Finally I have successfully updated my blog!

Okay, so I admit it has been over a month since I wrote a blog entry. I have tried several times, but every time something prevents it. It usually is the computer crashing. But this time I am determined to make it work! Alright, so it will be impossible to update you on everything that has been going on, but I will highlight a few things for you.

I have been quite busy adjusting to an entirely new curriculum and a life of full time teaching. I must give my education and training credit though. I often felt some of my classes were useless, but yet I realize how much I truly did learn from various experiences in practicum and classes. All of it I am now using, and I am glad I have been so prepared. I would not be enjoying my job nearly so much if I had not been so well prepared.

Now a brief note on teaching English language learners: I have an endorsement in that, though I admit there is still much I am learning. For example, I have one student with limited English, who speaks French. Now he is quite clever, but gets frustrated when he does not understand. I was teaching division and he spent two days absolutely frustrated with me, because he had no idea what I was talking about. Finally, after a three minute conversation with the French teacher the whole problem was solved. They write division differently in French. I showed my student the french method, which of course he knew then showed him the English way again. After a five minute discussion with the student he completely understood division in the English format! The rest of the week went fine for me and the student. I once again learned how important it is to be familiar with the students' cultures and backgrounds. Also, the feeling at seeing this student understand what was going on was so overwhelmingly good! Especially in math, I am seeing students struggle and struggle and then finally have light bulbs come on. It is this refreshing feeling that gets us teachers through!

Now, another thing I want to discuss is school closures. Yes, we were all somewhat ‘excited’ to have an early school closure day a few Fridays ago. I have had schools close for snow, for flooding, and I have even heard of schools closing for the ‘swine flu pandemic.’ However, never before have I been instructed on the procedures or had the experience of closing school early because of riots. But, yes we closed early for a riot. Mostly it was not such a safety issue as an efficiency issue. When there are riots in town, the traffic jam is horrendous. Now anyone who has been to Kampala, knows what I am talking about when I say the traffic jam. However, on the days of the riots, the jams were absolutely immovable. So, rather than having our students stuck in their cars for four hours in traffic we sent them home early to actually reach home at a decent hour. In case anyone is concerned about the safety issue, we are quite safe in this area of town, because it is a suburb of the main town Kampala. Never once, did we feel unsafe or anything of the sort. It was just a new and interesting experience. Of course, one I hope not to have repeated, but a good experience all the same.

Otherwise the teaching experience seems to be going well. I learn something new everyday, (though usually it is more than one something)! My students are so creative, noisy, fun, and loving. I have never seen such observant and open children. They notice everything! They also care a great deal, and work hard to do well on their work. They are so creative, especially with role plays. They are constantly surprising me, and often I find I do not have enough time for an activity because they are so excited they much more than I had expected.

As far as my club for this term. I am teaching five and six-year-olds how to play the recorder. I only have ten students, but that is plenty for recorders. I often look forward to this, though many may not understand this. It is so refreshing to be teaching the gift of music and the blessing of music. Yes, it may sound like noise, but we are going to make music! I was so proud last week when we were all able to play one song perfectly and together! We all stopped together, we all started together, and the rhythm was perfect. It was amazing! I know there will be magnificent music floating from my room soon. ;-)

Now life outside of school: I feel like I am well adjusted to life in Uganda. I can easily go shopping by myself. I know what things should cost, and I know where I can buy them at good prices. I also know how to get around myself, quite easily. I am making friends with other staff at the school, as well as a few friends at stores and markets who help me get nice vegetables, etc. I am loving cooking here. The food is so natural and fresh. I feel like I am in the best shape I have been in in a long time!! It feels great to have such natural food and so much exercise. I also get to bake a lot with the oven, which makes me very happy. I think I may try making Irish Soda bread today. I most often make biscuits and cookies. Anyway, we eat a lot of Ugandan food, as well as American. I have enjoyed taco salads, mashed potatoes and gravy, spaghetti with garlic bread, and hamburgers with chips (all of which I cooked!). Anyway, all of the relatively boring information is to show you that I am enjoying life outside of school as well as in school. God has been incredibly good at blessing me here. I see it in so many little things he does. He keeps us both safe and healthy. Neither of us has really been sick since moving to Kampala. Many of my students and the other staff have fallen sick, but I can feel God keeping me strong. I praise Him for all of these great things.

Another encouraging thing God did was to bring a few of my good friends from the U.S. to bless us here in Kampala. First we had a friend here on a Compassion International trip. We were able to meet up with him and enjoy a wonderful Italian dinner with him. It was really fun to see him and catch up on the latest things that been going on. Then we had another guest from Eugene. A good friend of my mine is working in Northern Uganda for a month and stopped by our house on her way up there. It was so much fun to have someone else in the house. We were encouraged to have her with us and to bless us with her presence. She is such a good friend and we are excited to see her more as she stays in Uganda for awhile.

OH, yes this last paragraph is dedicated to Erica Shawan!!! So, one of the other classes in our school did a wonderful assembly for Key Stage 2 (grades 3-6) a few weeks ago. They were talking about heros. They had Spiderman, Wonderwoman, and all the rest, but the best part was when they had famous people as heros. One of the students played the part of Michael Jackson. This student did the best rendition of Michael Jackson dancing to Smooth Criminal that I have ever seen from a 10 year old before! It was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time!!!! He even did the splits and a one handed handstand! It was amazing, and I wanted to share it with you all.

Well, I am planning on updating this again sooner than last time. Sorry again for the long delay. Just know that God is good and that He is always faithful! Trust Him for your everyday needs and He will look after you. He loves us more than anyone else ever could! I have seen this everyday, so I know it is Truth.