Today was a day filled with promise, starting with a good lesson and ending with playing Frisbee with about 8 of the high school boys, and about 5 primary school kids. The one primary school kid, Jacob, was great as he shagged all errant throws back to me. I almost did not even bend over while playing Frisbee. It might have been a bad idea during dinner, as the students (the boarders) get served dinner on plastic plates. I looked once behind me, and there were 9 different dinner plates sailing through the air.
Today, Patrick Munduga (spelling) and Denielle from Invisible Children came up to ask the Head Teacher and the teachers how IC is doing, and what they can be doing better. After several exchanges of thank yous, (IC has done quite a bit at PoPaViSSA) and deserves the accolades with many new buildings. 2 school buildings last year, have turned into 10 this year. The head teacher asked for one more comment, and then told the gathering, we will let John give the final speech. The formality in the Ugandan class room is very specific, and there are many speeches at a faculty meeting like this.
This being Africa, I am starting to be ready for impromptu speeches....(SIDE NOTE: I HAVE JUST RETREATED TO THE SAFETY OF MY BED, AS THE MOSQUITOES WERE TAKING MORE BLOOD FROM ME THAN THE RED CROSS ALLOWS!!)
Here to the best of my recollection is that speech. "First of all, I want to thank everyone in this room for the kindness that has been extended to me and my fellow teachers over the last 24 hours. In a short time you have treated us like family and we appreciate your kindness.
Our colleague that died in the bombing, worked hard to spread the message of your students and your schools to American students. Because, he and his colleagues were so successful, we can see in the new buildings and the classrooms the real extent of their efforts.
Most of us in Invisible Children have joined this organization because we detest violence. It is not an answer, and not a solution. We are teachers, so we teach kindness, and love and understanding. And that is what we have seen from our Ugandan counterparts. You have shown us a great kindness and a great gentleness. Here, I speak for myself, but I think my fellow teachers will agree that this attack of violence does not weaken our resolve, but it strengthens us. I want to do even more now, because I do not want to live in a world, where violence wins. We are teachers and we will continue to do what we do best-- we will teach. We will teach kindness and love and understanding. It is knowledge of the world and others that breaks down hate, and in the end, I believe we will win.. This battle will not be won by soldiers it will be won by teachers.
I also want to say that when I see the Pope Paul VI students that they have the same determination and drive that American students have. They pursue...they pursue knowledge and dream about their future. So it is our duty, that we MUST not let this determination and drive be wasted. We must do our very best for these students. This is the path we have chosen, everyone in this room is a teacher, and we must continue on this path.
I am so impressed with these students, that I will end this way. In 2030, I expect to turn on the NBC Nightly News and hear that they have just elected a new president in Uganda and I will say, "Hey, I taught her when she was a student at Pope Paul VI in Anaka."
So today was a good day, I had two different help sessions with only a handful of students each time. I really felt I was helping those students with their mathematics.
John
Walk to Atanga SS
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Answering Hate with Love, Answering Intolerance with Education.
This morning 2 bombs were set off in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. I am in a remote village, 6 hours away, and all the teachers are safe and will continue to be safe. The gentleness and kindness we have received from the people in Anaka and Pope Paul VI school has been amazing. 64 people were killed in these bombings...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/11/AR2010071102834.html
Included in the deceased was a young man, Nate Henn, who I do not believe I had the pleasure of meeting. He was a dedicated roadie for Invisible Children. The roadies are amazing people who put their lives on hold for 3 months, 6 months, or sometimes more than a year to spread the word about how Americans and American high school students can help the students of northern Uganda. Becky Dale, Nerinx Hall alum, is one of those amazing people. I found out later today that Becky had known Nathan and they were friends and believers in the same dream.
Nate had made such good friends with Ugandans that he had met while touring America that he had come to Uganda early to reconnect with those friends. It was doing what friends do, watching the World Cup, that put Nate in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is also tragically ironic that Nate who worked hard to end the violence and hate in Northern Uganda was killed by a different group of violence and hate. If you want to read who Nate was....here is a link to the Invisible children site.
http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/07/in-loving-memory-of-nate-oteka-henn/
I also ask your prayers for the other 60 plus people who died in this senseless act of violence. It may be easy when we see such destruction and mayhem that we give up or become pessimistic about our world.
