Our daily lives still new - But closer bonds created.

It feels like this first weeks has just flown away ! We are already introduced to week 4 at Miles 2 Smiles, and it’s a great feeling to finally remember more than just a few names any finally being able to attach several of the names to those adorable faces. Even though we have almost been here for a moth, everything still feels new somehow. I can’t say I have found one place I feel I can contribute more than other, but that’s a very ok anyway. Participating in the different classes and tasks during the day have been very useful  to get to know as many of the children and workers  as possible, and in the same time getting a bigger view of how important and exacting  this work actually is !

In one of my earlier blog-posts I mentioned that the children are learning the alphabet, counting and English (which is not their mother tongue) in the early age of 3 years old. By participating in the different classes we have been able to also see the methods of teaching, which is very different from the Norwegian. Repeating after the teacher and copy the blackboard, day in and day out seems to be consistently, and the teaching is extremely academic. Even though we have been very impressed of the children’s skills, we have been more skeptical in time; are the children preforming their own skills, or just repeating ? From the Norwegian school we have been more used to creative and divers ways of teaching. After some more weeks of observations we will gather the teachers to have an workshop; helping and share each other’s theories and tips in teaching in purpose to make the teaching even better !

In time we have also got to know some of the children backgrounds. During the last week we got to know better some of the children and their families, and saw where they lived. The Norwegian standard of living is not even comparable to theirs, and what many Norwegians calls their own bedroom is for several families’ living room, kitchen and bedroom for all of the members. Personal space is unknown.  It’s difficult, and I can’t imagine how they make it, but anyway it’s so important to try, and to hear and tell their stories. It’s time to realize that our Norwegian standard is not a matter of course.

This week we got to know Karen at 7 moths and her father’s background - how they live and make their ends meet in their lives…

Suprise and sightsing in Kampala city - A wonderful weekend !

The days at Miles 2 Smiles flies away, and after a busy but wonderful weekend we neither then have had much time to be lazy. As curious and adventurist Mzungus we’re still finding new and interesting things to fulfill and color our days in Uganda, and this weekend was no exception...

Finding time to study is not easy. Even though Friday is our study-day, where we are supposed to read books and write book-rapports we find it much more interesting to use our time to bake. Norwegian bread and “kanelsnurrer” was on the menu, and I have to admit; during some rounds of baking, me and Vegge have turned out as outstanding bakers ! 60 successfully “kanelsnurrer” turned out to be the result of this baking-days, and even though we (and me especially) have a really big appetite; this was a too big amount to enjoy ourselves ! Known as the surprising-team, Vegge and I therefore decided to travel around this evening and surprised our dear colleagues. We went to our colleagues living at the daycare-center and to our wonderful boss Katherine to give them a taste and our appreciation for their great piece of work at Miles 2 Smile, something they really deserves !

The children and the ladies got very happy and suprised. Our study-day couldn't have been exploited in a better way ! 

My wonderful team-mate Vegge and our great colleagues at Miles 2 Smiles. I'm lucky !

During this weekend we also went for a sightsing on bodaboda (a motorbike-type or something) to see the hole of Kampala on two wheels, got an introduction to the Ugandan nightlife and dancing “African-style”, and also see a Ugandan village. In other words we have had a super weekend, and until now I haven’t had much time to miss back home...

Even though we haven’t charged our batteries by being lazy, we’re more than ready for this new and existing week at Miles 2 Smiles with home-visits to some of the children, teaching ALONE in a class and of course be a aunty to this wonderful and energetic . Life is so far very, very great in Uganda. I’m very lucky to have such great people around me, and especially a big thank you to my great, great partner, boss and colleagues at Miles 2 Smiles for that !

Here is a movie from our adventure on the bodaboda. Enjoy !

PS ! Blog-post about this week at Miles 2 Smiles will be posted soon. Siba bulungi !

Birthday, malaria and troublesome toilet - Suprise-visit to Mbale !

After work on Thursday Vegge and I went for a spontaneous trip to Mbale visiting HannaCharlotte and Benedicte. I really like our offhanded way of living here in Uganda: We talked about Benedictes birthday right before we fell to sleep Wednesday night, and the next day we were ready for Mbale. The two girls had no idea that we planned to knock on their door and sing the birthday-song the same evening, but our plan turned out differently than we first expected... When we arrived, one of their neighbours told us that they weren’t home but at the hospital since Hanna Charlotte had gotten malaria. With good help from their friendly neighbours we found out which hospital the girls stayed at, and our plan got successful after some few complications. Mission completed: They got very surprised when we showed up !

