DAY 8 - Thursday July 13th
Today was out of control. It was our first day with the children, and man did they wear us out.
After breakfast and a short stop in town, we made our way on the ridiculously bumpy road out of Ft. Portal. I was surprisingly awake and brought my research with me to keep busy on the 45 minute drive, and when I got up we were at a school, not sure which one, to check in with someone and I think stop for a short visit. Unfortunately the father we were supposed to meet was not there, so we just sat and had tea and cocoa with another school headmaster who quickly befriended us (and wanted to come to America immediately to teach and study). A class was singing a beautiful song on the way in and after the snack I sat outside to listen to them while the others read the paper and tried not to fall asleep. We didn’t really know what we were doing so Rachael and I went back to the bus. I got my research and we sat outside in the middle of the open field at the school and worked for a bit. The information we were looking for – lesson plans for the day – were no where to be found so we made sandwiches and ate in the grass. I went through as much research as I could in the hot sun. By now we had begun to cause a little commotion, even though the students were in class. Chelsie and Jennifer had brought out the Frisbee and were throwing it back and forth. Slowly a line began to assemble near them to watch the unusual sport, and when I looked up, there were more children running out of the classrooms. “Time to play” Rachael said.
We grabbed a few more Frisbees and began throwing them. The children thought it was the craziest thing in the world. A few brave ones picked them up and just chunked them in the sky. We tried to show them how to throw it but they didn’t catch on. I would say this lasted for about another minute or two when the entire school came out – I would say a good 400 children – and surrounded us. It was either time for recess or the teachers just let them come see us. The out of control-ness began.
It was fun for a minute but I got a little nervous – Frisbees were flying in the air and began hitting people in the head – I’m not sure if they kids thought it was part of the game, but either way they were definitely entertained.
So I grabbed my camera thinking the sea of black faces would make for incredible pictures. Then of course everyone else had to get their cameras, and after they realized what we were doing, they got even more excited and crowded around those of us who were taking pictures. Rachael and Whitney were literally surrounded and they were smart to ask them to collectively tell us their pet names and say hello. They went through most of them when I said my name – surprisingly no one shared the “Acaali.” I know it means a little dog, but I have gotten a lot of mixed, mysterious responses when I tell people my name. I’m going to have to do a little more research and find someone who will tell me the inside joke I think I’m missing.
Lech and a few others stood in the middle to get their front row photo op of course, and when my flash went on accidentally, the children screamed in amazement. I took a couple more and they kept coming closer. I literally backed up into the bus. Then I made the mistake of showing them their faces on the screen and they just gasped in amazement. By now they realized what was going on and they began to smile and wave profusely. One kid got up as close as he could and just held both his hands in the air right in front of the camera. Madness. I stood inside the bus door and got a few more shots. Finally Sara started to get nervous about the Frisbees getting stolen (we were supposed to give them to another school) and started to round everybody up. It was a challenge to say the least. The bus driver was not impressed and tried to tell them to back away and go play, but they just stared at him and us. We tried to say goodbye but it was difficult – the kids completely surrounded the bus and even began asking for money. Poor Joseph, I know he was nervous trying to get out of there. The kids ran after the bus all the way along the filed down the road as African children do. Crazy.
Turns out we weren’t even supposed to be visiting that school at all. Where were the teachers? I thought. They are gonna be pissed.
So we made our way down the road again to get to the real school – St. Joseph’s On the Hill – a secondary school for boys and girls (junior high-high school equivalent)
run by the Holy Cross on a stunning spot just up from the Kirinda Family Center where we had been Tuesday. We were a bit late so the students were patiently waiting for us when we got there.
There were about 250 students at this school, and we were supposed to led a 2-hour block of time for the next two weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We decided to divide the large number into four groups – music, photography, art and writing. I was supposed to do a “presentation” on organic farming, but since the agricultural class is so specific and not at the right time, I wasn’t going to anymore. Thank goodness, because I don’t think I could begin to help the children understand international trade barriers, government subsidies and certification processes for the organic food industry.
