Unasema Kiswahiri?

Do you speak Swahili?

Swahili is a language I have been thought that I want to speak. People in Eastern Africa such as Kenya and Tanzania they speak Swahili. In addition, even some people in Uganda they also speak Swahili.
Generally, it is said that those who people who speak Swahili in Uganda are the people who work in militarily and polices, especially those jobs who are coming from different area and tried to communicate with each other. It is because in Uganda there are a lot of language. Some are similar but some are not similar at all. Of course, they speak English but when it comes to communicate with colleagues, Swahili is much easier than English as I heard. That is the reason why some people in those jobs speak Swahili.
Likewise, people in Kakira, where one of the biggest sugar factory is, they also speak Swahili. Kakira is located around 15km away east from Jinja. On Sundays, there is a big market. Recently, I go out there for finding the opportunity to speak Swahili. I was so surprised when I went there as a first time that people called as "Bowana" means Sebo in Lusoga, or Sir in English. With books I brought it from Japan as well as the book I found in Kampala also help me to understand Swahili. On weekdays I use English and Lusoga (just for simple greetings) but on Sundays I started to use Swahili.

That is why, my Swahili is slowly slowly, or pole pole developing.

Kenya @ Jinja

A Good African Story

 

      This is the first English book I finished reading since I came to Uganda. The title of this book is "A good African Story : how a small company built a global coffee brand" written by Andrew Rugasira, who is an entrepreneur founded an Ugandan company called Good African Coffee. He was born in Uganda and studied in UK. After finished master degree in University of Oxford, he came back to Uganda and started his business. From his study, he had some doubt about development aid. For the past fifty years, the World Bank, UN and other birateral organizations have granted and lent huge amout of money but it hasn't worked well. In that view point, he started to think to embark a business which is related to local people aiming at a trade with a fair price. As a result of his effort as well as his colleagues, he finally started retail business in UK after S. Africa. His coffee business bloomed, finally.  Then, he also started a retail business in the U.S though he struggled some hard situations.

     After finishing to read this book, I understood how hard to embark a business in Africa and how hard to make the businness, especially when it comes to compete in the capitalism. As he pointed out through the book, of course capital is importnat but perseverance is more importantly than the capital. He never gave up to keep pushing up his business. I think that perseverance was the key to success in his business. Because of he and his team's effort, coffee famers got  a certain amount of  money by selling coffee (it should have given them). Lastly, as he told the reader that poverty is not only a lack of money but also a lack of oppertunity. From this view point, I could understand why he made SACOO for famers.

     The Andrew's way of thinking to help people in the village is very logical and well estimated.

Since I can even  find his coffee in the supermarket in Jinja, I am going to buy the coffee not only to enjoy the taste but also to help the poeple in Kasese, where their Arabica coffee is from.

 

Kenya @ Jinja

  

Student Teachers







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Student teachers has come since this week. This is a program for them to become a teacher as we did in Japan. I was surprised to hear that student teachers they teach during the daytime, starting from 8:30a.m to 4:00p.m. Since school has to keep their time to teach, I had no lesson during the daytime. Even though I have to teach math for P6, I decided to teach in early morning and late evening.

     From last Tuesday, I started go to school at 7:00a.m and taught them if there is no teachers to teach. We, the teahcers made a timetable but I told pupils like this;

 

"I come at 7:00a.m. every moring for the lessons and started to teach from 5:30p.m to 6:30p.m."

 

Whether they understand my reason or not, I much come to teach them, otherwise I won't finish all topics of P6 within the term.

In addition, I have just started to teach on Saturdays.

What I concern is that I'm not sure if they come on time. Like today, I came to school at 8:00a.m as I told them last evening, but no one was there. The first pupil came at 8:10am, then, one third of the class came up to 9:30. That is why, I started my lesson at 9:30. I didn't have enough time to teach today, but I think it is importnat to try encourage them to attend the lesson.

 

Though those student teachers will come for the next three weeks I hope I will find out what I should do during the daytime and keep teaching during those two durations of a day.

