Another couple of good days. Hayley taught again at Favor of God for the second day. Yesterday, she was the first white person in the history of the school to teach a class. Hayley blurb: "I taught geometry and English again today for the P4s. I'm starting to get used to being called 'madame,' which is a little more fun than Miss K. At break time when the kindergarteners were playing I walked out and stopped by a few little ones playing on the ground. They don't know much English aside from "I'm fine" so I figured playing instead of talking would work out better. I got on the ground and drew a smiley face in the dirt. In a matter of seconds I had a swarm of probably 20 or so kinders. They were laughing so hard at it that I ended up drawing a whole person on the ground and they decided to name it Michelle for the sole reason that that was the name of the 2 foot tall human on my arm at the moment. The second I stood up, I had almost all 20 kinders hanging on me. They honestly wanted nothing more than to hold onto my hands and click the buttons on my watch. After 10 minutes of that, I made the (sort of) mistake of twirling around one little one who had my finger. I think I spent about 15 minutes twirling kids to the point that I thought they were going to yank my fingers off! Just another great day in Gulu!"
After dropping her off, I was going to meet Melissa at Gulu University to return her phone that ended up in my possession. We decided Gulu U. was a good half way point. With not a lot to do at 8 a.m. I just started walking, at 9:12 Melissa called me and was just waking, no problem I figure it would take her about 15 minutes to get ready and with a boda I would see her in 25 minutes. Apparently her Statistics teacher did a poor job of teaching her either mean or median, as I walked almost to her from door to deliver her phone. So hopefully, 2 hour and 26 minute walk helped me get in shape. Kristine got in town today, so the three Teacher buddies reconnected as Sarah was also there. We started out in The Iron Donkey (the former Kope cafe) and ended up at Cafe Larem. Hayley even got in a little "girl time" with Sarah as they wandered off to shop. Hayley and I are contemplating some traditional dance performance at 9:30, but is poring a 7 a.m. So who knows.
Walk to Atanga SS
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Too much or too little
Micah Center in Biloxi, Walt Disney World, Gulu... My last three weeks have been something great and not without these worlds colliding. Most people who read this blog are used to everyone over the age of 14 having a $600 iPhone and 14 might be too old as primary school children are not asking, begging for new phones. Occasionally those with the cell phones collide with those without, it is never a happy experience.
Story 1. A high school kid is told not to bring her cell phone to a homeless shelter and she complies, but somehow that afternoon after meeting another high school friend she brings her phone to swap numbers and probably pictures and probably 5 more things that an old guy does not know about. Some guy with too little takes the phone when seeing it on a chair. An hour of tears and sadness and thanks to electronics we get the phone back. The kid who brought the phone is a great kid who made a mistake, the man who took it also a mistake. And to be fair to our student a lot of her tears were of regrets and embarrassment. She spent a week helping those with too little and did a great job. A good cop helped us get the phone back. Another cop said, "You should go nowhere near the homeless shelter, those people are thieves, liars, drug addicts and the worst people in the world." After we got the phone back, I asked to talk to the 2 young students who witnessed this whole story. I have a different story to tell, " The people that come to the Micah Center are troubled, they have made mistakes, and will make more mistakes, but we believe they still need our love and support, our help, and our prayers. That is why we drive 10 hours each year, because we believe in a different story."
Story 2.. I had a wonderful time celebrating my parents' 60th anniversary in Orlando. One of the days we spent in Epcot, where all of the people visiting talk like they are actually in different countries. "We love Mexico." "There is a fun restaurant in Germany" "Let's go the pub in England." Here is what I would love to see in EPCOT, a real world trade-off exhibit. You could have a coke in Uganda, if you spend the next 7 hours working in the sun to earn it. Or you could have 5 potato chips in India if you spent two hours mopping the bathroom. The India story is a guess, but I know two Ugandans, my friends, intelligent and bright young men, who are happy in their new jobs and will earn about 124,000/= (ugandan shillings) this month that is less than $40 dollars for a month of work. I will try to help them with something before I leave, but . . .it will be too little.
