Week 65 (14 - 20 Oct 2007)

Photo: Preparing to collect rainwater outside our back door.

On Sunday we continued working at the White Castle. We had to leave our room by 10am but they were happy for us to work on the veranda of the dining room overlooking the swimming pool. We had a break for a couple of hours around lunchtime when Cathy Asiki and her four children stopped by for a visit. Sadly, the swimming pool was not yet open. There were no lifeguards. We wondered how they could afford more than one lifeguard and why they would want more than one. Perhaps they were going to train one of the existing staff. No other hotels we know of in Uganda had life guards. We were even more confused when the receptionist said they had order two and were waiting for them to be sent from Kampala. Then Cathy twigged. They meant the rings that float on the water! That also explains the notice “Please swim at your own risk.” And I thought I would swim at someone else’s risk! We left at around 4pm having completed a fair bit of what we had wanted to do.

Andrea started another week as Teacher on Duty on Monday which means I either get up at 6.30am and have breakfast made for me or sleep in and get it myself – I get up early! Does that make me sociable or lazy? The ‘O’-level exams started today but the breakfast was not ready early enough for them to eat before the first exam began. Four of our teachers are away for most of the next month doing exam invigilation in other schools. We have only 16 teachers and most of them are part time so it will make quite a difference to the teaching – again. We suggested that as Ushindi only needs two invigilators that only two should be allowed to go in future.

Tuesday was a quiet day. Until after the staff devotions when the school was asked if there was any way they could assist a pregnant lady get to the hospital – urgently. They saw the car on their way past and she was starting to struggle up “delivery hill” - many babies are born on the way up to the hospital and it looked like this would be another one! As I’m the only driver of the “school” vehicle I took the school secretary with me as she could speak Lugbara and has delivered five or more babies. We managed up the difficult road, stopped at the hospital gate while one of our passengers went for the key and arrived safely. The baby was born less than five minutes after she left the car! Close think or what?

Manassah arrived at 3pm on Wednesday to put our solar panels on the roof. It wouldn’t take long, he said. They left at 8.30pm without completing all the work. But the panels are up and operating so no more lugging them out every morning and in every afternoon. I’ll have to think of some other way of getting some exercise.

In preparation for the Life Skills day in November we arranged to meet Joel at Kuluva Hospital on Thursday afternoon. Little did we know that the time he suggested was also the meeting time for the Philly Luteya Initiative, a support group for those with HIV/AIDS. Of course we had to be introduced and give a brief message. We planned it as we were listening to the background of the project. Andrea spoke first, in Lugbara! This delighted the group of around 50 people but left me struggling a little. But it’s not what you say, it’s the fact that you have come which means so much to them. We spent a little time shaking hands with them as we left for our planned meeting. It’s one thing to hear about statistics and read the theory, but when you meet those who are in need themselves and listen to how they plan to educate and help others to live with HIV/AIDS it sort of gets to you. They are a wonderful group and we hope to be able to meet them again. Arumadri Joel is the Director of the initiative at Kuluva and is a very dynamic and eloquent, yet sensitive leader. He was very excited about the possibly of coming to the school as it’s part of the mission of the initiative to educate students at school. He gave us some homework too – we are to ask the students what they wanted to know about life skills which might help them to understand HIV/AIDS better.

It seems that we are getting busier each day – which is good but tiring as the temperatures are increasing again. We discovered at short notice that the Disciplinary Committee would be meeting at 2pm on Friday. Fortunately we have already though through most of the issues at some length. We were encouraged that some of the approaches we have been discussing with the Principal and Deputy were starting to be explored and they gave us an opportunity to explain a different approach to discipline in more detail. It is easier for outsiders to be more objective and see the underlying issues to some problems without being distracted by the immediate reactions. We felt it was a productive meeting, but there is a long way still to go.

As Andrea was still on duty and the only duty teacher on site on Saturday she was fairly busy giving students permission to leave the site to get medication, things for their exams and to get their heads shaved. I had a more restful day and caught up a little with lesson preparation and other reading.