 

Kenya @ Jinja  

 

Uganda VS Ghana

    

     Last Saturday, I went to Nambole studium (located in Kampala) to watch the football match between Uganda and Ghana. This is the match for the World Cup qualifier in 2018, Russia and this is the important match for both teams. Because in Africa there is only one team will go to the world cup in each league. There are four teams in each league. Uganda is same as Ghana, Egypt and Congo brazzaville. Leading by the Egypt, Uganda comes next before Ghana. However, in oder to be qualified for the World Cup. Uganda must win this match same as Ghana.

Though the Cranes, the nickname of the national team of Uganda was tryed to get a score, they didn't get it. Ghana, the black star, also didn't get a score. As a result of the match, it was drew. Both team had some chances to get a score but it didn't. At the last part of the match, I though Ghana scored after the keeper of Uganda stroke the ball. But it was off-side. Though there was some doubt about the judge, we survived. The score was 0-0 and the dream going to the World Cup as a first time has disapper.

I hope someday that Japan and Ghana will hold a match in the World Cup!!

Kenya @ Jinja

The New Semester has Started

Time flys.

The three weeks holiday has already finished and the new semester has just started this week. I have started to teach mathematics to Primary 6 (P6) at my school. As I heard from my colleagus, pupils need a time to come back to school. Around one third of the pupils in P6 came to school this week. I don't know the exact reason why they are so slow. This is Uganda! Maybe I will ask them why they are so slow.

During the holiday, I went to Kapchorwa district, where it is located about 200km from Jinja. I stayed there for about one week with my friend. The place where we went called Sipi falls it is 15km from Kapchorwa town and a lot of nature there. What is good in Sipi is the tempreture. Since the latitude in Sipi is around 1,700m, which means around 6-7 degrees cooler than Jinja. Though it rained everyday also the sun came everyday even sometimes we saw a rainbow! We enjoyed staying there with a lot of natures and delicious food.

We did some activities. For one thing, we participated in coffee tour. We visited a local house where coffee harvested with a guide(Actually, the area around Kapchorwa is famous for the coffee product. They produce the best coffee in Uganda called Arabica.). Then we experienced the process how to make coffee powder from the seeds. Of, course we skipped some parts of the process since we had to do all the process around an hour but we could know the process how to make coffee. After an hour, we drunk coffee we made. It was delicious! After the tour, we bought a coffee powder and even coffee trees (young one) in order try to harvest at my garden.

Another thing the rice in Kapchorwa was very delicious! I normally eat rice called Kaiso, which costs 2800sh/kg. But the rice I ate the guest house called Spa, which costs 4000sh/kg. Then I had an idea trying to harvest some rice then I bought 3kg of rice seeds. I talked with my roommate and then we are going to harvest Spa in Namutumba, where is 100km west from Jinja. For one thing, it is important to have a wet land in order to harvest rice which Jinja doesn't have. Another thing it's easy for us to supervise because the place is not far from my roommate's hometown. We can go there in the weekend.

It seems good to do some work not only just as a teacher but also to think how I support local people.

Kenya @ Jinja

One month

One month has passed since I came to school in Jinja. I have enjoyed staying so far.

So, this time I am going to explain what I have done for the past month.

First, I had some lessons. As I have already told you the first lesson is P4 class and the topic was circle. It was not easy for me to teach them because of two reasons. First, it's not easy for pupils of P4 to understand English. Second, it was not easy for me to teach by English. Because of these two reasons the first lesson was not easy but I enjotyed it. As for P6&P7, it was more easier for me to teach them because they understand English well compared to P4. Since not all topics I have taught in Japan sometimes it's not easy for me to understand the contents of the topic. So, my colleague, Joseph, he helped me to understand. He is very good at math.

Second, I am going to explain my life in Jinja. The working hour starts at 8 am. until 5 pm. After I finish working I go back home. My home is located in the school. It takes only 1 minutes from the school. What is good I can easily access to the water (There is a tap at the school.) and safe. Since I live with Joseph and two other people who are relatives of Joseph, they normally made suppers for me, which means I don't have to cook. I only cook in the morning to make a sunny side egg.