Story 3. This story is very similar to the first story. A Surface tablet was taken from a friend on the bus from Kampala to Gulu. A thief, maybe with too little, maybe not, took it. I jumped on the bus after several other attempts to find it and pleaded with a whole bus load of Ugandans to please return it. I told them it meant a lot to my friend. It did not work, the thief still has it. The Ugandans on the bus responded differently, and I really do not know for sure because they were talking in Lwo. Some were sad and ashamed that this could happen and maybe some were perplexed because in their whole life had nothing even close to the value of this small tablet, I was discouraged also because, I pretty much looked into all of the faces on the bus, and the one I wanted to respond did not. They had too little in most of our world, a Surface tablet is too much. There was not a good ending to Story 1 or Story 2. But Story 3 has people in it, people who had shared a classroom, and had shared a laugh, they had struggled together to write stories and solve math problems. Like myself and many of you who have seen different parts of the world, know we have too much. I think if you asked the person who lost her Surface she would agree. After we settled in and talked to the Priest, the teacher with too much walked down a path, heads turned of a group of girls preparing for their studies. The first student with too little came running down the path and embraced her teacher with a hug of joy and so much good laughter. The teacher hugged each girl and greeted them by name, although they had been apart for 10 months, their joy and their embraces erased that time, and they now stood shoulder to shoulder jumping up and down. Then another girl in a bright red sweater with several tears in it came flying down the path with arms open like she could reach the 50 feet between her and her teacher. Hayley and I joined our friend as the walk continued and 5 boys greeted their old teacher with shrugs. The teacher was explaining to us the difference between boys and girls, when a group of Senior 4 boys cam running up the path to greet their beloved Madam. One boy with too little stayed behind and he was fidgeting with something. He walked up and said, "Madam, this is for you." He extended his hand a gave her a small stick that he had used to pierce 5 leaves. This "flower" was quite simply ......too ______
Story 1. A high school kid is told not to bring her cell phone to a homeless shelter and she complies, but somehow that afternoon after meeting another high school friend she brings her phone to swap numbers and probably pictures and probably 5 more things that an old guy does not know about. Some guy with too little takes the phone when seeing it on a chair. An hour of tears and sadness and thanks to electronics we get the phone back. The kid who brought the phone is a great kid who made a mistake, the man who took it also a mistake. And to be fair to our student a lot of her tears were of regrets and embarrassment. She spent a week helping those with too little and did a great job. A good cop helped us get the phone back. Another cop said, "You should go nowhere near the homeless shelter, those people are thieves, liars, drug addicts and the worst people in the world." After we got the phone back, I asked to talk to the 2 young students who witnessed this whole story. I have a different story to tell, " The people that come to the Micah Center are troubled, they have made mistakes, and will make more mistakes, but we believe they still need our love and support, our help, and our prayers. That is why we drive 10 hours each year, because we believe in a different story."
Story 2.. I had a wonderful time celebrating my parents' 60th anniversary in Orlando. One of the days we spent in Epcot, where all of the people visiting talk like they are actually in different countries. "We love Mexico." "There is a fun restaurant in Germany" "Let's go the pub in England." Here is what I would love to see in EPCOT, a real world trade-off exhibit. You could have a coke in Uganda, if you spend the next 7 hours working in the sun to earn it. Or you could have 5 potato chips in India if you spent two hours mopping the bathroom. The India story is a guess, but I know two Ugandans, my friends, intelligent and bright young men, who are happy in their new jobs and will earn about 124,000/= (ugandan shillings) this month that is less than $40 dollars for a month of work. I will try to help them with something before I leave, but . . .it will be too little.
