Main attraction at the zoo

So I am into my final week here in Uganda. It's really starting to make me sad. Every time I think of leaving these kids I tear up. Especially since I have really got to know them this past week. Some of them are really close with me and are always around. Last night I decided to walk some of them home and I found out today that because of that, I was the talk of the town. Apparently lots of people saw me walking the kids home and came to the school today and told the teacher that they saw "your mzungu" They were really excited that I was walking in their area with their kids. It was nice to hear.

I think I told you about when I gave the soccer ball to the kids and what happened. Well they have been loving it ever since. I have given them a jump rope and a ball and now they can't wait to play. Before they would just sit in the classroom and never go outside. There isn't much room for play but just giving them simple things like that makes all the difference. Anyway, they boys were playing soccer and two of them ran into each other. I didn't think much of it until I notice that one of my students was bleeding from his head. I asked him to come over so I could see. There was blood running down his face. He had cracked his head open on the top. Back home he probably would have needed a stitch or two, but here they didn't even have any bandages. They were just going to wash it with some dirty soap and water. I ran home and got some alcohol pads and some bandages. They were so thankful and excited. After we fixed him all up I gave him some extra alcohol pads and some florescent band-aids for him to put on the next day. He was happy. Oh and this kid didn't even flinch with we put the alcohol on his wound. Even I was jumping because I knew it would hurt, but he didn't move. The kids here are really tough. I don't think it is acceptable for them to cry. When they ran into each other, one kid started to cry and the head mistress started yelling at them about why are they crying. It was strange.

Last night I went to my directors house for dinner. I have my first taste of meat here in Uganda. It was chicken that was so hard and rubbery I could barely eat it. I did my best and left the remainder that I couldn't even rip off the bone. The other ladies all managed to clean their bones down to nothing. They laughed at me. Whatever. After dinner we had a nice talk, just the female teachers and I. I asked about each of them and what their lives were like. It was nice to get to know them more. We also talked about caning in school. My school is really bad for beating the kids (or caning) The male teachers will whip them with all the strength they have. We aren't talking about love taps here. I can actually here the kids getting whipped from across the school yard. Some times I look in and see a teacher going to town on them. It is hard to watch. They also pinch their cheeks so hard that they can pick them off the ground. Not good. Anyway, I expressed to the director and head mistress that I thought it was a bit too much.

So unlike the male teachers the female teachers have NEVER asked me for anything. When I asked them what they would like all of them answered something for their kids. After asking them again what they would want for themselves they all gave me great answers. The male teachers have been asking me to take them out for drinks and to buy them shoes, the female teachers wanted me to help them buy sewing machines so that they could earn extra money for their family. Just goes to prove once again who the smarter gender is;) I was so moved with all their stories that I invited them to go to Kampala with me tomorrow. I am going to use the remainder of the money to buy a sewing machine and to help these teachers out so that they can live better lives. After all most of them make not even $90 a month and they live in shacks with no electricity. Today I gave 2 of them wind up flashlights so that they wouldn't have to buy batteries since they have no electricity. They were so excited. One of them hugged me and started jumping around praying for all good things for me and my family. It was really moving how such a small token can change someones live. I can't wait to see their reactions tomorrow when I take them shopping. YEAH!!!!

Today was our big tour day. We went to the zoo and to the airport. The kids were so crazy this morning. They told me that they didn't sleep all night. My favorite student pulled me aside to tell me that his mother left with his family to go to a village. When I asked him who was taking care of him he said no one. My heart sank. After the tour I had a teacher talk to him to find out what was really going on. I took him home tonight and made sure someone was there. The mother had arranged for a neighbor lady to look after him. Still, I thought it was strange that she just packed up and left him behind. I also got word that one of my student's mother is in the hospital. Her father is not around so it is just her (8 years old) her brother and one older sister. The oldest one in the house is 12 years old. I can't believe this. They are fending for themselves. I am going to her house next week to make sure they are ok. This is so messed up.

Ok, back to the tour. When the bus rounded the corner to pick us up the kids went absolutely crazy. They were jumping and screaming. Most of them have never been on a big bus so they were really excited. Myself, I was thinking "how are we going to fit 100 kids on this bus" As with everything in Africa, we managed. Each row had 2 seats on either side and one fold out seat for the isle. We fit 9 or 10 people per row. Good times! Once on board there was a crowd of people from the town gathered around the bus to wish us a good trip. Everyone was waving and smiling. Again, the smallest things are major here. After we left the school yard the kids started singing. It was such a great feeling.

At the zoo I was greeted by the administer and told that because I was not from Uganda that I would have to pay 10 000 shilling, whereas the teachers would only have to pay 3000 shilling. It is like that every where here, mzungu's pay 3 times what locals would pay. Oh well. Once we got inside it was smooth sailing. The kids were on really good behavior and were having a good time. I was really excited because there were monkey's everywhere just running around. There was one that was eating a lolly pop. So cute. (I got it on video) While touring the zoo other schools would be following us. They would round the corner and start running to see an animal, but when they saw me they just froze. They were equally excited to see a mzungu. They were just stare at first and them wave and say hi. This happened every where. I felt like the main attraction.

After seeing all the animals we went down to the beach or lake Victoria (the second largest lake in the world) The kids were in stunned. I guess I wasn't expecting that from them since they live pretty close to it. I think it may have been their favorite part of the zoo. Some of them paid 30 cents to be taken out on this crappy boat. They were thrilled. None of them have ever been on the water. Again, another great moment. The rest of us just sat on the beach and watched the water.

After the zoo we sat on the side of the road and had lunch. Yes we brought lunch from school. They kids were treated to meat (chicken and stew) plus rice and soda. For them that was a HUGE treat. The meat was bad and really fatty but they enjoyed every bit of it.

After lunch we headed to the airport. I had assumed that we would be going on a tour of the inside, but the school had failed to reserve in advance so we weren't allowed inside. I gave a run down of what happens in an airport from the outside. We didn't even get to see a big plane take off or land. I think they were a bit upset by that. We did see some parked planes and they went crazy for that. Again I caught that on tape.

So that's it for my big day. I am coming down with a cold so I am going home to rest so that tomorrow I can show the girls a good time. After all when I asked them what they do for fun all of them said they never have any fun. It is all work and sleep. Believe me, they weren't kidding. They don't get to go out, they have no money for anything. Tomorrow should be nice.

I'll try to write again in a few days.