So I was to lead music with half the group, and I was excited. The night before we had assembled a play list of the songs and beats we thought would best entertain the students, and also best represent a few genres that we in America like to listen to. We decided on rock and roll, country/swing, Latin music and of course, rap. The students sat at the edge of their seat when we introduced ourselves and told them we were going to play music. We decided to start with the best universal music we could think of – Bob Marley. One love. The theme to our mission, our lives, their future. They really liked it, and they had of course heard about “Bob Maale.” I will never forget the look on the girls’ faces who sat way in the back – they knew every word and swayed back and forth. “Give thanks and praise to the Lord, and I will feel alright.”
We proceeded to play “Let’s Get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas at my request. The beat was good but then we suddenly realized we had forgotten a key missing component to our lesson. There was no dancing. The children sat there and didn’t know what to do. We looked at each other and didn’t know what to do either. That’s when it dawned on us. In Africa, you don’t just listen to music. You hum it, you sing it, you drum to it, and most importantly, you dance to it. So we got through the first song and asked the children to do one of their songs. The teachers brought in a few drums, and surprisingly the girls walked to the corner and began to drum. One girl came up and led the song, and the kids slowly got into it. Then I noticed the girls tying their jackets around their wastes. Uh oh, I thought, here it comes. Sure enough, the girls got up and did their thing. You gotta have a lot of soul to shake your hips like that.
After that we switched back to our boring songs, and tried our best. Sara invited them to come dance, but they were a bit shy. I’m not sure which song got them up – I think it was Outkast’s “Rosa Parks” – but the boys slowly walked up and started dancing with Sara. When she went for it and danced right along with them, they screamed. So Rachael, Whitney and Chelsie joined them, and a few more boys trickled up. It was on. We were gonna get served. One boy started to hop back and forth, but Chelsie totally kept up with him. When the rest of the kids realized what she was doing, they flipped out. It was awesome.
We felt a little bit more at home, and continued switching back and forth – a few of their songs and a few of ours. There was a lull in the session (probably during the try with “SuperTramp” – I was like Chelsie, are you serious??) and so I took Rachael outside to quickly practice the swing we were going to save for next time. Soon enough we put on a fast Los Loney Boys song and did it up. Rachael did really well, and when we got into the few complex twists I knew, the kids’ eyes beamed and they went “ohhhhh.” Then, we gave it to ‘em. I swung Rachael side to side like they do and then flipped her. Holy cow did that set them off. It was great.
So we realized that they music was probably fine, but we had to dance no matter what we were doing. Chelsie and I went outside to practice a few more of the crazy flips and motions that she and I knew, and we even got a crowd out there. I took her in and gave it a whirl. She knew traditional swing, and all I know is the country version Trilby Burton taught me back in grade school, but the flips are basically the same. So we did it up again, this time with more twists and twirls and back arounds and flips. The kids got such a kick out of it. When we finished, I was sweating like a pig and could hardly move. It had been so long, I was so out of shape, but it was so much fun. It reminded me of county fair dances and high school student council conventions, where my best friend Erica and I made up our own routine to “Jump Jive ‘n Wail” for the talent show in Maxwell and then at the state convention where we led the workshop. So much fun. We have this video of Erica and I practicing, when I did in fact drop her on her head and almost threw her out the top of the barn. Chelsie and Rachael were great, but I really wished Erica could have been there with me, even though in a lot of ways she definitely was.
It really took me back to leadership days. I even tried to make them “make rain” with the sounds and motions of their hands, but they followed directions a little too well, doing exactly what I was doing at the instant I did it, and even going “shhhh” when I was trying to say “shhh” to get them to be quiet and hear the sounds. They were troopers.
Oh, I almost forgot the most important part. The kids wanted to hear American songs, and did recognize some of the names, but no one other than Bob Maale can match the universal hips of Shakira. Whitney and I had heard it in Kampala on the first day, and also last night in town. So ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you, the hips don’t lie, especially not in Africa. I was surprised that they didn’t know the moves, but they definitely knew the songs. I would have busted it out but I was the only boy in a sea of other mostly high school boys. Rachael, Whitney and Chelsie didn’t really know how to do it, but they did dance to it, and man did the boys love it. After Shakira (the second time) all the boys crowded around Rachael and said “madame, you are the most beautiful girl we have ever seen,” and began to pick up on her one by one. Poor thing, I know she felt like a piece of meat, but she handled herself really well. I don’t know what the hell I would have done. On the way home she was a little disappointed that it turned into such a show, especially since it must have been shitty for the girls, but we decided that we did the best we could and all the children said they had a wonderful time. We got back on the bus like rockstars and took off, completely exhausted. My back was killing me, I think I pulled a muscle with all the super twists.