Although we spent a lot of the time at the hospital to cure the patient we had a very cozy and relaxing time together in Mbale; watching movies, making pancakes and cookies in their apartment. One of the biggest happening from this weekend was although created in connection to their charming toilet: A hole in the ground in trouble with the toilet paper. We have after this episode learnt to not put too much toiletpaper in the Ugandan toilets, for sure. Here is a movie from this memorable moment - See, learn and enjoy !

First week has come to an end at Miles2Smiles !

Vegge and I have now came to the end of the first week in our “new lifes”, and wow; many new impressions ! After 4 days at Miles 2 Smiles from 8.00-14.00 we have to admit we get really tiered, even though it’s only 6 hours at work. The children think it’s very funny with some new aunties, where we now are known as; aunty Benna and aunty Ellen/Eleni/Elena/Helen (my name is still changing). As living climbing trees, peacemakers and consoling shoulders we have got a wonderful start at our new work with 200 children, full of energy. Pop, pee, snot, laughter, joy, smiles and cry will be a big part of our daily life.

During this week we have been introduced to the different classes at Miles2Smiles. I have been participating as an assistant in baby-class, with pupils in the age of 2-3 years old. A big difference compared to the Norwegian kindergarden is that the kids have more serious classes where they already in this age starts learning English, the alphabet, counting, reading and spelling. The concentration is not the best, but how much can you expect form these young children.                                                                                          

Our next big task is to learn the 212 names at Miles2Smiles; 200 childeren and 12 workers. Wish me good luck !

The first days in Kampala with the Mzungu-GangBangand and Strømme Foundation !

Our first meeting with Uganda was very (as earlier mentioned) very positive ! The first days of our “new life” we have been staying together in our “mzungu-gangbang”, visiting the Norwegian embassy and the head office of Strømme Foundation in Kampala. The ten Norwegians with sun-lotion have been walking around in Kampala lighting up the streets, but as foreigners we have been feeling more than welcome ! The people seems to take good care of each other, attending that no one is a stranger (which I like very much), appreciating random talks, especially in their native language; luganda. The few words my dear Ugandan friends manage to teach us while we stayed at Hald has been really useful, and a important part of my new “hobby” to practicing my luganda, walking- or sitting in a driving car speaking to the strangers passing by.

Couches and coffins must be one of the most popular selling articles at the street in Kampala.

On our meetings with Stømme we have been talking a lot about our expectations to the internship, which seems like a very good start to keep a good communication and understanding for each other. Being “open minded” and patient is something we all have to deal with this year, and flexibility ! We really have to move out of our own comfort-zone; out of the “Norwegian bubble” (as I call it). But wow, this is really exciting. I’m not telling you that this would not be hard sometimes, but after all we will all grow as persons, which I find very interesting and a big motivation for this year; to expand my own worldview by staying abroad in a new culture the next 7 months.

Mzungu-GangBang and our contactpersons. Nice !

 

Beside our very postive meeting with the Ugandan people we have also got a introduction to the Ugandan wildlife, which was not that nice. Our first night we had visit and a introduction to the Ugandan wildlife. This beast is called "the breast-cutter”; a 15 cm green, flying insect and a lookalike to a grasshopper. We survived the attack, cause luckily for us we got saved by the one of the lady at the guesthouse ! Webale njo to that lady.

Siba bulungi, mukwano gwange !

This time for Africa !

After 6 fantastic weeks at Hald we have created friendships from all over the world and some fantastic memories together. The lessons at school has given us quiet good introduction into the interesting topics as; cross-cultural communication, development aid, poverty and global understanding. The greatest memories has after all been created after the lessons from the moments together at the football- or volleyball field, playing cards, singing and dancing, laughter and joy from sharing our own culture. Our daily life has been rather isolated in an awesome bobble, and even though we could have stayed at Hald the whole year, it was time to go abroad, and for my partner Vegge and me “this time for Africa…”

From Hald we are 12 students staying in Uganda for the next 6-7 months; 2 teams from Focus and 4 teams from Act Now. Very exciting ! Leaving my home before the sun got up, we arrived our new home after dark in a new continent with; different banana types for breakfast, lunch and dinner (seriously), crazy traffic, wonderful people and HOT climate and culture. The mzungus seemed to be as ready as possible for their internship, but was Uganda ready for the mzungus ?

We where met at the airport by some of our leaders for the projects, including our leader at Miles 2 Smiles; Kathrine.  We had heard so much about her, but what a wonderful lady she seems to be. This was a good start, and a great first impression of our new home; Uganda !