On to the next thing...

Ab’omuka bali bata (How are the people at home?)

 

Teacher boot camp has ended and without missing a beat we’ve started language training (I’ll get into that later).

I had a great experience at Kira, the primary (elementary) school that we practiced our lessons at.

 Like I said I was really happy with my first week in the P-4!  My second week I was in P-7 and the ‘pupils’ were awesome! My lessons weren’t my best, but I certainly learned a lot; and if you know me at all you know I love to learn so it was another good experience.

P-7

The last day of boot camp was great.  We had celebrations and games.  We also had ‘college’ students who attend the local teachers’ college help us in the classroom.  The other half of my group are teaching these students for their teacher boot camp.  Maybe I just had the best students but the future teachers I instructed were amazing! It’s so delightful to see that within 2 weeks we are able to make such a positive and sustainable push towards better education in Uganda.  This again solidifies my purpose and makes me continue to feel like this is exactly where I should be in my life right now!

I also got some unexpected gifts from my pupils.  Avocados and mangos are like apples in America and the pupils give them to teachers.  I got a whole bag of mangos, some avocados, and oranges (which are green here) from so many of my pupils.  Ven, a veteran Ugandan teacher and Peace Corps staff said that the amount of fruits you get reflects how well you teach, so I’m feeling good : ).  I was also given a box of biscuits (cookies) and a lovely card from one of my pupils. 

Teacher Francis & I.  She was such a big help & a lovely women!

Whats next:

Language Training & homestay

For the next few days we are learning the very basics of language for the region we are going to.  Language will then continue in that region, and we will be staying with a host family.

I will be near the city of Kyenjojo.  Grandpa Ky ‘en’ Grandpa Jojo! They’re watching over me!

That is in western Uganda and there they speak Runyoro/Runtoro.  I’m very excited to learn the language because it will be a great way to integrate into my village.  I am not excited about the 8-10 hour days where we just learn the language, all day.  Peace Corps wasn’t kidding when they said ‘intense’ training.

I’m also super excited to stay with a host family.  One of my strategies to help me cope with missing my family was to build another Ugandan family.  I look forward to bonding with my host mom, dad and siblings and learning from them.  (Ang, Joe, Steven & Joc obvi nobody is replacing you!)

 

Random stuff:

I've been able to continue running.  I've always ran to explore the new places I've lived.  Recently I've discovered a comically steep hill so naturally  wanted to run up it?! The view from the top was amazing!

They also have a delicious road-side snack called a Rolex (picture coming soon). It's basically an omelet wrapped in a thin piece of fried dough... AMAZING!