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!