Olyotya?

It has been a very happy day on the whole.

Primary 2 sat more exams in the church.  You can see some of them here in the picture, leaning on whatever will give them a flat surface.  It is the only place that is large enough to put all 115 of them.  And, following that, I did a lot of marking (Literacy and RE) in the staffroom with everybody else.  I like the other teachers a great deal.  They are fun and intelligent, and there is never a moment of moaning or criticising.

My other time was spent with various little huddles of children, all with such interesting questions and ideas that they love to share with me.  These moments with them, talking and laughing and sharing, are the most precious I have had here in Uganda.  Four girls have become, even from day one, very loyal and kind company for me in every pocket of free time they have.  You can see them in the picture here.  They are gorgeous and I know that their futures will be very bright, despite the immense limitations that Uganda has in terms of opportunities.

Teacher Simon has decided to teach me new Ugandan words every day.  "Olyotya?" is my new response to the children when they shout, "Mzungu!" at me.  It means, "How are you?"  To which they reply, "Jendi.  Olyotya?"  And I finally respond with, "Jendi!"  I have already tried this out on the school children and it elicited uncontrollable laughter, falling about and joy... which I must say I liked.

One of the little girls in the class I have been teaching in has fallen critically sick.  They say she was hallucinating and suffering from a feverish rage.  I think she must be very frightened.  Sr Lucy has taken her to hospital and the parents are now with her.  Very heartfelt thoughts will be with her and her family tonight.  It is believed that she may have malaria with some other serious complication.  I hope to God its not some ghastly poison or witchcraft evil.  It is so different to anything I know about.  Life is very hard for people here.