Finally in school!

This week we finally got to go to the school and meet the staff and children! Monday was the first day we arrived at Rwentutu Christian School. Since it was the first day there were many children absent. We were informed that some would show up later in the week while the rest would show up next week. We met King James, the deputy headmaster of the school. Shortly after we met Wilson, the head teacher at the school. He chatted to us a bit about the school for a bit before giving us a tour of the grounds. We got to see the classrooms, the kitchen, their garden (where the food the children eat are grown) and the dining hall that is currently under construction. King James chatted to us a bit more about logistics and the schedule of the school. We then gave King James the range of classes that we would like to observe for the week. I chose to observe classes P2-P5.

We got to socialize with the children and play around with them a bit. The kids love to play with frisbees and they are all so good at it! I'm pretty terrible so I defiintely looked like a fool compared to them. Around noon, the school gathered for an assembly where students raised five flags: the flags of Uganda, Canada, USA, Rwenzuru, and Wisconsin. The children sang the national anthem, Ugandan school anthem, and Rwentutu's school song. Once they were finished, the four of us were able to introduce ourselves to the school. We introduced ourselves with our names as well as the Lukonzo names that Enoch had given to us on our first day at Makerere. The students giggled as each of us went down the line and said our names. I think by presenting ourselves with our Lukonzo names, we created a personal connection with the students letting them know that we were accepting their culture. The rest of the day was given to us to play with the children and getting to know them all. Heather and I played volleyball for quite a bit with a group of P5 children. I got to talk to some of them and they promised to teach me some Lukonzo throughout the week.

The other days of the week I spent observing various classrooms. You had your surprises in the classroom such as a goat walking into the classroom or students drawing crosses and Jesus on the board for Religious Education. However, the observations definitely helped us to see the way the Ugandan school system and teaching methods operate. Much of it is teacher directed instruction in that the teachers feed the students knowledge while the students listen and take notes. However, the teachers have implemented other teaching strategies that I have not seen in other Ugandan schools I have been to. For example, a P4 teacher had students work in groups to brainstorm and answer questions that she had provided about water transport. The observations also helped us to get to know a lot of the students that attend the school. Even though I will only be in one classroom, I have learned the names and gotten to know many students in other classes. Throughout the week, the group of P5 kids have come up to me and have given me “Lukonzo Lessons” where they will write words and phrases in my notebook and write the translation in Lukonzo. Today they quizzed me on some of the words and I definitely failed miserably. I enjoy learning their language and I think they're getting a kick out of teaching me and hearing me say the words.

Today was the day we had to choose our class, and I chose to work with P3! I'm really glad I got P3. I'll be teaching both Math and English although I think I will only do Math on Monday, as the English teacher was not present today and I'm not sure where they left off or what they will be starting. I'll be going back to a second grade classroom in Madison and I'm happy I got a class that is similar to the American equivalent of the classroom. It'll definitely be interesting to take the textbooks and content that the children must learn and giving it our own spin.

Oh, and after school today, Samson took us and Doreen to the Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo border. We arrived in Mpondwe near the border. It was really busy with traffic and people passing through like no other. We had to drop our passports off at a police station before the border (I still have no idea why). Then we had to walk the rest of the way to the border. We arrived at a bridge where the river that separates the Congo and Uganda flows. We crossed the bridge and were “officially” in the Congo. Samson told us we couldn't take photos of the Congolese side of the bridge so we took one of us with Uganda in the background. On the walk back, we stopped by a huge market that sold a variety of items including fabric. We looked around and then headed back.

This weekend we plan on going swimming at the hotel and then church on Sunday to check out the local religious community. Then we officially start teaching on Monday! Nervous but excited!!

Also, Hope (Doreen's younger sister) knew that we wanted to slaughter our own chicken and so gave one to us as a gift! It was so sweet and nice. Slaughtering our own chicken will definitely be an experience!!