Story 3. This story is very similar to the first story. A Surface tablet was taken from a friend on the bus from Kampala to Gulu. A thief, maybe with too little, maybe not, took it. I jumped on the bus after several other attempts to find it and pleaded with a whole bus load of Ugandans to please return it. I told them it meant a lot to my friend. It did not work, the thief still has it. The Ugandans on the bus responded differently, and I really do not know for sure because they were talking in Lwo. Some were sad and ashamed that this could happen and maybe some were perplexed because in their whole life had nothing even close to the value of this small tablet, I was discouraged also because, I pretty much looked into all of the faces on the bus, and the one I wanted to respond did not. They had too little in most of our world, a Surface tablet is too much. There was not a good ending to Story 1 or Story 2. But Story 3 has people in it, people who had shared a classroom, and had shared a laugh, they had struggled together to write stories and solve math problems. Like myself and many of you who have seen different parts of the world, know we have too much. I think if you asked the person who lost her Surface she would agree. After we settled in and talked to the Priest, the teacher with too much walked down a path, heads turned of a group of girls preparing for their studies. The first student with too little came running down the path and embraced her teacher with a hug of joy and so much good laughter. The teacher hugged each girl and greeted them by name, although they had been apart for 10 months, their joy and their embraces erased that time, and they now stood shoulder to shoulder jumping up and down. Then another girl in a bright red sweater with several tears in it came flying down the path with arms open like she could reach the 50 feet between her and her teacher. Hayley and I joined our friend as the walk continued and 5 boys greeted their old teacher with shrugs. The teacher was explaining to us the difference between boys and girls, when a group of Senior 4 boys cam running up the path to greet their beloved Madam. One boy with too little stayed behind and he was fidgeting with something. He walked up and said, "Madam, this is for you." He extended his hand a gave her a small stick that he had used to pierce 5 leaves. This "flower" was quite simply ......too ______
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Old Boys II--Julius and Geoffrey
Somehow, Julius became acquainted with other teachers in Invisible Children Teacher Exchange. I also remember him asking me and others to attend a show of music and traditional dance. For some reason I did not go, I regret that decision every time I see Julius. Julius might be the most caring and helpful person I know in Gulu. It seems that every time I am in Gulu, Julius comes and helps me do something that becomes many times easier than if I woud have attempted it myself. He is always ready and is always prompt. He is always very dependable, in other words a great friend to have. An American group, I think maybe out of Texas, has hired Julius to work at their radio station and help out with their Christian ministry. Hayley and I are meeting Julius today to work on a program for Hayley possibly.
Geoffrey, I have known since the beginning, it only took me four years to realize that he had grown up as a child of the streets, and has amazingly put himself all the way through secondary school. Yesterday, he was telling Hayley that he made a choice away from the "dirty" life and decided to live the good life. Geoffrey has had a real tough time and I am dismayed that I was not able to help him in the past. Now he has made some great strides and is the groundskeeper at a 24 hour clinic. The people there are realizing what a smart young man he is, and they are expanding his duties. At the same time, he is getting a business certificate of study. I am very proud of the young man he was, he is, and he will become. I will be praying for him with the others. I wish I could somehow open a business in Gulu and put these 4 guys in charge.
Hayley and I got up at 7 a.m. We finally got power last night after our first 26 hours without power in Gulu. We took boda bodas to Catholic Mass in a class room at Gulu High. It is my favorite thing to do in Gulu. Jumping in now I will let Hayley describe her thoughts, "Just like everyone I have met, the students at Gulu High were very welcoming and friendly. I feel like I've used the word "friendly" a lot lately but it's because so many of the people I've met or simply said hi to have been friendly. You just don't find that very often at home. We were clearly a little lost walking around the school's campus so a young girl left the protestant mass she was sitting I to walk us over to the catholic mass in another classroom. Surprise, surprise another extremely friendly person! I was in awe for the first few minutes of mass. The singing and chanting blew me away. The students seemed so passionate about their worship. There wasn't a priest available so a small nun led the mass. At the end they invited us to stand up and speak and thanked us for visiting them. It's not even noon but I've already had the best day. Also shoutout to free wifi at small coffee shops."
