Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
On Sunday we were told to go to school as parents were coming to see boarders and any parents with weak children. We turned up at 12 and come 3 we were still sat in the staff room. Jane was with parents so we told her we'd take Carol home for the afternoon, only to find Carol sat my a tree upset. Other boarders had been laughing at her and writing on the blackboard 'My name is Carol and no-one likes me as I have no visitors' This is then when we realised today was a visitation day of parents seeing their children, bringing them nice food etc and speaking to the teachers. There was a mis-understanding on our behalf on what the day was about, which we were so annoyed about as we could of 'visited' Carol in the morning and had a lovely day with her.
Before I continue, please, let me introduce Carol..
Carol is 10 years old and in P1. When Rona and Anna were volunteers at Bulenga, this was 6 years ago and today Carol has only gone up 3 classes. Carol was abused by her mother, her father didn't want her and her Aunty threw her out the house. If you look at Carol's face you can see that half of it was burnt leaving scars and she had scars in her shoulders where nails were hit into her, I don't need say anymore..
She used to be seen wondering the streets, sleeping in the classrooms or outside shops. Jane noticed this girl and couldn't let her live that way and took Carol in. Rona amazingly managed to get Carol sponsorship so she can board at school. In the holidays Jane takes Carol under her wing and Carol today is now a member of the family.
She's a difficult girl, bullying other children, throwing her weight around but then she can be so helpful, kind and caring towards anyone and as our year has developed Carol is slowly losing her aggressive tendencies.
So, walking Carol back to ours we bought her a chappati, soda, some sweets and bottle, that she carried around her neck all day.
Vic and me were joking as we were so annoyed about the boarders and Jane not telling us about visiting Carol that we would take her far away, so she could go back a basically brag. Well next thing we rang Jane telling her not to worry we were taking Carol and we all got on bodas to Kampala, to Garden City.
I think we did everything a bit too fast for Carol, bless her, catching up with us mzungus but she was constantly smiling!
First thing we went in a lift. She was laughing until the doors shut and she could feel the movement, the fear in her eyes and then the doors opened again and the shock of her face!
We bought her an ice-cream and she sat by Vic whilst the 3 of us quickly popped online. Vic had a few minutes left so was showing Carol cats and aeroplanes of Google images, whilst Carol was spilling the ice-cream down her top.
Another trip in the lift, which she still wasn't sure about, we took her to the supermarket. We wanted to put her in a little car that doubled up as a trolley and as hard as she tried she couldn't fit, so we sat her on top. She loved it, although the staff didn't seem too happy.
We then went to NYK, an American diner. We all ordered chips and Carol a milkshake. Before our food was served, Carol needed short-call, so off to the toilet we went. She went into the cubical herself, so I'm not sure what she made of it. I told her to use the hand-dryer and the instant blow of air and the noise made her jump back, until I showed her it was okay and she loved the heat, until she put her hand too close to the top. When the chips were placed in front of her Carol, her eyes were huge. She couldn't believe the size and putting on the tomato ketchup, she was getting it everywhere. She looked at us in fear for the mess she had made but we were all in stitches.The diner looks out onto the swimming pool of the hotel, Carol just kept looking at the water fountain and went up to the window face pressed against it in amazement. Another trip to the toilet, after Carol said she felt big after her food and then we went to the cinema.
We'd been telling Carol that we were going to watch a green man on a very big TV. We'd bought tickets to see Shrek 4. Another soda, I surprised Carol didn't explode and went to find our seats. She didn't understand what was going on what was giggling away. One part during the film Vic whispered to Carol "Are you okay" checking she wasn't bored and Carol replies on the top of her voice "Yes, I'm fine. How are you Madam?"
We left Kampala, getting back to school around 9pm. She had the biggest smile when she entered the dorm, all the older girls looking at her from their beds. Carol had left some soda in her bottle as she wanted to show the other boarders and would of probably shared it with them too, she's a good girl.
Carol made myself, Vic and Caitlin feel amazing just by the way she was so happy, how her eyes were darting everywhere, how she was so innocent to everything.
On Monday Jane asked Carol what she had done on Sunday and Jane said she thought Carol was going to pop with excitement. She was explaining about her she ate so many chips she was satisfied and there was a big TV. It was lovely seeing her smiling away, chatting to Jane.
Also on Sunday, Madam Gertrude went to hospital and yesterday came back to the compound with a beautiful baby girl, Tasha.
One week yesterday!
Lots of Love x x x
- comments