Hello All!!!
I finally broke down and bought a phone... haven't called anyone yet, but it is quite useful for texting and finding everyone else in town. I got it in the hopes that I will get to meet up with Charles and Sarah now. (teacher from last year) It's also quite uselful for harrassing John and Matt! I missed three calls from group 2 last night telling me to get my butt to Bambu- but yesterday I was a group 3er. Just sat and gossiped with everyone.
Amy returned from sending off group 1 with husband and Hero in tow. Such a great family! The power went out for the first time since I’ve been here this year. Which is amazing here! It rained last night which we needed so very badly. Everything was covered in red dust – including me when I walk anywhere. Maybe I’ll make it to school today without feeling gritty and sweating through my shirt! We have a 25 minute walk to school and it is lovely. We pass many houses, a primary school, many small stands where women sell vegetables and right outside the gates of Gulu High is a place where they make desks – yesterday the smell of laquer was overwhelming and reminded me of home for some reason! I’m heading in now to teach with Irene at 12:10, then lunch of posho and beans and then roundtable discussion. Hope to talk about our research project so that I can get started on that.
Have been spending more money this year than last. Being in town is great though. We’ve actually developed hang outs this year. Bambu (Fuglies as of Thursday) has a Trivia night every Tursday. The questions are designed to make you feel bad… they start out easy and end up hard as hell! Always lots of remote African knowledge, which us Muzungus suck at. We’ve also been back to Elephant Graceland a bit and of course Da Pub. Cold beers, good music and great company! Cafe Larem (Larem = friend, where I am now, actually sells cookies and coffee. However, their power is not working and I have a limited battery life, so I will post two blogs in one and keep it a bit short today. Miss you all, but can't believe that it's half over already!
GULU HIGH PREFECT CEREMONY
Gulu High had a ceremony on Thursday for the in-coming/out-going prefects. It had all the regular things that make a Ugandan celebration unique. It started 3 hours late, which is actually just on time here. While we were waiting the students entertained us by dancing and lip syncing to American hip hop/ Ugandan songs mashed together with hip hop beats. The performers lip sync and if he/she is pleasing to the crowd they will come and slip money into the performer’s pockets. Sometimes tying bandanas around their necks. Then came the speeches… the long, long speeches that are so eloquent, yet repetitive. I heard 9 different versions of the same 30 minutes speech. It was interesting. (From a shirt that Brit and Melody bought here that reads, “We saw fisherman, it was interesting.” So poetic and has become our response to everything. It was interesting.) After that was the actual hand over ceremony in which the same 4 minute song was on repeat while 40 students were sworn in. (40 or so minutes) It was great, but after 6 hours we were done!
Miss you all!
Jo
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Backlog, Ugandan date July3/4, Conference
This year’s conference had quite a different feel than last year’s. I was so excited to see many of the same teachers as last year, both American and Ugandan. Including Sophie from Pope Paul and Anne from Sacred Heart. We have been having many discussions, and did last year as well, about what our purpose is here in Gulu. We certainly don’t want to be the Westerners coming in to “show the Ugandans how it’s done right”. Who is to say that our way of teaching or educational structure is any better than theirs? What I always try to remember is that I’m here to share ideas. We’ll pool some ideas about teaching and anyone can take what they want. Some will take nothing and some will take the ideas and run. That goes for Americans and Ugandans.
What made the biggest impact on me this year was the change in the way that the Ugandan and American teachers talked of education. There was a shift in the dialogue, it was much more positive this year. The overall question still seemed to be “What can we do?” Last year the question was asked with a defeated shake of the head and frustrated hands thrown in the air. This year the question was asked as an honest inquiry with heads huddled together and ideas flowing. It gave me chills and I wonder if it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. Follow through is always a tricky thing.
As Amy has said many times, the relationships we form here are the important things. We will not be what changes education in Uganda, but maybe we can inspire each other to take a closer look at our own educational systems and change them ourselves for the better. Maybe the goal is just to achieve an open dialogue about education between teachers. Maybe that should always be a goal! It was an amazing conference and I could write about it for days, but if you're really interested, just ask me when I get back... I have copious notes!
Love Jo!
PS - Who got the fake tan?? I'm pretty sure it was Jenn, but hoping it was David... and that someone got pics!!!
What made the biggest impact on me this year was the change in the way that the Ugandan and American teachers talked of education. There was a shift in the dialogue, it was much more positive this year. The overall question still seemed to be “What can we do?” Last year the question was asked with a defeated shake of the head and frustrated hands thrown in the air. This year the question was asked as an honest inquiry with heads huddled together and ideas flowing. It gave me chills and I wonder if it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. Follow through is always a tricky thing.
As Amy has said many times, the relationships we form here are the important things. We will not be what changes education in Uganda, but maybe we can inspire each other to take a closer look at our own educational systems and change them ourselves for the better. Maybe the goal is just to achieve an open dialogue about education between teachers. Maybe that should always be a goal! It was an amazing conference and I could write about it for days, but if you're really interested, just ask me when I get back... I have copious notes!
Love Jo!
PS - Who got the fake tan?? I'm pretty sure it was Jenn, but hoping it was David... and that someone got pics!!!
Rhinos Rock!
Ok peeps, I am finally completely unpacked and feeling at home… only two weeks into my trip. Group 1 has left Gulu and the IC house. We are now three to our room and it is wonderful. Maybe now I can stop my spastic writing and give you a better idea of what’s been going on.