Third, since I brought a soccer ball from Kampala I can play football with kids in the village. They play football in bare feet. Though some of them have sandal, they took it off. Maybe for them it's more easy to play without having anything. On weekends, I sometimes go to a bar to watch premier league with Joseph. He support Manchester United and I just started to support Arsenal because I support Fry Emirates. The game which we saw at the bar was ManU VS Leichester. Since Okazaki, who is a member of Japanese national team was in Leichester I had to support but there were plenty of supporters of ManU at a bar. As a result, Leichester was lost.

So this is briefly what I have done for the past month. I enjoyed so far. I hope it will last for the next two years.

Kenya @ Jinja

P.S I am going to travel for a fortnight heading for eastern part of Uganda.

A Lecture at Teacher's College

Since I have an oppertunity to have a lesson for the future primary school teacher at Jinja Teacher's College. I went there last Saturday and had a lecture for the differences of education between Japan and Uganda.

I had two lectures. Each lecture lasted for 50 minutes. After I explained what is the difference of lessons for math between Japan and Uganda, I had a model lesson. The first period I taught about ratio related to pie chart and the second period I taught about finding area (rectangle). It was challenging since I didn't have much oppertunity to talk in front of college students, and math taught by English. But somehow I managed it.

The script as follows came from those lectures for the first 15 minutes each. I hope students at teachers college learned something from my lecture!

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Good morning, ladies and gentleman! My name is Kenya. I am from Japan.

Do you know any cities in Japan? I am from Tokyo, Japan.

Today I am going to talk about three stories.

First, I am going to introduce myself. Second, I am going to talk about the difference between Japan and Uganda, especially the math education. Third, I will have a model lesson which is based on my experience in Japan as a primary school teacher. If you have any questions please ask me at any time of the lecture by raising your hand.

So, let me introduce myself. Do you remember my name? My name is Kenya and I am Japanese. I will turn to 30 this year and I am single. I have worked as a primary school teacher in Japan for the past three years. I taught mainly math. I have a family of four my father, mother and my brother and me. I have learned politics at my university and then I travelled throughout the Europe by bicycle for ten months. During that travelling, I thought it would be interesting for me to work with kids. But in order to be a teacher in Japan I needed a licence. After I went back to Japan, I went to teacher’s college like you and I spent three years (normally it takes two years) and I got a licence for teaching at primary school. At that time, I worked at primary school to help the class teacher as a part time job. Then, the headmaster of that school offered me to work as a teacher at different primary school and then I took that offer. Luckily, I had a job and started working as a math teacher at primary school. At first year, I taught math from P1 to P3 and for the next two years I taught math from P3 up to P6. Then, after finishing the school year in 2016. I left Japan and came here!

Any questions so far?

OK, then I am going to talk about the second story, the difference of math education between Japan and Uganda for primary school. I will talk about three points.

First, the biggest difference between Japan and Uganda for math education is the value of math. We think math is important to make a think logically. Here in Uganda the answer, or the result is the most important for math, or to get a high score of the test, which means accuracy and efficiency is the top priority. Of course, we think that it is important to get a high score of the test, but we, especially the teachers impressed from the students not because of that they got a high score but because of the way of thinking, or how to solve the questions. We think how and why the key words for math, not what are.

Second, based on this idea, we consider the value of expressions. I noticed expressions are not so important in here when I marked. For example, in Japan when pupils solve the sentence questions in math exam they got 5 points for the expressions and another 5 points for the answer. So, there is a difference between 2 times 3 and 3 times 2. If the answer is 2 times 3, you must write 2 times 3 for the expression. Otherwise you lose your points.

