My "friend" Mike Todd

Ok, so as of right now Mike Todd is not aware of our friendship, but I have grown quite fond of hearing from him everyday. I, on the other hand, don't exist in his world. Plus, I don't really fit in as one of his bogging buddies, as I am way too busy to post even once a week, let alone once a day.
Anyway, here's something I read on Mike Todd's Blog, which especially resounded with me.

"I used to look for a Jesus to confirm where I was. Now I'm looking for Jesus to take me where he is."

Simple yet profound in such a loud way. But isn't that how Jesus always is?


Check out Mike's blog sometime when you can. It's great!

Fall Out Boy Video Released

Incase you don't watch MTV, or if you're like me and you can't wait...
(actually I don't have any cable so I can't watch MTV, and I can't wait)

Here is the NEW Fall Out Boy Video which was filmed in Gulu this summer when I was there teaching.

Me and You Video

Feel free to comment, or email me and let me know what your thoughts are on the video.
Oh, and if you care, Lacare is the girl, and Okello is the boy.

Answers

Sorry to leave you all hanging. Some of you have approached me looking for answers to these two questions...
1. Does your teacher have a little niece or a little nephew?
What seems like forever ago, I met Komakech at Awere, and he explained to me that he had just taken his sister to the hospital the night before, b/c she went into labor. I guessed that she was going to have a boy, and he guessed it was a girl b/c his sister already has 2 daughters. Anyway, she did have a little boy, thus I won the bet! woo hoo! I never did find out his nephew's name though. I'll work on that one.

2. Did you bungee jump?
Yes I did. And I would possibly do it again, depending on the circumstances. Although it was probably the scariest thing I've ever done in my life.

The End...or Only the Beginning

Well, I can't believe that I have been back in the states for just over two weeks. At times it feels like I've been in PA for many weeks and other times it feels like I was just in Gulu. I guess I've left part of my heart in both places. I think that's a good thing. I've heard it said that even if you've experienced some of the extreme tragedies of this world, it's still ok to find yourself laughing and enjoying life later. For we would not be human if we only dwelt on the tragedies, and did not find joy in this world.
So I now find myself at this odd place, a place of endings, and a place of beginnings. I am sitting typing this from M316, an apartment I have lived in for the past four years. Tomorrow I will be moving, and starting a new beginning at a new apartment. I must admit, I am really excited, yet there are many, many wonderful memories I have of this place, and of course some great roommates; Christina, Tiara, Rachel, Heidi, and Gen. And of course, Christine...who has been through all four years here with me. Thanks Girls! (Endings)

Well, that's enough apartment nostalgia for now. You are probably reading this because you've been intrigued with learning and reading about my trip to Uganda. So how has it been adjusting back to life here in the States you ask? It has been hard and easy. Basically it comes in waves. I spend time playing with my nephew Jack, and eating pineapple pizza with my sister and brother-in-law...I then remember what I've missed by going away for 6 weeks. Yet, I spend time reading blogs from IC staff members still over in Gulu, and I miss Gulu and feel disconnected from the people and culture I grew to love.
While I was over in Gulu we had a chance to visit an IDP camp, and I sat with one woman bracelet-maker and spent time watching how she made the bracelets. Her son was also there sitting with her. She makes bracelets for the IC Bracelet Program, providing 1. a salary for herself and her family; 2. a bracelet for an American, who then can use the bracelet and the video as a means to tell other American's about Northern Uganda; 3. The money which is received by IC is then funneled into their Education Scholarship program, which gives 600+ students the opportunity to attend school and build for themselves a better future. I guess you could say it's a Win-Win-Win situation.
Anyway, I got off topic (if you can believe that!)...I was reading the blog of James, the American IC staff member who runs the Bracelet Program. He just put up a new posting the other day, in memory of a bracelet maker named Ayermo Filder who has just recently passed away. As I sat and read his words, I realized the woman whom I sat with and watched make bracelets was named Filder. It has been difficult to think about her son Emmy, and his life now without a mother. The worst part is that Emmy's story is just one of millions of AIDS orphans across Africa. Even though Emmy's life may become more difficult without a mother, I know that God is with him and all of Filder's family. (Endings)

Since being home, I have not only been reading on the internet about what other people have to say about northern Uganda, but also what organizations have been doing, or continuing to do to help the Acholi people. I am beginning to understand the responsibility that has been placed upon my shoulders after visiting Gulu and hearing the stories of the people. Resolve Uganda has been putting together a lobby week for people to go speak to their Congressmen and to bring the plight of the Ugandan people to the US government. There is much which Americans can do to help bring peace to n. Uganda and to stop Joseph Kony from continuing this atrocious war. I know that this begins my time of telling and retelling the stories of the Acholi people, and helping Americans understand that they can make a difference. (Beginnings)

Although I cannot be at Awere all of the time, I am excited to share everything about Awere with people at Upper Merion. I'm not sure what will actually come to bloom, but I know that even if there is no formal connection between the two schools I've taught at, I know that I will always be partnered with them, helping them in any appropriate way. I can't wait to start the beginning of what could be years of friendship between two schools, very far from one another. (Beginnings)

Interacting daily with Komakech and Robert at our teacher table has ended, yet I am excited to begin a teaching job here in PA.
My daily tea time at Awere S.S. has come to an end, yet it will be nice to begin to eat peanut butter and jelly for lunch again.
I am sad that my travels to Gulu this summer have ended, yet this summer may have only been a beginning to years of trips in future summers.

Although the wonderful experiences in Gulu have ended, I continue to look forward and not just dwell on the past. I continue to remember the story of this group of women who thought it was all over, and that there was no more hope left in the world. Little did they know, someone else had bigger plans. For it was not the end, rather just the very tiniest part of the beginning. There was so much more adventure left in life. I hope in the same way that I never just see an empty tomb, but that I am always able to see the risen Lord.

Luke 24:5-6
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

I guess things are never ending, just always beginning.

One more to come...soon

Sorry it's been so long. If you have been a faithful reader, Thank You! I have been back in the states now officially for a week. I will be posting one more 'back in the states-update' or at least one more blog of the sorts. Talk to you all soon...

Finishing off in style!

So I have returned to the Blogging world for one last blog from Uganda. I am currently in Kampala at a Backpackers Hostel (really nice actually!), and it is my last night in Uganda. Tomorrow morning we will get up bright and early, and drive about an hour down to the Equator, get some snaps (that's picture in Ugandan English), and then drive back up to the Airport @ Entebbe. I can't believe it's over!

So just two days ago we left here, and headed to Jinja, which is basically where the Nile river begins at Lake Victoria. We didn't get to see the lake b/c we weren't quite at the source, but still close. The rafting was awesome. I went in a raft with 4 guys and another female teacher (who happens to be from Colorado). Really the only people who had been rafting before were Terry, the other teacher and myself. So we basically had a bunch of rookie boys in our boat. One who was especially funny because he could not paddle in stroke with the rest of us, which is actually really important. We went down some Class 3, 4 and 5 rapids. That's the highest you can go down. We actually went around a Class 6, which I then found out basically means death. This guide/kayaker went down it just a few months ago, and it was so strong that it ripped his lifejacket off of him and he ended up dying. They actually never found his body.
Ok so not to freak you out, it was actually fairly safe, or at least they have a ton of preventative measures. The day was real nice, and swimming in the Nile was unreal! (no I didn't see any Crocadiles---although I did say Aligator at first and my guide then made fun of me.) We actually did flip on the class 5 rapid, and although it was scary to be tossed around in the water, just holding on to the paddle for like 6 or 7 seconds as you are still underwater...it was totally worth it. War stories are worth it, although only when people don't get hurt, which was the case yesterday.
Then at the end we had an amazing lunch on this island. It really was just a sandwich, pineapple, potatoe salad, etc...but it was the best sandwich I've ever had in Uganda. Actually it was the only sandwich I had in Uganda. They think we are weird for eating peanut butter and jelly.
Anyway, we then went back to the Rafting camp. We then had the choice to go bungee jumping, right over the Nile, and you could even get dunked into the water if you wanted. I'll keep you in suspense as to whether or not you think I went. This could make for some interesting bets.

