Walk to Atanga SS
Monday, July 13, 2009
Rain Tuesday morning.
John texted that at 5:30 Tuesday morning he was soaked by rain as he went to use the latrine. But despite being soaked he was happy for the rain as it had not rained in some time. He reminded us that all of the students "dig," that is raise crops and of course rain is necessary for successful crops. He also thanked God for the rain and prayed there would be more tomorrow.
Hold 'em and White Ants
Last night, I ran a hold'em tournament in our courtyard. Jo Mallory stayed in a hand with J3, hit a both on the flop and ran me out with my pair of queens and an ace kicker. Capt. Underwear won the tournament, but Jolene and Annie Q. held on until the end.
I was up trying to figure out a way to watch the Cardinals-Cubs game when I heard a flurry in the court yard. Thousands of white ants were back, they were all attacking the light in front of Matt's and Jon's room. A really great trick would have been to turn off the outside light and turn on the light in their room, but I was too tired or lazy.
If you can get the text to Obama's speech in Ghana--it is amazing. Especially the last 5 paragraphs, he really challenges the young Africans to take care of their future. Get on line and get the text to this speech. They printed the entire speech in the Ugandan paper. Although in the same paper, they have some other trash. And a 16 x 16 Moduku that actually did keep me up for a lot of the night.
In less than an hour, it is back to Atanga for the penultimate week. I used bad word processing programs at 3 different places to print a survey for their school. I am going to select students at random to complete the survey and then we will give it to the faculty next week.
Hope everyone has fun at the Home Run Derby and All-Star game. Since my grandpa Joe went in 1966, I have been waiting to go to this game. So I figure, I will have another chance in 2042, how scary is that thought.
will try to text my dad some mini-posts, but otherwise see you in a week
go cards,
john
I was up trying to figure out a way to watch the Cardinals-Cubs game when I heard a flurry in the court yard. Thousands of white ants were back, they were all attacking the light in front of Matt's and Jon's room. A really great trick would have been to turn off the outside light and turn on the light in their room, but I was too tired or lazy.
If you can get the text to Obama's speech in Ghana--it is amazing. Especially the last 5 paragraphs, he really challenges the young Africans to take care of their future. Get on line and get the text to this speech. They printed the entire speech in the Ugandan paper. Although in the same paper, they have some other trash. And a 16 x 16 Moduku that actually did keep me up for a lot of the night.
In less than an hour, it is back to Atanga for the penultimate week. I used bad word processing programs at 3 different places to print a survey for their school. I am going to select students at random to complete the survey and then we will give it to the faculty next week.
Hope everyone has fun at the Home Run Derby and All-Star game. Since my grandpa Joe went in 1966, I have been waiting to go to this game. So I figure, I will have another chance in 2042, how scary is that thought.
will try to text my dad some mini-posts, but otherwise see you in a week
go cards,
john
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Rainy Sunday Morning
It rained a little this morning. The roads have been so dusty here, and many of the families really need rain for their crops. I would say almost everybody I know in Atanga is a farmer, even the teachers get up early to dig. They call all work in their farm--digging. I typed out survey questions using a bad software program and the printer printed it crooked, but I guess I have to settle for shabby work, because I have no other options.
Low key night, only 3 teachers left in town. They either went home, to see rhinos, or on safari. I hope the rain this morning will bring out the animals for my friends. Matt, Annie, and I had a nice dinner at Bambu and then Matt and I joined a couple people at Da Pub. Met a woman who worked in Sudan, we talked about micro loans and Jeffrey Sachs and many other things. Andrew who is here a year or two with IC wondered how America was when Obama got elected. He was in Chile during that time. Every knows I am optimistic about the world, because I see on a daily basis the dedication, compassion, and caring about others from phenomenal 16 and 17 year olds. I really wish more of these 17 year olds could see what the twenty-somethings are actually doing on the ground in different parts of the world. YOU CAN TAKE A YEAR OR TWO OF YOUR LIFE GO SOMEWHERE AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. So hold onto that dream.
Going to let Matt use some of my internet, so gotta go..
Go Cards
John
Low key night, only 3 teachers left in town. They either went home, to see rhinos, or on safari. I hope the rain this morning will bring out the animals for my friends. Matt, Annie, and I had a nice dinner at Bambu and then Matt and I joined a couple people at Da Pub. Met a woman who worked in Sudan, we talked about micro loans and Jeffrey Sachs and many other things. Andrew who is here a year or two with IC wondered how America was when Obama got elected. He was in Chile during that time. Every knows I am optimistic about the world, because I see on a daily basis the dedication, compassion, and caring about others from phenomenal 16 and 17 year olds. I really wish more of these 17 year olds could see what the twenty-somethings are actually doing on the ground in different parts of the world. YOU CAN TAKE A YEAR OR TWO OF YOUR LIFE GO SOMEWHERE AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. So hold onto that dream.
