Week 1: Arrival in Uganda

After another couple of flights via Ethiopia, we arrived in Entebbe and travelled some 5 hours south passing the equator en route to Masaka.

At the Equator as we stopped off on the journey from Entebbe to Masaka.

We then stayed in Masaka for a couple of nights with the director of the organisation with whom we had been in contact - http://www.helpuganda.org.uk/ .

Masaka

A local market.

The local butcher.

As local people sift through the garbage, Maribou Storks fly around looking for food.

The ferry which we had to take from the mainland across lake Victoria to the Ssese Islands.

Arriving on Bugala Island the largest of the Ssese islands.

The teacher's accomodation and our home for the month.

The children outside school on the first day.

Part of the original school buildings.

The original church from which the school was founded.

I learned very quickly that Ugandan children love to have their picture taken.

Visitors at our door, probably wondering why two white people were moving in.

The kids were both excited and apprehensive upon our arrival.

Some were just excited.

Meeting the P1s

In the P2 classroom.

Our arrival in Uganda is now a hazy mix of craziness, exoticism and sheer wonder as the experiences are still embedding themselves in our mind and becoming a reality from which we still feel somewhat detached.

After finally arriving at Kibaale school, we barely had a moment to gather our thoughts before we were taken to meet one of the village elders whose daughter had recently drowned and the funeral had taken place earlier that day.  As we passed rows of people staring, I couldn't help but wonder why we were there or even if we were supposed to be. 

Finally we arrived in front of a man whose years were written in every wrinkle on his tired face and whose blood shot eyes showed both sadness and warmth.  One of the aspects of travel which I find fascinating is being out of my comfort zone but this was something else.  As the man began to speak, we waited for our contact Moses to translate and as we uttered our condolences we were deeply moved by what the man said.  I guess it was a baptism of fire been thrown into such an awkward situation and for the first time I was in the Africa that I had hoped I would experience many years ago reading the National Geographic in the geography room when I was meant to be doing my homework. 

Africa. 3 Months - Morroco - Egypt - Uganda - Tanzania - South Africa

As many of you know, back since the cold winter months, Cassandra and I were planning our African adventure.  It changed numerous times due to complicated visa processes and more importantly being able to find a base so that we could do some volunteering/ teaching.

Last wednesday we flew from London to Morocco where we will begin our journey in the city of Marrakech.

Itinerary:

Morocco       September 7th - 16th                   (Spend 9 days travelling overland from South to North)

Egypt           September 16th - 22nd                      (6 days around Cairo)

Uganda        September 22nd - October 24th         (Teaching at Kibaale Primary School)*

Tanzania     October 24th - November 15th           (Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro/Serengeti/Zanzibar)

South Africa     November 15th - November 25th      (Cape Town)


We are very excited and very priviliged to have the opportunity to stay and teach in Uganda for one month.  During this time we might slip off the radar but will do our best to keep you all updated.

This will be where we are working and staying during our time there.

Kibaale Primary School

Volunteer Accomodation

Marching On

I looked at my calendar this morning which was displaying the month of February and wondered where the time had gone.  Winter winds have been replaced by spring sunshine here in Yeosu and the last few months have become something of a hazy blur.

Only a few months ago we were in Indonesia but since returning from holiday, we have got another job teaching young genius kids in an after school program.  What this means, is that at 4pm when we have finished teaching in our other schools, we jump into a car and head 30 minutes across town to teach three times a week.   The extra planning has taken a large chunk of my spare time as I am now teaching Kindergarten, First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grade as well as two different teacher's classes - am I busy?  YES.

I have also had some of the higher level students writing diaries and here is the outcome...

"He has big bulk"

"He did hurl words of thunder at us"

"I want to be anything a man should be"

"I'm adulting"

I think this might be in latin.

To the point.

And then there is this.

 I have also been doing a project with the 6th grade  - 'Where Are You From?

Swimming to South Korea

Two years ago, I was midway through the application process to join the R.A.F as a physical training instructor, when I suddenly wondered what exactly I was doing.  At the time, I was working to earn enough money to travel and my first trip took me to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.  Every second of that trip inspired and excited me, although the month that I spent in Thailand is probably the reason that I am now living and teaching in Asia.

Bangkok Streets


As it was Asia that set my pulse racing and my head spinning, I returned and found work knowing that as soon as I had saved enough money, I would be on a plane back, so that I could begin to explore more of this fascinating continent.  My next trip started back in Thailand which was the platform to travel further south, head out to the islands and then on to Malaysia before exploring Indonesia. 

Bangok City

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Toa


Travelling in Asia is almost impossible to describe in words or display in pictures simply because there is an energy and vibrance that cannot be captured - but it absolutely has to be experienced.
  On returning home, I realised that the energy I had experienced in Asia was nowhere to be found and so in hindsight, my application to join the forces was like accepting a sense of security - in essence the very antithesis of what makes travelling so spontaneous and wonderful.
I remember returning home one day from one of the final interviews, knowing that I was close to accepting a job and a life that I actually didn't even want. I went to bed that evening my mind juggling different ideas and trying on prospective jobs for size.  I was staying with my Grandparents at that time so dreaded trying to initiate a conversation which basically would amount to "Actually I don't think I want to join the R.A.F but what I really want to do is travel and teach around the world".  Both my grandparents have always been there for me without question or judgement, so it wasn't really a surprise that they were so supportive and encouraging and so this journey really began at their breakfast table, 63 Well Street, Torrington.


Finding a job was relatively straight forward even though I could find barely more than a sentence on the city - Yeosu, where I would be living. Still it mentioned 'stunning coastal scenery' and the picture they sent me looked breathtaking....

 ..so I went for it!!  To this day, I can't tell you why I chose South Korea ahead of China, Japan or Taiwan but for the first time in months something felt right. 
  What was to follow can only really be described as a frantic barricade of paperwork,documents, certificates and visas.  Even after numerous setbacks, I still somehow looked like I would be on schedule to arrive in Korea (the deadline they gave me was the end of February 2009) until that is, my passport went missing at the South Korean embassy in London.  After ringing them several times a day consecutively they must have got pissed off because they confirmed that they actually did have my passport, that it had been stamped with the necessary visa and that it would be sent in the post that day. It arrived on the friday morning as promised and as soon as it did, I booked a flight for Saturday afternoon.
  At the airport I can honestly say that my emotions consisted of excitement and enthusiasm rather than nerves and apprehension.  It was at that point that I remembered something which my father had told me in the weeks leading up to my departure.  In basic terms he told me that there are three types of people in the world - those who are drowning, those who tread water and those who swim.  It was a basic sentiment although at the airport, I couldn't help thinking that only a few months before, I was so close to treading water but now I had chosen to Swim - to South Korea, then I remembered I had a plane ticket so I headed to gate 42.  The Journey had begun....