After cleaning up and going to our camp where we slept, we went to dinner at this restaurant right on the Nile. Totally surreal! We ate dinner out on this porch where we could see the Nile from our table!
After a pretty restless night of not sleeping so well, we got back up and traveled back into Kampala. I think that everyone in our group has decided that they really dislike Kampala. Its like no other city in the USA. The traffic is crazy, there are people everywhere, poor city sanitation, and just craziness. We are in this safe compound though, with a guard, and many other Westerners as well. We spent the day going shopping...to the mall to get some money from the ATM, and to buy the British version of Harry Potter (that's what I am doing on the plane). We went to a big craft market, and then back home for a little relaxing. Lastly we went out to this amazing Indian restaurant for dinner, where I got a REAL strawberry milkshake. I guess Kampala is good for something b/c Gulu doesn't have any ice cream at all.

Well, my time on the internet is almost up, so I must end this. I cannot wait to go to the Equator tomorrow, and then it's off to Entebbe. We fly from Entebbe, make a stop in Ethiopia, then off to Dubai, and then a long 13 hour flight to JFK. Well I've got to go. Can't wait to see you all!

love Trisha

Checking in!

Sunday, July 22nd

Well, we have just arrived back in Kampala. It's really weird and sad to think I won't be in Gulu anymore. Today we had our Game Drive Safari and it was totally awesome! Tomorrow we are going to Jinja to go rafting on the Nile. I am totally excited.
Everyone is doing well, but I must keep this short as I don't have much time on the internet. I will write more later before I leave Uganda.
Apwoyo!

Lucky!

Friday the 20^th

So basically today is my last day at Awere, and then on Saturday morning we will leave for the National Park (for Safari) and then to Kampala, to rafting on the Nile, and eventually to Entebbe Airport next week. I can’t believe my time here in Gulu is coming to a close. It kinda feels like I just got here. I am finally feeling comfortable with speaking the language (outside of the classroom that is, b/c only English is spoken in school), and relating to people in town.

It is really late (1am) so I am going to keep this short. Today we had another futbol match between students and teachers. This one was different though, not only because we won (Go Teachers), but mostly because Wendy and I (another American teacher) convinced the other teachers to tell the students that they must allow girls to play on their team. Wendy has played soccer all of her life, and actually has a partially torn ACL now. She just wears a brace, and plays through the pain like a real athlete (vs. me, and I basically just pretend to be athletic). Actually I think Wendy wants to completely tear it b/c then it’s not painful. Anyway, it was great because the two of us were the only females to play last week, but this week there were three female students who played also. It was so great, and I know it meant the world to Wendy. Oh, and the other exciting news is that the Teachers team won only because my team teacher Komakech scored the only goal of the whole game. I then told him that he is not unlucky!

Last night we had a big official formal Good-bye Dinner. It was great because the Headmaster at Awere put the whole thing together. We were not expecting it so it made it that much better. It was just a really great night of exchanging thank-yous and appreciation of one another. I really do love Awere! (Don’t worry UMASD…I am still coming home.)

Komakech was there at dinner of course, and a bunch of us (both American and Acholi) were talking together. Someone brought up something about Acholi names. For you see, it is tradition for someone who is not actually Acholi, but has become a close friend, it is tradition for them to receive an Acholi name. It’s like a way for an Acholi person to almost bless you and welcome them officially into their culture (or something like that). So as we sat there talking before dinner, someone asked me if I had an Acholi name. Before I could answer “No”, Komakech interrupted and said “I have not told her yet, but I have been thinking about it for awhile now.” Now they do not give Acholi names like we do, although their ‘Christian’ name is followed by their Acholi name. In actuality it is more like their Acholi name followed by a more typical Western name (except for Sheargold). Some of the other teachers I have taught with are Nancy [a wonderful name :o)], Selina, George, Alfred, Robert, Herbert, etc…

Anyway, back on track…So then Komakech gave me my name which is Lagum. In Lwo, ‘gum’ means lucky, so my name means the very lucky one. I thoughf\t this was more than fitting for a few reasons…

-because Komakech means ‘the unlucky one’. Although this may sound rude to us, it is different here…it is not a mean, rude, or bad thing. Kech means unlucky and Koma sorta means ‘I am the one who is…”

-it is only fitting that because he is Komakech, I am then similar in some fashion. I have turned to calling him Komagum, which means the one who is lucky.

-lastly, something that Komakech did not know at all is that I was born on St. Patricks Day, which is of course the luckiest day of the year! Woo hoo!

Well, it’s now almost 2am, and this isnt’ as short as I thought it would be. I will be able to post some more before I leave, but maybe not for a few nights.

See you all soon!

The shirt off their backs

July 17^th 2007

These past few days have been pretty rough here in Gulu. Fall Out Boy is here shooting a video in the IDP Camp where I went earlier this month. All of the IC office staff have been pulled and pushed to the limits. It’s especially crazy because on Thursday Schools for Schools is beginning their implementation at the 10 S4S schools here in Gulu…which basically means that building will begin at some of the schools (like Awere). Also just after we leave on Saturday, the first group of High School Students will be coming to stay in Gulu for two weeks—this actually includes Downingtown East, incase you care.

Anyway, one of my friends here, Jamie, is working this summer as the Schools for Schools Intern. He’s great, and definitely totally fun to be around. The only thing is that he doesn’t know much, or anything, about filming, or the process of shooting a music video. But for the past two days he’s been helping the camera men, doing all sorts of bizarre things. Basically all of the staff have weird jobs like this, which are not actually their jobs or their expertise. Some of the staff leave the house by 6am and don’t return until around 11pm or midnight. It’s crazy because they are suppose to be doing their real jobs, but instead they have to spend the whole day out at Awer Camp, helping to film this crazy video.

So far, I think I am pretty convinced that having Fall Out Boy here is not a good thing for the Acholi people. They are just so counter-cultural (as we all are as Americans). It has really woken me up to the degree of sensitivity which must be used as Americans come out here. For example…

The music video stars an Acholi boy and girl. On the first day there were many takes which included the boy. The director was trying to find the right shirt for the boy to wear, and for whatever reason they were out at the camp (about 35 mins from Gulu town on a boda- aka motorcycle) and did not have his full costume. The t-shirts they had were not the correct color. There were a ton of kids all standing around the video shoot, and the director would just point to a kid, and say “Can we use that shirt? That’s the right color.” So then one of the head IC staff members, Katie Bradel, would go and point to the child, and ask him if she could trade shirts with him. She’s been here a really long time (like 3 years) so she can speak to them really well in Lwo. As he gladly agreed (mostly b/c he probably didn’t really understand why he was giving his shirt), he handed over his shirt, and then about 10-15 other kids started to take their shirts off and handed them to Katie. To be honest they probably thought they would be getting something in return.

It’s very common for Acholi to assume that a white person will give them something. Many children have asked me for money, very forthright, and one kid even said to me, “You give me your water bottle” in reference to my Nalgene.

Anyway, Katie then took about 20 shirts to the director. Apparently the shirt which was the right color did not fit the boy in the video. He didn’t like any of the other shirts, and so Katie had to go back and give all of the kids their shirts. It turned out that they ended up trading up shirts, one for another, until the director was finally satisfied with the shirt. The best (huge sarcasm) was that somehow by the end of the day, amongst all of the video shooting, that one shirt got lost (probably between costume changes and takes). So it turns out that all of those shots have to be redone tomorrow because they don’t have that shirt anymore. All of that for nothing really.