Thirdly, I will talk about the lessons. In Japan, we do question-solving method. Have you heard about this phrase? In this method there are six steps mainly. We do it in one lesson lasted for forty five minutes. The first step is question. Ideally, it comes from the pupils, but mainly we give them. The second step is to think about the clue or hint to solve the question based on what they have already learned. Normally the question which is given shall solve how to solve the former lesson. Third, solve the question by themselves. Forth, share the idea what they have found or how they reached the answer. Fifth, we conclude how to solve this type of questions. Sixth, they do some exercises. Sometimes we skip sixth because we give them homework every day.

Well that briefly what I have done for the past three years as a primary school teacher in Japan and what I have felt since I came here. Any questions so far? If not, let’s try a model lesson.

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Kenya @ Jinja

The First Lesson

One week has passed since I came to my primary school in Jinja.
I did my first lesson in Africa yesterday.

It was unexpected lesson. Since one of my school teacher absent from school, I decided to have a class instead of her. It was a math lesson and I did it for primary 4 (P4).

The topic was circle. The contents of the lesson was not so interesting because I had to explain a lot of things in order to teach what is circle and other things. The things I taught them were, a centre, circumferences, a radius and a diameter. I thought it was not so difficult because some of the pupils have compasses and I could borrow the one for teahcer. Even there were some chalks of different colors.

But it was not easy. They always say "yes", so I though they can easily to understand but it was not true. I think there were maily three problems they have. The first problem is my English. Of course, I could speak English but they couldn't understand what I said because I couldn't use suitable word for instructions. It is because I have no experience to teach math in English. The second problem is my pronouciation. Sometimes I felt they couldn't understand what I said. So, I explained it in different way. The second problem is thier language. The pupils in Uganda they started to learn English from Primary 4. It means they just started to learn Enlish. Since they only use English at school it's might be hard for them to use Enlish especially for speaking in class. And finally, their personality, I feel they were a little similar to Japanese pupiles. Even they can freely say what they think but they sometimes afraid of mistakes. When something happens, for example, a younger pupile was crying, they just had a look.  I don't know the reason why, so, I said "Take care of him."

Though my first lesson was more difficult than I expected, I will be better next time.

The pupils, they are pure and I feel I will be in good with them for the next two years.

Kenya @ Jinja

"Buy me Chapati"

Since I drunk heavily on Saturday, I couldn't wake up until noon.
In the afternoon, I stopped by an cafe then I had a rolex (an Ugandan dish, eggs and vegetables with rolled chapati) before going to the town. After eating Rolex, I went to the central part of town, I hanged out and bought some stuffs which may need at my working place.

Before going back to my dorm, I went to the different part of town where it is located about ten minutes walk from my dorm and then I had dinner.

When I was eating rolex again, two boys came to me and asked,

"Will you buy us Chapati?"

Then, I answered. Something like, "Ask your mom!"

Then he said,

"My mon doesn't have enough food, so, please buy me a chapati, I am hungry!"

I was wondering if I buy chapati for them, I was staring at them and thniking about chapati but not just for free. I thought something is needed in returen for the chapati. Then, I decided to ask some questions for them.

K: "How old are you?"

C1: "I am nine and he is ten."

K: " What's your name?"

C1: "My name is Joseph."

C2: "My name is Obey."

K: "Okay. Do you go to school?"

C: "Yes."

K: "Which grade are you in?"

C1 "I am in grade three and he is four."

K: "By the way, have you eaten a meal today?"

C "No, not yet."

K: "But you've got plump." by touching his stomach.

They were laughing.

K: "What about tomorrow? Are you going to school?"

C: "Yes."

K: "Then, you will get school lunch tomoroow. Posho, maybe?"

C1: "Yes. But I won't get lunch since I didn't pay for the meal."

K: "Okay. Thanks. Then let's eat."

C1: "Give me some money for tomorrow lunch."

K: "No, I won't. But you may get another meal when you meet me again, if you're lucky."

C "Okay. See you then."

K: "Bye for now!"

They are polite. Generally, perople say "thank you" when he/she get something from the others. People in Uganda, they have a different costom to show their appriciation. For girls, they kneel when they express their gratitude. As for boys, they bend their knee a little and show their feeling for appriciation. I felt it's very important to say thank you in this kind of situation. So, I decide that I will teach them to say "thank you" if they forget to say so. In this time, they did well and I was impressed.

