Walk to Atanga SS

Walk to Atanga SS

Monday, June 30, 2008

Euro Cup 2008

So since it was Sunday night, and most of us needed a break we decided to get together at the Kope Cafe (translation No Problems Cafe) and watch "Charlie Wilson's War" that I had brought with me and finally got to see after buying it 3 months ago. Danielle, Amy, and Catherine had it all set up with individual bags of popcorn and g-nuts. It was a nice way to just relax, but it was kind of weird ending the night by walking into the streets and realizing we were still in Gulu.
About 7 of us decided to go watch the Euro Cup 2008 (it is huge here), we went to the KSP which is an Indian restaurant and Hotel. Kyle, Sarah, and I went on the roof and had beers while overlooking Gulu. We did not have an opener so I found a steel edge to a table and popped them off by banging the heel of my hand into the crown (that one's for you Frankie). Kyle went down for the start of the game, but Sarah and I waited to finish our beers. Then Sarah, said "Oh, no, we are going to walk in front of the screen to sit down." Just when we got there, there was a goal kick so I said, "Go now!" The almost entire Ugandan audience rolled in laughter as a giant MuuNuu all of a sudden appeared and danced by their screen. That was only to be the second best laughter of the night. I have already met several people who remember me from last year. Including Bob or Gob who finally remembered we have been on the same airplane from Dubai to Entebbe last year ! I met Chris again, who I shared the pop-up mutatu on our Safari last year with Wendy and Chris' wife and child. Chris had called and asked where we were going to watch the Euro Cup as he is in town with about 8 Northwestern students. After 3 minutes of sitting down, I saw white people behind me and turned sharply to see if it was Chris. Well, my chair snapped in about 12 places with a rat-a-tat-tat and I was soon on the floor amidst a broken plastic chair. The security guard ran in from the street to see what the noise was. The Acholi crowd were silent, until my American colleagues busted into laughter and soon the whole place was rocking with laughs as people were united in laughter.
"Fat man in a little chair........."

John

THERE IS ANOTHER NEW POST THAT FOLLOWS..

St. Jude's

Well, this Sunday we travelled again to one of my favorite places in Gulu. St. Jude's, which is kind of like an orphanage, but not really. In Uganda, the children that are in "orphanages" are children whose family cannot currently take care of them, but in a year or two when the family is able to overcome the obstacles in their lives, the children will go back home to live.
The great thing about just playing with kids, is that I also got to see Moses again, whose picture has been on this blog for awhile. And I also saw my other friend, who I now know is named Geoffrey. If the internet is fast enough you will be able to see both of them on this blog. This morning was also the first day of school, if you remember I am teaching Physics and so far I have not made a blunder in two classes. My partner teacher, Odawa Henry, is a very kind teacher and I hope we will have a successful partnerships with our students over the month of July.

Tonight I am also looking forward to our first basketball game with all of the boys I got to know last year.

John

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Saturday in Gulu

Today, I picked up six nails so I could hang up my clothes. Imagine that? And then I stopped at a new internet cafe and who was out in front my good friend, Okello Geoffrey. Geoffrey was one of the first people I met last year, and some of you might remember his picture with Kennedy. Kennedy had on a Naperville soccer shirt. So this is real good news, I have now seen Geoffrey, Samuel, and Julius, all part of the basketball gang. We are hoping to play again on Monday night at 5 pm. Geoffrey also tells me that Amos is in town, so I hope to see him also.

This morning, I went to Gulu SS to work with my teaching partner, Odawa Henry. There was a bit of a mixup, and I will be team teaching in Physics. So if you are reading this, Nerinx faculty, pray for me. But all will be well as today, I watched 120 students spend a better part of their Saturday willingly giving up their free time to study for the Senior 4 exams, UCE exams. They started their study session (they call it a seminar) at 9 am, and worked past 1 pm with only one break. So I did get a fast refresher course in Physics this morning. My sleep patterns are way off and I seem to nod off during the middle of the day. I don't think I snored, but I may have closed my eyes for a second or two during this session.