I also ask your prayers for all those inside the Invisible Children organization, this is a tightly knit community, and my fellow teacher, Colleen Dougherty, knew Nate, and was close friends with his sister, and many of his friends. I have nicknamed Colleen, Sunshine and Smiles, because that is exactly who she is Sunshine and Smiles---she is a wonderful teacher that brings energy and love to everyone she encounters. I cannot tell you how many times she has made me smile or laugh. It is literally over 100 in a short two weeks. It saddens me that one so giving and loving is sad today.
.....
But today my day begin entirely different than the violence and mayhem of the city of Kampala. My day began with 8 villagers of Anaka in a small, beautiful church at 630 am Mass. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Leonsyo and Father Martin, my 2 new friends, and they were joined on the altar by Deacon James who will be ordained the day we leave Anaka. The Mass started a little late, as the World Cup did not end until after midnight here, and even the Priests are fans. LOL! A few minutes into the Mass, a small boy of about 6 came into church by himself. He dutifully blessed himself with Holy Water and found a space in the church. He, like most under the age of 13, had no shoes, and was clad in a simple shirt and shorts, his primary school uniform.
Mass was in Lwo, so it is sometimes hard to follow, but Father Leonsyo's voice, his peace, his calm, and his LOVE come out loud in any language. The other night, his cell phone rang as he was with Kelley Moneymaker and myself. "Can I Love this one he asked?", to Kelley and I. "To answer, and to listen is to LOVE, is it not?" He said.
Today, I will pray some more and pray a lot. And I will pray that the world will see the future in the 3 generations I saw today. I do not know who each of you will identify with the small boy, Colleen who so much wants to give good to the world, or the gentle Love of a Parish priest. But one or maybe all of those three will continue the work of Nate Henn, and I remain convinced that LOVE in the end will triumph.
How can it not?
John
p.s. Do not worry about me, I will see you all in August. and know that I love each of you so, so much. I am a teacher, and I am here teaching.....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/11/AR2010071102834.html
Included in the deceased was a young man, Nate Henn, who I do not believe I had the pleasure of meeting. He was a dedicated roadie for Invisible Children. The roadies are amazing people who put their lives on hold for 3 months, 6 months, or sometimes more than a year to spread the word about how Americans and American high school students can help the students of northern Uganda. Becky Dale, Nerinx Hall alum, is one of those amazing people. I found out later today that Becky had known Nathan and they were friends and believers in the same dream.
Nate had made such good friends with Ugandans that he had met while touring America that he had come to Uganda early to reconnect with those friends. It was doing what friends do, watching the World Cup, that put Nate in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is also tragically ironic that Nate who worked hard to end the violence and hate in Northern Uganda was killed by a different group of violence and hate. If you want to read who Nate was....here is a link to the Invisible children site.
http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/07/in-loving-memory-of-nate-oteka-henn/
I also ask your prayers for the other 60 plus people who died in this senseless act of violence. It may be easy when we see such destruction and mayhem that we give up or become pessimistic about our world.
I also ask your prayers for all those inside the Invisible Children organization, this is a tightly knit community, and my fellow teacher, Colleen Dougherty, knew Nate, and was close friends with his sister, and many of his friends. I have nicknamed Colleen, Sunshine and Smiles, because that is exactly who she is Sunshine and Smiles---she is a wonderful teacher that brings energy and love to everyone she encounters. I cannot tell you how many times she has made me smile or laugh. It is literally over 100 in a short two weeks. It saddens me that one so giving and loving is sad today.
.....