The drive home was disgusting – dust kicked up on the road and Joseph drove like a maniac. It was so bad we had to wear the white masks over our mouths. Combine that with the sweat, and we were filthy.
I was too excited to sleep, and I just put on my iPod and stared at the countryside. It was a lot to process. Africa is such a beautiful place. Every day is something incredibly knew, every hour is another incredible experience with the people of Uganda. It truly was amazing, and I am so thankful for this out of control-ness.
The rest of the gang took their sweet ass time in town when all we really wanted to do was shower shower shower. Thankfully the electricity was on again so we finally headed home. We brought along Clovis, the nice young artist we had met at the Sisters’ house who was going to give us a demonstration on how he makes his greeting cards with banana fiber. We were all very tired and didn’t really want to sit down, but after he started man were we impressed. I don’t even know how to describe it – it is the most intricate, zen-like art I have ever seen. He takes the tiniest slivers of banana fibers and makes the most beautiful compositions out of the blue. He made a piece of fiber half the size of a toothpick turn into a tree like magic. Then he added a women with a basket of fruit on her head, a house, and birds in the background. He could manipulate perspective like I had never seen before. He said he learned to do this when he was about 13, and has been making a living off of it ever since. We were so lucky to have him give us a private show. He was so delicate, so warm and incredibly wise about art and the mind of the artist. We want to bring him to the United States to participate in the International Folk Art Market that is held in Santa Fe every year. He would definitely knock their socks off.
Unfortunately in the middle of the presentation the lights went out again. It didn’t even phase Clovis, but we were all disappointed of course. We just lit candles, held a lantern for him and soaked up the atmosphere. Finally we had dinner and crashed out. Another spectacular day.
After breakfast and a short stop in town, we made our way on the ridiculously bumpy road out of Ft. Portal. I was surprisingly awake and brought my research with me to keep busy on the 45 minute drive, and when I got up we were at a school, not sure which one, to check in with someone and I think stop for a short visit. Unfortunately the father we were supposed to meet was not there, so we just sat and had tea and cocoa with another school headmaster who quickly befriended us (and wanted to come to America immediately to teach and study). A class was singing a beautiful song on the way in and after the snack I sat outside to listen to them while the others read the paper and tried not to fall asleep. We didn’t really know what we were doing so Rachael and I went back to the bus. I got my research and we sat outside in the middle of the open field at the school and worked for a bit. The information we were looking for – lesson plans for the day – were no where to be found so we made sandwiches and ate in the grass. I went through as much research as I could in the hot sun. By now we had begun to cause a little commotion, even though the students were in class. Chelsie and Jennifer had brought out the Frisbee and were throwing it back and forth. Slowly a line began to assemble near them to watch the unusual sport, and when I looked up, there were more children running out of the classrooms. “Time to play” Rachael said.
We grabbed a few more Frisbees and began throwing them. The children thought it was the craziest thing in the world. A few brave ones picked them up and just chunked them in the sky. We tried to show them how to throw it but they didn’t catch on. I would say this lasted for about another minute or two when the entire school came out – I would say a good 400 children – and surrounded us. It was either time for recess or the teachers just let them come see us. The out of control-ness began.
It was fun for a minute but I got a little nervous – Frisbees were flying in the air and began hitting people in the head – I’m not sure if they kids thought it was part of the game, but either way they were definitely entertained.
So I grabbed my camera thinking the sea of black faces would make for incredible pictures. Then of course everyone else had to get their cameras, and after they realized what we were doing, they got even more excited and crowded around those of us who were taking pictures. Rachael and Whitney were literally surrounded and they were smart to ask them to collectively tell us their pet names and say hello. They went through most of them when I said my name – surprisingly no one shared the “Acaali.” I know it means a little dog, but I have gotten a lot of mixed, mysterious responses when I tell people my name. I’m going to have to do a little more research and find someone who will tell me the inside joke I think I’m missing.
