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!