OUR FIRST DAY!!!!!!

The trip was, thankfully uneventful. We followed Terry McEchern's sage advice and spent the lst night in Entebbe. In the morning we took a private hire to the Chez Johnson hotel, booked in and followed Mr. Okoth's directions to the St, Henry School;. Olivia has "our class." The walk from Chez Johnson to St. Henry takes about 20 minutes. A good part is through Namuwongo (very familiar to us,now). Our classroom is quite bare and shabby. Put aside all pictures you may have of private Catholic school.... Hardly any books or toys.... The best,most anticipated,happiest moments came from meeting with children we taught last year. They swarmed and milled. Truly amazing. And when asked to, broke into "Miss Mary Mack". They remembered the words better than we do. We ate with the other teachers posh (gruel) and beans and looked forward to the Italian Grocery Store. On our way there we met up with Ronah and exchanged news. The ice cream was wonderful. Now we have to prepare lessons for tomorrow. Bob and Judy

TROUBLE?

In the comparative comfort of home, I forgot the user name I need for this blog. Then,the password.Trusted Howard put me back on track!!! This morning I had to change CDN for US funds,remembering that in Uganda, the banks eschew any bills that are either/and /or old ,crumpled. They check carefully,even crisp bills. In return, for Ugandan shillings, par]per money one gets old,used,and decidedly un crisp bills. But mission accomplished: money for Sophia(never met), Ronah, and the In Need Home. Each will be pleased to get money for the beads we sold for them.I find it hard to believe that in a few days, Bob and I will ,hopefully,be at the Chez(pronounced Ches)Johnson budget hotel in Muyenga.We will sorely miss Kavita, Ruby,and Howard,and wish there were volunteers coming with us!A la prochaine, Judy

THE TIME APPROACHES

Writing a blog here in Montreal is totally unlike doing it in Africa...so Im practicing here,where the electricity won't go out and it's calm and peaceful.Just had a phone call from a recent McGill Education grad who sounds interested in volunteering. On Friday, im meeting with Doreen who hasnt signed in blood,but is a possible? likely volunteer. My blood races and I get excited thinking and talking.We may be building a connection with a wonderful organization called Leave Out Violence. More about that another time... Bob and I fly to Entebbe and will stay at a B&B one night. We take a "hire" to Kampala,and will stay at the budget Chez Johnson hotel,which is within walking distance to our fledgling class of 15 kids,who will learn to READ, WRITE and do basic MATHS,because of our work and your support!

GETTING READY TO GO!

We will be leaving Montreal on June 28,for Uganda. The adventure starts again. We will post a blog every night. Bob and I are so....excited! Howard may not be able to go as planned,as he has a terrible reaction to Malarone,and wont take larium...imagine that ,he's worried about a little thing like hallucinations!Judy