well, but I also took the chance to swim in the Nile and test my luck fishing... No luck this time!
We finally decided it was time to head home on the fourth day...taking public transport back to Kampala. It's only about $1.50 for the two hour bus ride back to the city, and then another $.50 to take a taxi home... not bad, as long as you're willing to deal with the joys of public transport in Africa.
Renee and I decided to take a few days to get away from Kampala, before she heads back home for good. With flights being so expensive, we decided to go to Jinja, just a couple hours away by bus.
Jinja is the home of the "Source of the Nile" and some of the best whitewater rapids in the world. So, how could I resist?
Most of my bruises came from the first BIG rapid we went through. I was thrown out of the boat and everything was a white blur! I was thrown out of the boat on the next class 5 rapid as well and then tossed around the boat a few times after that...
I did manage to stay in the boat going down the 15ft. waterfall though!
The next day, we took a well deserved "day of rest" by the pool...
The third day was spent lounging around with a book as well, but I also took the chance to swim in the Nile and test my luck fishing... No luck this time!
We finally decided it was time to head home on the fourth day...taking public transport back to Kampala. It's only about $1.50 for the two hour bus ride back to the city, and then another $.50 to take a taxi home... not bad, as long as you're willing to deal with the joys of public transport in Africa.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Ugandan Thanksgiving
Despite being thousands of miles away from family, and the U.S. for that matter, Thanksgiving celebrations still ensued in Uganda!
Since Christine was still out of town on the ACTUAL Thanksgiving Day, and we were waiting for her return for the traditional celebration, we went out for pizza downtown as a mini-celebration...
Then, the traditional Thanksgiving celebration took place on Sunday.
Ok, so a few of the things that happened were NEW for me this Thanksgiving holiday...
1) Watching the turkey dinner be slaughtered right outside the kitchen window, and even having to be the "camera girl" for part of the gruesome event. Here's a pic of Jeff de-feathering the turkey after cutting off its head :(
2) Making everything from scratch: chocolate chip cheesecake, stuffing, pumpkin pie, turkey brine, apple crisp (although, Renee did a lot of the work too)
3) Not knowing half of the faces around me (there was something like 40 mzungus throughout the house!)
But, a few things also made it feel like I was right at home...
Like being stuffed, but still eating a sampling of every dessert on the table...and the guys letting out their competitive side in a "friendly" game of football... and being thankful for the blessings God has put in my life the last year...
Ahh...Thanksgiving :)
Since Christine was still out of town on the ACTUAL Thanksgiving Day, and we were waiting for her return for the traditional celebration, we went out for pizza downtown as a mini-celebration...
Then, the traditional Thanksgiving celebration took place on Sunday.
Ok, so a few of the things that happened were NEW for me this Thanksgiving holiday...
1) Watching the turkey dinner be slaughtered right outside the kitchen window, and even having to be the "camera girl" for part of the gruesome event. Here's a pic of Jeff de-feathering the turkey after cutting off its head :(
2) Making everything from scratch: chocolate chip cheesecake, stuffing, pumpkin pie, turkey brine, apple crisp (although, Renee did a lot of the work too)
3) Not knowing half of the faces around me (there was something like 40 mzungus throughout the house!)
But, a few things also made it feel like I was right at home...
Like being stuffed, but still eating a sampling of every dessert on the table...and the guys letting out their competitive side in a "friendly" game of football... and being thankful for the blessings God has put in my life the last year...
Ahh...Thanksgiving :)
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