Geoffrey, I have known since the beginning, it only took me four years to realize that he had grown up as a child of the streets, and has amazingly put himself all the way through secondary school. Yesterday, he was telling Hayley that he made a choice away from the "dirty" life and decided to live the good life. Geoffrey has had a real tough time and I am dismayed that I was not able to help him in the past. Now he has made some great strides and is the groundskeeper at a 24 hour clinic. The people there are realizing what a smart young man he is, and they are expanding his duties. At the same time, he is getting a business certificate of study. I am very proud of the young man he was, he is, and he will become. I will be praying for him with the others. I wish I could somehow open a business in Gulu and put these 4 guys in charge.
Hayley and I got up at 7 a.m. We finally got power last night after our first 26 hours without power in Gulu. We took boda bodas to Catholic Mass in a class room at Gulu High. It is my favorite thing to do in Gulu. Jumping in now I will let Hayley describe her thoughts, "Just like everyone I have met, the students at Gulu High were very welcoming and friendly. I feel like I've used the word "friendly" a lot lately but it's because so many of the people I've met or simply said hi to have been friendly. You just don't find that very often at home. We were clearly a little lost walking around the school's campus so a young girl left the protestant mass she was sitting I to walk us over to the catholic mass in another classroom. Surprise, surprise another extremely friendly person! I was in awe for the first few minutes of mass. The singing and chanting blew me away. The students seemed so passionate about their worship. There wasn't a priest available so a small nun led the mass. At the end they invited us to stand up and speak and thanked us for visiting them. It's not even noon but I've already had the best day. Also shoutout to free wifi at small coffee shops."
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Blog Name Correction: "Magee and Hayley in Uganda"
Going to Africa has been something I have wanted to do for about 8 years. I wanted to go as a freshman in high school but didn't know how to make that happen. I found a program at Mizzou that was going, but I think that nearly gave my mom a heart attack when I told her about that. So here I am so many years later sitting in a coffee shop in Gulu, Uganda trying to use the free wifi next to one of the best teachers I've ever had.
Mr. Magee and I must be quite a sight walking down the streets. Everyone just stops and stares (and laughs) at his height and I'm usually a few feet behind trying to walk/jog to keep up. An even better sight--us riding bodas (motorcycles). This is the easiest way to get around here. For my first time getting on one, Mr. Magee told the driver that it was my first time and to go slow so he told me "sit like a man," meaning to sit normally and not side-saddle, which I definitely would have fallen off doing. What I've loved the most so far is meeting people and speaking with them. What better way to meet a person than holding on to them for dear life! The boda drivers have been so kind and welcomed me to Uganda. It is so different than getting into a cab at home and barely speaking with the person driving. I wish people in the US took the time to be kinder and more personable to strangers.
Our first few days in Kampala we stayed with a friend of Melissa's, Annitah, and her family. I've never met a nicer, friendlier, subtly-sassier person. She tells it like it is and treats you as though you are already a friend. It was the best introduction to Africa I could have had and it has really set the tone for all of the people I have met. I have met some of Mr. Magee's former students and friends here and I have already been able to see them on the street and say hello to them again as though I have known them for more than 24 hours. If this is how the first week has been, I can only imagine how awesome the next two weeks will be and I can't wait to find out!
---Hayley
Mr. Magee and I must be quite a sight walking down the streets. Everyone just stops and stares (and laughs) at his height and I'm usually a few feet behind trying to walk/jog to keep up. An even better sight--us riding bodas (motorcycles). This is the easiest way to get around here. For my first time getting on one, Mr. Magee told the driver that it was my first time and to go slow so he told me "sit like a man," meaning to sit normally and not side-saddle, which I definitely would have fallen off doing. What I've loved the most so far is meeting people and speaking with them. What better way to meet a person than holding on to them for dear life! The boda drivers have been so kind and welcomed me to Uganda. It is so different than getting into a cab at home and barely speaking with the person driving. I wish people in the US took the time to be kinder and more personable to strangers.
