Hello!

Friday, July 3

Our hotel has a new pet a kitten. Though we keep our doors shut as a result, I’m very pleased that at least one mouse has been eaten.

Thursday morning we gave a midterm, but 45 minutes late because the secretary didn’t show up to provide my teacher with the printed exams. My teacher ended up writing the exam on the board, so that the students wouldn’t have to wait around any longer. Afterwards, I marked (graded) the rest of the objective (multiple choice) questions from S2. Before leaving, I joined in our a faculty Scrabble game. I was really excited about getting invited in. As the game progressed a few of the experienced players who weren’t playing began to gather around and watch. Before I know it my turn has come and I have put down a 10 point word, which I am quite content with (esp. considering that I don’t play games to win, just for the fun of playing). Then, the guy standing behind me totally takes my word away and rearranges it to earn my a 12 pt word instead. At that point, I’m like do I stand up and assert my right to play and let them know that I am content with my original word or do I just let them play over me. I decide to keep playing without letting my original word stay and joke around with them about it. Then, on the next round they change my word again but get me like 30 pts. At that point, there’s no stopping them. They are ridiculously intense about this game and all about earning the highest point value regardless of whose turn or whose playing. It’s almost as if its less about winning and more about earning really high scores. I ended up being 2nd place but only because they played most of my words. It was fun break from the usual monotony and cabin fever of the staff room.

Thursday afternoon activities included: Computer time at Café Larem. Samosas from Rose’s for lunch. Buying food in the market for Catherine with Lindsay. What an experience it’s the busy place loaded with noise, movement, color, sounds, and flies. I fell like I can’t open my mouth when I’m in there because I’ll get a mouthful of flies. Then the guys teaching at Atanga (and IDP camp) returned for the weekend. Ryan, Bill, Kate and I went to Larem for Bill to check his email and I got a chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. Delicious. Then, we headed to Da Pub to relax. We randomly ran into to other people while we were there – Catherine and Hero (Amy’s daughter who is visiting), Amy, Tom (a teacher from our school). Later, Kevin joined us. Dinner was a Katharines. Following dinner we made a brief stop a KSP (a rooftop bar in Gulu) for Amy’s birthday before heading to Bamboo for trivia night. When we arrived at Bamboo it wasn’t nearly as many people as usual (perhaps because the owner just picked up and left and no one knows why) so I anticipated it being a slow evening. I ended up having a really good time. There was plenty of entertainment. Some from other group memers. John created a mixed cd which created a bit of dance party. Then, the was attack of the white ants, which are these flying ants with large white wings. That come in swarms. At one point I heard only twice a year, but I also heard after large rains. Anyways, you can’t eat these bugs without the wings, but I did not do that nor do I plan to. You just couldn’t escape them. They really were everywhere.

Our activity for today was the first day of the teaching and learning conference. At times it felt like a bore. I’m sure that was due to the fact that last night we had gone out to Bamboo and were tired and irritable from that. Hopefully, it was much more meaningful for the Uganda teachers. They expressed energy and seemed to take advantage of having a forum to talk at, which I’m assuming doesn’t happen much for them. I was fine until after lunch and then I got really tired and felt totally done for the day. Also, at the end was a time for discussion but the step up of the room didn’t allow for a discussion friendly work environment. We were there from 9 to 4. Now, I’m back at the hotel and we’ve gotten plenty of things planned for the rest of the weekend.

Much Love!