This morning the Coline, Ann and myself decided to take a trip out to a village. We wanted to just walk around and see what village life is like. We decided to go to Katosi which is about a 1 hour mutatu ride from Mukono. As usually the mutatu ride was absolutely terrifying. They were driving as fast a possible on old dirt roads and we were swerving everywhere. Believe me if you are going to die in Uganda it won’t be from AIDS or war, but rather any form of transportation.
When we arrived in Katosi we just started walking around. It is a small fishing village on the lake so we took a few pictures of the boats and some crazy birds and then decided to walk further into the remote villages. We of course were swarmed by every child in site yelling “bye muzungu” This went on for the whole time we were there.
It was a great village and we were greeted by everyone on the path. They were all curious why we were walking away from the town and not to the town. When we spoke to them in Lugandian they were all very excited. Especially the older people.
This village wasn’t as remote as the one I went to last time I was in Uganda. In that village they still lived in grass and mud huts and had never seen white people before. I was hoping for more of that, but still enjoyed myself.
After some time we decided to head back to Mukono. The ride back wasn’t so bad but we had a full mutatu (22 people) I think Ann was a bit shocked, but Coline and I were both used to it because we had been here before.
Tonight I cooked dinner for all the volunteers. Spaghetti and tomato sauce from scratch. I don't really cook much at home so I was a bit worried how this would turn out. It was okay but the tomato paste they have here is brown so that color of the sauce was weird. The other volunteers thought it would good. I hope they weren't just saying that to make me feel better.
We have 2 small girls that live with us, Sarah(6 years old) and Katherine (3 years old). Sarah loved watching me good, especially because I had brought some silly gadgets we have in Canada. She never really smiles but we were able to catch a photo of her in the kitchen with me and she actually smiled. It was a nice moment.
Another cool thing was that the president drove by our house. He and his very long line of cars and guards. The people in our area were very excited.
That's it for now. Tomorrow I am taking Jimmy to Kampala to get tested. I will also take him for some Muzungu food. Should be a good time.
Jenn
Monday, February 15, 2010
First Cockroach Sighting
This morning I went to the school to meet the kids for a “play day” It’s Saturday and I thought we were all meeting to just have some fun. My roommate came with me and when we arrived the kids were in class. Apparently they have school on Saturday until 1 pm. I don’t think it is mandatory though.
After they finished their work I put on some music from my stereo that a brought and we blew up some balloons. The kids had a great time hitting them around until they all broke. We played several games and danced to music for a few hours. I took some great video of them dancing and playing.
The rest of the afternoon I spend lying around the guesthouse because it was too hot to do anything else. I think I have officially sweat out every toxin in my body. While I was lying around, Kakembo brought his father over to thank me for everything. He came in from a far village just to say thank you and to meet me. He also gave me a very sweet letter.
He had a new volunteer arrive today. She is also from Canada. We’ve had a good laugh at how many Canadian’s there are here right now. She is young and a bit nervous about being here, so Coline and I have been coaching here through her first days. So far she hasn’t left our side and is afraid to sleep in the bedroom by herself. A bit clingy and completely scared to do anything, so I’m not sure how she is going to manage in the village.
In the evening we watched a movie on my laptop. It was good to feel a little like we were back home. Life can get a bit tough here some times so it’s good to have a few luxuries.
My roommate had the first cockroach sighting this evening. She said it was only one but that’s the first we have seen. I am however making myself familiar with a very large spider in the latrine. Whenever I go in I make sure it is in the corner and not moving before I start my business.
Jenn
After they finished their work I put on some music from my stereo that a brought and we blew up some balloons. The kids had a great time hitting them around until they all broke. We played several games and danced to music for a few hours. I took some great video of them dancing and playing.
The rest of the afternoon I spend lying around the guesthouse because it was too hot to do anything else. I think I have officially sweat out every toxin in my body. While I was lying around, Kakembo brought his father over to thank me for everything. He came in from a far village just to say thank you and to meet me. He also gave me a very sweet letter.