Then after the session, Henry and I walked to the Rainbow Inn where I bought him lunch. We had beef, rice, and dodo (spinach). We both ate for 9000/= which is just a little more than $5 US. We then went into the bar area and watched TV. After some American Chopper, Henry asked the bartender to change channels and we watched ESPN. They had football highlights on so I was able to talk to him about American Football. The whole country of Uganda is excited about the EuroCup Match Sunday Germany v. Spain. Geoffrey is a fan of Germany. Then the Yankees--Mets game came on and we watched the whole first inning. Did you ever try to explain baseball to someone who has never seen a game.\

Well that's it, Geoffrey is going to post immediately below this. So read his thoughts also.

John

p.s. there are some frustrating aspects of this past weekend, that I am struggling to work through, again your prayers and good thoughts all appreciated. But don't worry they are just obstacles, they are certainly conquerable.

Guest Blogger: Okello Geoffrey

I am so glad to meet John's family and many friends, how are you doing over there. My name is Okello Geoffrey and I am a S2 student at Gulu Senior. Where John will start teaching on Monday at 740 am. I met John when I was walking home (some of you will remember the picture with Geoffrey and Kennedy--john). The weather has changed in Gulu, it is now the dry season. This lasts until August. I am happy with the work John and other teachers are doing for students in Gulu. I have mad basketball skills.

Okello Geoffrey

Friday, June 27, 2008

Friday Morning at Ace Computing

I do not know if this is exciting to you, but it is exciting to me. The picture I just added to the blog only took 4 minutes, that might mean many more pictures this year. Let's see what is new. Well the two people I really wanted to see this trip, might be in different cities. Orach Amos I heard from Okot Julius that he is in Kampala. While I will be disappointed if I do not see my friend Amos, if he is in Kampala, it probably means a good school for Amos and that is great news. Okay I am going to try one more picture. I do not have great pictures yet, but now that I know this news I will be snapping away.

Wanen Lachen (see you later)

John

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Awere !!!

This morning, we had some free time before 9 am, so Trisha and I got up early to go to morning assembly at Awere. The morning assembly starts at 745 am, and I think I was up at 5 am---ready to go. It was so much fun, walking through Aloyo I Long again. There were many hellos and it seems that a few people actually remembered us. But the signs of recognition were everywhere, and the students were real excited to see us. I have to say it was a real good feeling to see the smiles and receive warm handshakes from many excited students. My good friend and colleague, Nyeko Alfred was not there, but I have learned he is doing a research project in the Pader district and the Deputy Head Teacher has given me Alfred's phone number. So although I am still apprehensive about making sure I see my friend, I am now optimistic that it will happen. The Deputy Head Teacher remembered that I was from the city that brewed the best beer in America.
Is that still true? or is it a Belgian firm. I had a great breakfast this morning and a great adventure. It was so much fun to be walking through Gulu again.

I am having some internet problems, so I will end here

John

Finally at Gulu

We arrive in Gulu !!! So it is 6:50 a.m. and I have had my first cold shower at the house. I guess it will take a little getting used to because it was cold. Yowser. It was so fun to see Jamie and Margo and Sarah and some of the other people at the IC house. Jamie is now in charge of running the house, and he seems to have brought a lot of his joy and zest for each moment into the job. For those of you who saw the video of me leaving the front gate, you will remember Jamie as the narrator of that piece. “A beautiful day at the Invisible Children house. Enter John Magee.” I actually am located one bedroom away from where I was last year. The ride from Gulu we took in a 28 passenger van, so we had our 19 teachers and Amy and Catherine for the whole trip. It was a relatively uneventful trip, until we hit a guy on a bicycle. 2/3 of the way into the trip, a young man on a bicycle just cut across the road as we were probably going about 50 mph. All of us held our breath as in a split second we imagined the worst. The driver honked and slammed on the brakes, and the bicycle and the young man appeared as big as life in the front windshield of the bus. In the end, we probably clipped the back 4 inches of his bike, and all of us breathed a sigh of relief.
I sat on a jump seat, that had far less cushion as a regular seat, but I chose to endure butt pain for more leg room. We essentially sat 4 across without an aisle and it was a tight fit. I had Josh and Allison on one side, and Bre on the other side. Bre is a good friend of Angie G. from last year. We tried to watch the movie, “War Dance” but my battery died with about 10 minutes left in the movie, so we used our split head phones to share music on our iPods. It was a blast, we had a great dance party, and Bre has a great laugh and a great smile. We listened to Austin and the best Prince dance song ever. "Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and something something girls.