Our first few days in Kampala we stayed with a friend of Melissa's, Annitah, and her family. I've never met a nicer, friendlier, subtly-sassier person. She tells it like it is and treats you as though you are already a friend. It was the best introduction to Africa I could have had and it has really set the tone for all of the people I have met. I have met some of Mr. Magee's former students and friends here and I have already been able to see them on the street and say hello to them again as though I have known them for more than 24 hours. If this is how the first week has been, I can only imagine how awesome the next two weeks will be and I can't wait to find out!
---Hayley
Old Boys -- Ronald, Amos, Julius, and Geoffrey
So in Ugandan schools, the alumni are the Old Boys, or as I once heard Ronald say, "I am an O.B. of Atanga SS ." These words are uttered with such a sense of accomplishment and pride. I am an O.B. Of St. Louis University High school and I hope that I will say that in pride some day when I meet a SLUH guy in Gulu.
So this is a story about the O.B. s. the boys I have each known for a long time. Each with their own stories each with their own dreams. Ronald was a student that was handed over to me by two Americans I have lost touch with Josh Robinson and David Heimeck. They were the first group of teachers to spend a whole week in the village and really be a part of the community of Lacekoyot and Atanga SS. Ronald so impressed Josh and David that they immediately talked to me about how they could help him in school. They knew that I had done small bit for a boy named . . . Amos. Ronald has been a part of my life ever since, he is one week away from completing his studies as a graduate of the Gulu University. Ronald has overcome many obstacles to do this, and now we need some prayers to help him find a job then a career that is worthy of his character and perseverance.
Amos is really one of the first Ugandans I have ever talked to. If you read this blog, you will remember the debate I had with Amos over how the chickens found their way home at night. "John, do you not see that the chicken has two eyes!" Amos was a very sharp primary student when I first ment him and originally went to Kampala to find a better education, but was sidetracked several times due to school fees and other obstacles. He is still a bright, energetic young man who has now found his way back to Gulu. He has a job at the Churchill Courts, a luxury hotel in Gulu, and is working towards using this job to move onto better things or maybe go back for additional schooling. Today, Hayley and I had to move our 120 lbs. of luxury from our nice hotel ($45 a night) to our regular Gulu accommodations at the Cosmo House ($7 a night). Amos was going to arrange to have a truck meet us to do the moving. At the last minute it started to rain so Amos switched the truck to a car so our stuff would stay dry. I tell you this one is sharp.
Tomorrow-- Julius and Geoffrey
So this is a story about the O.B. s. the boys I have each known for a long time. Each with their own stories each with their own dreams. Ronald was a student that was handed over to me by two Americans I have lost touch with Josh Robinson and David Heimeck. They were the first group of teachers to spend a whole week in the village and really be a part of the community of Lacekoyot and Atanga SS. Ronald so impressed Josh and David that they immediately talked to me about how they could help him in school. They knew that I had done small bit for a boy named . . . Amos. Ronald has been a part of my life ever since, he is one week away from completing his studies as a graduate of the Gulu University. Ronald has overcome many obstacles to do this, and now we need some prayers to help him find a job then a career that is worthy of his character and perseverance.
Amos is really one of the first Ugandans I have ever talked to. If you read this blog, you will remember the debate I had with Amos over how the chickens found their way home at night. "John, do you not see that the chicken has two eyes!" Amos was a very sharp primary student when I first ment him and originally went to Kampala to find a better education, but was sidetracked several times due to school fees and other obstacles. He is still a bright, energetic young man who has now found his way back to Gulu. He has a job at the Churchill Courts, a luxury hotel in Gulu, and is working towards using this job to move onto better things or maybe go back for additional schooling. Today, Hayley and I had to move our 120 lbs. of luxury from our nice hotel ($45 a night) to our regular Gulu accommodations at the Cosmo House ($7 a night). Amos was going to arrange to have a truck meet us to do the moving. At the last minute it started to rain so Amos switched the truck to a car so our stuff would stay dry. I tell you this one is sharp.