He had a new volunteer arrive today. She is also from Canada. We’ve had a good laugh at how many Canadian’s there are here right now. She is young and a bit nervous about being here, so Coline and I have been coaching here through her first days. So far she hasn’t left our side and is afraid to sleep in the bedroom by herself. A bit clingy and completely scared to do anything, so I’m not sure how she is going to manage in the village.
In the evening we watched a movie on my laptop. It was good to feel a little like we were back home. Life can get a bit tough here some times so it’s good to have a few luxuries.
My roommate had the first cockroach sighting this evening. She said it was only one but that’s the first we have seen. I am however making myself familiar with a very large spider in the latrine. Whenever I go in I make sure it is in the corner and not moving before I start my business.
Jenn
Witch Doctor and Child Sacrifice
I had the meeting with Kakembo’s mother and Ruthy’s Father last night. It went great. They were overjoyed about me inviting their kids to come to Canada. They kept thanking me over and over again. I was told that Kakembo’s family is very poor and they do not have a phone, so I agreed to buy them a cheap cell phone. When the mother was told this she immediately got down on her hands and knees and grabbed my hand to thank me.
After I left school, Jimmy walked me home and we discussed what was happening with him and his AIDS status. He told me that his aunt told him that he has AIDS and that he is on ARV medication. We spoke for awhile about what AIDS is and the things he needs to do to be safe. He must have had some counseling already because he already knew a lot. He also told me that he is nervous about staying at his uncle’s place because he is beating him badly. He even showed me the marks. We discussed a few options and he told me he was going to talk to his aunt about it. We also discussed taking him to be tested at a proper clinic in Kampala, so we are going to do that on Monday.
Jimmy’s guardians asked me to talk to him about not walking home on the main road because it was dangerous. They told me to have him walk home the back way. When I spoke with him about this he told me that was scared to take the back way. I asked why and he told me that both he and his sister were threatened by a local person. The local person told them that they are working with a witch doctor and that they would cut off their heads. Normally I would have thought he was making the story up but just before I left Canada I read an article about how child sacrifice is on the rise here in Uganda. When I arrived here I spoke with a few people about it and they told me that it is popular in the Mukono district where I am staying. Not so much in the town but in the villages further out. Basically these people kill children thinking it will bring wealth to their family. Needless to say I told Jimmy to stick to the main road but to be very careful.
This morning I went with Leslie to visit the PACE project in Seeta. It was great to see the progress that was made since I saw them last. They are on the new land and the shell of the school is built. Even though the school is not finished they are teaching in it now.
The area where the school is, is absolutely beautiful. They had to put in a road when they built the school because it is off the main road. The “road” looked like a walking path, we managed to make it up but it was off roading.
We had a meeting with Betty (the schools director) about what the current needs are. She gave me a list of things they need to finish the school. I have given her money to finish putting doors and windows in. We have also bought school desks and benches, as well as a blackboard. On Monday I will buy them new textbooks and supplies.
In the afternoon I picked up 3 of my favorite students and went to Kampala along with another teacher from the school. We went and picked up the passport applications and got photographs taken for them. Afterwards we went to Oweno market and bought them new shoes. They were very excited to be in Kampala because none of them had ever been in the city before.
On the ride home our Mutatu (taxi van) ran out of gas on a remote village road. The driver had to walk to town to get gas while we all waited in a field. Of course when they local children saw a white person get out of the van they all came running towards me yelling “Muzungu, Muzungu” I took a few photos and then we were on our way again.
When we arrived back in Mukono it was dark. I was so tired I just wanted to go to bed, but it has been so hot I haven’t been able to sleep. I ended up sleeping in the main sitting room because it was cooler in there.
Waiting for the clouds to come again.
Jenn
After I left school, Jimmy walked me home and we discussed what was happening with him and his AIDS status. He told me that his aunt told him that he has AIDS and that he is on ARV medication. We spoke for awhile about what AIDS is and the things he needs to do to be safe. He must have had some counseling already because he already knew a lot. He also told me that he is nervous about staying at his uncle’s place because he is beating him badly. He even showed me the marks. We discussed a few options and he told me he was going to talk to his aunt about it. We also discussed taking him to be tested at a proper clinic in Kampala, so we are going to do that on Monday.