Lech and a few others stood in the middle to get their front row photo op of course, and when my flash went on accidentally, the children screamed in amazement. I took a couple more and they kept coming closer. I literally backed up into the bus. Then I made the mistake of showing them their faces on the screen and they just gasped in amazement. By now they realized what was going on and they began to smile and wave profusely. One kid got up as close as he could and just held both his hands in the air right in front of the camera. Madness. I stood inside the bus door and got a few more shots. Finally Sara started to get nervous about the Frisbees getting stolen (we were supposed to give them to another school) and started to round everybody up. It was a challenge to say the least. The bus driver was not impressed and tried to tell them to back away and go play, but they just stared at him and us. We tried to say goodbye but it was difficult – the kids completely surrounded the bus and even began asking for money. Poor Joseph, I know he was nervous trying to get out of there. The kids ran after the bus all the way along the filed down the road as African children do. Crazy.
Turns out we weren’t even supposed to be visiting that school at all. Where were the teachers? I thought. They are gonna be pissed.
So we made our way down the road again to get to the real school – St. Joseph’s On the Hill – a secondary school for boys and girls (junior high-high school equivalent)
run by the Holy Cross on a stunning spot just up from the Kirinda Family Center where we had been Tuesday. We were a bit late so the students were patiently waiting for us when we got there.
There were about 250 students at this school, and we were supposed to led a 2-hour block of time for the next two weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We decided to divide the large number into four groups – music, photography, art and writing. I was supposed to do a “presentation” on organic farming, but since the agricultural class is so specific and not at the right time, I wasn’t going to anymore. Thank goodness, because I don’t think I could begin to help the children understand international trade barriers, government subsidies and certification processes for the organic food industry.
So I was to lead music with half the group, and I was excited. The night before we had assembled a play list of the songs and beats we thought would best entertain the students, and also best represent a few genres that we in America like to listen to. We decided on rock and roll, country/swing, Latin music and of course, rap. The students sat at the edge of their seat when we introduced ourselves and told them we were going to play music. We decided to start with the best universal music we could think of – Bob Marley. One love. The theme to our mission, our lives, their future. They really liked it, and they had of course heard about “Bob Maale.” I will never forget the look on the girls’ faces who sat way in the back – they knew every word and swayed back and forth. “Give thanks and praise to the Lord, and I will feel alright.”
We proceeded to play “Let’s Get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas at my request. The beat was good but then we suddenly realized we had forgotten a key missing component to our lesson. There was no dancing. The children sat there and didn’t know what to do. We looked at each other and didn’t know what to do either. That’s when it dawned on us. In Africa, you don’t just listen to music. You hum it, you sing it, you drum to it, and most importantly, you dance to it. So we got through the first song and asked the children to do one of their songs. The teachers brought in a few drums, and surprisingly the girls walked to the corner and began to drum. One girl came up and led the song, and the kids slowly got into it. Then I noticed the girls tying their jackets around their wastes. Uh oh, I thought, here it comes. Sure enough, the girls got up and did their thing. You gotta have a lot of soul to shake your hips like that.
After that we switched back to our boring songs, and tried our best. Sara invited them to come dance, but they were a bit shy. I’m not sure which song got them up – I think it was Outkast’s “Rosa Parks” – but the boys slowly walked up and started dancing with Sara. When she went for it and danced right along with them, they screamed. So Rachael, Whitney and Chelsie joined them, and a few more boys trickled up. It was on. We were gonna get served. One boy started to hop back and forth, but Chelsie totally kept up with him. When the rest of the kids realized what she was doing, they flipped out. It was awesome.
We felt a little bit more at home, and continued switching back and forth – a few of their songs and a few of ours. There was a lull in the session (probably during the try with “SuperTramp” – I was like Chelsie, are you serious??) and so I took Rachael outside to quickly practice the swing we were going to save for next time. Soon enough we put on a fast Los Loney Boys song and did it up. Rachael did really well, and when we got into the few complex twists I knew, the kids’ eyes beamed and they went “ohhhhh.” Then, we gave it to ‘em. I swung Rachael side to side like they do and then flipped her. Holy cow did that set them off. It was great.
