Stomachaches and Funny Sentences
Yesterday was visiting day at another boarding school where some of Agape's elementary kids attend. We traveled to the school, about a two hour ride outside of the city of Kampala. Again, we found the scenery fascinating, and the ride went quickly.
This school was so much more modern than the one we saw the day before. It was colorful, had a swimming pool, inspirational signs posted everywhere, and much better materials. The kindergarten room even had a flat screen TV. The administrator treated us like special guests, which was both an honor and very humbling. He told us the history and vision of the school and gave us a tour. The dorms are very crowded: the youngest girls dorm was a single room that housed 54 girls eight years and under! But the rooms were colorful, and every bed had mosquito netting over them.
While the Agape staff met with teachers to get updates on the students' progress, the administrator asked us to set up a show. Again we had trouble with the electric, so we had to go without our music. This didn't matter to the kids (or staff or parents) as they all responded quickly to our juggling with laughter and applause. A problem developed quickly, though, as the younger kids kept getting closer and closer. I don't know if the staff was uncomfortable addressing this in front of all the guests, or they didn't realize we need a certain amount of space to work safely, but within half an hour, there were literally kids right at our feet. Unfortunately, this forced us to cut our show short, but I trust it was a blessing to everyone.
The ride home was so much fun as the Agape staff who traveled with us began asking questions about life in Maine. They were surprised to hear we don't have monkeys, that our winter can last up to five months, and we have wild turkeys (turkeys live in the bush?!) We had a hard time describing lobster, moose and maple syrup, too. We learned a lot from them as well.
Today has been a slow day, as Sue was sick much of last night; the first of us to deal with intestinal problems that attack many visitors here. Rose and I went to the children's home and played with the kids for the morning, and the littlest baby there, 6 months I think they said, fell asleep while I held him. It's been a long time since I've experienced that feeling.
It's now mid afternoon, and Sue's feeling a bit better. Rose and I walked to the market, and now we're just enjoying some rest.
And now: Sentences I said in Africa that I never thought I'd hear myself say:
>Rose is jumping rope with the muslims again.
>How can that monkey run through razor wire without getting hurt?
>Look at all those brooms on that lady's head!
>How many bananas can one guy carry on a motorcycle?
>So we can get two avocados for only 1000 shillings?