Jimmy’s guardians asked me to talk to him about not walking home on the main road because it was dangerous. They told me to have him walk home the back way. When I spoke with him about this he told me that was scared to take the back way. I asked why and he told me that both he and his sister were threatened by a local person. The local person told them that they are working with a witch doctor and that they would cut off their heads. Normally I would have thought he was making the story up but just before I left Canada I read an article about how child sacrifice is on the rise here in Uganda. When I arrived here I spoke with a few people about it and they told me that it is popular in the Mukono district where I am staying. Not so much in the town but in the villages further out. Basically these people kill children thinking it will bring wealth to their family. Needless to say I told Jimmy to stick to the main road but to be very careful.
This morning I went with Leslie to visit the PACE project in Seeta. It was great to see the progress that was made since I saw them last. They are on the new land and the shell of the school is built. Even though the school is not finished they are teaching in it now.
The area where the school is, is absolutely beautiful. They had to put in a road when they built the school because it is off the main road. The “road” looked like a walking path, we managed to make it up but it was off roading.
We had a meeting with Betty (the schools director) about what the current needs are. She gave me a list of things they need to finish the school. I have given her money to finish putting doors and windows in. We have also bought school desks and benches, as well as a blackboard. On Monday I will buy them new textbooks and supplies.
In the afternoon I picked up 3 of my favorite students and went to Kampala along with another teacher from the school. We went and picked up the passport applications and got photographs taken for them. Afterwards we went to Oweno market and bought them new shoes. They were very excited to be in Kampala because none of them had ever been in the city before.
On the ride home our Mutatu (taxi van) ran out of gas on a remote village road. The driver had to walk to town to get gas while we all waited in a field. Of course when they local children saw a white person get out of the van they all came running towards me yelling “Muzungu, Muzungu” I took a few photos and then we were on our way again.
When we arrived back in Mukono it was dark. I was so tired I just wanted to go to bed, but it has been so hot I haven’t been able to sleep. I ended up sleeping in the main sitting room because it was cooler in there.
Waiting for the clouds to come again.
Jenn
Thursday, February 11, 2010
AIDS?
Today I woke up late and went to school for my 10 am meeting with Jimmy’s aunt. As with all African’s no one really keeps time so she showed up closer to 11. Before they arrived Jimmy pulled me aside and told me that he wanted to talk to me about what his guardians told him last night. I told him that we would talk after school when no one was around.
Jimmy’s uncle (brother in law to the women I met the other day) also came. The uncle was very nice and asked me a lot of questions. We exchanged addressed and took photos of each other. He eventually asked me if I knew Jimmy’s status. I played dumb and told him no. He told me that Jimmy has AIDS and that he is on ARV medication. He told me that both Jimmy’s parents died of AIDS a few years ago. They also told me that is the reason why Jimmy had swelling in his head. They said that the P5 teacher did not know and was beating him because Jimmy would show up late to school. The reason he was late is because he was taking the medication and that was making him sick. I wanted to believe the uncle because he seemed very sincere and why else would he say Jimmy had AIDS in a society where it is kept quite. The aunt on the other hand looked very suspicious. She kept her head down and didn’t say much.
When they left I asked Nansubuga if she believed them. She said that she believed the uncle but that the women was looking srrange. I told her that Jimmy had told me that here husband was beating him and that is why he had problems with his head. I then asked Nansubuga and another teacher if they thought it would be ok for me to take Jimmy for an HIV test. They both said yes, so I may take him later this week, if he agrees.
This afternoon I showed the kids the video I took of them last time. They LOVED it! I even video taped them watching it and their reaction. It was a great moment. We have agreed to meet at the school on Saturday to have a dance party, so that should be fun.
Tonight I am meeting with Kakembo's mother and Kwagala's father to talk to them about getting passports for the kids. I wanted to invite Jimmy but if he does indeed have AIDS I think it would be too much of a risk. We'll see what the other two kid's parents say.
