I really need to shave

Hey all just got back to Gulu and have a few minutes to converse. What a great week in Atanga. No time for pics, meetings tonight and then we are going to Fort Potico, an old slave trade site. Anyways, miss you all and cannot wait to see you all but am having an amazing experience.

July 4, 2008

Today was a very long but enjoyable day. We had our teacher conference with all the teachers from the states and the teachers from Uganda. The purpose of the conference is to introduce more strategies into Ugandan schools that are participatory, rather than the lecture based approach that many of them use. It is difficult with classrooms of one hundred plus students but none the less, it is an opportunity for all of us to think a little bit differently about how we teach. It was great as a lot of the activities were drama based, but I learned a ton of things to use in my classroom here in Uganda, as well as when I head back to Waubonsie in the fall. Our teachers from Atanga seemed a bit out of their element during the conference and my boy Alfred seemed very overwhelmed and was very quiet throughout the whole day. The conference was great and it lasted the majority of the day until about 5 and then we had an opportunity to chill for the day. After we ate it sunk in that it was the 4^th of July and a couple of us decided we needed to celebrate a little so we went into town and checked out the scene. We visited this place called DA PUB and they played a bunch of American music and we got a little dance party started as you saw by the pictures of me with the Ugandan soldier. It was nice to sit and chat with some people and just relax with everyone. That is the one thing I do not like about Atanga is that I am with just David and the interaction with a group is something I enjoy a lot. Anyways Happy Independence day everyone.

July 5, 2008

Today was our American celebration. We had the second day of the conference and it went well, but it wrapped up around 2 and then we went American on Gulu. All of the American teachers went back to the IC house and played volleyball all day. It was great to get away from Uganda a bit. No one really talked about school or the situation there, it was all about home and being at the compound was a little sanctuary from the real things going on outside the fences. The one Ugandan part of the day was I left to go into town and grab something to drink (twenty minute walk, not just around the corner) and a bunch of little Acholi children were outside the IC house because they heard us all messing around. The were all grabbing my arms and messing with the hair on my arms and laughing and yelling “Munu” to me as I walked into town. Being white in Gulu is like being the Pied Piper, the little Acholi kids will walk and follow you all the way into town and then they realize they do not know where they are and get all scared and run home. On that trip was one of the more heartwarming things for me so far on the trip. As I was walking into town all of a sudden I hear someone yell Joshua. Being in East Africa I do not expect someone to just randomly shout out my name. It was Alan, a boy I met last week and played football with. He was really excited to see me and I made plans to go play football (soccer) with him tomorrow. Those are the relationships I am trying to build here, but also be there to be a positive role model in these young Acholi lives.

Playing volleyball today brought me out of my shell a little, because it brought the competitive and athletic side out and it allowed me to stand out in a group that is full of so many dynamic people. It is easy to get lost in a group of so many wonderful, dedicated teachers and humanitarians and this was a good day for me. Anyways tomorrow is a free day and I am planning on doing my souvenir shopping tomorrow, so cross your fingers you are on the list people. Steph you definitely are, Happy Birthday. I know it is late, I tried to call but am having trouble. Dude, you’re thirty. Congratulations on making it. Also, Jill congratulations on having Grant, I cannot wait to see him and I wish all of you the best. Apwoyo tutwal!!!

Monday July 7, 2008

Back to Atanga! Actually I am super excited to be heading back, which is something that really surprises me. We were about to leave and all of a sudden I heard the water running again and I dropped my stuff and took my first shower in God knows when, and I knew that I was about to go a week without running water so it was a good start to the week. It is amazing what excites me now, an ice cold shower.

The road to Atanga is a difficult one, especially after the rain. Since it is dirt, the rain erodes and washes away most of the road and makes some areas almost impassible. So we got back to Atanga S.S. and Alfred and I tried some activities that he learned at the conference over the weekend. It is good to see him incorporate some new ideas and incorporate the students more into the class. As I teach and am in front of the class more and more, the students are becoming more and more comfortable with me and the teaching is a lot of fun. The problem today though is it rained really hard and the roof is made out of tin, and it became too loud for the students to hear and we had to stop teaching, that is part of the many problems to get around here in Uganda.

