Week 11 – 14/04/14

Professional

Unbelievably Easter break has been and gone, meaning a few days off University. Prior to Easter we were given a few assignments so it was great to have some time to complete the work. Surprisingly the format and content of the assignments were similar to what could have been given at Stranmillis, for example I wrote an essay about the benefits of iPads in the classroom.

Cultural

‘Someone somewhere is happy with less than you have.’ (Backus and Chapian, 2011,p.43)

Our lovely friend Emma invited us to go and see the village where she has built and orphanage which holds eighteen boys and girls. So we hired a car and Cara drove two hours to the village where we were greeted by smiling faces. The orphanage is in a remote village with basic resources. Mama Jaja, the grandmother who lives with the children has such a love for the kids. Some of the orphans are HIV positive and Emma supports each child paying for school fees and for treatments for HIV.

Cara, Spencer and I

Spencer getting a piggy back

Emma and Trisha

About a fifteen minute walk from the house there is a water pump that those from the village use as their source of water. We gave the children a helping hand by taking their cans and pumping water for them. After filling three cans I was tired and I looked around at the fifteen kids from the village that had come to the pump also and wondered how they pumped and carried this water every day! 

Pumping water

Outside the orphanage

Smiling Sylvia

Personal

"Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all.”

Brian Jackman (cited in Mancini,2004,p.375)

One of the highlights of my time in Uganda so far has been going on Safari. On Tuesday morning we made the 6 hour journey to Murchison Falls. Standing at the top of the falls and hearing the water crash below was breath taking and the spray from the water was much needed refreshment.

Murchusion Falls

 It was dinner time when we arrived at Red Chilli Rest camp and after some food we made ourselves at home in our tent. Sleeping that night in the tent wasn't a problem but the warthogs and huge hippo munching grass outside the tent did cause some concern!

Sunrise before safari

The next day was another early start but it was most definitely worth it so that we could see as many animals on Safari as possible. It was amazing to watch the movements and interactions of the animals in their natural environment. The water Safari that afternoon was a high point, though I was glad to be inside the safety of the boat when near the crocodiles. Going on safari was an amazing opportunity and I would go again tomorrow!

Hippos

Elephant

Giraffe 

At the Karuma Falls

Time for a pineapple break

The Ugandan postal service is not too reliable and so receiving letters or gifts from home has been impossible, but on  Monday I received a package from home full of Easter treats and a few surprises. Betty and Alan from Markethill kindly brought the packages and treated us to a lovely lunch! It is scary to think that in just over a week we will return home with a little bit of Africa in our suitcases and a big bit of Africa in our hearts!

Betty, Alan and their grandchildren

References

Backus,W. and Chapian,M. (2011) Freedom From the Lies You Tell Yourself, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers.

Mancini, M. (2004) Selling destinations, Delmar: Cengage Learning.