Now this may seem weird, but things like this have happened all day. Just crazy requests, when I don’t think any of them really have an understanding for Acholi life. They are also going to simulate war, by burning down someone’s hut. They are then going to rebuild them a new hut, but it just seems strange and wrong.

Even though that end of IC is going crazy, I think things at school have been going smoothly. I must admit today was my hardest day to be at school. It’s weird to think I will be leaving soon, and I may never see any of these people again. I am feeling very torn about a couple different experiences. I must admit, teaching science at Upper Merion will be quite different.

Peace.

Coincidence...I think not!

Coincidence…I think not!

Well, here I am obviously in Gulu Uganda. You’d think that America would be really far away, and that everything would be foreign. But you know before I left I remember hearing many conversations at Upper Merion with other science teachers, and their weird encounters with seeing students on vacation in other countries or states. I didn’t mean to set you up too much, b/c I haven’t seen any students from Upper Merion (that would be completely bizarre) but I have had a lot of weird interactions. Some of you may not know that I was born in the Midwest, and that basically my parents are both from the Midwest, thus we have many connections out in other states…here begins the weird connections I’ve come across in Gulu

Pizza Shuttle

If you’ve never been to Manhattan Kansas, a small college town, you’d have no idea what Pizza Shuttle is. Family friends of ours’ moved from Nebraska down to KS and started a pizza place there in town. They had more and more success with it, and thus turned it into a small franchise. If you’re ever in town, you have to go there. Well, I met a girl who came up to Gulu from Kampala to visit a friend who works for IC. I began to talk to her and found out that she was from Manhattan KS. I asked her if she knew of Pizza Shuttle. She responded with, “OH my gosh, that is the one food I miss the most! The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is go to Pizza Shuttle.” So Botbyle’s, just incase you didn’t know, you’re franchise is now world famous!

Computers for Africa

During Thanksgiving Day on Friday at Awere, Matthew had announced that the school would be receiving 10 computers from an organization called Computers for Africa. I was totally excited, but thought nothing of it really. Then on Saturday(next day) before leaving for Awere we met at Awere. That may sound confusing, but we met at the school site in Gulu town where I am teaching, and we were going out (1.5 hrs) to the original school site. There were two other muni there talking with Matthew. Before we left, the woman came over and started to talk to us. She said that she was with Computers for Africa, talking to Matthew about bringing the 10 computers over. She then mentioned that they were an organization from Omaha NE. “NO WAY!” I thought in my head. My sister and I were born just outside Omaha, where my Dad was stationed in the Air Force for many years. My sister and I basically spent our childhood there. I talked to the lady a little bit about NE, but I just could not believe that I have met someone here in Gulu from Omaha, and someone who knows Bellevue! The lady explained that they get computers from various girls’ schools and other private schools in the Omaha area. I think when the school gets new computers, they clean up the old, useable ones, and bring them over to certain schools in Africa. A totally cool idea!

Central Valley CA

I spent a summer out in Merced CA back in 2003 working with teenagers at a church. It was an awesome summer that I will never forget. I loved the time I spent in Merced. In one conversation with an American IC staff member he mentioned that he was from Modesto, which is quite close to Merced. We started talking and he seemed to think that I was crazy to spend a summer in Merced. I guess he doesn’t know how great it is. Anyway, a couple days later I was helping an Acholi Awere teacher move from one home to another. It was great because there were about 5 of us American teachers, and Nancy, the Awere teacher. We took about 5 trips back and forth from one house to another, which was about a little more than a ¼ mile each way. It ended up turning into a muni parade…or so thought the kids in the neighborhood. We quickly formed a whole line, Nancy leading with her daughter Faith just behind and then 5 Americans, followed by anywhere from 5-25 Acholi children. It was hilarious. The best was that on one of the trips I carried my things on my head, although Nancy was much better at it, b/c she carried a whole full suitcase on her head! Well, it became a game to unexpectedly turn around and scare the kids behind us. They would laugh and laugh and laugh. They loved it. At one point I was looking at one of the kids shirts and it had a big box on it with people’s signatures inside it. Outside the box it read, Turlock High School, Class of 2001. I could not believe it! Turlock is a neighboring town to Merced, and I could not believe it. Some random kid in Gulu was wearing a Turlock Senior Class shirt!

Dixie Chicks

Speaking of T-shirts, I had noticed that one of my S4 students at Awere was wearing a Dixie Chicks Top of the World Tour shirt. Again, kinda strange, and definitely out of place. Most of the music t-shirts which students wear here are like 50cent and Ice Cube, some Tupac and Ja’Rule. I asked him if he knew of the Dixie Chicks, and he just looked back at me quite confused. Then I told him that the shirt he was wearing was a band in America, a group of 3 women who play guitar. I wasn’t sure if he’d understand it if I said country music, so I just left that part out. I definitely told him that they were my favorite band in America. He just responded with, “For me, this is my clothes.” He obviously was just wearing it because it is his shirt. I guess for all he cared it could have said anything on it, and he’d wear it. So different than in the states. Well, anyway, it’s exciting to see the Dixie Chicks in Gulu. I was going to make the student a copy of some of the Dixie Chicks songs (b/c I have them on my computer) but I’m not sure he has anything to play a CD on. We’ll see.

So those are just a few of the coincidences I have come across while being here in Gulu. Some of you may be surprised to hear that I have not met anyone who knows of Washington Township NJ, or anyone from Washington Township NJ. Sorry Christine…although I can hear your response right now “If I were there, I would be able to find someone from Township.” Well hopefully someday you’ll have your chance! :o)

I now have only 6 days left in Gulu and I cannot believe it's almost over! I really do not want to leave. (sorry family) But have no fear, I will be leaving as I have a new job, a new apartment, and friends and family waiting! This next week will be full of plenty of excitment though. Just last night, Bobby and Laren arrived here in Gulu...if you've seen Invisible Children the Rough Cut, they are two of the three filmmakers. They are here to do some stuff this summer, but also to help out with the music video shoot for the next 4 days. Yes, Fall Out Boy is here in Gulu, but no I have not met them yet. I am going to be helping with the video shooting on Wednesday, so I will let you all know what that is like...besides unreal!

Miss you all! Peace!

Off to Awere!

Sat. July 14^th

Today we spent a lot of time in a Mutatu (moo-tot-two), which is basically a big van which is rented out like a taxi. We actually take them to places far away when a bunch of us are going together. So there were 19 of us that packed into this mutatu, which is actually a lot of people, and we were quite crammed (4 to a bench seat!). All 19 of us [myself and the other 4 that are teaching at Awere, along with the 5 teachers who are at Sir Samuel Baker School, and our Teacher Exchange Coordinator Amy (and her family +3), and then Alfred (who teaches Math @ Awere), Sheargold (who I teach Physics with), and Matthew (the Headmaster of Awere) –phew!] rode for about 2 hours out to the original Awere SS School site. It is located in the village of Awere, which is still in Gulu District, but very very close to Pader (pa-day) District.

The ride was really long, and bumpy. It actually went really well, until we stopped at one point. Then when we started up again, the car started to make some funny noises. It started as a really bad screeching noise, then after the mutatu went through a large puddle, the car started to make another noise- which was definitely something we were dragging in the back of the car. But here in Uganda, we just keep on driving. I was just riding, clenching my teeth, thinking, “if we were in the States, this would be a sign to pull over!” Also just I kept thinking that if my Dad were here he would be going crazy listening to us drive with the awful noise.

