Uganda Lodge, May 24th

View from the School

So we've been at Uganda Lodge now for 3 weeks and have been working at small jobs like getting teacher resources ready, however, Rich has taken on a challenge of building a playground for the children.  This weeks task, A swing:

Rich, Ed and Will lifting up their creation.
 Next job, digging holes and cementing into the ground.

At the moment, this see-saw is two planks of wood which are not nailed or anything, they play on this with pure balance! OHS would have a field day here!!

 I busied myself with finishing off the Mural, although I can only take credit for the Title and the green at the bottom.  A previous volunteer did the rest, based on pupils drawings.

During this week, we had a lodglypics - which involved various fun games in 3 teams, in fancy dress.  For once, this was NOT inspired by Petch and I, but some other volunteers.  Needless to say - we were in our element! We played musical chairs, relay races and protect the egg to drop off a high water tank!!

The Big 5 - winning team

 
Afternoon teas have been interesting.  The other day we ate grasshoppers:

 

They actually tasted a bit like fried shrimp!

We also took an outing to a students grandparents place.  They run a pork joint.  Eating out is always very interesting.  We ordered 4 kg of pork on arrival which was served deep fried and with some Matoke - a form of Banana that is served at every meal! It is not too bad and tastes like mashed potato - with butter and salt added!! Otherwise, it's a little bland!

chopping up the pork with his machete

deep frying the pork

kitchen area for preparing the sauce

The School has now been back a week, and I haven't yet done any teaching, although, the whole purpose of Uganda Lodge is to let the Ugandan Teachers be the ones that run the show.  There is a new Headmaster this term and he has asked me to sit in on the interview panel for some new teachers which will be interesting.  There are about 250 children that have enrolled this term, and they are hoping for more, but a lot of it comes down to money of course!

The day is quite long for the children.  They start at 7.30, have porridge at 10.30 and wash their cups

Then at lunch time, they get Posho, (or Ugali as it is known in other parts of africa) with beans.  They finish their school day at 5.30pm.  

The school kitchen.  Very similar to our lodge kitchen too

Posho cooking for lunch

Beans cooking for lunch

We have taken a weekend away to a lake nearby for 2 nights with other volunteers and so far swimming and eating nice food and having 3G has been a blessing!