Professional
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| Nap time in P2Y |
As afternoon approaches I notice how my usually lively class
of P2s begin to fidget, lose concentration and look rather exhausted.
Unfortunately brain breaks and a game of ‘do this, do that’ isn't enough
to help them waken up. Some of the children have been in school from six o'clock
as their parents have left them off before they go to work and many stay until
half past five. Nearly twelve hours in school is tiring for a young child and
so after lunch time my classroom is transformed and 73 sleepy children have an
hour and a half to rest. Very little learning occurs in the afternoon as much
concentration is lost. Hays explains that ‘light to moderate fatigue affects
performance, while heavy or extreme levels of fatigue affect both performance
and learning.’ (Hays, 2006, p.150)
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| Dinner time at City Parents |
Cultural
‘The rainy season
swaggers in off Lake Victoria with sleeves rolled up and both fists flying, in
massive soul- stirring thunderstorms, frequently at night, or just at dawn, as
if nature were warming up for wither a heavyweight championship or exuberant
orchestration of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.’ (Shullenberger and Shullenberger,1998, p.16)
After six weeks of intense sunshine and scorching
temperatures the weather took a turn for the worst. Rainy season has arrived in
Africa and despite our Northern Irish origins the rain made things much more
difficult and a little unpleasant!
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| Feeling cold and wet |
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| Invitation to the ambassadors party |
The Irish community in Uganda had an exciting weekend of
activities lined up to celebrate St Patricks day. Nicola and I had the pleasure
of attending the Irish Ambassadors garden party on Thursday night. It was a
night for those with Irish roots and friends to mingle and appreciate Irish traditional
music and native Ugandan dance and song. On Friday night we went to Bubbles to
savour Irish stew and take in some more traditional Irish music played by a
band flown from Ireland for the occasion. It was a great opportunity to meet
others who are visiting or who live here and share experiences with one
another.
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| Uganda dance troop |
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| Dressed and ready to go |
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| Garden party at the Irish Ambassadors house |
Personal
‘Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can
see.’ (Twain, 1998, p.2)
On Sunday 16th March I celebrated my 21st
birthday and what a memorable birthday I had! On Saturday I was treated to a
massage, manicure and pedicure followed by a delicious evening meal in
Cayenne with Nicola, Natalie and Jonny.
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| Birthday treats! |
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| 'Soothing Spot' |
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| Nicola and Natalie at Cayenne |
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| Nicola and I at Cayenne |
To top off a lovely day we had tea and a
cupcakes birthday cake. Throughout my day I was shown so much kindness, even
the staff in the Soothing Spot performed a five minute medley of birthday songs
for me – I didn’t know when it would end! Over the past few weeks we have got
to know a lady who works with single mothers helping them to make and sell
crafts and on my birthday she produced a bracelet for me as a gift. It is true
that Ugandans have such generous hearts.
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| Birthday cupcakes |
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| Blowing out the candles |
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| Evelyn at Red Chilli |
On Sunday I was overwhelmed with cards and gifts from home and
friends here in Uganda. A friend from home had created a video of family and friends wishing
me Happy Birthday. I also loved having the opportunity to Skype with
all my family and to be able to congratulate my brother on his recent
engagement! After a lovely lunch I was excited to spend my afternoon with the
street boys at Tomorrow’s Heroes. This was the best gift for my birthday. Just
as I was leaving at the end of the programme the boys surrounded me and sang
Happy Birthday. These boys have so little but they touched my heart with their
expression of love.
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| Birthday wishes from the street kids |
Helen Keller ‘The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.’ (Weissman, 2005,p.30)
References
Hays, R. (2006) The Science of Learning: A Systems Theory
Perspective, Florida: Brown Walker Press.
Shullenberger, B and Shullenberger, W (1998) Africa Time: Two
Scholars' Seasons in Uganda, Maryland: University Press of America, Inc.
Twain, M (1998) Bite-Size Twain: Wit and Wisdom from
the Literary Legend, USA: St Martin’s Press.
Weissman, D. (2005)The Power of Infinite Love and Gratitude,
United States: Hay House, Inc.
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