Somehow we finally made it another 5 to 10 miles to Awere SS with the awful noise starting and stopping sporadically. The school site was sooo different than the site where the school is located in Gulu town. In Gulu (where we are teaching) the school barely has a patch of grass anywhere on the ground, and the buildings are made of sticks and full of dirt. At the original Awere site, the buildings are made of brick, and the rooms are sooo big. The ceilings are like an easy 15ft high. Even though the rooms are abandoned, and classes are not taking place there, the place is beautiful. There are plants and green grass everywhere. After walking through the various classrooms, and the administration building, we walked about 10-15 meters away to where a foundation had been laid, but nothing ever built. Otto-ber Matthew Obot is the Headmaster of Awere, and he led us around the site. He explained that the foundation had been laid years ago, and then never built upon because of the insecurity of the war. It was suppose to be a science lab. He then showed us this beautiful Shea Tree, which has little fruits on it. The LRA would take the shea oil from the fruit and rub it on them, thinking it would help to protect them.

It was wonderful to see the vision Matthew has for Awere. He really is a wonderful Headmaster…at least the best out of the three different schools where American teachers are teaching (Sir Samuel Baker School and Gulu High School being the other two schools). I feel totally blessed to be able to know Matthew well, and to receive a glimpse of his vision for the school. I wish all of the schools in Gulu had leadership like Awere does. He finds unique ways to motivate his teachers and the students. It’s so great. His plan (with the help of Schools4Schools-an IC program) is to begin classes for S1 level out there next school year. And it may just happen because in less than a week, S4S will begin to build some classrooms out there. Much work has to be done for classes to be able to take place out there, but hopefully it will come to pass soon. Also, the moving of the school depends greatly upon the peace process. Even though peace has not fully come, it appears as though people are full of hope. Matthew’s plan is to move the S1 class (like 9^th gr) out to Awere, while keeping the S2-S6 classes back here at their site in Gulu town. That way the students out here can continue to finish through. I hope it will happen smoothly, and the transition out there will be the best thing for all of the teachers and students involved.

After we finished at the school, we went into the village of Awere to get the mutatu fixed. We all piled out, pulled our sodas and snack food for lunch with us. Almost instanteously it became obvious that the people in the village had not seen so many muni (the plural of munu-white person)before, some of them have probably never seen a white person before. It was the most akward moment of the trip so far. There was a Doctor’s w/out Boarders place right there in the village, and Matthew asked them if we could come inside their building just to sit and eat. They would not let us in for whatever reason, thus we really had no where to eat. It was just a sort of mis-communication, and we started to sit on these benches and logs, right in the middle of town. We had drinks and food, but very quickly there was a whole crowd of children and people around us, staring at us. None of us had an appetite anymore b/c we knew that these people had less than us, definitely less food. It was completely awkward because of the big rules (probably the biggest) is that we are not allowed to give things out. It may seem harsh, but we are trying to fight the stereotype that all white people have money, and they will just give it out to others (no questions asked). Kinda like giving money to a homeless person in the states really isn’t the best thing to do. But even giving other things will attach a stigma to it. Then whenever those kids (or whoever) sees a white person, they will expect to receive food, or money, or whatever. You just can’t give things out.

So we put our food away, and just walked around instead. We walked just down the street to where Aswa (ah-chew-wa) River runs. It actually separates Gulu District from Pader (pa-day)District. I guess you could equate the districts to states in America (only a little different). While on the bridge, when you are in between the two districts and over the water, the Ugandans call it ‘no man’s land’. It was great! I got a picture, and it reminded me of Sharpie land- which is a name that came about from traveling so much as a child. Christie (my sister) and I were intrigued about the land area in between two different states. When traveling down the high way, you usually pass a sign that says something like “Thanks for Visiting PA”, but then before coming across the “Welcome to Delware” sign, there is a portion of land. Where does that land really belong? Well, we decided it was Sharpie land, kinda like the big black sharpie line on a map.

Anyway, it was good to travel out to Awere, even though it was awkward at times. On our really long trip back home to Gulu town, we passed by Mt. Sinai- where Joseph Kony would go to receive visions. Very bizarre, but it made the whole experience more real. We were still really far away from it, but I know we got some great pictures of it.

That’s the whole day of excitement basically. Well, after dinner we all talked about plans for next year, and what the Teacher Exchange may look like years down the road…we’ll see. Peace!

What A Week!

Friday the 13^th

It’s a good thing I am in Gulu on Friday the 13^th b/c they do not believe the 13^th to be an unlucky number. And anyway this week has been the best week in Gulu so far! Awere SS is becoming my home away from home. I have spent a lot of time at school this week helping different students to get ready for the science fair we had today. It was actually so much fun, and I feel soooo privileged to have been apart of Awere’s FIRST EVER Science Fair.

Ok, so to be honest it’s nothing like a science fair in the states. Komakech Sheargold, Soyonjor Robert (the student teacher), and I all put together the ideas for the four different experiments. Then we called the Head Boy (basically the Head Prefect for the school) and he chose which students would participate. I thought it was much more teacher centered than if the same thing had occurred in the states, but still, it was really cool to see the students involved. They each made their own poster to go along with the experiments. So without further ado, here are the experiments (since I know it’s killing you)

1. Periscope- Students actually made this all themselves. They just used colored poster board and found various ways to fix the mirrors into the poster board square tube. This was done by Moses and Rophine. The best was that they then covered it with this wrapping paper which was shiny and bright magenta. In the states we would think it was soooo tacky, but apparently it looks so nice to them.
   
2. Materials which affect a Magnetic Field (from the TOPS books – :o) thanks Scott)- We put magnets at the top of a graduated cylinder and then had a safety pin stuck to the magnet. Attached to the pin is a string. The student then pulled the string so that the pin was basically hanging in midair, being attracted by the magnetic field, but not attached to the magnet. Then Betty (the student) placed five different objects in between the pin and the magnet; paper, a rubber band, something else which I can't remember, aluminum foil, and lastly a piece of stainless steel. I know you all are smart people and that you realize that only the steel interfered with the magnetic field.
3. Solar Cooker- We bought a round clay pot in town and covered the inside with aluminum foil. Now their idea of a clay pot is much more like a huge bowl to us. Just think about the largest salad bowl you’ve ever seen. Thus the pot acted as a concave mirror, and focused the light to one point. At that point we hung a soda can, which we had cut in half and just used the bottom part. We filled it with water, and tested the temperature of the water with a thermometer. Now it never reached 100*C, but it still got pretty hot. Ojok Innocent and Ajok Jennifer did this experiment.
4. Alka-Rockets- This demonstration was done by Monica. She used some of my old film canisters which I brought with me to Gulu, but I had no idea they would come in so handy. They don’t have alka-seltzer tablets here, rather they have Andrews powder antacid. So, after experimenting on the 4^th of July, we found that if we pour some powder into one square of toilet paper, we can then wrap the toilet paper into a small ball, and put it into the film canister. So you just plop, top, and turn it over really fast. Monica was so great because in her explanation she kept stressing that it was the first rocket in Gulu! It was so so great! (that’s Ugandan English)
5. Floatation- Lastly we had an experiment which Moses had come up with all on his own. I guess it wasn’t an experiment as much as a science trick question. He placed a pen into a graduated cylinder and then asked for someone to come up and take the pen out without touching or moving the graduated cylinder. It was so great because the man who came up ended up thinking up the answer, which is to pour water into the cylinder, making the pen float to the top. Everyone loved it!

It has just been so great to help teach science out here. Already I feel like I have learned a lot, and I have been given so many experiences, but I know that some of the lessons I will glean from this trip will not come to me until later next school year, or even years down the road.