Going to let Matt use some of my internet, so gotta go..
Go Cards
John
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Two weeks of teaching left.
As group 1 teachers hopped into their coaster to begin their journey home, I started to think about how I can be giving my best to Atanga SS in the final two weeks. I stayed home from the safari to concentrate on getting some work done and just relaxing a little bit.
Great news, it appears that the Invisible Children Teacher Exchange is really going to be an exchange and 11 Ugandan teachers will be coming to America in January. This might require some bit of fund raising, so I may be gently putting the squeeze on all of you. This is a huge piece of the puzzle and I feel can really make a difference on the ground in Uganda. America seems so far away to these students, but if one of their own teachers can get here, they might believe that they can also. They will see that hard work and dedication has a real payoff. I am so excited about this. I let my voice be known and it looks like the current teachers and all of you alums out there, will have a real voice and part of this program. I do not know the details, but I would love to have an Acholi teacher in St. Louis this January. Keep your fingers crossed.
I attended the Awere SS farewell dinner and connected with old friends, and my trusted colleague, Matthew, the head teacher. He is adamant to try to bring the culture of reading to his students. Like all African (think British) events their was a program and a list of speakers. I was actually compelled to talk twice. The second time I repeated a message many of you have heard. I keep trying to take my candle out into the world to light up the darkness that I think I see, but when I get there I always see the candles of the ones I am trying to help are usually more bright then my own.
CAUTION: THE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS DETAILS OF A LATRINE INCIDENT, YOU MAY SKIP IF YOU SO DESIRE
The dinner ended for me eventfully, as I was called to the latrine, things did not go well, but I am proud to say everything made it in the right place. The bathroom floor was wet, so I delicately balance my khakis on my crocs, before answering the now urgent call. I tried to flush the toilet and it did not flush. I was tall enough, so I took off the lid of the tank (6 feet off the ground). The lever was broken, so I tried to jimmy up a new way to flush it, although while wearing only a shirt and tie, and now sweating profusely. I had to laugh at the absurdity of it all. After unsuccessfully trying to fix the toilet, I left realizing I would need to find management and ask for a bucket of water. No person, Ugandan or American needed to be subjected waht was still in the bowl. Right outside, was a 50 gallon tub, with a pitcher of water obviously for the purpose of flushing the toilet. SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED ON THE WAY IN. It would have saved me an agonizing ten minutes of spontaneous plumbing work. I excused myself from the dinner, and made it home, although a boda boda ride did not seem like a good idea. My group was having a party, so I rushed past them, took 2 immodium, and crawled into bed. 30 minutes of being in a fetal position, and I was fine. (Mom all is fine, really)
I then joined Ryan, Matt, and some of the other teachers. Michelle and Kelly from group 3 also seemed excited about the Ugandans coming to America. Kelly told me the Pope Paul VI Anaka teachers were ready for a good week, after kind of a rough first week.
Love to see the Cardinals playing well, my dad texts me every night with the score, it makes me feel a little closer to all of you.
Finally, this program has allowed me to talk, laugh, drink, dance, and sing with incredible people. I have told the stupidest jokes and have had deep conversations about faith, and how we can help change the world. These wonderful people are out there in our world, go talk to strangers, you will find amazing people. Especially Erin and Elise, and all those going to college for the first time. You are incredible people go find more incredible people and we can all be incredible.
Mr. Incredible
(if you don't see that image, think of me in my Smart car.)
Great news, it appears that the Invisible Children Teacher Exchange is really going to be an exchange and 11 Ugandan teachers will be coming to America in January. This might require some bit of fund raising, so I may be gently putting the squeeze on all of you. This is a huge piece of the puzzle and I feel can really make a difference on the ground in Uganda. America seems so far away to these students, but if one of their own teachers can get here, they might believe that they can also. They will see that hard work and dedication has a real payoff. I am so excited about this. I let my voice be known and it looks like the current teachers and all of you alums out there, will have a real voice and part of this program. I do not know the details, but I would love to have an Acholi teacher in St. Louis this January. Keep your fingers crossed.