Last week was great. My teacher Irene has co-taught twice before and is really easy to work with. We only teach three double classes a week to one class of Secondary level 2 (S2) kids. There are 3 classes or streams of S2 kids, each class has 70ish students. S2 A and C have been taken by student teachers so we only teach S2 B. This means I have a lot of down time, but I think I can keep myself busy with our research project. Our task this year is to research about the services offered at Gulu High. So far I know that they have 24 clubs, a Blind Annex, and an armed security guard 24 hours. I’m actually looking forward to starting the research, because much of the time at school is spent sitting in the staff room watching Nigerian soap operas. They are intriguing at times… the acting is what we would classify as extreme melodrama – even more so than our soap operas! I actually enjoyed the one where a man killed his co-worker and his girlfriend helped him hide out by dressing as twin girls. He was a horrible looking woman, but it did keep me entertained for an hour!
It’s Sunday night here and I just got back from a group two Texas Hold-em game. 12 people played and I made it to the top 3! I even took Big John out (the host of the game!) I’m so proud! People are starting to drift out to bed and I’m sitting fat and happy typing here. I took a night Bota home and it was amazing to look at all of the stars as we were driving home. I actually saw the Southern Cross, Milky Way and Northern Star in the same sky last night.
We were out at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the weekend and got even closer to the Rhinos than last year. At one point they started toward us and the guide told us “This is almost dangerously close, move back.” He told us that White Rhinos will kill accidentally, Black Rhino’s, Hippo’s and Buffalo will kill just to kill, and they’ll all kill to protect. They were definitely curious as we had to move back about 4 times.
It was a great day and night until the dreaded Mutatu ride (mini van). How many Munus can you fit in a Mutatu? 15… and the driver… and about an hour into the 3 hour ride home you can squeeze one of the driver’s friends in and make the total 17 people in a mini van. We looked like a freaking clown car when we pulled off the side of the road for a “short call” (pee break). There are only so many ways to adjust your knees in a 23inch by 23 inch space! My hips hurt like an old lady’s when we got back. Guess that’s what happens when you’re 31. sigh.
I don’t have class tomorrow until 2:30, though I will go in around 1 to eat lunch with the staff. Posho and beans have some of our teachers here gagging, but I’m ok with it. The texture can be off-putting and there is little flavor, but it’s free and a time to socialize with the whole staff. Andrew Zimmerman (TV travel guy and eater of weird things) described it as tasting like a flavorless, mashed-up powerbar. It’s a really good description!
Think I’m going to head to bed now. Been a great weekend and I’m damn tired from almost winning at the poker game! Stupid Ryan… he wore sunglasses at night, which we all mocked, but apparently it worked!
Apwowo!
Love Jo
P.S. I was given a new name here by the Bavabuka people. Hmmm - I haven't told you about them yet have I? They are a group of young people from Kampala who run a community center for local kids. (Bavabuka means youth in their language - Lugandan) They gave me the name Nakimuli, which means flower...which is the only thing I will answer to when I return!
...ok, not the only thing - you can also call me Aber or Nimaro - my names from last year!
Last week was great. My teacher Irene has co-taught twice before and is really easy to work with. We only teach three double classes a week to one class of Secondary level 2 (S2) kids. There are 3 classes or streams of S2 kids, each class has 70ish students. S2 A and C have been taken by student teachers so we only teach S2 B. This means I have a lot of down time, but I think I can keep myself busy with our research project. Our task this year is to research about the services offered at Gulu High. So far I know that they have 24 clubs, a Blind Annex, and an armed security guard 24 hours. I’m actually looking forward to starting the research, because much of the time at school is spent sitting in the staff room watching Nigerian soap operas. They are intriguing at times… the acting is what we would classify as extreme melodrama – even more so than our soap operas! I actually enjoyed the one where a man killed his co-worker and his girlfriend helped him hide out by dressing as twin girls. He was a horrible looking woman, but it did keep me entertained for an hour!
It’s Sunday night here and I just got back from a group two Texas Hold-em game. 12 people played and I made it to the top 3! I even took Big John out (the host of the game!) I’m so proud! People are starting to drift out to bed and I’m sitting fat and happy typing here. I took a night Bota home and it was amazing to look at all of the stars as we were driving home. I actually saw the Southern Cross, Milky Way and Northern Star in the same sky last night.
We were out at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the weekend and got even closer to the Rhinos than last year. At one point they started toward us and the guide told us “This is almost dangerously close, move back.” He told us that White Rhinos will kill accidentally, Black Rhino’s, Hippo’s and Buffalo will kill just to kill, and they’ll all kill to protect. They were definitely curious as we had to move back about 4 times.
It was a great day and night until the dreaded Mutatu ride (mini van). How many Munus can you fit in a Mutatu? 15… and the driver… and about an hour into the 3 hour ride home you can squeeze one of the driver’s friends in and make the total 17 people in a mini van. We looked like a freaking clown car when we pulled off the side of the road for a “short call” (pee break). There are only so many ways to adjust your knees in a 23inch by 23 inch space! My hips hurt like an old lady’s when we got back. Guess that’s what happens when you’re 31. sigh.
I don’t have class tomorrow until 2:30, though I will go in around 1 to eat lunch with the staff. Posho and beans have some of our teachers here gagging, but I’m ok with it. The texture can be off-putting and there is little flavor, but it’s free and a time to socialize with the whole staff. Andrew Zimmerman (TV travel guy and eater of weird things) described it as tasting like a flavorless, mashed-up powerbar. It’s a really good description!
Think I’m going to head to bed now. Been a great weekend and I’m damn tired from almost winning at the poker game! Stupid Ryan… he wore sunglasses at night, which we all mocked, but apparently it worked!
Apwowo!
Love Jo
P.S. I was given a new name here by the Bavabuka people. Hmmm - I haven't told you about them yet have I? They are a group of young people from Kampala who run a community center for local kids. (Bavabuka means youth in their language - Lugandan) They gave me the name Nakimuli, which means flower...which is the only thing I will answer to when I return!
...ok, not the only thing - you can also call me Aber or Nimaro - my names from last year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
