Well we are almost halfway finished with our trip. Time has flown by! Although at times I long for a shower (doesn't have to be hot!), a bed, a cold glass of water, and a piece of chocolate cake, I have come to recognize that life can remain sweet without the luxuries we claim as necessities. It takes so little to live happily, which is remarkable to me. However, I am looking foward to that chocolate cake when I get home.
Our group is doing fantastic! Although we have suffered from a few upset stomachs and loads of mosquito bites, we have all remained rather healthy and content. Our days consist of arising early in the morning and walking through the village to our school, Lukolo. Today we just finished painting a two classroom block, and have all been very encouraged by the progress. Yesterday a teacher stopped to tell me that this was "the first time Lukolo has been shining." For the afternoon activity yestereday, we led a song competition between the classes---roughly 600 kids--on the school field (where cows and chickens freely roam). Each class belted out some amazing Ugandan songs, complete with lots of dancing (including the teachers!). We awarded the 5th graders with blow pops, which they, of course, paraded in front of the other kids faces.
We are also each teaching loads of classes. Yesterday I taught 80 5th graders about disabled children in Uganda. Their class was conducted under a large mango tree, which the chalkboard was nailed on. It was fantastic! A couple days before I taught about polygamy--something which is common in Uganda. That was an experience... As a group, we have managed to accumulate over 500 avocados, passionfruit, papayas, mangoes and sugarcane, as the students bring loads of them to us everyday as gifts!
On Monday we will start refurbishing the 2 classroom block we raised funds for. We'll be up to our elbows in concrete and plaster, so wish me luck! Tommorow we will be meeting with a Hamilton alum, Herbert Wamboko, in Kampala, and on Sunday we will raft the mighty Nile!
- by Meghan Moulton '07
Our group is doing fantastic! Although we have suffered from a few upset stomachs and loads of mosquito bites, we have all remained rather healthy and content. Our days consist of arising early in the morning and walking through the village to our school, Lukolo. Today we just finished painting a two classroom block, and have all been very encouraged by the progress. Yesterday a teacher stopped to tell me that this was "the first time Lukolo has been shining." For the afternoon activity yestereday, we led a song competition between the classes---roughly 600 kids--on the school field (where cows and chickens freely roam). Each class belted out some amazing Ugandan songs, complete with lots of dancing (including the teachers!). We awarded the 5th graders with blow pops, which they, of course, paraded in front of the other kids faces.
We are also each teaching loads of classes. Yesterday I taught 80 5th graders about disabled children in Uganda. Their class was conducted under a large mango tree, which the chalkboard was nailed on. It was fantastic! A couple days before I taught about polygamy--something which is common in Uganda. That was an experience... As a group, we have managed to accumulate over 500 avocados, passionfruit, papayas, mangoes and sugarcane, as the students bring loads of them to us everyday as gifts!
On Monday we will start refurbishing the 2 classroom block we raised funds for. We'll be up to our elbows in concrete and plaster, so wish me luck! Tommorow we will be meeting with a Hamilton alum, Herbert Wamboko, in Kampala, and on Sunday we will raft the mighty Nile!
- by Meghan Moulton '07