But today my day begin entirely different than the violence and mayhem of the city of Kampala. My day began with 8 villagers of Anaka in a small, beautiful church at 630 am Mass. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Leonsyo and Father Martin, my 2 new friends, and they were joined on the altar by Deacon James who will be ordained the day we leave Anaka. The Mass started a little late, as the World Cup did not end until after midnight here, and even the Priests are fans. LOL! A few minutes into the Mass, a small boy of about 6 came into church by himself. He dutifully blessed himself with Holy Water and found a space in the church. He, like most under the age of 13, had no shoes, and was clad in a simple shirt and shorts, his primary school uniform.
Mass was in Lwo, so it is sometimes hard to follow, but Father Leonsyo's voice, his peace, his calm, and his LOVE come out loud in any language. The other night, his cell phone rang as he was with Kelley Moneymaker and myself. "Can I Love this one he asked?", to Kelley and I. "To answer, and to listen is to LOVE, is it not?" He said.
Today, I will pray some more and pray a lot. And I will pray that the world will see the future in the 3 generations I saw today. I do not know who each of you will identify with the small boy, Colleen who so much wants to give good to the world, or the gentle Love of a Parish priest. But one or maybe all of those three will continue the work of Nate Henn, and I remain convinced that LOVE in the end will triumph.
How can it not?
John
p.s. Do not worry about me, I will see you all in August. and know that I love each of you so, so much. I am a teacher, and I am here teaching.....
Friday, July 9, 2010
2 Shining Stars....
Some of you may remember how disappointed I was when I heard that due to a student strike that we were not going to be sending teachers to Atanga SS. Today, we had a conference of all the schools, specifically to talk about KOBS. KOBS is an emotional literacy class that all Invisible Children schools are in various stages of implementing. When the speaker of the seminar showed a slide that showed a not insignificant percentage of the students surveyed had seen houses set afire with people in them, then maybe something else has to happen in the lives of these students before we can teach them how to simplify the square root of 8.
The KOBS program seems to be a step in the right direction. I believe any student cannot learn without feeling good about themselves, and understanding how truly remarkable they are. The KOBS program works to get traumatized students understanding what has happened in their lives and how to understand and manage the pain, but still move on.
Later in the day, when I saw Jacob from the Rough Cut on the street, he again turned his Reds cap backwards, so the big C was not obvious. If so much can happen in Jacob's life to move him in such a powerful direction, and he is such a smiling and happy young man, then there is hope for all of the students affected by the conflict.
-----
In the early morning beginning of the conference, I was greeted by two warm handshakes and two familiar voices. Ocwa Alfred Jackson and Obonyo Sam had come down to the conference from Atanga. They were crushed and terribly disappointed that Atanga was not getting American teachers this year. They had both worked so hard for their students and both worked so hard to suppport Invisible that I feel in some way, I have let them down. In the wave of the violence at the school, and thinking of the safety concerns for our teachers. I think the decision not to send to Atanga SS this year was probably the correct one.....Yet from their voices I heard two men talk about their school, imploring me that the school was never shut down...that there were working hard to make sure that students were continuing to study throughout all the chaos.
I am not sure what exactly has happened at Atanga, or at least I am not going to share it on record, but the bottom line is this...maybe one man let the school down.
What would you do, as a young student who saw your one shot at a future drift away due to the actions of an adult who should know better. Reacting with violence is never the answer, but then again what happens to a dream destroyed? what happens to a dream deferred?
And through it all, these two teachers Sam and Alfred were doing their very best for their students. Making sure that the school did not close, and making sure students who showed up were given instruction, were given knowledge, study sessions for their placement exams continued......
And what about the students who did not participate in the violence, who just want to move forward and conquer each year, and each subject in stride, what happens to them? I know some of my words here might be confusing to you, and I will have to fill in more details when I get home.....but it is amazing how many good people here are doing their very best to triumph through all these adversities and obstacles......
The bottom line is that there are no Teacher Exchange Teachers at Atanga SS, this year and this hurts everyone. The students and teachers of Atanga, who are doing amazing work, the American teachers that did not get a chance to see Atanga SS, and my two friends Alfred and Sam who care so much....
I have decided I am skipping the Safari to visit the teachers and students at Atanga SS....Hopefully, I can let them all know that they are not forgotten and there is still hope....
