Quick update (05/02/10) Been in Uganda for 4 weeks

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't done a blog for a couple of weeks but I'll try and catch you up on what's been happening over here!

First thing's first, I'm starting to feel really settled in! Like, it's taken me a little while to get over the initial culture shock and the fact that EVERYBODY in the village stares at me seeing as Molkie, Boz and I are the only Mzungu's there, but I'm starting to get competent at the language and getting the hang of life over here.

Now usually I write my blog with my journal in front of me to remind me of what I've been up to but I forgot it today so forgive me but I'm just gonna go over the last few days which are still pretty fresh in my head.

So after a big (and rather embarassing) night out where i drank way too much and was sick (i didnt know my limits here) we stayed in Kampala for a couple more days then made our way back to the village where we were meant to be teaching the next day. We expected the school to have been cleaned up, were told to expect 300 kids ready to be tought and were told to be there for 7.30 with school running from 7.50 to 4.30... Instead, we arrived on Monday morning at 7.30, just as we were told, there were about 6 or 7 kids, no teachers for another 10-15 mins and the school was a mess of rubble and rubbish. They set up tiny wooden benches for us outside while the kids cleaned up a bit. The next day was the same but with 20 or so kids. On wednesday, however, we arrived there to a messy school and started just as we had every other day, sitting out in the courtyard writing in our journals. We hadn't noticed that the kids had moved some desks into the earth and rubble covered classrooms until the headmistress came over and handed me a P4 English past exam paper. "You do revision class with them," she said. I asked if it was a P5 class and she nodded so I quite nervously went into the classroom. I got them to all write down their names on a piece of paper then went up to the blackboard to write my name (Master Ben). As soon as I pressed the chalk to the blackboard, it snapped in half and nearly hit me in the face, which was quite embarassing. After starting off a bit shakey I got the hang of it and my coinfidence grew. I was told to be really strict to establish authority but I couldnt really do it, although at one point i did say "even though I'm looking at the blackboard doesnt mean i cant hear you" when i heard whispering. That shut them up! I also have a good stern face so I don't think I'll have any disciplinary problems. Beating and caning is quite common over here but I'm gonna try and introduce things like lines, although the other volunteers have taught me some handy phrases to use just as threats such as Jakukuba, which means I'll beat you and Jakusamba which means I'll kick you. I haven't used them yet though.

So my first class went all in all rather smoothly and after that we were given permission to go home at about 12.30 (we havent stayed any later than that yet). For lunch, Josh, 'Aunty's' 12 year old grandson climbed a jackfruit tree (its amazing how easy he made it look) and cut us down a jackfruit. Later, I felt brave and decided to try and climb the tree and cut down another one. After a few failed attempts I got up and found a ripe one and with a big knife cut it down. I had to throw the knife down cos Jackfruit's are MASSIVE fruits, about double the size of my head. Anyway, that was about all that happened on Wednesday worth writing about.

On thursday I brought my guitar into school and did a music lesson. I tried to teach the kids to sing blackbird, which they kind of got, but then we decided to go play British Bulldog for PE. One kid had a nasty fall and grazed his knee on a wall so I walked him back to our place cos I had my first aid kit there and patched him up. We went back and played a few more games with the kids then went over some times tables before leaving to pack for Kampala yet again. See, it was Sophie's birthday yesterday (Sophie being one of the other volunteers) and she'd invited us all out, so we packed and had some more Jackfruit for lunch then went down to the main road to hitch a ride. Some Chinese missionaries picked us up and took us to Kampala where we met all the others vols. We had a great night, singing Karaoke (Molkie and I went up and sang 'Hey Ya' by Outkast and I went on my own and sang 'Perfect Day' by Lou Reed) then moving on to Iguana, this one club that was having reggae night. We shortly left and went to another club which was practically empty so we all went up (about 15 of us in total) and had a good dance before calling it a night at 3.30am.

Ummmm, I've got another 10 minutes of internet time so for a laugh I'll write up a little dictionary of some of the useful Luganda words and phrases I've learnt in my first 4 weeks here.

Oli Otya - How are you?

Wasuze Otya - How are you this morning?

Bulungi - I'm fine

Ssebo - Sir

Nyabo - Madam

Webale - Thankyou

Sonyiwa - Sorry

Weraba - Bye

Mpola mpola - Slowly by slowly (basically means slow down. Very useful for wreckless boda boda drivers)

Mecca? - How much?

Olimba - You're lying (this one came in very useful today when a boda boda driver claimed he told me the price before i got on when he blatantly didnt and I knew the usual price for where I was going. He actually got quite aggressive and angry when i wouldnt pay him 'mzungu price')

Unsallylako - Reduce the price (Olimba and unsallylako go well together when you think you're being overcharged)

Wanji? - What?

Gamba chi? - What did you say?

Jakukuba - I'll beat you (just a useful threat, I wouldn't actually)

Jakusamba - I'll kick you (see above)

Kale - Okay

Kulamsiza - Hi (for when you're just passing and dont want to stop to have a conversation.. Also Balamsiza for when there's more than one person)

Hmmmm I'm sure there's more but I'll leave it at that as I've only got 2 mins left.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT!!! Tomorrow me and some of the other volunteers are going to Jinja, which is where the source of the nile is, to go bungee jumping and white water rafting, which I'm SO excited about. I'd explain in more detail but internet time's almost out.

So until next time,

Weraba xx