I attended the Awere SS farewell dinner and connected with old friends, and my trusted colleague, Matthew, the head teacher. He is adamant to try to bring the culture of reading to his students. Like all African (think British) events their was a program and a list of speakers. I was actually compelled to talk twice. The second time I repeated a message many of you have heard. I keep trying to take my candle out into the world to light up the darkness that I think I see, but when I get there I always see the candles of the ones I am trying to help are usually more bright then my own.
CAUTION: THE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS DETAILS OF A LATRINE INCIDENT, YOU MAY SKIP IF YOU SO DESIRE
The dinner ended for me eventfully, as I was called to the latrine, things did not go well, but I am proud to say everything made it in the right place. The bathroom floor was wet, so I delicately balance my khakis on my crocs, before answering the now urgent call. I tried to flush the toilet and it did not flush. I was tall enough, so I took off the lid of the tank (6 feet off the ground). The lever was broken, so I tried to jimmy up a new way to flush it, although while wearing only a shirt and tie, and now sweating profusely. I had to laugh at the absurdity of it all. After unsuccessfully trying to fix the toilet, I left realizing I would need to find management and ask for a bucket of water. No person, Ugandan or American needed to be subjected waht was still in the bowl. Right outside, was a 50 gallon tub, with a pitcher of water obviously for the purpose of flushing the toilet. SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED ON THE WAY IN. It would have saved me an agonizing ten minutes of spontaneous plumbing work. I excused myself from the dinner, and made it home, although a boda boda ride did not seem like a good idea. My group was having a party, so I rushed past them, took 2 immodium, and crawled into bed. 30 minutes of being in a fetal position, and I was fine. (Mom all is fine, really)
I then joined Ryan, Matt, and some of the other teachers. Michelle and Kelly from group 3 also seemed excited about the Ugandans coming to America. Kelly told me the Pope Paul VI Anaka teachers were ready for a good week, after kind of a rough first week.
Love to see the Cardinals playing well, my dad texts me every night with the score, it makes me feel a little closer to all of you.
Finally, this program has allowed me to talk, laugh, drink, dance, and sing with incredible people. I have told the stupidest jokes and have had deep conversations about faith, and how we can help change the world. These wonderful people are out there in our world, go talk to strangers, you will find amazing people. Especially Erin and Elise, and all those going to college for the first time. You are incredible people go find more incredible people and we can all be incredible.
Mr. Incredible
(if you don't see that image, think of me in my Smart car.)
Friday, July 10, 2009
I travel 26 hours in a plane to meet great people
It is amazing every year, that I run into the most amazing people in Uganda. People I would have never met or talked to in America are propelled into my world. It is one of the blessings in my life that each year the most amazing and talented people I am allowed to call my friend for some few weeks. So here is my tribute to a few of them. As the "old man" on the trip, I am also allowed to see the future for this wonderful group.
Lauren, the "Wildwood Gangsta" is an amazing person. She is a wonderfully talented, wonderfully committed young women. She is super bright, but carries her knowledge in a real unassuming way. She is a tall, striking young woman who still does not know what to do with her beauty, so she strives to hide it with goofy facial expressions. She will know now that the goofy faces just enhance who she is, and if the men in group 2 are any indication, she has done a poor job of hiding the phenomenal woman she is. One of my number one goals I have when I get back is to find her a job that fits her talents. I am truly excited that we will get a chance to share a beer in the bleachers cheering for our beloved Cardinals. (Before anyone gets the wrong idea all of these phenomenal people in this blog are too young for me. I believe in the rule of 7 and currently that minimun is 32). Lauren has overcome many small fears to give her best to my beloved Awere SS for five weeks and myself and the students of Awere are extremely grateful. I ran into 3 girls on the street the other day, who were talking highly of Lauren and wishing her to stay.
Abby is an obnoxious little one who really just grows more annoying with time. JKJK. She does insist on calling me "old man" though, which actually I am going to miss as she travels back to hollow tree she lives in in America (ha, Abby that's two). Abby has the heart and zest of a person much taller than she is (three if we are counting). She has an incredible feel for the world and truly understands what beauty is, when she sees it or more specifically when she hears it. She forms friendship easily, and has the loyalty of a boy scout, (are girl scouts loyal?). I think she would fight real hard for any of her friends, and I appreciate her smile. And as the Nerinx students know, I have a special place in my heart for the obnoxious ones.