The KOBS program seems to be a step in the right direction. I believe any student cannot learn without feeling good about themselves, and understanding how truly remarkable they are. The KOBS program works to get traumatized students understanding what has happened in their lives and how to understand and manage the pain, but still move on.
Later in the day, when I saw Jacob from the Rough Cut on the street, he again turned his Reds cap backwards, so the big C was not obvious. If so much can happen in Jacob's life to move him in such a powerful direction, and he is such a smiling and happy young man, then there is hope for all of the students affected by the conflict.
-----
In the early morning beginning of the conference, I was greeted by two warm handshakes and two familiar voices. Ocwa Alfred Jackson and Obonyo Sam had come down to the conference from Atanga. They were crushed and terribly disappointed that Atanga was not getting American teachers this year. They had both worked so hard for their students and both worked so hard to suppport Invisible that I feel in some way, I have let them down. In the wave of the violence at the school, and thinking of the safety concerns for our teachers. I think the decision not to send to Atanga SS this year was probably the correct one.....Yet from their voices I heard two men talk about their school, imploring me that the school was never shut down...that there were working hard to make sure that students were continuing to study throughout all the chaos.
I am not sure what exactly has happened at Atanga, or at least I am not going to share it on record, but the bottom line is this...maybe one man let the school down.
What would you do, as a young student who saw your one shot at a future drift away due to the actions of an adult who should know better. Reacting with violence is never the answer, but then again what happens to a dream destroyed? what happens to a dream deferred?
And through it all, these two teachers Sam and Alfred were doing their very best for their students. Making sure that the school did not close, and making sure students who showed up were given instruction, were given knowledge, study sessions for their placement exams continued......
And what about the students who did not participate in the violence, who just want to move forward and conquer each year, and each subject in stride, what happens to them? I know some of my words here might be confusing to you, and I will have to fill in more details when I get home.....but it is amazing how many good people here are doing their very best to triumph through all these adversities and obstacles......
The bottom line is that there are no Teacher Exchange Teachers at Atanga SS, this year and this hurts everyone. The students and teachers of Atanga, who are doing amazing work, the American teachers that did not get a chance to see Atanga SS, and my two friends Alfred and Sam who care so much....
I have decided I am skipping the Safari to visit the teachers and students at Atanga SS....Hopefully, I can let them all know that they are not forgotten and there is still hope....
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mass, God, and god
Kelley and I got up at 6 am to walk up for Mass with Father Leonsyo. It was wonderful, we walked through the dark to get to Mass, and saw small children with remnants of down coats to ward off the morning chill.
Mass was entirely in Lwo, and there were all generations there, and music was provided by the small home made harp. I have pictures, but right now very little battery time left. So I will flush this out later.
After Mass, we went to Morning Parade (Assembly) where the students stand and listen to the several teachers talk about how the school and their school life could be better. I looked at a few things in the staff room, came home to a broken toilet where I had to implement a flushing system, then lit an old Post-Dispatch on fire to cover the smell...
Our wash was done, but it still was a little damp, so I start rehanging it on the line. I was soon greeted by the sound on the other side of our house of about 60 students slashing the grass by hand. This was not punishment, but rather a way to welcome the Americans, but I would much rather see tall grass and students in classes. As the student teacher was calling students names to stop, because he felt they were working, a small feisty student questioned his authority. The student teacher replied, "I am God." The student replied, "You are god with a small g."
I am going to have to get to know this student. His impatience with the task at hand, and his feistiness, makes me believe that there is a lot there.....
John
Mass was entirely in Lwo, and there were all generations there, and music was provided by the small home made harp. I have pictures, but right now very little battery time left. So I will flush this out later.
After Mass, we went to Morning Parade (Assembly) where the students stand and listen to the several teachers talk about how the school and their school life could be better. I looked at a few things in the staff room, came home to a broken toilet where I had to implement a flushing system, then lit an old Post-Dispatch on fire to cover the smell...