Tomorrow-- Julius and Geoffrey
Thursday, June 16, 2016
An Undelivered Message
Today, as I was getting my phone reconfigured, I found 3 messages that made no sense. Eventually Melissa reminded me that Claire had my phone last, Claire never got them and although, I did not go back to read them, I remembered they were loving and caring. Claire missed these messages, but I do know that Claire knows that she is loved. The proof is simple, she loves her life as a caring and loving person and that my friends does not happen accidentally.
But I think about the ones who do not receive their messages. Sometimes as we see in the Micah Center in Biloxi, not receiving those messages can have long term effects on men and women. As I am thinking of these ideas, I am challenged by the words of our hostess, Anita. In the middle of Kampala she is working all day for the Jesuits, and then comes home to cook us a magnificent dinner even after she had to work late. A good accountant, a great cook are not her best talents that I have seen in my day and a half here. We have not met all of her children as several are at boarding school, and different cousins and others seem to pop up constantly to be of service. Her best talent is that every member of this family is loved and encouraged. Anita introduced herself as being a Happy Ugandan when we first met her and she has earned that statement, but mostly because she makes others happy with her constant attention and love. Today, we saw mostly the younger two, there was a little girl who never ran out of energy. Hayley definitely found a friend. and there was a little boy who has very special needs and who laughed when his siter ran even though he could not. Anita talked about some of her obstacles in raising her son in Uganda. She has had choices, but always seem to have taken the most courageous, the most loving path. Tonight after the long work day, and he wonderful meal, she then heated water for all of us to shower. There is no doubt that family and friends of Anita and Allen always get their messages delivered.
Today is my parents' 60 th wedding anniversary and their messages of love were always delivered. So tomorrow we leave for Gulu with my new 3 week family of Hayley, Ani and Melissa (will join in 2 days). We take the love and the strengths of our own families in America and our new family in Kampala to Gulu. Hopefwully if we do our best we can deliver a couple messages to the students of Gulu.
John.
But I think about the ones who do not receive their messages. Sometimes as we see in the Micah Center in Biloxi, not receiving those messages can have long term effects on men and women. As I am thinking of these ideas, I am challenged by the words of our hostess, Anita. In the middle of Kampala she is working all day for the Jesuits, and then comes home to cook us a magnificent dinner even after she had to work late. A good accountant, a great cook are not her best talents that I have seen in my day and a half here. We have not met all of her children as several are at boarding school, and different cousins and others seem to pop up constantly to be of service. Her best talent is that every member of this family is loved and encouraged. Anita introduced herself as being a Happy Ugandan when we first met her and she has earned that statement, but mostly because she makes others happy with her constant attention and love. Today, we saw mostly the younger two, there was a little girl who never ran out of energy. Hayley definitely found a friend. and there was a little boy who has very special needs and who laughed when his siter ran even though he could not. Anita talked about some of her obstacles in raising her son in Uganda. She has had choices, but always seem to have taken the most courageous, the most loving path. Tonight after the long work day, and he wonderful meal, she then heated water for all of us to shower. There is no doubt that family and friends of Anita and Allen always get their messages delivered.
Today is my parents' 60 th wedding anniversary and their messages of love were always delivered. So tomorrow we leave for Gulu with my new 3 week family of Hayley, Ani and Melissa (will join in 2 days). We take the love and the strengths of our own families in America and our new family in Kampala to Gulu. Hopefwully if we do our best we can deliver a couple messages to the students of Gulu.
John.
Monday, June 6, 2016
In Praise of 2 Wonderful Colleagues
I just read my last post of 2 years ago, and wow the tone was sad and dark, but also I still remember that day when an argument cost 2 young boys their entire wages of the day. Today, I have a much different take on our world after spending a week with 34 great people.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” Muhammad Ali
It is always interesting when your students become adults, the funny part is that they always struggle with calling me John. They will say it, but then often resort to the giggles of the 14 year old student that I first met in E14 so many years ago. The trip to Uganda this time is going to be amazing, mostly because I get to share it with two amazing young women, Melissa and Hayley. My friend Andy just three days ago cautioned our group about the overuse of the word amazing today. So I think about it, and without reservation will use it with complete conviction--these two are amazing.