Kenya@Kampala

P.S   I am going to start working at primary school in Jinja on 1st of August.

Masaka

Since I have another week before dispatch I have visited to my senior volunteer who works at Masaka. I went there for two nights. Masaka is  a city which is about 120 km west from Kampala.

The first impression of Masaka is bright! People were friendly and pupils were talkative.
I went to his school from the city at the first day. Since it was already afternoon we went to another school where he teaches as a volunteer. It was a math class and pupils learned speed. Surprisingly, they know the formula what we all "hajiki", or the relation among time, speed and distance. What was wrong is that they don't know how to use the formula. So, I taught them how to use the formula and some symbol such as × and ÷. I felt good when I felt the moment that they understood what I said.

After that we went back to original school where he teaches and then we practiced jump rope before catch ball. Since there is a competition for the jump rope for the next month, they practiced during the lunch time.

In the evening, I stayed at director's house. It is a house but it is also backpacker's hostel. I stayed there for two nights. I ate dinner with them. What was interesting is that there were five people around the table with dish. The director, his wife, a woman from Germany, maid and me. They ate at the same time with one dining table. Since I and a woman were guests. We took dish first, then, the director and his wife followed, after that the wife told to the maid that something like "It's a time to take dish." The hierarchy was clear.

The guest house is very comfortable. Even it offered me hot water and breakfast & dinner. I enjoy staying very much. If I have another chance to stay in Masaka I will choose the same place.

Yuji @Kampala

The School has Changed

Since there are several reasons the school where I am supposed to go has changed. Originally, Hippo's school is located in Luwero district where it is located in north of Kampala. But now, Hippo's school is located in Jinja district where it is east of Kampala. It's about two-three hours from the capital.

Jinja is a industrial city. There is a JICA project which is building a new bridge at the moment. Since the bridge across Nile river is getting old. So, they reconstruct the new one. And it is said that there are a lot of people from Western county. I saw a lot of Mzungu (People who has white skin.) in the city.

Just before entering Jinja city, the main road was getting narrow and making one lane. The road stretch towards the bridge. It was my first time to see Nile river. It is called Victoria Nile which is originally from L.Victoria. Since the river is used as a dam which is organized by the government. A photo from the bridge is prohibited.

After crossing the bridge I finally entered Jinja city. Hippo's school is located about 45 minutes away from the city center; fifteen minutes to Mubare direction on the main road and turn right and walk about 30minuts. (Of course, this time we went by car.)

The first impression of the Hippo's school is pretty. There is no gate and no gym but there is one-story school building and large flat earth ground.

I felt it's a countryside and a village but this is what I wanted.

The number of students is about 400 and there is no boarding school. The students come from their home and they are from P1 to P7 students. Since there is not a good place to stay near the school I may stay at a school sharing a house with other teacher. I think I will work out. The day for dispatch is 1st of August.

Kenya @ Kampala

Why not get married with my sister?

I think this is my first time to be said from the person seriously that I want to get married with you.

This is a kind of greeting in Africa and a lot of people may be said few times while you are staying in Africa.

So, this is a kind of example.


On this Tuesday, I went to  language centre with other members. This was the fifth day of the language lesson. So, this was the last day. At the last part of the lesson, there was a test and everybody must take it. There were three test in total; the one in general speaking (self-introduction), at a restaurant and at a market. When I finished the latter two tests I met my teacher coincidentally at a room with a lady.

Teacher asking me naturally and he said.

T: "Have you got married?"

K: "No, I haven't."

T: "What about African woman?"

K: "What?? Well, never thought seriously, but I think it's fine."

T: "Think about Japan, is it possible to bring your wife if you got married in Africa?"

K: "Yes, it is. It's possible."

T: "So, what do you think about her?"

And, he looked at a lady who is sitting next to the table.

K: "As a wife?"

T: "Yes. Yesterday she told me about you. So I thought in case of you."

K: "Well, it's hard to answer because I don't know much about her and it's important to love each other when I get married."

