Adventures in Uganda: A Schedule of events!!!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A Schedule of events!!!

Wed. May 14 - I received a tentative schedule from Sister Irene last night. After I read it, I was so excited, I couldn't get to sleep. So many things running through my mind, so many things I need to do, I can't believe I'm really going on this adventure. We will be traveling through 3 swamps from Entebbe where we fly in to get to the Kalunga school in the Masaka district. This is the Seconday School where we will be staying. We will then go to the SHPS - the Primary School - where we will get a "grand welcome". After a couple of days, we will go to the high school at Lake Nabugabo. We will have an inservice with their teachers there. The next week we will spend most of our time at SHPS- I will probably be installing software and instructing teachers and students about the software. On that Sat. there will be a huge celebration with the KGTC and a blessing of the new science lab, solar and water tanks that Sister Irene has been working on with them. There will be the school community, villagers, dignitaries, some Alums (called Old Girls), speeches, songs, dance, - what a blast!!!
The next days we will be traveling to Jinja where the noviceship is, the mouth of the Nile, waterfalls and Kampala for shopping. Then to a B&B before we leave the next day!! Whew!!! See why I couldn't sleep??

2 comments:

Audrey said...: Ruth,
The reason for the term 'Old Girls' comes from the tradition of the British school system. Students who leave high schools are always referred to as Old Girls/Old Boys. My brother frequently goes to an "old boys’ dinner" for his former high school.

I can see why you are getting excited!

Audrey; May 14, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Unknown said...: Holy cow! That sounds amazing mom. The mouth of the nile!!!!! How many people in America ever get to see that. You're gonna have so much fun. I didn't realize you were gonna get to see different schools. That will be so neat.; May 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM

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Back At Home

Well, I've been home almost a week now and I am finally beginning to feel normal. I still want to fall asleep during the day, but not so drastically now. I am beginning to go through the hundreds of pictures I have taken and I am remembering the wonderful experience I was able to have in Uganda. I miss the girls, the Sisters, the countryside and yes, even some of the food - especially FRESH pineapple, bananas and avocados everyday!! But mostly I miss the new family of friends I made during this adventure. All of us have gone back to our "normal" lives, but our thoughts of Uganda are never far away. I used my washing machine for the first time in a month a few days ago - and I will never take it for granted, nor the lovely hot showers I am able to take each morning. Going through the grocery store, I stop and think - do I really need that? I hope I won't take many parts of my life in the US for granted ever again, but I am afraid as time goes on, that will creep back into my life. I feel so much more apart of Sacred Heart Education, even though I have been teaching at Duchesne for 22 years. Watching teachers really learn what Sacred Heart Education means, and see them embrace the goals, was life changing. Seeing their faces change as they hear about loving discipline instead of corporal punishment - wow!! These ideas are a big cultural difference. As they saw us interact with the girls in playful, loving ways, was amazing to them. Playing hokey-pokey, duck-duck-goose, jump rope and ball with the girls and not just standing by watching, gave them a whole new perspective on teaching. Telling all the wonderful stories, that will be my challenge in the next months. I am putting several of my favorite pictures on the blog after this entry, but know that there are so many more that you will see as the year goes on. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see larger pictures. I will add some each day. I know I have said it many times - but I really want to thank all of you for your prayers, your e-mails, and your love as I was on this adventure. They kept my heart singing through each day.