So we realized that they music was probably fine, but we had to dance no matter what we were doing. Chelsie and I went outside to practice a few more of the crazy flips and motions that she and I knew, and we even got a crowd out there. I took her in and gave it a whirl. She knew traditional swing, and all I know is the country version Trilby Burton taught me back in grade school, but the flips are basically the same. So we did it up again, this time with more twists and twirls and back arounds and flips. The kids got such a kick out of it. When we finished, I was sweating like a pig and could hardly move. It had been so long, I was so out of shape, but it was so much fun. It reminded me of county fair dances and high school student council conventions, where my best friend Erica and I made up our own routine to “Jump Jive ‘n Wail” for the talent show in Maxwell and then at the state convention where we led the workshop. So much fun. We have this video of Erica and I practicing, when I did in fact drop her on her head and almost threw her out the top of the barn. Chelsie and Rachael were great, but I really wished Erica could have been there with me, even though in a lot of ways she definitely was.
It really took me back to leadership days. I even tried to make them “make rain” with the sounds and motions of their hands, but they followed directions a little too well, doing exactly what I was doing at the instant I did it, and even going “shhhh” when I was trying to say “shhh” to get them to be quiet and hear the sounds. They were troopers.
Oh, I almost forgot the most important part. The kids wanted to hear American songs, and did recognize some of the names, but no one other than Bob Maale can match the universal hips of Shakira. Whitney and I had heard it in Kampala on the first day, and also last night in town. So ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you, the hips don’t lie, especially not in Africa. I was surprised that they didn’t know the moves, but they definitely knew the songs. I would have busted it out but I was the only boy in a sea of other mostly high school boys. Rachael, Whitney and Chelsie didn’t really know how to do it, but they did dance to it, and man did the boys love it. After Shakira (the second time) all the boys crowded around Rachael and said “madame, you are the most beautiful girl we have ever seen,” and began to pick up on her one by one. Poor thing, I know she felt like a piece of meat, but she handled herself really well. I don’t know what the hell I would have done. On the way home she was a little disappointed that it turned into such a show, especially since it must have been shitty for the girls, but we decided that we did the best we could and all the children said they had a wonderful time. We got back on the bus like rockstars and took off, completely exhausted. My back was killing me, I think I pulled a muscle with all the super twists.
The drive home was disgusting – dust kicked up on the road and Joseph drove like a maniac. It was so bad we had to wear the white masks over our mouths. Combine that with the sweat, and we were filthy.
I was too excited to sleep, and I just put on my iPod and stared at the countryside. It was a lot to process. Africa is such a beautiful place. Every day is something incredibly knew, every hour is another incredible experience with the people of Uganda. It truly was amazing, and I am so thankful for this out of control-ness.
The rest of the gang took their sweet ass time in town when all we really wanted to do was shower shower shower. Thankfully the electricity was on again so we finally headed home. We brought along Clovis, the nice young artist we had met at the Sisters’ house who was going to give us a demonstration on how he makes his greeting cards with banana fiber. We were all very tired and didn’t really want to sit down, but after he started man were we impressed. I don’t even know how to describe it – it is the most intricate, zen-like art I have ever seen. He takes the tiniest slivers of banana fibers and makes the most beautiful compositions out of the blue. He made a piece of fiber half the size of a toothpick turn into a tree like magic. Then he added a women with a basket of fruit on her head, a house, and birds in the background. He could manipulate perspective like I had never seen before. He said he learned to do this when he was about 13, and has been making a living off of it ever since. We were so lucky to have him give us a private show. He was so delicate, so warm and incredibly wise about art and the mind of the artist. We want to bring him to the United States to participate in the International Folk Art Market that is held in Santa Fe every year. He would definitely knock their socks off.
Unfortunately in the middle of the presentation the lights went out again. It didn’t even phase Clovis, but we were all disappointed of course. We just lit candles, held a lantern for him and soaked up the atmosphere. Finally we had dinner and crashed out. Another spectacular day.
posted by Jake McCook @ 6:51 PM
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