This is my first visit to the internet in Mukono and it seems to be MUCH better. It is way faster this time and I was able to put up several posts in a short amount of time. I really feel like this trip is so much different than the last one. There are fewer volunteers, the latrines are cleaner, the internet is better, so far so good. I am glad though that I went through hard times last time because it is really making me appreciate this trip so much more. I love this country and it's people and wish I could share it all with everyone.
Hope you're all enjoying the winter. I know it's strange to say but I can't wait to get back to the cold, this weather is killing me. 30 degree's in Uganda is like 50 degrees in Canada. HOT!
Jenn
Jimmy’s uncle (brother in law to the women I met the other day) also came. The uncle was very nice and asked me a lot of questions. We exchanged addressed and took photos of each other. He eventually asked me if I knew Jimmy’s status. I played dumb and told him no. He told me that Jimmy has AIDS and that he is on ARV medication. He told me that both Jimmy’s parents died of AIDS a few years ago. They also told me that is the reason why Jimmy had swelling in his head. They said that the P5 teacher did not know and was beating him because Jimmy would show up late to school. The reason he was late is because he was taking the medication and that was making him sick. I wanted to believe the uncle because he seemed very sincere and why else would he say Jimmy had AIDS in a society where it is kept quite. The aunt on the other hand looked very suspicious. She kept her head down and didn’t say much.
When they left I asked Nansubuga if she believed them. She said that she believed the uncle but that the women was looking srrange. I told her that Jimmy had told me that here husband was beating him and that is why he had problems with his head. I then asked Nansubuga and another teacher if they thought it would be ok for me to take Jimmy for an HIV test. They both said yes, so I may take him later this week, if he agrees.
This afternoon I showed the kids the video I took of them last time. They LOVED it! I even video taped them watching it and their reaction. It was a great moment. We have agreed to meet at the school on Saturday to have a dance party, so that should be fun.
Tonight I am meeting with Kakembo's mother and Kwagala's father to talk to them about getting passports for the kids. I wanted to invite Jimmy but if he does indeed have AIDS I think it would be too much of a risk. We'll see what the other two kid's parents say.
This is my first visit to the internet in Mukono and it seems to be MUCH better. It is way faster this time and I was able to put up several posts in a short amount of time. I really feel like this trip is so much different than the last one. There are fewer volunteers, the latrines are cleaner, the internet is better, so far so good. I am glad though that I went through hard times last time because it is really making me appreciate this trip so much more. I love this country and it's people and wish I could share it all with everyone.
Hope you're all enjoying the winter. I know it's strange to say but I can't wait to get back to the cold, this weather is killing me. 30 degree's in Uganda is like 50 degrees in Canada. HOT!
Jenn
Still Sweating
When I woke up this morning the sun was out at it was blistering hot already. When I walked outside I swear I could hear my skin sizzle. Even the African’s were saying how hot it was. I'm starting to get used to having constant body odour and a dripping face.
I had a chat with Leslie this morning about other projects she supports and what they might need. On Thursday we are going to see the PACE project and to talk to Betty about what she needs for her small school. There is another project in a village that needs help so we will probably go out there to check it out as well. That will be next week.
Nansubuga and I went into Kampala today to buy new text books for the school. It was my first time being in a Mutatu since returning to Uganda. It was a pretty good ride considering how they were last time. I think the country must be cracking down on how many people you are allowed to have in there. This time we had only 14 people. Not bad. The driving is still crazy and the traffic has definitely increased. We live on the main road that goes through Uganda to Kenya and there are a lot of big trucks and just a lot of traffic in general on it. The exhaust can be overwhelming at times.
By the time we reached Kampala my throat hurt so bad from the exhaust. I was covered in a thin layer of dirt and black from the exhaust. Gross! Nansubuga is older (73 I found out) so I wanted to treat her to an ice cream because we were both hot and tired from walking through town. She was so excited and ordered up a double Gelatto. After eating she told me that she had never had Gelatto and will have to go back and tell everyone how great it was. I was happy to treat her to something so small that made her so happy.