So maybe I did not explain it well enough, but we had a Science Fair at Awere because they had a huge day of ceremony and celebration- they called it Thanksgiving Day. They had invited the Anglican Bishop of the Ugandan church to come and confirm some of the students. So we had mass together as a school (which was weird in itself), then it was followed by a whole day of presentations, speeches, and dancing & drama by the students. Our Science Fair was just after the mass, around noon, which helped to make the solar cooker work best. Then students performed many tribal dances, along with other speeches. Lunch was finally at 4pm, and we all ate using what Komakech likes to call “your tribal fork” a.k.a. your fingers. After lunch it kinda turned into a school talent show. Some students were doing skits, which were pretty hilarious. In one skit there was one boy who was acting as the medicine man, and it was so funny. Actually, there have been so many moments that have made me laugh sooo hard, I just wish I could remember all of them.

One of the best moments of the past week was the Students vs. Teachers Futbol game. On Wednesday after school we played a real African game of futbol, and let me tell you, it is way different from American soccer. Ok, so it’s not drastically different except that they don’t really pass as much. Rather they just kick it farther, and they can actually run and catch up to it. It’s amazing. They made me look like an even slower runner.

Well, the Ugandan teachers thought it would be a good idea to put John in as goalie, only because he is so big. It seemed good at first, but maybe they had forgotten about inertia. When one of the Acholi IC staff members first met John he said, “You are a man of such mass,” and that is the total truth. Thus, trying to quickly move that much mass (6”11’ and 300 lbs) just doesn’t happen – inertia is more important than you may think. So the students scored a goal on us within the first few minutes- quite pathetic. A few minutes later, I went after the ball b/c some of the teachers were yelling for me to get it. So, being the excellent futbol player that I am, I ran up to it, in order to clear it out, and send it back upfield. Only somehow, Adam (another American teacher) thought that he should get it. We ended up colliding, and I basically bounced off of him, but I did not bounce off the ground. As I was lying on the ground, and getting back up (it really didn’t hurt) all of the students were roaring with laughter. So classic!

If you can imagine, the game got even better. After about 20-30 minutes of playing, it started to rain. It felt really good. Then it rained harder…and harder…and harder. As it was pouring down, I left the field for a second because all of the students were running back to the school, and I wanted to help Terry (another American Teacher) because she had all of our cameras. I just assumed that we would stop playing. I was totally mistaken. In Africa, futbol never stops, never! (they don’t have snow). So we just kept playing in the pouring, heavy pouring rain. Puddles formed, dirt turned to mud, and shoes turned into personal lakes for your feet . It was so much fun! Probably the most fun I’ve had so far. It was great when the ball would roll through a puddle, and basically stop in the middle of the puddle, or when a person would slide through a puddle in an effort to stop. It was great!

Well, now that you know a little more about Awere SS, I will leave you with another short story.

My daily travels to school- To get to school everyday, I just have to walk about a mile. I walk out of the house, and through the gate. As soon as I leave the gate, it is like I’ve left America and instantly enter into Gulu. “Apwoyo, Apwoyo, Apwoyo” I say to some students, women walking, and even some men who are riding their bikes as I pass them all. I cross Lacor Rd. and then I walk towards Prison Primary School. So, in America we would never name a school Prison, but the school is really close to the actual Prison in Gulu…and the Acholi have no problem with naming things by what they are close to. (like Police Primary School b/c it is close to the Police Station). As I pass through Prison Primary School yard, the children outside call out “Munu” and “Hello. How are you?” (It’s some of the only English they know). I wave, and sometimes call back, “Apwoyo.” I then hold by breath as I pass by the many latrines which the primary students use. Just after the latrines is the bore hole, which has people at it pumping water no matter what time of day. Just past the bore hole, is a small village, with a little market. I didn’t really think it was a village until of the teachers at Awere mentioned it one day. The village’s name is Olanya ilory, which means “man who wets his trousers”. I’m not even joking. Apparently years ago, there was a man who got drunk and couldn’t wait to relieve himself, so he just peed his pants right there in the middle of the street, in the middle of the village. Thus, it is known as Olanya ilory. Again, naming things in Northern Uganda is quite different than in America. So I pass through Olanya ilory, and walk up a little hill, and through the open field. I can see Awere SS from the other side of the field (futbol field…aka- dirt and grass patches). The school is made up of a series of small buildings, only a few which are perminately erected, and all the others are made of slabs of trees, chicken wire for windows and tin roofs. Not like American schools.

Well, that’s my walk to school everyday. I thought you might enjoy hearing about Olanya ilory village :o). Tomorrow we are going out to the original site of Awere SS, which is where IC will begin to rebuild the school just next week. The original site is about 1.5hrs by car...so quite far from Gulu. The school has been displaced in Gulu town for 20 or so years because of the war. Apparently there is a mountain called Mt. Sinai, which is really close to the original school site. It is called Mt. Sinai because Joseph Kony would go to the top of the mountain to hear from God, just as Moses went to the top of the mountain to speak to God. It will be really interesting to see.

I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about my great week! Can’t wait to share more news again soon!

The Weekend and Laliya

July 10, 2007

Today is Tuesday, and since I have last posted many things have happened.

Friday the 6^th-

Today there was no school for any secondary students within all of Gulu District. This includes probably over a hundred schools. There was an Intercollegiate (college= high school in Uganda) Track and Field Sporting Event. It was amazing the number of students at Pece (peche) stadium. There was javelin, discus, and many different relay races. It was amazing to watch these students race around a “track” (read- slightly uneven painted lines, mostly grass, with some reddish brown Gulu dirt) and most of the students run barefoot. (How’s the sound for high school track, Jessi and Kelli? Fun?) The races were really cool, but unfortunately we got there late and didn’t see very many races. Of course, TIA…we always arrive on time, waiting for other Africans to arrive on time, but the one time that we are late, they have started on time, and actually get done early. You just never know out here. We also washed chalkboards at the school in the morning since there weren’t any classes. We had a group of boys (who board there) follow us from room to room. It was fun to just spend time talking to them. So much of my time at school is spent just inside the staff room.

After the Track and Field event, Sheargold and I went into town together. We ordered some Aluminum foil (which turned out to be a rip off, like $10 for maybe 10 feet) so we could use it this Friday for a Science Fair. The Ugandan Anglican Bishop is coming to Awere SS for a big confirmation service for the students. There will be all of this pomp and circumstance…or at least a lot of long Ugandan speeches! I’ll let you know how it goes, but I am at least really excited for the Science Fair some of the students will be doing, and showing the experiments to the Bishop. Woo hoo! :o)

Saturday the 7^th

This was the second and last “Teaching and Learning Conference” in Gulu. It was a combination of all 16 North American Teachers, all 16 Ugandan teachers, some Schools 4 Schools IC people, and many other Uganda teachers at other Secondary schools in town, and even some official school government officials (did I say official?). It was a good day, and I think many of the Ugandan teachers are beginning to think of their teaching in a new way, which is exciting.

What is not is exciting is that just after the conference the first group of teachers had to leave. The program is set up that there are 2 different groups of teachers, who spend about 3 weeks in Uganda by themselves, and two weeks combined. It just so happens that I am in group 2, so we arrived here, and the first group was already here for about 2 ½ weeks. Now we have about two and a half weeks left here without them. It is sad because they were all such great people…margot, catherine, bryan, danielle, phil, seth….oh, good times! I will miss them, especially since their group had a lot of people with a theater background, thus making them quite a bit louder than group 2, and at times more fun….but not always of course! Like on Sunday night, it had started to rain and we hadn’t had any water in like 36 hours in our house. So many people put their bathing suits on and took showers in the rain. It was great! Speaking of Sunday…

Sunday the 8^th

We went out in the morning to Bambu (bamboo), which is this restaurant here in town. It is owned and run by this man who is British and married to an Acholi woman. (pretty uncommon) They have this dish called Sweet Temptation, and it definitely lives up to it’s name. It’s French toast which has this sugary syrup on it (not really maple syrup) and then it has fresh bananas cut up on top as well. It was amazing!

