A Busy Week

So here's what I had wanted to post a while ago, but got foiled by incompatible systems...

Last Monday (Sep 7th) was the beginning of term and we jumped right into exams.
Thursday the Kabaka tried to travel to Kayuga, was impeded by Museveni and sparked riots throughout Kampala.

Friday we had a meeting about starting a garden at school.

Saturday was for laundry, cleaning, and gingerbread (I’d found molasses from the local waragi man!). Okay some explanation is needed there. Waragi is the local home brew made from millet and molasses and probably a bunch of other things that I don’t know about. It would been interesting to learn but I don’t like hanging around there too much (I don’t want to spoil my reputation…).

Sunday I went to church with Mr. Mbiro and attempted internet – which was out of power. I came back in time for chemistry with Barbara, bread, and more gingerbread. Then I stayed up late marking S2 papers and preparing my lesson.

Monday found us beginning classes and discussing the arrest of the librarian on charges of defiling an S2 girl (turned out he was innocent and had just offered the girl a place to sit when his neighbor wasn’t there. He was still in jail for 3 days), and a good rain for the first time in a while. I also picked up my package from Aunt Barby (t-shirt, book, National Geographic, puzzle, cat toys and Sees candy!).

Tuesday was laundry, digging, school, and then market day and a lot of wandering around town. I stayed up late watching The Wedding Planner and eating a Sees Candy Lollipop. Mmmm….

Wednesday I had my first math lesson (wonderful), got three banana suckers (used to grow new banana trees) from the head teacher, and had just sat down with Eva (a student) to talk biology when it started the hail! This turned into a downpour which lasted over an hour. We took refuge in the girls’ hostel where Matron (who runs the hostel) taught me some Lusoga.

Friday was math, after which a student walked up to me and handed me his assignment. In Braille. So, now I’m trying to learn Braille which is like learning code, so a lot of fun. We have two teachers at my school who are blind and they are both helping me to translate what my student writes and to learn how to read, write, and type Braille. At lunch I volunteered to join a poultry project. The garden project is underway - Madam Rebecca says the man with the plow will come tomorrow; Mr. Dhimbuzzi says some S5 students are interested and proposed Saturday for making a nursery bed; construction has begun on the chain link fence that they’re putting in near the guesthouse. This will hopefully the crops from the goats as we start a vegetable garden. I tried internet again with no luck, but had a wonderful evening with Madam Everline and Madam Hope. I found Peter at Christine’s when I came back, so I have now begun Braille lessons. It’s been quite the time, and we’re still not off ‘Stand fast’ from the riots last weekend.

9/19 –
We are now officially off ‘standfast’ and everything is calm. The plow man has still not come and many teachers went for burial today so there was no discussion with S5 students; the chain link fence has been put off until the chicken house is completed (hopefully Monday). So the gardening project is delayed, but should be back on track next week.