One Week? Weak.

Morning Hike with Kayla

Since my last blog it seems as though not much has happened, yet each day just seems so eventful and meaningful here. This past school week was shortened because of Easter break, so we only had school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. That meant that as we planned for the week’s lesson, we had to do so with the end of our time here in minds. In math, it pains me to leave because we are just getting rolling with our unit about operations. We are getting ready to move from multiplication into long division, and it is a horrible time to just say, “See ya!” Though it is not that way at all, that is almost what it feels like. I hadn’t anticipated the stress of leaving in the middle of a term to be this much of a bummer. I can’t tell you how it feels to be making progress with a group of students, and then just leave with the thought of never seeing them again. Really. Ouch.

Anyway, we are to the end of the unit in English too, which is not the greatest time to leave either, because I am trying to fit a review and test into the mix of break and the two days before we leave. I kind of threw out my lesson plans the past two days which pushed the end of unit date because we were working on letters that my class is sending back to the class I will work with in Madison. About a month ago, my cooperating teacher from Madison sent letters that some of his students wrote to my p4 students. So the past 4 classes of English we have dedicated part of the time to writers workshop, where the students were working on responding to those letter. It was fun because many of the kiddos were pumped to write to other students who were their age in U.S.A. Plus, this type of instruction or activity is not common in this curriculum. It was interesting to see them actually work through and have to edit during the writing process, a practice they are not accustomed to yet.   It will be equally interesting to see the students I will with at Frank Alis read them because it is not difficult to see cultural differences just in the way they write.

So yes, it has been very difficult planning the remaining classes we have to teach when we are just leaving right in the middle of things. That has probably been the biggest mental challenge I have face my entire time here. It is just difficult to cope with the fact that I may not see or even hear about these students again. I do not doubt that I will return to Rwentutu for a visit, however, when I do it will be a different experience all together.  As I plan for my final three classes here, I do so with many emotions running through my mind.

As suggested, Easter is upon us. From what I have seen and understand, the students that attend Rwentutu, their families, and the school celebrate the holiday with a certain commitment to their faith that is refreshing to see. On Wednesday before dismissal for break, the students and staff gathered in the freshly cleared and cleaned community hall of the school where an Easter celebration was held. The celebration included singing, drumming, dancing, and a sermon conducted by King James. It was such an amazing experience to listen to the music created by the school community, watch the dancing, witness commitment to faith bringing people to tears, and just being a part of the whole thing. It was truly inspirational and unforgettable. I am so excited to continue the celebrations and spend Easter in the village with King James and others on Sunday. I am expecting it to be a truly great and cultural experience, and I have a feeling my expectations will not disappoint.

Elton, Evan, and I at Easter Celebration

Let’s see, what else? Ah! So, as I entered my room for sleep last night I noticed a black flash of rodent streaking across the room.  I informed the others and Kayla quickly appeared to the scene of the crime with a broken tire pump ready to dismantle any critter that crossed her path. With Jess, Kayla, and Lauren standing outside my room, Kayla and I turned over my room looking for our furry friend. As a joke, I decided to throw a sock out the door at the others, which caused a bit of screaming, and panic. In the midst of the hallway chaos Lauren was convinced that she saw the unidentified rodent run out of the room and go under he r door into hers. I was hesitant to believe her because of the way it aligned with my prank, but we came to find that she was correct.

After Kayla found and scared the rodent out of Lauren’s room, it ran through the hallway, ducked in and out of muzungu feet (scaring the bejesus out of those that it passed), and dipped into the kitchen instead of out the back door. After making a few failed attempts to lead it into the direction of the back door, we realized that some of us were more afraid of the rodent than it was of us.  To make this long story short (yet less hilarious) Kayla, Doreen, and I ended up beating it to death in the kitchen with a plastic mop handle, an African broom, and a stick. I had less to do with the beating than Kayla and Doreen did, but I took a few whacks at him. It was a rat. This was my first encounter. Though a death is never something to laugh at, the process and events leading up to it was so funny. It’s one of those things where you would just have to be there to experience it as we saw it.

In other news, it was Samson’s 24^th birthday on Wednesday, so we went out to dinner to celebrate that evening. It was nice because we got to meet his brother Edson, and had the chance to talk with Samson a little more casually than normal. We also met him the following day at Spring’s international hotel for some lunch and poolside bro time. Today I did laundry, went back poolside and did some reading for a class, and now we are thinking about what to have for dinner. I will keep you all updated on any further events, activities, or insights.

To conclude my post, I have been having such a great time here and cannot believe I have to leave my students, school, and life for the past two months behind in just one week. I know that with a change will come new and positive experiences; however I am just not ready for this one to end. Not at all.

Kasese

Downtown Kasese

Shopping for Fabric at the Market