Our wash was done, but it still was a little damp, so I start rehanging it on the line. I was soon greeted by the sound on the other side of our house of about 60 students slashing the grass by hand. This was not punishment, but rather a way to welcome the Americans, but I would much rather see tall grass and students in classes. As the student teacher was calling students names to stop, because he felt they were working, a small feisty student questioned his authority. The student teacher replied, "I am God." The student replied, "You are god with a small g."
I am going to have to get to know this student. His impatience with the task at hand, and his feistiness, makes me believe that there is a lot there.....
John
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Father Leonsyo
A real significant reason, I came back this year was to visit the village of Anaka. I had heard such amazing stories about the parish Priests that the 5 teachers had stayed with last year. Kelley had even told me more as we prepared to become teachers at Pope Paul VI in Anaka.
Both priests were out of town, so we did not get to meet them until.....
Kelley was antsy all night, as she could not wait until her friend from last year, Father Leonsyo would be returning to Anaka from Gulu via Italy for 3 months. She kept checking her phone for messages and the time, and after dinner questioned how long the drive from Gulu to Anaka would take.
Finally, I suggested we just walk up to the parish anyway. The start was interesting as I had not walked to the Church in the dark yet. Kelley, the warrior, plowed ahead, and I was just keeping up, doing my best to pay attention in case I had to find my way back for some reason. As we walked, we past about 20 students and villagers, while we had the latest in lights and headlamps all of the locals managed this path with ease in the dark.
We got to the parish center, and soon found Father Leonsyo sitting on a chair in the dark with a large group of people around him. Of course, we were given the chairs right next to Father Leonsyo. I accepted, but wondered how this could be right. Why should I be seated next to the Priest, when so many had known him for so much longer, and had made a special trip to greet him home, after his extended stay in Italy.
Immediately, in front of me, I could see that there was a group of children probably 30 or 40, almost all less than 10... smiling at the Priest. It was amazing just to sit in this gathering. In that moment, I was in a place of such grace. After I made some waving, greeting hand gestures at the boys, one young man of about 5 years old, came up from the third row, approached me and shook my hand. The boy showed great courage, while the other young boys stared at the large white man. I felt so blessed to be in this gentle, quiet place with the people of Anaka.
I will write more about Father Leonsyo later, but I will end with his words, "Isn't that what Love is, to be humble to others, to put others before you."
Today I sat amongst Saints,
John
Both priests were out of town, so we did not get to meet them until.....
Kelley was antsy all night, as she could not wait until her friend from last year, Father Leonsyo would be returning to Anaka from Gulu via Italy for 3 months. She kept checking her phone for messages and the time, and after dinner questioned how long the drive from Gulu to Anaka would take.
Finally, I suggested we just walk up to the parish anyway. The start was interesting as I had not walked to the Church in the dark yet. Kelley, the warrior, plowed ahead, and I was just keeping up, doing my best to pay attention in case I had to find my way back for some reason. As we walked, we past about 20 students and villagers, while we had the latest in lights and headlamps all of the locals managed this path with ease in the dark.
We got to the parish center, and soon found Father Leonsyo sitting on a chair in the dark with a large group of people around him. Of course, we were given the chairs right next to Father Leonsyo. I accepted, but wondered how this could be right. Why should I be seated next to the Priest, when so many had known him for so much longer, and had made a special trip to greet him home, after his extended stay in Italy.
Immediately, in front of me, I could see that there was a group of children probably 30 or 40, almost all less than 10... smiling at the Priest. It was amazing just to sit in this gathering. In that moment, I was in a place of such grace. After I made some waving, greeting hand gestures at the boys, one young man of about 5 years old, came up from the third row, approached me and shook my hand. The boy showed great courage, while the other young boys stared at the large white man. I felt so blessed to be in this gentle, quiet place with the people of Anaka.
I will write more about Father Leonsyo later, but I will end with his words, "Isn't that what Love is, to be humble to others, to put others before you."