After Kampala we returned to Mukono just in time for school to end. I spent a bit of time with the kids then they walked me home just like last time. They all want to come up but I told them they are not allowed. It’s so cute because some of them don’t even live in the same direction as me but still want to walk me home.
I asked Jimmy to stay behind so that I could talk to him a bit more. I asked him if he knew how his parents died and he said he didn’t. I asked if he thought it might be AIDS and he said he thought so but that no one had ever told him. I asked him about being sick last year and about being beaten by the teacher and he told me that he was not being beaten by the teacher but rather being beaten at home by his uncle. That is why he had the sore on his head which everyone else was saying was due to AIDS. When I asked if he was ok living there he told me that he liked it, which surprised me. He told me that they had taken him to be tested before but that no one has ever told him the results. I asked him to talk to his guardians tonight and see if they would be ok with me taking him to be tested. He told me that he would go ask them about everything, his parents, his sickness etc. and let me know tomorrow.
I met the new volunteer from Belgium tonight. She is very nice and we are sharing a room. She is here not as a volunteer but for research. She is researching the Buganda Kingdom for her masters thesis.
I had given most of my kids my phone number and address, and in the middle of the night I received a phone call from one of them. I didn’t bother to answer because it was late and I was sleeping. I fear the parents will start calling me all the time and asking me for things.
In the middle of the night I woke up sooooo hot. The wind had died down and it was unbelievably hot. I went searching through my suitcases for a fan just so I could fall back asleep. I really hope this weather breaks soon.
That’s it for now. I’ll have lot’s more to report tomorrow. Jimmy’s aunt is coming to school.
Jenn
I had a chat with Leslie this morning about other projects she supports and what they might need. On Thursday we are going to see the PACE project and to talk to Betty about what she needs for her small school. There is another project in a village that needs help so we will probably go out there to check it out as well. That will be next week.
Nansubuga and I went into Kampala today to buy new text books for the school. It was my first time being in a Mutatu since returning to Uganda. It was a pretty good ride considering how they were last time. I think the country must be cracking down on how many people you are allowed to have in there. This time we had only 14 people. Not bad. The driving is still crazy and the traffic has definitely increased. We live on the main road that goes through Uganda to Kenya and there are a lot of big trucks and just a lot of traffic in general on it. The exhaust can be overwhelming at times.
By the time we reached Kampala my throat hurt so bad from the exhaust. I was covered in a thin layer of dirt and black from the exhaust. Gross! Nansubuga is older (73 I found out) so I wanted to treat her to an ice cream because we were both hot and tired from walking through town. She was so excited and ordered up a double Gelatto. After eating she told me that she had never had Gelatto and will have to go back and tell everyone how great it was. I was happy to treat her to something so small that made her so happy.
After Kampala we returned to Mukono just in time for school to end. I spent a bit of time with the kids then they walked me home just like last time. They all want to come up but I told them they are not allowed. It’s so cute because some of them don’t even live in the same direction as me but still want to walk me home.
I asked Jimmy to stay behind so that I could talk to him a bit more. I asked him if he knew how his parents died and he said he didn’t. I asked if he thought it might be AIDS and he said he thought so but that no one had ever told him. I asked him about being sick last year and about being beaten by the teacher and he told me that he was not being beaten by the teacher but rather being beaten at home by his uncle. That is why he had the sore on his head which everyone else was saying was due to AIDS. When I asked if he was ok living there he told me that he liked it, which surprised me. He told me that they had taken him to be tested before but that no one has ever told him the results. I asked him to talk to his guardians tonight and see if they would be ok with me taking him to be tested. He told me that he would go ask them about everything, his parents, his sickness etc. and let me know tomorrow.
I met the new volunteer from Belgium tonight. She is very nice and we are sharing a room. She is here not as a volunteer but for research. She is researching the Buganda Kingdom for her masters thesis.
I had given most of my kids my phone number and address, and in the middle of the night I received a phone call from one of them. I didn’t bother to answer because it was late and I was sleeping. I fear the parents will start calling me all the time and asking me for things.