I left there to come home and then bike over to Awere SS(like 1 mile) to meet Sheargold. Then the two of us biked about 30 minutes out to his home. He lives in the village of Laliya (la leah), shortly outside of Gulu town. It was like nothing I’ve done before. We biked out on this road, and then biked past this little market. (All the while children calling out “Munu” to me as I passed by). Then we started to bike past these grass huts, and homes of people. Little did I know that they were Sheargold’s neighbors. I had kinda thought I would be going to like an IDP camp where he lived, but he is now living with his family on their family land. He lives in this grass hut, with other grass huts around, all of which belong to different people in his family. I met his children, his wife, his brother and his mother. Technically I guess some of the children there were his nieces and nephews, but in Acholi culture they are all considered ‘your’ children. (watch out Christie, that means Jack is my child also…except maybe when he has a really dirty diaper, or is crying at 2am. Then you can have him) Actually that brings up an interesting point. In Lwo (language spoken by the Acholi) there is no word for orphan. There are no orphans, technically…or at least not until recently. It was always thought that you would take in the children of your brother, sister, friend, etc. So even though children may not have had their real parent alive, they would not be parent-less. Too bad American’s aren’t this generous.

So anyway, I was able to sit under this little beautiful tree and talk with Sheargold and his brother John Powell, while his children Desire, Claira, Diana, and Ambrose all played in the tree and around us on the ground. I really wanted to play with them a lot, but it was hard to communicate with them because all they spoke was Lwo. They were also a little scared of me as they have not really met a munu (moonoo) before. We were definitely out near the bush, pretty far from town. It was really pretty neat to see how he lived, in community with his family members, each of them getting their own hut on their family plot of land. (oh, side comment, I forgot to mention that Sheargold’s sister had a baby boy. I had mentioned it in another blog, and forgot to give you all an update. Unfortuantely I do not remember his name right now. I will find out and you can ask me when I get home.) Anyway, The largest hut was one that Komakech Sheargold built himself, back in 2003. He actually told me the story about how he had finally finished his home, and had decided that he was going to stay in it that night. He was proud of it, and did not want to sleep in Gulu, in a rented apartment on the first night that he had finished his hut. It turned out that night the LRA came and abducted him and others from Laliya. He is about 3 years older than I am, so he was definitely an adult when he was abducted. Actually he was already a teacher when he was abducted. Apparently he had medicines or drugs in his house, so they thought he was a doctor. They wanted to take him back to the bush because of that. As you can imagine, the story is much more involved than that.

Anyway, we had dinner at his house. It was really different than if you had guests at your house in America. His mother and wife made the whole meal for us, and then they ate it in the kitchen with the children. There like 8 or 9 huts on Sheargold’s family land. Each person in his family owns a hut, and then there is one which is like the kitchen hut, and a really small one is the latrine hut. So, his mother and wife, and children did not eat with the rest of us. Although by the rest of us I mean Sheargold, John, and I. That was the only awkward part. If I were Acholi, I would’ve been in the kitchen with the women, but because I am munu, I am an honored guest, and I get to eat with the men in their hut. There are all sorts of things like this which are apart of their culture. These things would not happen in America, but it’s Uganda…Africa, not North America.

Speaking of North America, here I am sitting in the IC Volunteer House, which his basically like a little North America within Gulu. Someone was just talking about Ben Franklin, and they said that he invented electricity. It was like this Franklin Institute instant reaction went off and I began to defend the name of science before I even knew what I was doing. Such an engrained reaction after working at TFI for so long. It’s like someone inventing air…kinda absurd. Although when someone else mentioned that he definitely had many girlfriends, that I could not defend. Sorry Ben!

So here are a few things to look forward to in the next few days…a Students vs. Teachers Futbol game after school tomorrow, Alka-rockets in class tomorrow, a trip from the Anglican Bishop on Friday-which makes for fun times at school, and this coming Sunday Fall Out Boy will be here in Gulu. We’ll see how that turns out.

So in typically Acholi children fashion, I will leave you with the typical greeting you would hear as you walk down the road and pass by children… “Munu byeeeee!”

In the Jungle

Thursday July 5, 2007

A wee mo-way, A wee mo-way, A wee mo-way, A wee mo-way

In Uganda, Peaceful Uganda, the Acholi sleep tonight,

In the Gulu, the quiet Gulu, the Munu sleep tonight…

Alright, so my song writing capabilities are not very good, but there is a good reason why I’ve included this song in my blog.

On Tuesday afternoon Sheargold and I had finished teaching, but we had stayed after to do some other things. Actually, it seems as though I am always staying after. Most of the other American teachers are gone either before the end of the school day (if their classes are early) or they leave right at 4:15pm, but not Sheargold and I…lately we’ve been leaving around 6pm. Anyway, we were at school helping to tutor some of the physics students. I was helping some of them to create a graph and to find the slope of the line of best fit (woo hoo!). There were other activities going on around the school yard…native dancing, choir, some mentoring classes, other tutoring, and there are about 50 boys who are boarding students who live there. So needless to say, there were plenty of things going on. Next thing I know, I am explaining ∆y/∆x, and I start to hear… “A wee mo-way, A wee mo-way…etc.” I am not even joking. The school choir was singing In the Jungle, and they just kept on singing as if it was a great masterpiece of a song to be singing. Of course they were singing the real version and not my version. I definitely started to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but I had to keep myself composed in front of the students. I think I was the only one within ear shot who thought it was funny. Really, does it get any better than a group of African students singing In the Jungle, while honestly they were not too far from the jungle, and they are singing it quite seriously as well.

Well, yesterday was the 4^th of July, and even though we’re miles away (aka- half a world), there were definitely enough Americans around to celebrate with. Actually all of the American members of the IC staff, and then us as volunteers had a big BBQ (maybe 40 people). Unfortunately the only fireworks display consisted of two people lighting two sparklers, and then dancing around the yard. Earlier in the night I set off the only rocket we saw on the 4^th…but sorry to disappoint, it was an Alka-seltzer Rocket! I thought it was only fitting, and I was practicing to see how Acholi Alka-seltzer worked (only powder, not tablets).

Life in Gulu is getting easier every day. Although the days that we have water (which means we can use the flush toilets-no stinky latrine) are easiest. I have officially gotten use to life here b/c I was trying to remember when my last shower was, and I can’t remember…all I know is that it was more than 3 days ago and less than 6. Which may not seem that bad, but if you really knew me, you’d know that going w/out a shower is a big deal. (and yes family, my showers are extremely short. The water is probably on for less than 2 minutes.) Also, you know you are use to African life when you get out of the shower and you are ready to put bug spray on right away, which then makes you feel clean! Oh, and it’s not a big deal when your jean skirt then sticks to your legs b/c they have bug spray on them… only to realize a few hours later that you have tiny jean fuzzies stuck to your legs! T.I.A!

I have not been sick at all yet (knock on wood), and I just realized that I am officially half-way through my trip. I have another two full weeks in Gulu, and then on to the Safari and Whitewater Rafting (woo hoo!!). Then home to America. At times I am really looking forward to coming home (and ice cream; yes Becky there’s no ice cream in Gulu), and other times I feel like I just got here, and I don’t want to leave. I haven’t really been homesick yet, which may not surprise some of you. I’m not ready to think about leaving. There are too many responsibilities which await me once I return home. So I will just continue to ignore them and keep on in this ‘Acholi-State-of-Mind.’ (well, for 20 more days)

School Days

Tuesday July 3, 2007

I have just realized that although I have been here in Gulu teaching for about a week and a half, all of you at home probably don’t know very much about the school system here. So here goes nothing…

Students start in Primary School, at P(rimary)1, then proceed through P2, P3,P4…all the way to P7. After P7 they then go on to Secondary School. The levels in Secondary school begin at S(enior)1 and then all the way up to S6. Although all of that may sound pretty simple, but don’t worry because it’s not simple.

