This week has been rewarding in many ways. Regarding the preschool the mamas have been fantastic! they have been sitting with the kids during class and encouraged them to learn and praised them when they have been successful. They sit with them at the table and help the kids write their names. It was a big concern for me knowing how the mamas might react to the new pre-school programme, but its been amazing to see them participating and actually enjoying being with the kids in a pretty chilled out atmosphere!
I've been here a month now, I think I have definately settled into life here. Its no longer strange to walk down a dirt path followed by 3 or 4 enormous cows, or to turn a corner and run into a family of chickens, its no longer as scary to be walking around outside in the dark and see bats everywhere! Im used to the smell of burning rubbish at every corner - although my lungs probably never will be! Im used to riding on boda-bodas and piki-pikis and am slighlty more relaxed about it - although I do still have to hold on with one hand. Im used to having to boil drinking water or to not often having electricity. I am appreciating life here and realise how lucky I am to be living here in such beautiful surroundings. The Ugandan people are fantastic, they are so welcoming, despite having very little they will give everything just to make you feel welcome and will prepare enormous feasts fit for a king.
On Tuesday, Duane and Josephs parents had to travel back to the States without them. The judge hasnt had time (yeah right) to make a ruling and the earliest he is likely to make one is September. Joseph the older one, took the news well and understood that Mummy and Daddy would be back soon to pick them up. Duane on the other hand didn't I think really understand. So when it came to them leaving Duane got very upset, but was fine afterwards. Its been amazing to see the confidence Duane has gained whilst his parents have been here for 3 weeks. He's a little chatterbox and enjoys singing 'the wheels on the bus'. He also used to sit outside sucking his thumb for hours and rarely move from one spot, he now enjoys running around outside and playing with the other children. I hope that Duane continues to be as outgoing whilst his parents are away, and I will certainly try my hardest to ensure that this happens. I took him to the cafe once and we had chips - he accidently dropped one on the floor and he just cried for about 5 minutes none stop - obviously I didnt let him pick it up or eat it - but he was so distraught despite having a plate full of chips in front of him! But then I suppose it is understandable, because I think they rarely eat enough to full them up, so every piece of food is treasured.
Yesterday, I got my trousers caught in the wheel of a piki-piki (motorbike) and they tore a little - I also burnt my ankle on the wheel as we were going over a bump my foot slipped. Today, the boda-boda mans bike broke as we were on it and we both fell! No worries though Im still in one piece!
I was quite sick on Wednesday night - throwing up and diarrehea (sp?) and extremely bad stomach aches - I had to crawl back to my bed in the midddle of the night after spending 2 hours in the toilet (you didnt really want to know that but anyway!) because I was so weak. Anyway, Im fine now after having slept a lot. I think it might have been food poisoning because I had a rolex that evening - which is basically a ciabbati and an omeltte inside which we got from town - so it was most probably the egg.
Yesterday, I took one of the preemies to the clinic in town becasue he had to have an xray - he has suspected TB! I went back again today - to pick up the x-ray and get the results but it wasnt ready so they told me to come back later. Nathanial is currently in quarantine because he has Impertigo (sp). Although, on Thursday he was eating with the kids and sleeping in the same room!
On Friday, we took the kids on a boat to the Source of the Nile, 6 kids came and 3 had to stay behind as they hadnt got enough stars. We had a really good time, the kids enjoyed throwing stones into the river. I will post a few photos from our trip. I have been to the source of the Nile before however this time our boat driver told us that the source of the Nile actually comes from under the ground and that before the dam was built there was a waterfall flowing from Lake Victoria running down into the Nile, but now there is just the lake which runs into the river. So the guide said that the lake is about 40m deeps whereas the river - where the waterfall was is about 143ft (not quite sure on way he quoted one in metres and one in ft!) .
I've been here a month now, I think I have definately settled into life here. Its no longer strange to walk down a dirt path followed by 3 or 4 enormous cows, or to turn a corner and run into a family of chickens, its no longer as scary to be walking around outside in the dark and see bats everywhere! Im used to the smell of burning rubbish at every corner - although my lungs probably never will be! Im used to riding on boda-bodas and piki-pikis and am slighlty more relaxed about it - although I do still have to hold on with one hand. Im used to having to boil drinking water or to not often having electricity. I am appreciating life here and realise how lucky I am to be living here in such beautiful surroundings. The Ugandan people are fantastic, they are so welcoming, despite having very little they will give everything just to make you feel welcome and will prepare enormous feasts fit for a king.
On Tuesday, Duane and Josephs parents had to travel back to the States without them. The judge hasnt had time (yeah right) to make a ruling and the earliest he is likely to make one is September. Joseph the older one, took the news well and understood that Mummy and Daddy would be back soon to pick them up. Duane on the other hand didn't I think really understand. So when it came to them leaving Duane got very upset, but was fine afterwards. Its been amazing to see the confidence Duane has gained whilst his parents have been here for 3 weeks. He's a little chatterbox and enjoys singing 'the wheels on the bus'. He also used to sit outside sucking his thumb for hours and rarely move from one spot, he now enjoys running around outside and playing with the other children. I hope that Duane continues to be as outgoing whilst his parents are away, and I will certainly try my hardest to ensure that this happens. I took him to the cafe once and we had chips - he accidently dropped one on the floor and he just cried for about 5 minutes none stop - obviously I didnt let him pick it up or eat it - but he was so distraught despite having a plate full of chips in front of him! But then I suppose it is understandable, because I think they rarely eat enough to full them up, so every piece of food is treasured.
Yesterday, I got my trousers caught in the wheel of a piki-piki (motorbike) and they tore a little - I also burnt my ankle on the wheel as we were going over a bump my foot slipped. Today, the boda-boda mans bike broke as we were on it and we both fell! No worries though Im still in one piece!
I was quite sick on Wednesday night - throwing up and diarrehea (sp?) and extremely bad stomach aches - I had to crawl back to my bed in the midddle of the night after spending 2 hours in the toilet (you didnt really want to know that but anyway!) because I was so weak. Anyway, Im fine now after having slept a lot. I think it might have been food poisoning because I had a rolex that evening - which is basically a ciabbati and an omeltte inside which we got from town - so it was most probably the egg.
Yesterday, I took one of the preemies to the clinic in town becasue he had to have an xray - he has suspected TB! I went back again today - to pick up the x-ray and get the results but it wasnt ready so they told me to come back later. Nathanial is currently in quarantine because he has Impertigo (sp). Although, on Thursday he was eating with the kids and sleeping in the same room!
On Friday, we took the kids on a boat to the Source of the Nile, 6 kids came and 3 had to stay behind as they hadnt got enough stars. We had a really good time, the kids enjoyed throwing stones into the river. I will post a few photos from our trip. I have been to the source of the Nile before however this time our boat driver told us that the source of the Nile actually comes from under the ground and that before the dam was built there was a waterfall flowing from Lake Victoria running down into the Nile, but now there is just the lake which runs into the river. So the guide said that the lake is about 40m deeps whereas the river - where the waterfall was is about 143ft (not quite sure on way he quoted one in metres and one in ft!) .
left to right back to front Jesse, Philip with Tonia, Jimmy, Dan, Maria, Joseph, Zuchina and Junior
all hands in the water 
the boys peering out over the front of the boat
2 comments:
cute photos. I'm glad the reward trips are working out well.
What's a boda-boda?
a boda-boda is a push bike, u sit on a little saddle behin the guy cycling - its like a taxi!
then a piki-piki is the same concept except on the back of a motorbike.
Post a Comment