Moments

Friday, June 19, 2009

Today was another orientation day and full day schedule but very good. First, we discussed research. My school group will be researching student voice and empowerment. I am very excited for the opportunity. After lunch, we discussed participatory strategies with other teachers in our content areas. It is comforting to know of the human resources surrounding me in the other American teachers as well as our partner teaches, who we will meet tonight.

I finally had my first completely independent, by myself experience when I came to the internet café today. I walked from our hotel to the cafe. It is only a 5 min walk taking the short cut, but since it was my fist individual activity, I felt like it should be recognized as a slight milestone. It is run by an American and even sells brownies and like right now there are only munus here. However, it is the closest café to the hotel and so that is why it is my current preference.

We will be meeting our partner teachers over dinner tonight. Initially, upon arrival in Uganda I was very nervous about this. Such as how I would be received, could I handle it, and will there be communication struggles. Now, I feel like my orientation has eased much of those anxieties. I think the sessions today were esp helpful in doing so.

I’ve had a few questions from folks so I’ll respond here.

Boda rides do scare me, but I’m attempting to become more relaxed on them. Though a bike seems like an option. Not so much to me, because there really aren’t any road rules and I trust my boda driver to do his best to get me where I need to be and have more road knowledge than myself. Strangely enough many boda drivers wear helmets, but not the riders. Today, while riding to Kope Café for lunch, I had the most friendly boda driver I have had so far. He turned around to ask me why I was going where I was going. All I could think was please turn around and look at the road. Yet, I appreciated the conversation initiation, but would much rather my driver totally focus on the road.

Weather: mornings and evenings are comfortable. Midday becomes quite warm and very sunny, probably in the 90s. There is no air conditioning and so that makes it warmer all the day and I think also helps you acclimate.

Some people have been on the IC teacher exchange multiple times. It is year 3 for two participants. It is year 2 for one participant. (The program has only been in existence for 3 years.)

Food: Drink options are bottle water or soda, for me that is usually fanta or coke. We take breakfast and lunch at Katharines restaurant (also owned by the owner of our hotel). Breakfast: fresh fruit (pineapple, banana, watermelon, avocado), chapti (these delicious tortilla type thing, but sweet and not really like a tortilla taste, but similar shape – I guess its kind of like fried dough in that shape), sometimes bread instead of chapti, also boiled egg (which I haven’t eaten yet), one morning we had potatoes.
Dinner: consist of an entrée and a side
Entrees: stewed cabbage and tomatoes, vegetable curry, chicken stew, cooked greens with some type of chickpea type peas, beans
Sides: rice, posha (similar to grits, yet thick, a solid chunk of tasteless matter), sweet potatoes (not like ours they are more white), white potatoes (they are irish)

So, Uganda used to be the foodbasket of Uganda, yet the war ended that. The fertile land and rainfall of Northern Uganda make this possible. I wish you could see the gardens here. They use no fertilize (and I assume no irrigation). Yet, their corn is incredibly green and much taller than me. Also, their other crops look so full and well developed.

Thanks for all the comments from everyone so far. It is very encouraging. I would love to hear how your summers are going so far.