Think Harry Potter…

All of you in America are already thinking about HP b/c of the approaching release dates, so now I will apply that to Ugandan Education. Uganda was a British colony, so their education system was set up by the British, and when they left in 1962, no one here ended up changing the system. So students begin school, and go through P1 through P7. Then they enter S1. Some students will end up just going to their local Secondary School, and students can also apply to other secondary schools in the area. Sometimes students are required to take an exam like an entrance exam. I think that each school is different. Their system gets confusing in Secondary School. From S1-S4 this is called Ordinary or “O-Level”, and S5-S6 is called Advanced or “A-level”. ( kinda like OWL's and NEWT's in Harry Potter...) Students are kind of ‘finished’ after S4, and only a very few students go on to S5 and S6. Not many go on to Advanced level. Some teachers have compared A-level to community college, but I’m not convinced that they are the same. For example in a typical S1 or even up to S4 class there would be anywhere from 80 to 100 students in just one class, where as in the S5 class at Awere Secondary School there are 5 male students.

This is because at the end of S4, all students have to sit for the Ugandan National Exam. Their whole education is based on how they do on that one exam. So their whole future hangs on one test. Many students cannot afford to continue on to S5, but if they can then they will only continue in the Humanities or Math and Science. Education at this level is tracked, and they can only proceed down one track. This is only dependent on what they get on their exam, and not on what their desires are. That is a big difference between the USA system and the Ugandan system. If a student wants to be a doctor, she/he must perform well on their National Exam, and if they don’t then oh well, you can’t be a doctor. And in the US, if you continue to try hard (even if you have to do it again, and again) and eventually do well, then you can probably become a doctor. (Kidneys, right Sarah?)

Now that you have some of the background…

I am co-teaching at Awere SS (secondary school) with Komakech Sheargold and we are teaching one class of S1 students (approx. 100), three classes of S2 students (approx. 90 students), and just two classes of S4 students (80 students). At Awere SS the students stay in the same classroom basically all day, and the teachers come to them. This makes for a unique experience where classes usually start late. Oh, and actually the other day, Komakech and I went to class about 10 minutes late (no big deal…TIA) and a History teacher was still teaching the S1 class, so we just ended up not having class. Kinda bizarre!

Today was my first day actually teaching, and I ended up helping to teach Newton’s 2^nd Law. Which I must admit is pretty freaking exciting to teach. Although, when I’ve taught it before, I’ve always taught it by using rockets as an example. Since that would not work so well here, I talked about futbol, pushing cars, and riding a bike. Oh, and I think that when we do Newton’s 3^rd Law we will hopefully do Alka-Rockets! (Yeah, TFI!!!) I have a ton of film canisters with me, and I can easily buy Alka-seltzer at a Pharmacy, in Lwo it’s an “Ot Yot” (which literally means House of Drugs).

Oh, and then I also helped to teach about Ticker Time Tapes, which I thought was really funny, but that is one of the ways they teach about frequency here. Again, bizarre! It’s not like any of the students are going to be using ticker time tapes while out on the streets of Gulu.

That is actually one of the biggest things that science teachers in Gulu have expressed, is that they would like their curriculum to be more applicable for the students, and the students’ lives in Gulu. They want to teach them practical skills, and helpful knowledge, rather than just filling their brains for this National Exam. It’s been quite an experience so far.

Well, this blog is getting long, and it is getting late for me. Oh, and on the 4th we are going to have a big party, all of the American's that is. There are probably about 30 of us in all, about 20 people here for the teacher exchange, and another 10 or so who are on staff. It should be a blast, but w/out fireworks! Night! (Good Afternoon.)

Pictures

This is a picture of typical food in Uganda. It may not look very good, b/c I had already started eating it before taking the picture. It was actually very good...cassava -like potatoes only not, meat, chipate, pea and carrots, avocado, and this mashed banana thing, which looks like mashed potatoes in the picture, but actually doesn't taste like bananas.
THis is a picture of Lubiri Secondary School in Kampala. This is the school that Jacob goes to, and is a school without a lot of money, but which is like 10th in the nation. It was great to visit. But very different from the school I am working at in Gulu. I will post more pictures as I can, but it just takes a long time to upload them.

Shear Force, IDP's and Mentors

Thursday June 28, 2007

I cannot believe that I have been in Gulu for just over a week. It feels like so much longer! The last two days have been really great. Awere SS (secondary school) has been having testing all week, so our coordinator Amy had set up a couple other opportunities for us in the past few days, in order to keep us busy, and not just sitting around. And I have definitely been busy.

Shear Force

Tuesday I spent the whole day, from 9 am until 4pm going over the test which we gave to one of the classes. It was a 50 question test, and it was actually really, really difficult (and my Seniors at UMAHS thought they had it bad). It covered a very wide base of physics concepts, some very basic and others which would be covered in a University physics course in the States.
African time is definitely very different because we worked very slow, and literally spent THE WHOLE DAY just choosing the correct answers on the test, in order to make a marking guide (answer sheet). At one point I was ready to jump out of my skin. But, it was also good because Sheargold (I found out that I was misspelling his name) and I have been able to connect a lot and spend a lot of time talking. He had asked me if I could help him set up an email account, so of course I told him I could definitely go to the internet café with him. I told him that he needed to think about what his email address should be, and so I wrote out my whole name, and showed him what my email address is at gmail. He then wrote out his name, which I then found out was Sheargold, not Shagold. We talked about it, and he said, “No, it is not Shagold, but Sheargold. Like shear force, in physics.” Jokingly I then added, “So your email address should be shearforce@ gmail.com He thought that was hilarious, and we both laughed.

IDP Camps

On Wednesday I spent the morning at school actually not doing much of anything. Everyday my teacher has said that he will be at the school at 9am, but he shows up sometime between 10am and 10:15am. But T.I.A. (This Is Africa). That’s what we say to one another when we come across something which is culturally very different, but typically we use it in reference to time. So enough about that, I left the school in the afternoon, and went to Awer IDP Camp (pronounced Away Camp). We went with Walter, who is the Bracelet Program manager for the Awer Camp. It was definitely an experience I won’t soon forget. Just a ton of grass huts in the middle of nowhere really. It is really just like a small town. As we drove out to the camp, Walter told us a lot about the camps, and the history of the camps. Apparently the road we drove out on (which was probably in the worst condition of all the roads I've been on) use to be very very unsafe, and many people were abducted or killed while traveling on that road. It became very easy to understand how the LRA can easily hide only 1,2, 3 or so meters from the road, and no one would know they were there. Once we got into the camp we were asked to sign in at two different locations. At one of the locations, the Director of the camp gave us this whole speech in Lwo. Walter then translated it into English for us. The director told us that we needed to go home, and tell people about what we saw. That maybe since we have seen with our own eyes, people will believe, b/c they do not believe the newspapers. And it truly was a very powerful experience, and a great place to see with my own eyes. We walked through the camp, and so many children followed us through the camp. It was like we were the pied pipers. We didn’t even ask for it, they just followed us, and we very quickly turned into a parade. The kids would just come up to you and grab your hand, and walk beside you. It was crazy. We then had time to sit inside the hut where the bracelet makers worked, and we watched them make some bracelets, and then they showed us how they are made. I sat with a woman named Filder. She was really great, and her son Emmy was totally cute. They make about 8-10 a day, but they can only make 40 a week. From there, the bracelets go through quality control, and the makers are only paid for the ones that pass quality control. Visiting the camp was an experience I will never forget. Did I mention that I won’t forget my visit to Awer Camp?

