Americans Have Watches but Ugandans Have Time

Today was my first day as a volunteer at Nansana Community Primary School, as well as their Secondary school, Extreme College. Starting tomorrow I will be teaching English, Reading, and Writing to primary classes 4, 5 and, 6. This will be an adventure in itself seeing as I've never taught before! However, after talking with some other volunteers, Melissa and Cindy, I'm pretty confident that I will be able to adapt to the position as teacher quite easily. The students already call me Teacher Kristin (and yes, Kristin not Kirstin, but I'm hardly concerned about that!). The entire school holds approximately 400 students. Many of these students are orphans whose parents have died from HIV/Aids. While most of the orphans have been taken in by members of the community, 80 or so live at the school.

Seggawa oversees the entire school, and was very welcoming when I met him today. He immediately introduced me to the children and gave me a tour of the primary school. I learned that since most of their donations go towards teacher's salaries and food for the children, the students have taken it upon themselves to build each additional school building or dorm that the school needs! It's incredible, they have such spirit and drive. They even make the bricks themselves. I'm so inspired by these children, they have such respect and appreciation for the teachers, and for learning.

I also met with Dorothy who is the director of the Primary school. She was very welcoming, but promptly wrote up my schedule for me. If all goes accordingly I will be teaching at the primary school three days a week and at the secondary school two days a week. After touring the school, Zach, another volunteer and I, went to grab some lunch at a hotel down the road. After finishing our lunch, we boda boda'd to a taxi park and from there took a taxi to the Secondary school, called Extreme College. And yes, it was my first boda boda ride ever! Although I was wearing a skirt, I refused to sit sideways. I bunched my skirt up in between my legs, said a quick prayer, and hopped on. The motorcycle took off and there was no turning back, so I clung on for dear life. However, it was rather thrilling and not nearly as terrifying as I'd expected!

So after taking the taxi to Extreme College (i love the name), Zach, Melissa, Cindy, Eric and I sat down for a meeting with Seggawa, Dorothy, Job and the rest of the teachers to discuss the grand opening of the secondary school which will be held next Wednesday. Each volunteer, including myself, is expected to give speech at the ceremony. I've never given a speech before, so this should be interesting. Not to mention, it will be in front of 600 people, one of which will be the Vice President of Uganda! Wish me luck!