Day 9 – Zoe
To my concerned parents, my awesome little brother, my insane dog, awkward friends, chill fam and respective creepers; its day 9 of UGANDA! Every day we are here I become more and more drawn into Ugandan life and more and more resistant to the idea of coming home (sorry mom).
Today I got the chance to experience many different parts of UNIFAT school. In-between break times we were again swarmed with smiling children, I had the opportunity to help out in the UNIFAT kitchen. Their kitchen, for those unaware, consist of 3 half mud walls, a tilted tin roof and two very large fire powered mud stoves. So, it is almost impossible to stir anything, whether it is the porridge for break time or the posho for lunch, without getting smoke in your eyes. More than that , even the half walls don’t allow for enough heat to escape and the compact kitchen can quickly become very hot. Despite this, the kitchen workers couldn’t be nicer. We mad small talk-or what small talk you can have given my broken acholi and there broken English. But mostly we exchanged questions. Me: am I doing this right? Them: (after much laughter) yes, isn’t it hard? Me: YES.
At lunch I again found a mob of children swarming me with handmade envelopes holding their letters. Some letters were sweet, like the drawings of me and a child titled best friends. Some were heartbreaking like the letters where a child detailed there horrible home life and asked that I please sponsor them. Worst still I had to respond to those letters and tell them that I could not and I was sorry. And yet, still more upsetting was the letter I received form a little boy who I have come to know asking “is it true? Are you really leaving on Monday? I Pray to God it is not but if it is I promise that I will never forget you.” Needless to say my response took quiet a long time.
After lunch I sat in on a P5 math class (which would compare to a 5 grade math class). Again, proving that we are more similar than we are different, I started to nod off. It seems that whether it’s in Uganda or the U.S, Math class puts me to sleep (sorry Kari and Connie).
In the style of the children’s letter ; This is the end.
Oh Em-funny ending -know you miss the children -now the work begins to continue support via awareness events,fundraising,prayer…So proud of you and Harry for your support of UNIFAT.See you soon.
Aunt Ruthanne
July 2, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Nodding off in math class?!?!?! What would Mr. Forman think?
Awesome post Em, I’m so proud of you for jumping right into the culture – right down to working in the kitchen – but it does not surprise me in the least. Hey, I know – we can work in our kitchen – we’ll make RAT-a-touie (see what I did there Em? Referring back to your Pece critter incident??).
I know it has been extremely difficult to leave the children, mentors, and lifestyle that you’ve come to know and love but we’re glad you’re home – and WE’RE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
June 29, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Very funny ending. I am assuming this was some math topic you had mastered so well.
June 28, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Disclaimer: This post was actually written by the fantastic Emma Wahl. Have to give credit where credit is due.
June 27, 2012 at 9:58 PM
if you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen
June 27, 2012 at 8:49 PM