Mentors

Today (Thursday) I began my day at school, starting to mark papers. There are so many papers to mark, and honestly I’ve only done about a ¼ of one out of three classes. But anyway, I left school after a few hours, and went over to the IC offices to meet up with a mentor. Then I had the opportunity to shadow an Invisible Children Education Program Mentor. Every child which receives a scholarship for school through IC, also is assigned a mentor who guides them through issues like school, health, affects from the war, growing up, and life in general. They sort of act like a Guidance Counselor b/c schools here do not have counselors (yeah LC!). It was great b/c we visited many houses and our mentor Stella was so great. I actually went to a house of one of my students, and even though she was not there, it was wonderful to meet her parents. They were so proud to be able to invite “the American teacher who teaches our daughter” into their home (read grass hut).

Basically I have had a couple of very amazing days, despite not being in the classroom yet. It will be very weird b/c we will only have 3 weeks in the classroom, while other teachers would’ve had the chance to have 4 weeks in the classroom. I am hoping that I will still have a great experience, as things are still going very well. Oh yeah, and today Komakech Sheargold (my Ugandan teacher) invited me to go visit his village in just over a week. I cannot wait to go. It shall be really great!

Wanen lachen. (See you later)

The Good, the Bad, and Fall Out Boy…

June 26th, Tuesday
Yes, you did read that correctly. No, I do not think that Fall Out Boy is ugly. You must read on to hear about Fall Out Boy.

The Good…

Community

Being in Gulu has been amazing. Besides it being half-way across the world, the culture is of course completely different. I have begun to get an idea of what community means here, and how it is built into their way of living. As you ride on a boda (motorcycle) (if you are my parents reading this, I am speaking hypothetical and I have not rode on a boda, and if you are not my parents, I have rode on one many times)… Anyway, if you ride through town, you pass by areas of plant overgrowth, and then every 15 yards or so, there is a small group of huts, all placed together, creating a sort of Acholi housing development. Well, not really, but it does create this really great little group of 5-10 huts. This gives instant community, as the children play together outside between the huts, parents are able to watch many children, and have them be watched by others in return. They hang their laundry up together, they probably share meals, and of course they share in one another’s lives. Meanwhile in America, we lock ourselves into our houses, communicate over the phone and computer, we put up fences to claim our land, and keep others out of our lives. Ok, so that was a little pessimistic, but many ideals which are highly regarded here become the things which are stepped upon in order to pull ourselves to the top of the ladder.

Children

While walking the streets of Gulu, any munu (pronounced moo noo- meaning white person) is an instant celebrity. There are a good number of white people living/visiting Gulu, but while out in town, or walking to school, chances are that you won’t really run into another one, or maybe you’ll see just one. Well, unless you’re at the internet place. There’s always munu’s there. So I was walking home from school (.5mil) and I have to pass another primary school. All of the kids were outside, all sitting around a few teachers who were probably doing an end of the day announcement or something. Next thing I knew, just like it would happen in America, one of the teachers said something to dismiss the kids, and Acholi children all grabbed their bags and started running away, ecstatic to be done for the day. As soon as they saw me, it was like an instant curiousity/excitement/nervousness. They want to know what this munu is, but they don’t know what to do/say. I started to talk to them in Lwo saying things like Hello, What’s up?, how are you?, etc. They love it, and started to laugh so hard. I just kept walking, and maybe 20 seconds later I realized that there was a group of 10-15 children behind me, following me. It just made me laugh outloud, which made them laugh. I feel like a rock star sometimes (but not like Fall Out Boy). Then one boy came up to me, stuck out his hand for me to shake it, and said “Apwoyo” (A-foy-yo -Hello) I shook his hand and said Apwoyo back. Instant laughter from all of the kids behind me. It seemed as though someone had dared him to “go and shake the munu’s hand” or either he played the brave one and told them that he would go do it. A few more kids then had the guts to come up and shake my hand, but it’s just so funny. Their laughs and smiles are so beautiful.

Aid

In Africa, Aid from the US comes in many different forms. There are organizations here in Gulu ALL over the place. Down every street is another office for another NGO or CBO(Community Based Organization- Invisible Children is actually a CBO not an NGO- they are working on NGO status). You can see aluminum cans that use to hold food in them, they have USA written on them and then have been cut flat and nailed up, covering the doors of people’s huts. People around town wear shirts and clothes which are most definitely from the states. And as you’ve just read, children and many other people are excited to meet Americans. There seems to be like seriously 20 different U.N. organizations (Unicef being the most well known in America), and many faith-based organizations. But with the good is the bad. Not everyone here likes Americans.

The Bad…

Aid

It’s easy to see the differences in how people react to Americans. Some are excited to meet you, and get to hear a little bit about you. Others just pass by without saying anything. They are not typically outright rude, but you can tell that they’ve seen the bad side of munu’s in Gulu. We have to be careful how we spend our money, so that we’re not driving up the prices, thus making it difficult to impossible for locals to buy food/other items. The ‘white hand-out’ is also a problem. We are not allowed to give out any money or anything while we are here. People in Africa totally assume that any white person has money, and so they try to find a way to get some of that money. If someone is given money from a munu, then the assumption is perpetuated that white people have money, and that they can just rely on our hand-outs and they don’t have to work to receive help. Thus, no matter how badly we want to give a child a little money when they ask, or help someone out in a similar manner, we just have to say no. It’s been weird, and difficult at times, and other times I can really understand the reasoning.

Colonialism

It was described to us as, “We have become half British, and remained half Acholi. We are two halves and a whole of nothing.” In a nutshell, that is approx. what colonialism has done for the acholi people. They have reaped many benefits of medicine, sanitation, importance of health care, and other similar things. But at the cost of losing some of their culture, having a culturally irrelevant educational curriculum/system forced upon their children, and only giving those with money the chance at a successful life. Arguably the worst is that a dream of having a safe, successful, loving, joyful, educated, and stable life has been shown to them only to then be ripped away, out of their reach. I’m not sure how I feel about that, I think I still need time to process that thought.

War

Really, do I need to say more? Ok so maybe a little. Many of the problems occurring today concerning the LRA and the rebel army derives from a longer history of the North and the South not getting along. It’s weird how people here do not discriminate on the basis of skin color rather it is where you are from, or your tribe. Although generally there is a dislike between people from Northern Uganda (like Gulu), and Southern (like Kampala) Uganda. This is of course a general statement and would be like saying that all Americans are racist. Just as that is not true, also many Ugandans are not tribalist- I just made that up. Anyway, even without the war, the North and South did not get along very well. For the past 20 years this inability to see eye to eye has just made things worse, thus perpetuating many of the war issues.

The Fall Out Boy…(what you’ve all been waiting for)

So in a few weeks Fall Out Boy is coming here to Gulu, and they will be filming a music video for their next single. And speaking of the good and the bad, many of the American's here are not sure that having them come will be a good thing. American's really have to be careful when interacting with locals here, and they may not bring many positive things. Such as there is a rumor that they want to film their music video in an IDP camp. THat would be awful! I cannot even imagine. It will be weird to have them here, and I'm interested to hear a lot of what the IC American staff here have to say. We'll see. I have no idea if I will get to see any them, or if I will even get to meet them. I am sure that they will meet with Invisible Children, and many of the people who work at the office here in Gulu. I wish that I had more info on Fall Out Boy for you all, but I don’t. So I guess if for no other reason, you should continue to visit my blog in order to find out if I’ve met Fall Out Boy. And since you’ll be reading my blog, you should then comment. I love it when people comment!

( a big THANKS to all who've commented. I love hearing from you! )