John

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Amelia and Tiffany

Yesterday morning we started the day, by attending the US Embassy and listening to several speakers and asking questions. Just as the meeting was about to start, we were joined by three friends. Two of them, Tiffany and Amelia, I had met and had several great conversations with last year.

For Annie G. and Molly C. and Kenzie and all the other students who want to do something in Africa or somewhere soon, Amelia epitomizes the "can-do" spirit of many over here making a difference. Amelia was the English teacher who last year, I met after she came in from the bush, she is teaching English at a school, a couple hours away from the main road. She saw a need and answered the call. She is teaching at a school and has accepted that her daily life is not easy, but bringing education to her students is very important to her. Btw, students she is on facebook,
and she would love to hear from you, and you can also see pictures of her work. I know you need her last name, but I will get that to you soon. **** (Amelia Hirsch) She was telling me that all of the students she has taught, have never seen a color crayon in their life. She is working soon in Nashville to raise money for these students and her school. She is going to combine students' artwork with a portrait picture of them, and sell them somewhere in the states. Again, she did not listen when the first four or five people told her "No., she could not do this." She just found a way to make a difference.
She was with Tiffany who is leaving this week after completing a two year assignment with Invisible Children in Uganda. I was telling both of them, about how I had shared Amelia's story with students who were passionate about getting here, passionate about making a difference in peoples' lives. Tiffany had a great point, she got a real "boring" degree, Accounting. Yet every NGO (non-government organization) needs "boring" people, etc. accountants, IT people, etc. And it was through her ability and education in accounting that she spent 2 years in Uganda---watching "the numbers" making a difference, putting cash in the debit column, and education and dreams in the credit column. Taking contributions from all of you who have contributed to and making sure this giving can build a sustainable model of education for Ugandans. Without the "boring" people like Tiffany children in Uganda would still be invisible, but with infrastructure and quarterly reports and income statements we now know their names Amos, and Jennifer, and Emmy, and ......

Shout out to all those accountants like Tiffany and teachers like Amelia

I am honored and humbled to share words and friendship with both of you,

John

More News Soon

Had the first night in Africa, visited Lubiri SS in Kampala today. It is funny, several of the teachers recognize me from last year. I wonder how that can be. Must be my good look????
I am with 18 new people so of course I told the Chicken joke with the dollar bill today, and also last night I had a bad dream. I dreamt I ate a 50 lb marshmallow and I woke up and my pillow was gone.

John

Monday, June 23, 2008

How Many Throws Does It Take to Smash a Car Window with a brick

If you said less than 12, you would have been wrong? I don’t know if it is my brick throwing ability or my choice of bricks, but at 1:48 a.m. Friday night in St. Louis, I could not break into my car. After a whole day of packing, a printer (one of the things I missed in Uganda), 2 U of I basketballs, 1 soccer ball, iPod speakers made the cut. Left behind were a towel (I will buy one in Kampala), several shirts, and a lot of little stuff.
Any way after I packed everything, I realized I did not have my wallet. Apparently, It may have been in my car that I left behind at my house, and then when I got there, some BIG DUMMY had locked it. So luckily I had parked the car in complete darkness, I worked open the back window and was taking random (used correctly students) stabs searching for the unlock button in the back. I decided I needed light, so I got a lamp from upstairs, a long extension cord, etc. As I pulled the extension cord, for more length, I knocked over the light, so I had to get a new light bulb. Too bad it was not on videotape (so you could have chuckled at me). After getting the lamp, cord, and chair outside, the lamp did a very poor job of illuminating the inside of my car to help me see.
So then I went with screwdriver and hammer trying to break a window—no luck!!
I then picked up a brick from my patio and start trying to bang in a side window. Twelve pretty good marks, but no breakage. WTH!!! I then went into my house to look for more methods, found a BIC fireplace lighter, held that inside of the car, and found the unlock button after 10 or 12 swipes. A very nice sound, indeed. So no sleep on the night, before two hours of traveling. Oh well. TINA—This is Not Africa. I am now traveling with 18 wonderful people, 4 veterans and myself, and 14 rookies.

