2 WEEKS DOWN 6 TO GO

If you try smiling with both sets of teeth chances are you look slightly ridiculous and give people the unnerving impression that you are a part-time maniac. Curiously the people in Uganda pull of the full-teethed grin remarkably well. Their smile is genuine, warming and an often occasion. Strangers are all too keen to have something to smile about.This took quite a while to get used to, coming from England and city settings.

Women here, especially those who are comparatively well off, change their hair style at least twice a week. That is also something that needed getting used to. One day would be braids and beads, tightly woven and almost implanted onto the roots of the hair. The next will be chemically flattened and manipulated and all of a sudden everyone looks like they are attending an American Jazz ball in the 50s.

Here's a quick recap of the week since my last entry:

Politics is everywhere and charging the air with excitement. Coming back from Garden City where I did my last entry, our taxi ran into a victory procession for the newly elected local Chairman of Kampala. He stood through the sunroof of a very plush 4x4 waving to the ecstatic crowds dancing cheering, singing and donning their biggest Ugandan grins. A neighboring passenger in the taxi elbowed me and slyly educated me on the financial opportunities that can be acquired by the figure in this position. Through land commissions alone, the local Chairman can potentially earn more than the PM of the whole of Uganda. Corruption, it seems, is part and parcel of politics. Who am I to say otherwise? Our track record isn't really worth smiling about.

Friday was my first proper day back at the school since the robbery; almost a whole week. I had missed it profoundly and was quietly shocked by my immediate attachment to it. The eccentric and often strict head master issued us our permanent classes; a very daunting prospect. Our main ongoing task is to improve the English skills of the pupils; articulation in spoken vocab (many kids get play and prey mixed up for example), as well as correct spellings and general handwriting. Though in itself this isn't a very massive objective to strive for 6 weeks, our occasional guidance will guarantee that these children with obtain the vital English skills necessary to achieve in exams, and also eventually ensure a decent job in the future. They've all been taken out of the slums, so we need to make sure they stay out of slums for good. English skills will give them the key advantage to make sure this happens. I have P5 and P7, relatively older children though the groups aren't generally based on age. As the only male volunteer I think a lot of the boys look up to me. Especially as it was field day and I was to give them an impromptu football training session. Simple passing and ball control; a few tricks exercises; a quick 2 touch game followed by a full sized game. Needless to say that went down a treat!

Yesterday (Saturday) we spent most of the day in Kampala visiting the markets and generally sinking in the city. We had a pit stop in '1000 cups', claimed to be the best coffee shop in the whole of East Africa. They have a good substance to back up such bragging rights too. It was delicious. And I know coffee. I worked in Costa for 4 months! After this we noticed rain clouds were quickly rushing in, so we made a quick escape into a local restaurant serving local delicacies. I had, as named on the menu; "chicken and boiled rice - 6000USh". While the chicken had little meat on it and was mainly gristle; the mountain of flavoured rice; the rich sauces and side helpings of cabbage and vegetables were all wholesomely delicious. All of our meals transpired to a grand total of 20,000. 5 quid. And this really was the best meal we have all had in a long long time.

Meanwhile Ali was to be a saint for the day and take 4 girls from the school on their very first day out. They all wore their very best clothes and spent the day eating proper meals, drinking soda, visiting the amusement park, and generally having the best day of their lives. They will not forget it in a hurry and Ali has left her mark on all of them with such a beautiful and kind gesture.

Today I went with Hannah to the Miracle Centre, in the outskirts of Kampala, to sample the vigorous and energetic church services that play such a key role in Ugandan society. The preachers have a particular influence on the community. It's not hard to see why. Sentences are orally punched at the audience one at a time with gusto and raw passion. It's a dual act; the key preacher would articulate a sentence at a time emotively and with authority. This would be instantaneously repeated in Lugandan by an equally intense female interpreter. The spectacle is very powerful and creates a palpable response. It is hard to resist becoming entranced by atmosphere. As the preacher became further engrossed in his speech, and as he fed off the increasingly electric audience, his voice would become a bellow. The deep grain in his African voice comes out and attacks the ears with tenacity and soul. As church services go, this was a good'n. However certain topics would reveal the somewhat backward social aspects of Ugandan society. The patriarchal structure for example was blatant. Lessons like worshiping your husband as much as you worship Jesus; and following whatever your husband follows, even if it means abandoning your own beliefs. Nevertheless as a cultural experience, this was as much of personal relevance as it was an observation. Some parts had a big impact on me and others were fascinating in understanding the Ugandan mindset.

That's this week up to date. I still need to upload pictures as soon as the internet in Uganda decides to figure out what pictures actually are and how they work. I'm off to watch the rest of the game at the bar next door. Followed by egg on toast. Next week will be made up of school and outreach - back on schedule.

Hopefully will have safari booked for the proceeding week. Please leave me anything on my blog; messages or comments etc. Please also check out our charity drive - I have already put up a dedicated blog. For all info please visit the web page. The link is below :)

http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/josh-hannah-philippa

Thanks for reading guys much love!