Almost June - May 29,2009

Well, almost - hope the spring/summer weather is good and you're enjoying it. School there is about over - seems like that went fast! Our Term II technically started last Monday (25) but very few students are back so we're starting next coming Monday (June 1). It amazes me how they trickle in for weeks (even at the regular schools) - usually lack of money for fees, transport, supplies, etc. We had a teacher meeting yesterday and I'm going to split the Math class and teach two sections on Fridays - discussion on whether the slower kids will feel bad, but I just can't give them enough one on one time learning to count and add in the bigger group! We'll try it for a term and see - means I'm committed on Friday, but that's O.K. The groups alternate w. the craft teacher so it's a good time and means all are busy.

After two days "on the road" last week I rested on Friday - washed clothes and cleaned and took it easy (it's getting easier all the time). Our three new female piglets came on Thursday - they are really cute - and everyone is now in the new piggery. Everyone who sees it is just amazed at how nice it is - and we show it to everyone who visits!!! After all that frustration it's beautiful - thanks again St. Johns!!

Four students from Duke University arrived to help at Shari's site - two in engineering and two in finance. They seem really nice and anxious to get to work. It's interesting to watch them and remember when we were new! They are staying at the convent guest house so are nearby.

I got a bunch of Messengers from Anne - fun to read. A new SUBWAY - wow!!! Still wondering how the baseball team/tracksters are doing, but it's like a sequel story! Incidently I'm reading the 3rd of the Golden Compass books (The Amber Spyglass) now - the author definitely had bad feeling about God and "the Church"....mixing in the Newsweeks from Anne and Guideposts from Maridan for variety!

We ordered and got a new low table for the room that's used for the afternoon enrichment classes w. funds from the Holland girls - very nice and much better for wheelchair people. I was there yesterday trying to introduce them to Connect 4! We hope to get some laying chickens in June so the kids can learn how to raise chickens AND keep records. I have to get one more form in for the SPA grant (scanned and send this a.m.) and then will wait for the money - but FIRST we need to decide what we want to produce based on some kind of "market research" - everyone has ideas, but nothing to back them up! Not going that route again - we did it w. the small size shoes and that was enough! At least we have some time.

We are eating garden lettuce - very good - and Holly made zuccini bread yesterday!!! I'd looked and didn't see any on Tuesday and she looked and found 2 large ones on Weds. - they sneak up on you!!! The rest is going well; some not so well - peas - but it's been fun!

Saturday I traveled to Iganga (ne) to see Sandy - another senior volunteer who's working at a Teacher's College helping the 10 deaf students there. The trip was long (mostly lots of waiting for matatus to fill) but fun. We had a great lunch at a hotel in town that had an Indian restaurant. Good to see her and her site - nice rooms for living but outside pit latrine (ugh).

Sunday, I went to Mass at the big church - they are fixing the roof on the Sisters' Chapel and then finally got to sit down w. Sr. Juliet and get some questions answered! Made some calls trying to line up panelists for the All Volunteer Conference in June - people from our group have been wonderful about volunteering (or I'm intimidating)!!! Watched a local soccer match at the town pitch w. the Duke students - fun day also! In the evening I got to see the video Bert and Naomi sent of Riley's BD party and the St. Cloud family trip with Holly and Shari - so fun to see the little ones! Quite the characters!

Monday there was no school, but I walked around seeing what trouble I could make! Sr. Ambrose from the Hospital asked me to give a tour to the 3 Korean Doctors who are there (they are from North Korea!!! - staying for 3 months and maybe 3 years....I'd like to know their story). One is a neurosurgeon and was very interested in the kids at Providence - did a lot of prodding and checking reflexes, etc. He recommended acupuncture for some, but I need to clarify that - they don't speak good English and I wasn't sure if "puncture" was brain surgery or acupuncture (think the later).

Tuesday we had another HUGE rainstorm mid-day - effectivelly stops everything - slow day at CBR, but we planned a trip w. some kids to CoRSU orthopedic hospital for next week. Gave a tour to the Duke students. The man who made the stove stopped by to see about repairs - our cook has been jamming big logs into the openings and has damaged the front w. the hot fires and generally not using the stove correctly (has not wanted to chop the wood). We'll get it fixed but I warned him that next time, if it happens again, the cost of repairs will be deducted from his salary.

Wednesday I went to Kampala for a re-test of my urine test - and it was perfect, but had to see the Doctor anyway - sort of a waste, but nice to know that the PC nurses are really cautious. Having good medical coverage is priceless here!! My blood pressure was 110/65 - I'm SO healthy!
Went on to Mulogo Hospital to see Justine but she can't leave till next week - ugh! They are waiting for some blood work - mom had to go out to a lab in town and pay for it to be done! I'm hoping we can get her discharged on Tusday when we are in town - they really don't have any idea what her "problem" is - they keep saying she's "weak and malnourished" - well, she's been in the hospital for 3 months and food there is expensive! She looks much better than when she first started after Nkokonjeru Hospital, but I want her to see Dr. Antonio and then go home for awhile and fatten up.

Thursday was our Teacher Meeting - I really dread those. Everyone has to talk endlessly about everything - Ugandans feel they HAVE to say something in order to be recognized and recognition is very important, esp. to the men! No such thing as a quick meeting! But we got the schedule done and think I got them to look at "outcome based" curriculum - what do these kids really need to know to be successful? Let's be practical!

Didas (the shoemaking teacher) is back after his stay in Mbale to repair his house(feel down in the rainstorms there) - his wife is back in it now and a little happier - and he's working very hard to get the shoe order filled for Stella Maris - it's fun to watch he and Simon in the workshop - they are very focused!!! I hope to do some clearing of rooms next week and get rid of some old, really not fixable sewing machines. Will use the treadle tables for the new machines and at least have things look better. We're rehabbing two old cabinets for use by the sewers - nothing fancy, but servicable! So progress is being made!!!

Hope you are all well - enjoy the summer! Thanks for everything - you all have been a great comfort and inspiration to me!!!! I'm going to Jinja this weekend - Jinja is really a tourist town (Source of the Nile, rafting, etc.) so will get some good Muzungu food!!!! And Holly is running in the 1/2 Marathon there on Sudnay - the real reason for the trip! Hope it goes well!