T: "Don't you like her?  Won't she pretty?"

K: "No, she is pretty. But what I said it's need a time to love and think. And I will stay in Uganda for the next two years. I need a time to think about that."

T: "Yes, you're right. So, please think about her."

K: "Yes, I will."

Few seconds passed...

K: "If I say yes, what I am supposed to do."

T: "Of course, you have to buy some cows and other things in order to get married."

I felt that I touched with their greetings and culture but at the same time I also felt that I saw how their life is hard and they want to change the situation what they are facing with.

Kenya@Kampala
 

Site Visit Activity

Site Visit Activity is one of the training program for us to visit the working place in couple of days. For me, I went to Luwero for three nights from Tuesday. I went to Hippo's school and met students. My school is located in Woblenzi, Luwero, where it is north about one hour from Kampala.

On the first day, I went to Woblenzi and met director, or principal at school and I went to the school. As I told you the number of students have been decreasing, it was like a after-school care of schoolchildren. There is no window, no ceiling but they have building, blackboard, desks and chairs. After I shortly looked school I went to the town with my director to do some tasks. Then I went back to the hotel in the evening. The hotel cost 50,000Ush.(about 1500yen). It is totally different from outside. I felt safe and cozy.

On the second day, I went to the school in the morning. Since there was only one teacher who teaches at school and she had to look after four classes, a class for infant, pre-primary, primary1, primary2-3, she looked very hard and I decided to support her. Then I tought math and English in the morning. It was tough because they understood English a little. And I couldn't understand Luganda, which is local language spoken in Luwero district. And the teacher told me that I can speak only English while I am teaching English. I did my best what I could do.
In the afternoon, I visited one of my senior who he have already came to the school as a teacher since last year. His school is also located in Luwero. Since government as well as church support his school is was totally different from Hippo's school. I felt this school is similar school which I taught in Japan. The number of students is over 800 and about 30% of the students live in the school. It is a kind of boarding school but also more than half of the students come to school from their house.

On the third day, I watched a lesson which my senior did. It was math class. His class has about 50 students. It was a lot. The topic was to ascending and descending decimals in order. It was complicated one. He taught as we did in Japan by showing some examples and then gave them some practices. I felt they understood well while he explained examples. But when they started to practice I felt I was wrong. It was hard for them to understand those complicated decimals which is bigger or smaller such as 0.3, 0.33. 0.03, 3.3. They repeated a lot what the teacher said but at the same time they needed a time to understand what the teacher said. I helped them some parts. What was good is they understand my English. After I watched his class I went back to my hotel.

On the forth day, today, I also went to Hippo's school in the morning and I tought English. They were waiting on the road and said "muzung"(It means white person). They are so cute!! This time there were three words, gray, drive, and fly. The purpose of that lesson is student's will make a sentence by using those three words. It was kind of hard because they can understand about 10-20% what I said. But I used some drawings and gestures and tried them understood what I said. Then I could barely understand them by using three simple sentences; My shoes is gray. I can drive a car. and A bird is flying. I felt that it is very important to use pictures and some images for them to understand especially for those who are hard to communicate by using words.

After the lesson, I went back to Kampala.

There is a week before dispatch, I am going to think what I can do for them.

Kenya@Kampala

Hippo's School

About two weeks have passed since I came to Uganda. Foods are tasty, people are nice. I almost enjoyed staying in Uganda.

Since I came here as a primary school teacher at least I am supposed to go to school and teach subjects. But few days ago a coordinator from JICA told me about the details of my school.

C: "Well, the number of students decreased. When I went to the school last time, the number of students is about 30."

K: "A what??" "Only 30?"

C: "At the moment, Yes. But the number will increase."

I was surprised to hear the number of students. It decreased dramatically. The school (let's say Hippo's school) is not a public one. Hippo's school is build by local NGOs and called as a community school. It was built because there was no school in that community and it was hard for young children to cross the causeway to go to public school. So one reason is that they made Hippo's school in order to have an opportunity taking education safely. The age of the students who come to Hippo's school is from P1 to P4, around 6 to 10.