Anyways I have a new friend at Atanga. His name is Liboso Martin, a student of mine in s2b (freshman year). He is 17 and is a freshman because the war displaced him from learning for a while. He wants to help me with my lwo and I desperately need it. In return I am teaching him some American slang (he asked me, not my choice), but he also wants me to come out and play some football with him. I am excited to be able to kick it around with some of the students. As I got to know him, he told me his story and it is a common one in Northern Uganda. He lost both his father and mother when he was six due to the conflict. The only family he has left is his grandmother, who takes care of him. She is 68 and Martin is worried about when she dies that he will become an orphan and be alone. He constantly worries about going to university, but it is expensive here and there is little to no government assistance. He is a great kid and I am happy that I have created this connection with him, but it is already hard to hear about his life, but it is a story that is very common in Atanga and Northern Uganda.

Tuesday July 8, 2008

Today teaching was great. Alfred and I are working great together and the kids are treating me like I have been there all year. Besides that there is not too much interesting going on. I have had some time to think about how to raise awareness when I get home and I have some thoughts and some things planned so everyone be ready. For now if you want to help out go to invisiblechildren.com and look to donate through the bracelet campaign. The small donations go straight to the scholarships for the children of Northern Uganda. I have seen how much this money benefits the students and it gives so many of them hope. Most donations that have been given to Invisible Children have been of ten dollars or less and have been by students and young adults of the United States. Just check out the campaign and step up and make a difference.

After school got a little crazy. We went with some locals we met to go and play some volleyball outside the primary school in Atanga. We were playing for five minutes when the school let out and honestly about 1000 kids swarmed the court and outlined it to watch the muzungus play some volleyball. It was absolutely insane, this crowd was bigger than a lot of my soccer games at UIC. Many were shouting “MUNU!” (white) as we would hit the ball. I cannot tell what people mean when they say that word. The adults and the students at Atanga do not say it and the little children say it because they want us to say hi or chase them. But the 10-14 year olds seem to use it as a derogatory remark so that is a little different. It was a blast to play with the locals and have all the children watch. The more that David and I immerse ourselves and are out in the community the more they will get use to us and hopefully accept us.

Wednesday July 9, 2008

So yesterday our debate team did so well we are in the lead of the debate competition Invisible Children is running up in the Pader district of Northern Uganda. Today we host the second round of debates and if we do well we will be in the finals on Saturday. So because of this there really was no class in the morning, but instead the everyone is preparing for the debate. Students are sweeping and preparing classrooms and doing things like that. There was some Physical Education though. The students were outside slashing the grass with large slashers and digging walkways for the event. That is something I think P.E. teachers at Waubonsie could try if they want. J/k.

Anyways the debate was so backwards. They followed parliamentary procedure and all the debate was were the students continually interjecting and arguing without any real debate going on. It was pretty frustrating.

Here is the crazy sighting and weirdest part of the trip by far. So we were walking down the street in Atanga and all of a sudden we spotted another muzungu. Her name is Katie and she is from Minnesota and she actually lives up here in Atanga in the IDP camp. She came to Uganda a year ago on missionary work and found someone, got married and has lived in the camp for the past couple of months. Absolutely crazy. It was good to hear some American English and just converse on our situation here.

The night ended with a great conversation with Emmanuel. He works for avsi.org and is monitoring the movement of people at the IDP camp. He is Ugandan and very highly educated and because jobs are so limited, he is stuck with this one right now. He has a degree in Environmental management and definitely blames the United States for the climate and other environmental problems that face Uganda today. He make a great argument, but I am just so intrigued to get a perspective from somewhere else in the world that is so remote from the United States and the modern world.

Life in Atanga

Main street in Atanga, I will try to take pics of the camp but i do not know if I can legally take pictures there. On the right is David and my room. Not too luxurious but it works.

Happy 4th

Happy 4th of July from Gulu. I do not know any of these people but this UPDF (Ugandan Peoples Defense Force) man thanked me for being in his country and made me dance with him.

Atanga S.S.

My school Atanga now in 2008, and old classroom to the right in 2007 before Invisible Children came and built school building. It is for the Internally displaced people of Atanga camp.

Crazy things about Uganda

July 2, 2008

Got nothing good to write about so here are the crazy things I have noticed in Uganda so far:

· I am pretty much alright with being absolutely filthy.

· Pop here is awesome, because it is in a glass bottle and they use real sugar in it instead of corn syrup.

· I have a month to go and I am already tired of eating posha (crappy starch), odii (sim-sim paste) and beans.

· I am all about latrines (enough said).

· Illinois’ geography sucks, It is amazing here

· Ugandan beer is pretty good. (dark beer mostly)

· Thank you for washing machines and just electricity (there is none in Atanga)

· We can learn a lot from Ugandan hospitality.

· Gas is expensive everywhere

· I have found two phenomenal soccer players here and I want to bring them back.