In the middle of the night I woke up sooooo hot. The wind had died down and it was unbelievably hot. I went searching through my suitcases for a fan just so I could fall back asleep. I really hope this weather breaks soon.
That’s it for now. I’ll have lot’s more to report tomorrow. Jimmy’s aunt is coming to school.
Jenn
Nalusse Rock Star
School today was much better, the kids really opened up. I think it was mostly because I brought gifts (always the best ice breaker). After lunch (posho and beans… yuk) I pulled out 2 soccer balls and some skipping ropes, and of course they all went crazy. I didn’t have to peal anyone off another person this time but it was sheer hysteria there. Don’t worry I caught it on tape.
As with every morning when I arrive at the school I am greeted by a swarm of small children. They immediately run to me and all started grabbing my hands. I felt like such a rock star. They all just wanted to touch me or stand near me. Even when the other kids were playing there were 2 or 3 little girls that wouldn’t leave my side. So cute.
I tried to explain to my kids that I had created a website about them. None of them have ever touched a computer and I think mine might be the only one they have ever seen. I don’t think they grasped the full concept but they did think it was cool that other people around the world have seen them. Kakembo was so happy when I told him that I named it after him.
Speaking of Kakembo….. he has been so shy to talk to me but didn’t leave my side the first day. After school yesterday he hung around for a bit but when he saw me talking to other kids he starting walking home. Every 5 feet he would turn around to see if I was looking. I caught up to him with other kids in tow and we all walked together to the main road. He was really happy then, but I had to keep inviting him in the circle to talk with us.
I was completely blown away by the living conditions of the teachers here. They all stay in 1 room homes (if you could call them that) They are 10 x10 and have no electricity and no running water. Some don’t even have windows. The rent is $25 per month, which is hard for them to afford. It’s very sad to see. Just think… they have their bed, which they share with their children, a sofa and a place to cook. That’s it!
I checked out the cooking area at school to see if I could maybe make a meal one day. I think if I do, I may die in there. It really is a cave at the back of the school with no windows and two open fires to cook over. It was so hot I could barely stand to be in there. I feel so sorry for the school cook who is in there every day from 7 am to 3 pm. WOW!
I’ve already told the school about paying for the lunch program and they were very excited. They had an assembly today to thank me. I have started showing my kids the pictures of all of you who donated. They are very interested in seeing your faces and keep taking the paper away to see you all closer.
At the end of the school day I was talking to the teachers about Jimmy (the bad kid) being transferred to another school. They told me they found out he had AIDS and was being treated for it. I spent some time talking to some of them about it, and explaining how you can get AIDS (some of them thought you could get it by washing hands). About 10 minutes later, at the end of the day one of the students ran up to me and gave me a letter that was from Jimmy. I asked where they got it from and they told me that he was hiding around the corner. I ran over and found him hiding then gave him a huge hug. He told me that he had seen me walking in Mukono the day before and wanted to bring me a letter with some pictures of him. (this is a big deal because he would have had to pay someone to take the photos of him) I decided to walk him home that night to talk to him a little more.
When we arrived at his home the people in the surrounding houses were very excited and shocked to see me because white people don’t usually visit the local’s houses. They invited me in to have a chat. I spoke with Jimmy and his guardian aunt about coming back to Nalusse. His aunt told me that one of the reasons she removed him from Nalusse was that the P5 teacher was beating Jimmy so bad they had to take him to the hospital. I assured her that I would talk to the school about this and that we would very much like Jimmy to return. She agreed, but we never discussed whether or not Jimmy was had HIV.
Well, I think that’s it for now. Uganda is great, I’m still sweating but loving every minute of this country.
Jenn
As with every morning when I arrive at the school I am greeted by a swarm of small children. They immediately run to me and all started grabbing my hands. I felt like such a rock star. They all just wanted to touch me or stand near me. Even when the other kids were playing there were 2 or 3 little girls that wouldn’t leave my side. So cute.