I am now in Kampala at the BackPacker's Youth Hostel. We just had our first meeting and everyone is really ready to get into this experience. It seems like a really good group of teachers,--different styles, different looks, different methods, but all of us seem real committed to do our very best in the next month. Amy, the teaching coordinator, just told me she has not seen Nyeko Alfred at Awere when she visited. This news makes me a little apprehensive, as it is very important to see my friend. Don't worry I will find him, and I also can't wait to see how much Amos, Isa, Geoffrey, etc. have grown over the last year.

I will write again soon, think good thoughts for me and friends, and I assure you I will be thinking about you, and all the greatness and kindness I have seen from all of you in the past year.

Your teacher, your friend, your brother,

John

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Journey Begins Again

On Saturday morning at 5 am, I will begin the journey back to Northern Uganda, and my favorite city, Gulu. Of course, I will also visit my favorite village, Aloyo I Long, which roughly translates to "Man Who Pees Himself."

Although, I am 49 years old, and I am quite committed to helping solve the problems of poverty, disease, and hunger. There is part of me that still giggles at the last sentence in the last paragraph. If you know me, you know that this is true.

Last year, I went to Uganda with the financial support of so many friends and family. This year I am going with the kindness and lessons I have learned from so many of you.

This year, I go with the spirit and support of Phil Williams. He was my best friend, and each and every time I saw him--he made me feel special. Someone this year said at Mass, "That you find friends who remind you of what you like about yourself." I believe that is true, because I had a friend named Phil. I know that my 50 Biloxi students know that my friend Phil was there the entire week helping me and helping our group do our very best. The people of Gulu will never know Phil, know his laughter, know his kindness, know what a friend he was. So this year I go with that purpose, to spread his message, his love, and his friendship to all of the people who won't be lucky like me--- to have met, hugged, and laughed with Phil Williams.

I also go with the spirit of the Biloxi group. How can you have been on that trip and not feel that we can change the world? It is from that group, and all their little extra efforts that will remind me during the next 6 weeks, to always do a little bit more than my best. Giving them an 11 when 10 is perfect, might come from me, but it has it roots in all of you. And if I am able to do good on this trip, it is because of your efforts and your examples.

I go with the spirit of the Nerinx community, you are all so talented and so wonderful. And when I say great things about you as freshmen, go find the Seniors who I taught as freshmen in E 14, and ask them the great things they have already accomplished since they left freshment Algebra. I go with the kindness and the interest that so many of you shared with me after my presentation and slide show. Telling me that you too would be in Africa soon, making a difference. I believe you. My colleagues on the faculty who make me want to be a better teacher and a better man, through their examples and their kindness.

I go with the basketball tournament at Chaminade, and the Walk/Run at Parkway West, and the backyard basketball game in Oakville, I go with all of those good thoughts and good intentions, but mostly I go with the idea that all of those young people put ideas into action and from their action came results.

I go with great thoughts and wishes from friends I have known 30 years and smiles and handshakes from people who know me just from playing softball in the Blackthorn league. I go with the dreams of people who I have not met, but will follow my actions through this blog.

I go with the support of my family, 2 great sisters and a brother, and all three of them married great people!! I go with the well wishes of 7 nieces and 1 nephew, and 1 nephew who watches his uncle from above.

And I go with the support of my parents, who have taught me that faith is the most important thing we have. And who have shown me that example, daily for the last 40 years.

So thank you all, all of a sudden, my task seems quite easy.

John