Today I sat amongst Saints,
John
There is a Chicken in My Goal--UPDATED
Kelley, Colleen, and I took a long walk after school through town. We saw the parish, but Kelley's friends the priests are both away. We saw a beautiful, little church where I am hoping to go Mass next week. We walked into town, and searched the market for yarn for Colleen's school project. She finally found rope, as yarn was not there. We then hurried back for the big Football match between the students and the faculty. There was no reason to hurry as the big match scheduled for 4:00 pm did not start until after 5:30 T.I.A. (This Is Africa). The match was being taken a little more seriously then I thought as the faculty start handing out uniforms. There were several jokes that I would be the keeper, but I kept saying probably not. Since wash day had not happened, I showed up for the game in a Nerinx polo, shorts with a belt, and my D Wade converse basketball shoes.
We walked through town, this time joined by several students that Kelley had taught last year, by the time we got to the pitch, we were being followed by about 30 people. And I got the unfortunate news that I was the starting keeper. This year, I made a couple of saves, got the ball a couple of times, and once fell over on a somewhat routine ball back to me...(the D Wades let me done---or I probably should have had spikes)....There was soon going to be a breakaway, but Colleen's teacher Geoffrey tackled the student from behind. PENALTY SHOT! I was ready as the young kids behind me, started to laugh at my focus for the shot...Oh I forgot by this time the game had grown to about 1100 of different people with many small children.
The shot was off. I quickly tried to be the hero, by flinging my left arm at the incoming ball, but only got 1/2 a forearm on the ball. I made contact, but not enough to stop the ball. The half ended with a few more chances, but at half time the score was 1-1. I felt vindicated from my last pathetic performance as a keeper 3 years ago. And I got the good news, there would be a substitute for me in the second half.
During one of the big chances, I was getting ready for the save as the yellow clad students made an attack on my goal. As I steadied myself and checked my position in the goal, I noticed a chicken was strutting around by the left goal post. So I thought sure the chicken would mess me up, I quickly chased the chicken out of my goal, as the attack came towards me.
Many of the children laughed at the large white man chasing a chicken as the game progressed. We left the game 2 minutes early as we had to get back for dinner, but we travelled down a path, with 2 little girls, clad in torn blue jumpers, laughing and hugging 12 feet ahead of us.
Another student told us, she thought the white teachers had come from Heaven to help this town. I wish I had pictures as we walked with a group of 400 back to town, all of them a little curious about the 3 white teachers.
At 9:30....I am rushing as almost no time left on battery.....
We were going to watch the World Cup inside as they broadcast it outside with a projector.... The screen was not there, so we moved the 27 inch TV outside, the teachers sat on chairs (maybe 20) as 300 students crowded into every space inside and around us. Okay, I am typing this late at night, after Kelley and I got back from seeing Father Leonsyo. I am underneath my mosquito net with a flashlight in my mouth. But I needed to add that at half time, the teachers start flipping channel for so many this month is the first they have seen of satellite tv. At half-time of the World Cup, we watched in order: the closing credits of Monsters, Inc., 3 and a half minutes of Wuthering Heights (some British version ???), then Pit Bulls and Parolees for a good 8 minutes....Just kind of funny as everyone was enthralled with something they had not seen before.
Not a bad full day in the little town of Anaka.
We walked through town, this time joined by several students that Kelley had taught last year, by the time we got to the pitch, we were being followed by about 30 people. And I got the unfortunate news that I was the starting keeper. This year, I made a couple of saves, got the ball a couple of times, and once fell over on a somewhat routine ball back to me...(the D Wades let me done---or I probably should have had spikes)....There was soon going to be a breakaway, but Colleen's teacher Geoffrey tackled the student from behind. PENALTY SHOT! I was ready as the young kids behind me, started to laugh at my focus for the shot...Oh I forgot by this time the game had grown to about 1100 of different people with many small children.
The shot was off. I quickly tried to be the hero, by flinging my left arm at the incoming ball, but only got 1/2 a forearm on the ball. I made contact, but not enough to stop the ball. The half ended with a few more chances, but at half time the score was 1-1. I felt vindicated from my last pathetic performance as a keeper 3 years ago. And I got the good news, there would be a substitute for me in the second half.
