"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