Mark is Probably my biggest fan. Sorry Mom. He's about 4 years old, and he attends the Nursery School part of Kisugu St. Stephen's. There are a group of the nursery children that yell "Mzungu!" (white man), and run at me whenever I arrive at school. I am normally escorted by a group of 3 or 4, grabbing my arms or just hugging my waist, all the way to the office, where I wait for my lessons to start. But the best part is when I'm waiting in the office reading or reviewing my lesson plans. Mark just comes in and stands next to me. He is silent. He just admires my arms/hands and pats them with his hands, or just stares up at my face. The other teachers find it really funny, and they always laugh as they try to convince Mark to go back to the class he's supposed to be sitting in. But today was an important day in our relationship, as Mark finally opened his mouth! I decided I would start off today with a question he might know the answer to...and this is how our conversation went:
Me: So what's your name?
Mark (pausing, focused on my arm): "...(Something in Lugandan)...Mark"
Me: We've met before haven't we Mark?"
Mark: Yes.
Me: "So do you remember my name?"
Mark: "Yes."
Me: "What's my name?"
Mark (pausing): "...Mzungu."
Oh man. he's hilarious. Really shy, but apparently fascinated with me.
Chris is a few decades older than Mark. He's been a teacher here for 20 years, and he is one of the grade 5 teachers (the grade I'm helping with at both schools) at the government school. After classes, he normally comes to help me with the sports and games with the students. He is a very calm, serious man, but you can tell he has a passion for teaching and I often catch him stifling a laugh at the many hilarious moments that happen during the games time.
I mention him also because he is trying to accomplish something that I want to help him with. He wants to build a fully operational school in his home village, Mbale, in Eastern Uganda. We have talked about his idea, and he has recently given me a full proposal of all the costs for his potential school. I really respect him, and I have told him I'll do what I can to help, and he was so thankful that he told me he would dedicate the school to me or name it after me...which I told him was a ridiculous idea. The point is, the best long term solution to poverty is the education of children and I have seen the truth of that as I have travelled this year. So this is the first plug for Chris Wanyakala's school. He has estimated the total cost (including teachers salaries, buying land, building the school, and buying materials) to be about the equivalent of $40,000 dollars (60 million Ugandan Shillings sounds much more intense). Just a heads up about that.
School is going really well. Exams started today at Kisugu St. Stephen's, and they start on Wednesday for Kisugu Church of Uganda (Gov't School). Exams basically mean less lessons and more sports and games outside in the breaks between papers! Frisbee with the kids at Kisugu St. Stephen's today was incredibly chaotic and hectic, and I don't think I stopped laughing the whole time. I think they were extra excited after being cooped up for their exams. Awesome.
A quick lesson in Ugandan slang: "Werinkup." (literally: "We link up", as in, I'll see you later, we'll link up and hang out soon - said with a strong Ugandan accent that Remy and I can't fully imitate yet).
Lesson #2: "T.I.A." -> This is Africa. (In case you hadn't heard that one)
Werinkup.
PS - Pictures: The boy on the far right is Mark. The man next to me is Chris.
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