· Life is really easy at home, no human deserves to live this way.

· Acts of random kindness make the world a better place.

· I love a place where the only real sports are soccer and volleyball.

· I am coming back with a wicked farmers tan (take that Bostick)

· Being the only white guy for hundreds of miles in Atanga makes me the most known person for a couple hundred miles, Holla!!!

This week has been crazy

June 29, 2008

Today was an amazing day. I finally got to sleep in for a bit and that was nice. We discussed asa whole the economic hit man novel. It has been nice here having some wonderful conversations with people that are passionate about education and topics like I am. The big event of the day was visiting St. Judes Center, which is part hospital, part orphanage. It was pretty heartbreaking to see these kids, buta also extremely inspiring to see their happiness and strength. I spent most of the time there playing football (soccer of course) with the kids. There was one phenomenal player there and any move I did, he emulated ( so only two moves, slow and slower) and he probably did it better. It is a shame to know his gift probably will never be shared with the world, because of his position at the home. They sang and danced for us and we took so many photos. I felt like we objectified them a bit and hope if we go again we all agree to not bring our cameras and just enjoy their company. I think we made their day and it was very humbling to see their struggle.

At night we all went to Kope Café for movie night. We watched Charlie Wilson’s War. It connects to our stay here well and the role Americans play in the world. I felt like I was back in the states, watching a flick with friends. After the movie, nine of us went to KSP, a local bar owned by the few Indians still there from Idi Amin’s rule, to watch the Euro final, Go Spain!!! It was filled with Ugandans all cheering for Spain (remember the Germans were huge colonizers in Africa). The highlight of the night was watching big 6 foot 11 inch Jon bust a chair and all the Ugandans cheer for him as he crashed to the ground. Jon and I walked it home and it is so ridiculously dark without any light on the streets. It was nice to get his perspective on things in Uganda as he was here last year. Now it is time for Atanga tomorrow, so I am pretty nervous, but super excited.

June 30, 2008

Well I am here in Atanga!!! We drove up this morning and the ride from Gulu to Atanga is very difficult, as there is no paved road and it was off road driving for over an hour. Getting into rural Uganda you really get to see the beauty of the country and landscape and it is amazing in the north. It is so raw and untouched with amazing savanna for miles. We are about thirty minutes from the Sudanese border and tension is still pretty high by most about the current situation without a peace agreement from the rebels and that is why many remain at the IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camp and have not returned to their homes. We got to the camp and it is a whole new world from Gulu. It is about 40,000 people living in huts very close together in order to protect themselves from the rebels and civil war, as many were slaughtered and the children were kidnapped and forced to fight during the civil war. It is Africa with real deal naked babies crossing the street without any guidance and cows and goats running a muck throughout the streets, it is outrageous.

Anyways we are staying at a lodging that is run by an NGO group that monitors and tracks the displaced people as some return home. It is pretty squalor. It is basically a storage shed with a window and door. It is between a bunch of huts and is basically a jail cell without electricity or running water. We met the lady that is going to make meals for us, her Christian name is Brenda and she will cook for us during our stay. We finally then set forth for Atanga senior secondary school where we are placed.

The school is pretty rugged. It has three buildings to teach in for 250 boys and about 50 girls. There are no female teachers at Atanga and the staff is interesting to say the least. After our introductions, Catherine and Oliker David left us and it really set in what I was in for up in Atanga. Anyways we had lunch and I got to meet the faculty, then my partner teacher Alfred and I went to plan his lesson. His facts and data of the world are way off, but I question does it matter and it is not his fault because most of his resources come from the 1990’s. I got to watch him teach and he was so excited to have me there and introduced me and the kids were very welcoming and definitely interested to see a white dude, because many have never witnessed one. I am excited to be a part of the class.

Finally David, his partner teacher Otim Jon and I biked it home and Jon took us around the camp. We got called Munu a lot and many kids came up to touch us and ran away scared from the evil white men. J We finally sat in front of a shop and chilled for a bit. Everyone in town know who David and I are, we stand out a little and a lot of people introduced themselves to us. Finally we ate at Brenda’s ( beans and rice). I am a little tired and feeling down a bit but am ready for bed and just want to be around people. It sucks feeling a little lonely here.

July 1, 2008 Are we Together?