The next day after I had a meeting with JICA staff,  the principal from Hippo's school came to Kampala and I talked with him.

K: "How many students do you in your school at this moment?"

P: "19 at the moment."

K: "19!!!"

I was so surprised to hear that. The number is even decreasing! And also he said,

P: "The number will increase."

When I saw the assignment paper first time the number of students was about 120.(It was around one year ago.) And two weeks ago it was 30, but now is only 19. I was wondering the reason why it quickly decreased. Then, I asked to JICA staff and she told me that once there were 120 students in the school but one teacher who worked at the school took several kids and went out the school in order to make her own school. I can't believe that but this is Africa and it happens.

I think that I have a lot of chances and rooms to support the school. Since today I am going to go to Hippo's school as a site visit. I am looking forward to meet children and I hope Hippo's school will last.

Kenya @ Kampala

Wasuze otya nnyabo?

Since I am supposed go to Luwero, where is located north from Kampala. It takes one-two hours buy bus. People in Luwero they speak Luganda as a local language. Most of the people in Uganda they speak good English (best in east Africa as I heard) but some people may not speak English, especially kids and parents. So, it is important for me to learn Luganda.

This is the first day to learn Luganda. We took a bus from dormitory. The language school is located in southwestern part of Kampala. The first day we learned greetings and self introduction in Luganda. Since I am not good at language, it was hard to catch up what the teacher said. But I feel it's important to speak out instead of thinking about the structure of the language. We learned Luganda from English. Since Luganda is a local language, there are not always suitable translation from English to Lganda. This could be another reason why it was hard for me to learn. Even so, we spent almost four hours to learn Luganda. Since I learned a little, I am going to write my self introduction.

Nze Kenya.(I am Kneya.)
Ndi mujapani.(I am Japanese.)
Ndi musomesa. Nsomesa okubala.
(I am a teacher. I teach math.)
Mbeera mu Wobulenzi, Luwero.
(I stay at Wobulenzi, Luwero.)

In the afternoon, we went back to the office and talked to my coordinator. I have got two shocks from her. The first thing is that primary school teacher in Uganda is not regarded as a good job compared to the teacher in secondary school. In order to be a teacher they have to take the test after they have got qualification. And the qualification for primary school teachers is the easiest one to get. Even their wage is half compared to the secondary school teacher as I heard. The second thing is that, this is actually very good, normally students in Uganda they started to learn English at the 4th grade of primary school. But students at my school they stated to learn from the 1st grade. This is because people think that it is important to start learning English when they are young. The local language may be complicated for the kids they think.

Anyway, since I am adult and going to the primary school in Luwero, I have enough reason to learn Luganda. It seems hard but I will do my best!!

Kenya@Kampala

Owino Market

Today I went to Owino Market where it is located in the central part of Kampala. It is not far from Nakasero market where I went to yesterday,

The big differences between Nakasero market and Owino market is that Nakasero is the place where people sell vegetables, meats, fishes, and fruits as what we see in Tsukiji and Ameyoko. Compared to Nakasero market, Oiwno is the place which is a kind of slum. People can sell the stuff but at the same time we can see thier lifes. People hang out thier laundly and they have thier meals outside. I storongly feel that this is Uganda and this is the developing countries.

We went to a snack bar in the market. There is a woman who works at the market and she offered us to sit the table. She cleaned the table by using duster, but the water in duster include mad. But I respected thier hospitality and said to my stomack "be strong!!"

We ate Rolex, which is made by rolled egges with tomatos. It seems like tortilla. The taste is fantastic!! Since there were not a lot of foreigners and tourist they also respect us. We enjoyed lunch.