I tried to explain to my kids that I had created a website about them. None of them have ever touched a computer and I think mine might be the only one they have ever seen. I don’t think they grasped the full concept but they did think it was cool that other people around the world have seen them. Kakembo was so happy when I told him that I named it after him.
Speaking of Kakembo….. he has been so shy to talk to me but didn’t leave my side the first day. After school yesterday he hung around for a bit but when he saw me talking to other kids he starting walking home. Every 5 feet he would turn around to see if I was looking. I caught up to him with other kids in tow and we all walked together to the main road. He was really happy then, but I had to keep inviting him in the circle to talk with us.
I was completely blown away by the living conditions of the teachers here. They all stay in 1 room homes (if you could call them that) They are 10 x10 and have no electricity and no running water. Some don’t even have windows. The rent is $25 per month, which is hard for them to afford. It’s very sad to see. Just think… they have their bed, which they share with their children, a sofa and a place to cook. That’s it!
I checked out the cooking area at school to see if I could maybe make a meal one day. I think if I do, I may die in there. It really is a cave at the back of the school with no windows and two open fires to cook over. It was so hot I could barely stand to be in there. I feel so sorry for the school cook who is in there every day from 7 am to 3 pm. WOW!
I’ve already told the school about paying for the lunch program and they were very excited. They had an assembly today to thank me. I have started showing my kids the pictures of all of you who donated. They are very interested in seeing your faces and keep taking the paper away to see you all closer.
At the end of the school day I was talking to the teachers about Jimmy (the bad kid) being transferred to another school. They told me they found out he had AIDS and was being treated for it. I spent some time talking to some of them about it, and explaining how you can get AIDS (some of them thought you could get it by washing hands). About 10 minutes later, at the end of the day one of the students ran up to me and gave me a letter that was from Jimmy. I asked where they got it from and they told me that he was hiding around the corner. I ran over and found him hiding then gave him a huge hug. He told me that he had seen me walking in Mukono the day before and wanted to bring me a letter with some pictures of him. (this is a big deal because he would have had to pay someone to take the photos of him) I decided to walk him home that night to talk to him a little more.
When we arrived at his home the people in the surrounding houses were very excited and shocked to see me because white people don’t usually visit the local’s houses. They invited me in to have a chat. I spoke with Jimmy and his guardian aunt about coming back to Nalusse. His aunt told me that one of the reasons she removed him from Nalusse was that the P5 teacher was beating Jimmy so bad they had to take him to the hospital. I assured her that I would talk to the school about this and that we would very much like Jimmy to return. She agreed, but we never discussed whether or not Jimmy was had HIV.
Well, I think that’s it for now. Uganda is great, I’m still sweating but loving every minute of this country.
Jenn
Muzungu Night Vision
Day one at school was great! The director of the school called Leslie in the morning all excited asking if I was in Uganda and when I was coming to the school. They were very excited for my arrival. When I rounded the corner to the school my kids saw me and started to scream. What a great feeling! They were all pretty shy and didn’t know what to say, but I could tell they were very happy to have me there.
I spent the rest of the day in the office talking with Nansubuga (the school’s director) and the rest of the teachers. We had a long but very good conversation about the school and what the needs are. Nansubuga has not raised school fees in several years in fear that the student’s parents could not afford the increase and then will remove their children. Nansubuga has a heart of gold, and is willing to take in any child even if they cannot afford to come to school. She just tells the parents to pay when they can. Unfortunately this is bad for the teachers because without school fee’s they do not get paid much. Since my last trip the school has lost 3 males teachers and 1 female teacher.
I was also told that the landlord has raised the rent again, but this time just on the office space. I gavel the school money to pay for the rent for an entire year, and they were overjoyed. The rent was way past due and they were about to be evicted.
Several of my students are now missing. I knew about a few of them moving but there are more that did not return for the P6 year. One of them was my “bad kid” whom I was really looking forward to seeing again. I was told that Nalusse wanted him to repeat the P5 year and his guardian was not happy about that. They have since moved him to a new school but I am unsure how they plan to pay for it. Nalusse was letting him attend school for free because they wanted to help him become a better student. Both his parents are dead and they knew that his guardian didn’t have the money to send him to school so they let it slide. I will try to track him down at another school.
