At the School at Last

I have arrived at the school, Thursday the headmaster picked me up in Kampala early in the morning and drove me and my numerous bags of stuff to the school, the journey took just over 5 hours. I was very relieved and thankful for this ride as the prospect of getting on a bus with all of my stuff including the computers and cameras was making me more than a little nervous.

When we arrived at the school I found out that the house that I thought I was staying in was unfinished and I was to stay with D, a deputy head teacher at the school (like a vice principal). She has a very nice home and was very welcoming to me.

After lunch I unpacked some of my bags in my room, I just finished emptying the contents of my bag onto the bed when I realized that since the only furniture in the room was the bed and a chair I had no where to put everything I had just unpacked if I wanted to sleep that night. Most of it ended up back in the bag. I think I will need to buy a shelf.

In the afternoon break I had tea with the teachers and then we went to watch the students play sports, something that they do most afternoons. The students are in houses and play in house teams against each other. I found I had quite a crowd of students behind me while I watched a net ball game. I have received a lot of wide eyed looks from many of the students and am looking forward to begin teaching so that I can get to know them.

I spent the afternoon talking with D and figuring out where things were… still wondering about a few things but I think I have the essentials. In the evening the Headmaster invited me over for dinner. At night I spent a lot of time fumbling around in the dark for my flashlights and had two semi-frightening trips to the outdoor toilet… but I survived.

In the morning I woke up to what sounded like a dinner bell… at 5:45AM! This is the time that the children are woken up, they are expected to be up and ready for breakfast by 6:30, at 7:30 their first classes start. At 6:45 I rolled out of bed just as D was leaving to teach her first class, I am going to have to go to bed earlier tonight!

After some difficulty, I managed to figure out how to have a wash and eat my breakfast. Now I am practicing my skills at being patient while I wait to find out what happens next...