Last Week in Uganda

Wow- my last day in Gulu, strange! It went by so fast!

Monday we went to mass for Grace's foster child. Back when he was younger he belonged to a group of boys who b/c of the war were forced to wander - some people in Gulu adopted these boys and helped to raise them as theor own children - Grace was one of the womam whio welcomed him into her home. The mass was a wonderful experience, as ususal, even thouh it was in Luo!

After mass was a receptopm for the 2 Deacons who were caonoized. There were introductions and appluase for all the guests, for some reason we got a special introcdtion s well! We got to meet a priest from Rome - he has lived in Uganda since 1976! The altarservers entertained us with song and dance and there was LOTS of wonderful Ugandan food! When the sun set, there ws a quarter moon with a star right nect to its tip - a blessing from the virgin mary our hosts told us. It was really cool. As the night wound down we again attempted to dane th "calypso" with the children -they love to dance!

Tuesday we visited Grace's school with Paul, a volunteer. Grace teaches at one of the schools for the IDP camps. It was quite an experience! The classroom had 46 children all crammed into bench like desks, ususally 3 chilren to a desk. The room had a hard, cmpact dirt floor and there wre no lights, I have no idea what they do when it isn't sunny out. There aren't enough books so for the reading lesson Grace had to write the whole story on the board! Despite all thsi the children were very well behaved, though thnk we wre a bit of a distraction. They welcomed us with some songs. I have yet to meet a ugandan whio cant sing or dance!! We sat for their reading lesson and attempted to learn some luo as well. Break was at 10:30 and we went to the "teachers lounge" to have tea and crackers. One interesting thing is that when a chikd greats or serves an adult they must kneel before them - somethng I hav not gotten used to! The chldren aslo give us little curtsys when they great us. We are still trying to adjust to "african time." For example, if someone tells you an event starts at 9:00am expect it to begin at 10:30am. We asked hoiw long break ws anbd the teacher said till 10:50... I looked at my wathch and it was 11:10 and no one seemed tyo be in a hurry to go back to class.

After break there was a math lesson, multiplication of 4. We then visited a P7 class, or Primary 7. In Uganda, a child goes to nursery school for 3 years starting at thr age of 3. They attend K1, K2, and K3. Then they go for 7 years of primary school (P1-P7). After primary they go for 6 years of secondary school. "O" level, or ordinary level is for 4 years then they go to "A" level, or advenaced level for 2 years. In "A" level they begin to specialize in subjects. After completion of "A" level they go for 4 years of universiy.

After school we went to Grace's mother's home for more celebrations for the Deacon. We got to meet mny of Grace;s family members. We had a lot of time to talk with the Deacon and some of his friends from the seminary- Ugandans love to talk about politics and religion. Eddie, a seminarian from Kenya, tried to start a debate about people who wear the rosary like a necklace. They also asked us uor opinon about the peace talks as well as the Iraq War. Everyone was surprised tha the USA is lacking young men and women who want tp joine the priesthood or become a nun. (Eddie asked Monica and I if we would become nuns)

Wednesday we spenet the day at the office and had a brief meeting wth Grace and al the volunteers about the program and collaboration with anothe group back home who work with kids who attend "failing schools" in IL I tried yto teach the volunteers and kids how t shuffle cards with the bridge -Robert said I must gamble because I am good at shuffling! I also got to hold a little baby which was great fun. A little girl told her mother I looked like Jesus...?

Today we visited anoother school and an IDP camp with Grace and Paul. One of the girls in the program, Sharon, lives whith her grandmother in the camp. We spent tme in her home, a one room hut used for cooking, washing, cleaning, and sleeping. The camps really are very crowded. One man brouht us his 2 year old little girl and asked ys if we knew what was wrong with her, I wish we could've helped her! Grace said she thought the girl had ring-worm. We also got to meet what they called one of ther "characters" a man wth a mental dissability. He asked us girls if we would marry him.

It had rained a bit when we had left so Grace offered us the inside of the truck - everyone laughed when we declined and said we were fine with the back of the truck and that we didn't mind the rain. (Oh, the huts aso leak a bit wen it rains!)

It is strange to see aid from the US as well as so many UN, UNICEF, and World Relief vehicles everywhere; as well as so many soldiers. Thre are also many signs directing th way to Sudan nad the DRC whch is strange as wel.

Go figure I am finlly learning my way aruond town and it is time to leave. I now know how to catch a boda-boda as well know what is a fair price. I can walk to the bus park, groceryr store, church, bank, and internet cafe w/o gttin lost. I am even getting used to the dust and the latrines!

Everyone asks me about the USA and Chicago and can't believe that the lights are so bright at nght we can't see the stars. They are also shocked that when you see people on the street you do not greet them and ask how they are. Ugandans greet everyone, even perfect strangers. If they nkow you they will ask how your night was, how your morning is, how your family is, and perphaps offer you a drink. The hospitality of the Ugandans is amazing. It is not strange or uncommon for a boda-boda or a taxi driver to inquire about yuor family, if you are married, or ask where yuo are from.

So tomorrow morning I head back to Kampala on the bus- yea for the 6 hr drive! It is quite an adventure, African public transportation. I am not sure if I can describe it properly or compare it to anything. Imagine an old bus crammed as much as possible with people and luggage - there are even people sitting in the aisle. There is one "pit" stop, at a field. The seats ae about half the size of the CTA seats and the road is full of pot holes you sometimes hvave to drive on the shoulder.

I think that is about it. I cant believe hoiw fast 3 weeks went! I really wll miss Uganda and all of the people I have met here. Thw Acholi peopl;e have suffered so much yet they are by far the most friendly and hospitable peopel I have ever met.

See you soon!

Love,
Amy