After school I went to dinner with a few of the teachers. We ordered fish, which came whole, and of course we ate it with our fingers in the dark. It was good though. By the time we left it was completely black outside. I swear Africa is the darkest place on earth at night, there seems to be no moonlight. The teachers were laughing at me because I honestly couldn’t see where I was walking and every 5 feet or so I would fall in a hole. After a lot of mocking and ridicule from them on how Muzungu’s (white people) can’t see in the dark, one of them took my arm and guided me home.
Upon my arrival home I came to find out that my house key wasn’t working so I had to sit outside for 1 ½ hours to wait for the other volunteers to come home. I’m sure the neighbours thought I was crazy.
There are 2 other Canadians (both from Toronto) staying with me in the house. This is strange because they usually don’t get too many Canadian’s coming here. There is a Belgian girl joining us this week and another Canadian next week.
At this point I have my own room and am sleeping in my old bed, which is great! I am most impressed that the latrines are in much better shape than last time. Someone has cleaned them so there are far fewer bugs in there. I even went to the bathroom last night and there wasn’t a cockroach in site. What a relief! On the other hand, I firmly believe that no one can ever get used to having a cold shower (or bucket rinse off) even if it is crazy hot outside and you’ve been sweating all day. Every time I do it I feel like by body will go into shock.
That's it for now.
Jenn
I spent the rest of the day in the office talking with Nansubuga (the school’s director) and the rest of the teachers. We had a long but very good conversation about the school and what the needs are. Nansubuga has not raised school fees in several years in fear that the student’s parents could not afford the increase and then will remove their children. Nansubuga has a heart of gold, and is willing to take in any child even if they cannot afford to come to school. She just tells the parents to pay when they can. Unfortunately this is bad for the teachers because without school fee’s they do not get paid much. Since my last trip the school has lost 3 males teachers and 1 female teacher.
I was also told that the landlord has raised the rent again, but this time just on the office space. I gavel the school money to pay for the rent for an entire year, and they were overjoyed. The rent was way past due and they were about to be evicted.
Several of my students are now missing. I knew about a few of them moving but there are more that did not return for the P6 year. One of them was my “bad kid” whom I was really looking forward to seeing again. I was told that Nalusse wanted him to repeat the P5 year and his guardian was not happy about that. They have since moved him to a new school but I am unsure how they plan to pay for it. Nalusse was letting him attend school for free because they wanted to help him become a better student. Both his parents are dead and they knew that his guardian didn’t have the money to send him to school so they let it slide. I will try to track him down at another school.
After school I went to dinner with a few of the teachers. We ordered fish, which came whole, and of course we ate it with our fingers in the dark. It was good though. By the time we left it was completely black outside. I swear Africa is the darkest place on earth at night, there seems to be no moonlight. The teachers were laughing at me because I honestly couldn’t see where I was walking and every 5 feet or so I would fall in a hole. After a lot of mocking and ridicule from them on how Muzungu’s (white people) can’t see in the dark, one of them took my arm and guided me home.
Upon my arrival home I came to find out that my house key wasn’t working so I had to sit outside for 1 ½ hours to wait for the other volunteers to come home. I’m sure the neighbours thought I was crazy.
There are 2 other Canadians (both from Toronto) staying with me in the house. This is strange because they usually don’t get too many Canadian’s coming here. There is a Belgian girl joining us this week and another Canadian next week.
At this point I have my own room and am sleeping in my old bed, which is great! I am most impressed that the latrines are in much better shape than last time. Someone has cleaned them so there are far fewer bugs in there. I even went to the bathroom last night and there wasn’t a cockroach in site. What a relief! On the other hand, I firmly believe that no one can ever get used to having a cold shower (or bucket rinse off) even if it is crazy hot outside and you’ve been sweating all day. Every time I do it I feel like by body will go into shock.
That's it for now.
Jenn
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