After that we went to the mosque which is located in the old Kampala area (west side). The mosque is huge. Two girls who I went with they had to ware scarf. We went inside the mosque and after that we also went to the tower along with the mosque, We went up 80m by walking corkscrew. The view from the top was amazing!! We can see the place where we went and seven hills in Kampala. There was a guide who told us some famous places in Kampala. I saw a building which is very close to my dormitory, Nakasero market and Owino market as well. What I feel from the view is that those places in low geografically is that where poor people lives. Compared to that rich people lives where it is on the hill. I strongly feel that there is a big differences between the poor people and rich people. That is what I feel strongly feel today. Of coruse it's tough to see around market because we have to be care our stuff every moments but at the same time it is good thing to know about the reality of the people. It is good to stay at dorm on Sundays but I want go out and touch thier culture as much as possible.



 Kenya@Kampala

Nakasero Market

Today is the first Saturday since I came to Uganda. I went to Nakasero market with my friends.

Compared to Tokyo and Kampala, my dormitory is central part of Tokyo or Yamanote area such as Minato-ku but when it comes to Nakasero market it is like Ueno and Asakusa area where I was born, or Shitamachi area. I like the atomoshere in Shitamachi-area.

We went to the market to buy some fruits and had a lunch at a snack bar. It was my first time to eat Ugandan food. We ordered Posho, whish is made of maize, Cassava, which is made of cassava, and Matoke, which is made of banana for cooking with fish or meat. We shared them but I personally ordered Posho. The taste of Posho is nothing. It's very weak flavor. Once I tried it in Tanzania. It is similar one and people called it as Ugari. So I ate Posho with chiken but I prefer Matoke. Some people say that school lunch in Uganda may eat Posho everyday. I hope that I will eat Matoke everyday instead.

Anyway, overally I enjoyed staying in Nakasero Market. People are kind and talktative. And they speak very good English. Of course I could touch how hard thier lives especially those who runs a store. I could help them but I'm not a billionaire or tourist. If there is comthing I need to buy I will go to Nakasero market again. It is hot but we can find something new, which means it's worth visiting.

Yuji@Kampala

Arriving in Kampala!!

Three days have passed since I came to Kanpala, Uganda.
When I arrived at the airport walking along the ramp I strongly feel that I will come here again someday in the future as a development specialist. It was may be because I saw some passenger plain as well as WFP and UN aircraft.
As I have expected the airplain from Haneda to Entebe, where the international airports locates via Dubai was perfect. I think Fly Emirates is the best airlines. Flight attendant was so beautiful and servises were perfect. We could order two beverages during a meal.
After arriving Entebe, we, group of twelve got on a bus to Kampala. Kampala is located about 40km northeast from Entebe. While I was on the bus I saw Lake Victoria. It was huge and seemed like a sea.
It took about one hour to Kampala, We passed some villages along with the main street.
After arriving Kampala, we saw some skyscrapers. The traffic was busy but I liked the atmosphere.
Since we came here we stayed at dormitory and we went to JICA office in Kampala. We have a meal in restaurant and bought some food and cooked in our domitory. I think we don't know much about the reality of Kampla. We are supposed to stay at dormitory for the next one month and we won't have a training for both Saturdays and Sundays. Since today is Frinday, I will go out and see around the city tomorrow. I can't wait to go to and see how the society of Kampala works. I'm excied!!

Kenya@Kampala

Leave for Uganda on 28th of June

After my long journey in Europe the year in 2009-2010, I came back to Japan and started to be my senior school year. I graduated from my university in March 2011.
After graduation I enrolled online university in order to get a licence working as a primary school teacher in Japan. During that year I worked at after-school, a care of schoolchildren and kindergarden as well as cram school. It took three years to get a licence, and luckly I found a job working as a teacher at public elementary school in Tokyo. I worked there for about three years and then, I decided to apply for JOCV program. There are several reasons but mainly I thought I am the one who can do that and I want to be the one. 
Since JICA(the organization which this program provides) chose me to be a teacher in Uganda, I accepted the requiment and then, officially I will be a teacher in Uganda.
I will leave for Uganda on 28th of June. I miss some part in Japan but this is what I wanted and I am really looking forward to working as a teacher in Uganda. I will update this blog as much as I possible. I am glad if you follow me:)) Thank you kenny much!!