During one of the big chances, I was getting ready for the save as the yellow clad students made an attack on my goal. As I steadied myself and checked my position in the goal, I noticed a chicken was strutting around by the left goal post. So I thought sure the chicken would mess me up, I quickly chased the chicken out of my goal, as the attack came towards me.
Many of the children laughed at the large white man chasing a chicken as the game progressed. We left the game 2 minutes early as we had to get back for dinner, but we travelled down a path, with 2 little girls, clad in torn blue jumpers, laughing and hugging 12 feet ahead of us.
Another student told us, she thought the white teachers had come from Heaven to help this town. I wish I had pictures as we walked with a group of 400 back to town, all of them a little curious about the 3 white teachers.
At 9:30....I am rushing as almost no time left on battery.....
We were going to watch the World Cup inside as they broadcast it outside with a projector.... The screen was not there, so we moved the 27 inch TV outside, the teachers sat on chairs (maybe 20) as 300 students crowded into every space inside and around us. Okay, I am typing this late at night, after Kelley and I got back from seeing Father Leonsyo. I am underneath my mosquito net with a flashlight in my mouth. But I needed to add that at half time, the teachers start flipping channel for so many this month is the first they have seen of satellite tv. At half-time of the World Cup, we watched in order: the closing credits of Monsters, Inc., 3 and a half minutes of Wuthering Heights (some British version ???), then Pit Bulls and Parolees for a good 8 minutes....Just kind of funny as everyone was enthralled with something they had not seen before.
Not a bad full day in the little town of Anaka.
Monday, July 5, 2010
First Night in Anaka
Well, we have settled in for our first night at Atanga. We are actually in a 3 bedroom house with Jacob, from the Peace Corps, our new friend. Jacob and first worked at drilling a hole in his ceiling for his mosquito net. That actually failed and I jerryrigged, a screw from a lock assembly, duct taped to a string that I shoved through the hole that I had made. We assembled beds and Mosquito Nets and have started to call this home. Maureen, our cook, is working over a charcoal stove in the kitchen preparing us our first meal.
Kelley Moneymaker has been appointed Chairwoman of Money, I am the Chairmen of Fixing Things and Toilet Problems, Colleen Dougherty is Chairwomen of Sunshine and Smiles, and Min Dusanj has been appointed Chairwomen of World Culture and is also the Canadian Liasion Officer for our little community. The internet appears to work up here, so our new limitation is battery power, but hopefully we can prevail on the Priests in the village to hook us up with Faith, Communion, and a little 220 power.
The Scouts, cut bamboo for the girls' rooms to prop up their mosquito nets. I shared with them 3 silly bands-- a gorilla, a giraffe, and an elephant. About 15 different excited students helped us move in, and I think so many were excited to see us. My friend Odong Collins Otika has already stopped in to say Hi!....I have learned that the school fees at Pope Paul VI are a little more affordable than some of the schools in Gulu.
Hopefully we can begin tomorrow by making impact as teachers, all things look promising.
John....
A cou
Kelley Moneymaker has been appointed Chairwoman of Money, I am the Chairmen of Fixing Things and Toilet Problems, Colleen Dougherty is Chairwomen of Sunshine and Smiles, and Min Dusanj has been appointed Chairwomen of World Culture and is also the Canadian Liasion Officer for our little community. The internet appears to work up here, so our new limitation is battery power, but hopefully we can prevail on the Priests in the village to hook us up with Faith, Communion, and a little 220 power.
The Scouts, cut bamboo for the girls' rooms to prop up their mosquito nets. I shared with them 3 silly bands-- a gorilla, a giraffe, and an elephant. About 15 different excited students helped us move in, and I think so many were excited to see us. My friend Odong Collins Otika has already stopped in to say Hi!....I have learned that the school fees at Pope Paul VI are a little more affordable than some of the schools in Gulu.
Hopefully we can begin tomorrow by making impact as teachers, all things look promising.
John....
A cou
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