You are most welcome

It was back to school today after the teacher strikes over low salaries.  They receive £70 a month.  A month!

I taught Primary 2 all morning.  We learnt the names of parts of the body, played word games, 'Simon Says' and 'Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes'.  And then it was into exams.  I have just finished marking 115 Primary 2 Maths Papers, with the marks ranging from 44% to 98%.

Before I left, a little girl called Joan came to find me, saying that I had to come with her please.  On entering the classroom the children all chorused, "Welcome, Miss Anne.  You are most welcome.  We are Primary 2.  You are most welcome."  ... which alone was lovely enough, but they had also all whitened their faces with chalk from the blackboard to make their skin like mine.  We all had such a giggle about it.  So whilst I am trying to blend in with them, they are happy to look white like me!  The differences just have to be loved.

I walked home from school through the beautiful rural lanes and then onto the hellhole of a main road running East into Jinja.  I think it will be boda-boda next time, if only to reduce the time exposed to the exhaust fumes.  They are filthy and choking.  It was lovely to walk in and see Teopista smiling away at her new sewing machine.  She loves the neatness of the stitches and has found a new enthusiasm in her work.