And So It Begins!

Hello! It's been a REALLY long time since I last updated and my apologies for that. The blog was undergoing some maintenance and as usual, it was a battle of will between me and the internet here.

I am feeling a bit worn down, so I think I'll adopt the adage: A photo is worth a thousand words.

Day 5

The school compound underwent some changes, mostly in the form of new art on the wall filled with inspiring messages and warnings.

Day 6

The teachers of Stella Maris and I packed a bus at 5 am in the morning to pick up the children for school. There are two pick-up locations for the students, Kampala and Jinja (two major cities in Uganda). I went to Jinja and was glad of that because Jinja, being the quieter and more scenic city, is my favorite among the two. We passed the source of the Nile river and all I could think about was white-water rafting on the rushing water. I probably won't have the time or the company for such an activity, but one can always dream. I am not sure how boarding schools operate anywhere in the world, but I have to say that it was very tedious work...collecting school fees from parents and checking that the girls have all the items that they need like uniforms, petroleum jelly, brooms, laundry soap, etc. This experience was the first of many that made me realize how important learning the local language would be for my internship...I could barely communicate anything to the parents. To add to that, Ugandans speak a somewhat British/African type of English, which makes my American English sound extremely foreign and perhaps even foolish to them. Me (doing inventory): 6 pairs of knickers? Parents: Ah...eh? Me: Knickers??... Parents (shaking their heads): ah........ Me:...ah...um...knee-kuhs... Parents (realization dawning on their faces): OHH! ye. here! Me (beaming): Oh good! Thank you! *this is going to be a long day...*

Of course, the truth of the matter is that that chicken will be slaughtered and enjoyed at a feast at some point. I was amazed at how docile the chicken was on the bus back to Nkokonjeru, despite the overcrowding.

Day 7

The girls are all assembled for the first day of school! The youngest ones look so cute and lost. I understood that the girls would all be shaven, but it really is quite a sight to see all of them in the uniforms with their hairless heads. Also, just to let you know, though Stella Maris is a girls' school, there are a few token boys who are children of the teaching staff.

Here the Deputy Headmaster (and my on-site coordinator), Joseph Kkonde, is reminding the girls of the school motto: 'Success comes after struggle.' I definitely appreciate that motto and hope that the students carry it with them. I cannot begin to explain the many frustrations I have experienced being here, but I keep reminding myself of that quote in my own work. Also, Joseph Kkonde is your main CARITAS man in Uganda. I have a deep respect for him and the hard work that he does as a school administrator, teacher, CARITAS volunteer, and a father of four. It's not easy to find a person like him in Uganda and he is definitely a valued member of any community that he belongs in.

This lovely woman pictured here with the P2 girls is Madam Sophie. She is the main teacher for the P2 class and also teaches them reading. In addition, she is a wonderful singer and a new mother. What I love most about the classrooms is that all the posters are hand-drawn. It is amazing what people can accomplish when store-bought resources are not as abundant. Your children are in capable hands.

Day 8

I was extremely nervous these first few days. Thoughts such as 'Will they like me?' and 'Will they understand me?' ran through my head on repeat. These anxious feelings were compounded by the fact that organization is on a whole different level here...but more on that next post!

Take good care, everyone!

Also for those of you who are in Boston or have loved ones in Boston, my prayers are going out to you.