A junior in high school on our trip to Biloxi said this, "Hayley Kuehner is everywhere, I truly do not understand how she can be in so many places all the time. And she knows everyone, and is nice to everyone." Too bad this rookie has not seen Hayley in Joplin or Moore, Oklahoma or the Bronx where she leads with a confident stride of a giant. I know where she gets her kindness from, but she definitely adds to the lessons from her parents with her own"Beanie" brand. She is everywhere, and I cannot wait for my Acholi friends to meet her.
I never will forget Caitlyn W saying, "Everyone at Rockhurst is ding great, and there's Hop." We both laughed because judging Melissa on a scale of regular people is kind of not correct, she is definitely far right tail on the standard Normal scale. With all of her talents in mathematics and science, she chose to go back to Uganda and Ocer Campion to teach Ugandanshow to write better paragraphs, because that is where the need is and was. Somehow on our way to Biloxi between mm96 in Missouri and Canton, MS Melissa had fought the Internet and got Hayley on our exact flights. I am quite sure only a one in a million could have done this. Hayley and Melissa know each other, but not all that well, but Melissa of course dropped what she was doing and put her whole focus into this task. In planning this trip, the two of us have sat down for several long conversations and I am now even more impressed with a student I call "the smartest kid I ever taught" (with possible apologies to Maggie C. Who I just saw shine again in Biloxi). Melissa's courage and resilience are inspiring and her stories will cause me to be a better teacher.
Wrote this in a lobby as I am waiting to get a Meningococal shot that costs $290. Ouch! I think I will cry when I get this one.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” Muhammad Ali
It is always interesting when your students become adults, the funny part is that they always struggle with calling me John. They will say it, but then often resort to the giggles of the 14 year old student that I first met in E14 so many years ago. The trip to Uganda this time is going to be amazing, mostly because I get to share it with two amazing young women, Melissa and Hayley. My friend Andy just three days ago cautioned our group about the overuse of the word amazing today. So I think about it, and without reservation will use it with complete conviction--these two are amazing.
A junior in high school on our trip to Biloxi said this, "Hayley Kuehner is everywhere, I truly do not understand how she can be in so many places all the time. And she knows everyone, and is nice to everyone." Too bad this rookie has not seen Hayley in Joplin or Moore, Oklahoma or the Bronx where she leads with a confident stride of a giant. I know where she gets her kindness from, but she definitely adds to the lessons from her parents with her own"Beanie" brand. She is everywhere, and I cannot wait for my Acholi friends to meet her.
I never will forget Caitlyn W saying, "Everyone at Rockhurst is ding great, and there's Hop." We both laughed because judging Melissa on a scale of regular people is kind of not correct, she is definitely far right tail on the standard Normal scale. With all of her talents in mathematics and science, she chose to go back to Uganda and Ocer Campion to teach Ugandanshow to write better paragraphs, because that is where the need is and was. Somehow on our way to Biloxi between mm96 in Missouri and Canton, MS Melissa had fought the Internet and got Hayley on our exact flights. I am quite sure only a one in a million could have done this. Hayley and Melissa know each other, but not all that well, but Melissa of course dropped what she was doing and put her whole focus into this task. In planning this trip, the two of us have sat down for several long conversations and I am now even more impressed with a student I call "the smartest kid I ever taught" (with possible apologies to Maggie C. Who I just saw shine again in Biloxi). Melissa's courage and resilience are inspiring and her stories will cause me to be a better teacher.
Wrote this in a lobby as I am waiting to get a Meningococal shot that costs $290. Ouch! I think I will cry when I get this one.
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