So I am doing good again today. Last night was a little tough but it is all good. It finally rained and it was a very hard rain. Also, Amy called and that mellowed me out that we were not forgotten and the sox swept the cubs (at least that is what I am told) which made things o.k. I realized nothing really grosses me out or surprises me. Insects, sanitation, etc… has been ridiculously poor but we get by. No showers or mirrors/ sinks up here, just latrines and a jug to wash myself. The rain stopped and David and I were on our way to school. Its is about a 15 minute bike ride. It is not that far, just without paved roads and it just poured, it is a little difficult.

We got there for the everyday morning assembly outside. The head student basically tells the kids how much they have sucked it up recently, then they go to class. We got reintroduced again and the kids seem to enjoy my name, they call me “Joshuawww”. I watched Alfred’s class again. I noticed so many things that I can help him out with, which excites me and he seems very interested when I suggest ideas to engage the students more, because it is mostly straight lecture. It is funny, instead of saying “do you understand?” he asks them “ Are we together?”

It will be interesting trying to find things to do to fill my free time. Tomorrow I do not have to teach so I am screwed. Maybe I will finally shower. I have so much time to think here and it is a little worrisome sometimes. Life is very slow here, no one is ever on time or in a hurry. I question the desire for people to change? Are they content?

I had a great conversation with the teacher about saving money. Many Ugandans do not save because they feel they do not know if they will be there tomorrow. Also they believe savings leads to laziness, alcoholism and other bad things because if you have money you will use it poorly.

After school we went to Alfred’s home. I think the reality of where I am at really sat in. He shares a room with another teacher and the room could not be bigger than 8x8, one window, no electricity, no water or bathroom, no bed, just a rug and mosquito net. He is so well respected at the camp and he lives like that, and in all reality he is really happy. He continues to look at life in a positive way and enjoys what he is doing in this world. It is impossible not to be inspired by him.

We left Alfred and relaxed. Bathing is a chore here but I finally did it. I just use a big jug and go to a stall outside and go for it. We sat outside last night and relaxed as children caught flying white ants. The people here pluck the wings and cook them and eat them. They say it tastes like popcorn. I realize how hard Atanga is , but the people do not show it. They continue to fight on and live life to the fullest.

Free day in Gulu

No pictures, everything is too slow, maybe next week.

Yesterday was a very fulfilling day and I got to really do a lot of things that I have been wanting to do since I got up here. The plan was for everyone to spend the day with their cooperating teacher, but since my placement is so far away they could not stay and instead David and I had Alfred and John (David’s guy) over for breakfast. It is funny they came and laughed and how the place looked and food we ate because it was “muzungu” food. We sent them on their way and I look forward to getting up to Atanga on Monday. So I had the rest of the day to get things done and had time to myself as the rest of the people were with their teachers all day. We did not see half the group today, as they are staying somewhere else and it was a little weird to not see them. We have become a nice little family and it just felt like something was missing all day. In this environment you look for a little routine or familiarity and that was lost a little without some of the people that I have grown to be close with.

David and I went exploring in town and got a bunch of supplies for our journey up to Atanga. We are still really unsure what to expect and without a peace agreement, I am a little nervous to go up there, but it will also be an experience solely mine and something that is very different from everyone else who came to Uganda with me. You need to understand that Gulu is almost all dirt roads and is very tight and congested, but as David and I were in the market ( and I mean real deal open market, it is great), we saw an amazing parade. About two hundred people wearing Manchester United gear were dancing, marching and singing through the streets. I have video it is hilarious. Supposedly on the other side of town, there was an Arsenal one, this place is nuts. After that, I went out on my own and that has been something I have wanted to do for a while. I found a bunch of kids and brought out the Frisbee and many have never played with one before and I spent two hours running around with kids and throwing the Frisbee, it was cool to interact with them. They all ask to be my friend, it is pretty funny, but also extremely heartwarming. When they went in to take lunch, I met up with some people from the first group and went to a house called HEALS, which is a dance house, almost an after school program that promotes Acholi culture through song and dance. Our boy Norman got the kids ready and it was awesome. They warmed up by breakdancing and performing some hip hop dance, which is great. They have seen it on video and emulate it quite well. Then they performed four traditional dances for us. Two royal ones, one where the boys court the girls and one girl only dance for rain. It was unique and I was completely in awe.

That really wrapped up my day. We finally had a night to chill and relax and it was calm with only half the group around the IC house now. I spent a good hour telling them about this year of girls soccer at Waubonsie. They were so interested and amazed at what the girls accomplished this year. I felt very proud to tell them about it and I showed them pictures from state. Go Warriors!! I am looking forward to tomorrow going to St. Judes Hospital here and working with the kids that are stricken with terrible illnesses and diseases. This is my last contact for a week, so I will talk to you all next week.