Lisa is an amazing artist, and I hope all of you who have not yet bought her tunes go immediately to iTunes and buy her stuff (Lisa Swetman). I am serious about booking her for a private concert in St. Louis for a benefit concert. Since she plays the piano, I am actually thinking of getting Jole Blon to play before her. Do you hear that Julie? Anyway, although I am mystified and in a better place listening to Lisa the artist. I have recently seen a lot of the incredible person she is. She has an amazing rudder, that keeps her centered as we all float along. While many others bounce from shore to shore, Lisa stays in contact with them, as she cruises effortlessly down the middle of the river. She has a smile that can make a 29 year old Rhode Island kid smile as easily as a 50 year old St. Louis guy and I don't even want to talk about the twinkle that she gets from the Irish. So with this amazing rudder, I am concerned that there will not be enough darkness in her life, that she will continue to write amazing music. Lisa easily saw through the subtrefuge last night, and there was no great song about me cheating with her best friend.
There are like 6 more of these amazing people, but I will have to save that for another day.
To all you amazing people who have captivated and transformed my life, I salute you. When times are tough over here (and this year has been the toughest). I just sit back and remember who I am representing with my presence here. Especially the students, you continue to thrill me, and give me a reason and a smile to begin each day,
John
Lauren, the "Wildwood Gangsta" is an amazing person. She is a wonderfully talented, wonderfully committed young women. She is super bright, but carries her knowledge in a real unassuming way. She is a tall, striking young woman who still does not know what to do with her beauty, so she strives to hide it with goofy facial expressions. She will know now that the goofy faces just enhance who she is, and if the men in group 2 are any indication, she has done a poor job of hiding the phenomenal woman she is. One of my number one goals I have when I get back is to find her a job that fits her talents. I am truly excited that we will get a chance to share a beer in the bleachers cheering for our beloved Cardinals. (Before anyone gets the wrong idea all of these phenomenal people in this blog are too young for me. I believe in the rule of 7 and currently that minimun is 32). Lauren has overcome many small fears to give her best to my beloved Awere SS for five weeks and myself and the students of Awere are extremely grateful. I ran into 3 girls on the street the other day, who were talking highly of Lauren and wishing her to stay.
Abby is an obnoxious little one who really just grows more annoying with time. JKJK. She does insist on calling me "old man" though, which actually I am going to miss as she travels back to hollow tree she lives in in America (ha, Abby that's two). Abby has the heart and zest of a person much taller than she is (three if we are counting). She has an incredible feel for the world and truly understands what beauty is, when she sees it or more specifically when she hears it. She forms friendship easily, and has the loyalty of a boy scout, (are girl scouts loyal?). I think she would fight real hard for any of her friends, and I appreciate her smile. And as the Nerinx students know, I have a special place in my heart for the obnoxious ones.
Lisa is an amazing artist, and I hope all of you who have not yet bought her tunes go immediately to iTunes and buy her stuff (Lisa Swetman). I am serious about booking her for a private concert in St. Louis for a benefit concert. Since she plays the piano, I am actually thinking of getting Jole Blon to play before her. Do you hear that Julie? Anyway, although I am mystified and in a better place listening to Lisa the artist. I have recently seen a lot of the incredible person she is. She has an amazing rudder, that keeps her centered as we all float along. While many others bounce from shore to shore, Lisa stays in contact with them, as she cruises effortlessly down the middle of the river. She has a smile that can make a 29 year old Rhode Island kid smile as easily as a 50 year old St. Louis guy and I don't even want to talk about the twinkle that she gets from the Irish. So with this amazing rudder, I am concerned that there will not be enough darkness in her life, that she will continue to write amazing music. Lisa easily saw through the subtrefuge last night, and there was no great song about me cheating with her best friend.
There are like 6 more of these amazing people, but I will have to save that for another day.
To all you amazing people who have captivated and transformed my life, I salute you. When times are tough over here (and this year has been the toughest). I just sit back and remember who I am representing with my presence here. Especially the students, you continue to thrill me, and give me a reason and a smile to begin each day,
John
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Bumpy Ride Back to Gulu
I got a ride back to Gulu with 3 Ugandans working for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The trip to Atanga, usually take more than an hour. This one took 48 minutes and we stopped for 5 minutes to load up charcoal. Otim John arranged the ride for me as I was waiting for the bus.
On my way to the town center, I was literally followed by 500 primary school students. I need to go take care of some business about my laptop. So that is all for now.
John
On my way to the town center, I was literally followed by 500 primary school students. I need to go take care of some business about my laptop. So that is all for now.
John
Butterflies and Bullets
I am sitting on the main road ...the only road... reading a book, "THE MASCOT’ about a five year old who survived incredibly through WWII. When two butterflies flew by, I thought of all the violence Atanga has seen in 20 years and I realize that bullets don’t kill butterflies. They kill men, women, children, cows, goats and chickens, but not butterflies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)