Mr. Shilton's Ugandan adventure: Diary entry for Friday 22nd April 2011

I returned to school and was welcomed again by some children and teachers. The children were here to clean the school for the school holidays. I spent the majority of the day planning in school for the project that will be studies at both schools. Following this I did some sight-seeing!

First of all we visited the beach which was on Lake Victoria (one of the world’s biggest lakes). It was not what I was expecting. There was a community living on the edge of the lake and their livelihood was the sea and fishing. The fishermen were drying their nets and many had caught silverfish which were tiny fish that would be dried out for selling. The boats were in a shocking state of disrepair and apparently people take out the boats even though they are leaking. We were then on our way to see the crocodiles!

On the way a group of people were carrying the cross towards the church recreating the Good Friday scene from the bible. This was very interesting to see.

We then arrived at the crocodile enclosure and there was a sign that said “DO NOT FEED THE CROCS – YOU WILL BE EATEN”!! Although we found this sign rather amusing, when we saw the crocs, we could see why! There were hundreds of small crocs in the enclosure and let’s just say… there wasn’t much separating me from them! When I saw the big croc, I have never seen anything like it!! It was the biggest creature I have ever seen! I was longer that my classroom! I found out subsequently that it had actually eaten people! After this we had fish and chips! This was slightly different to at home as the fish wasn’t battered at it was a whole fish called Talapia. It tasted delicious but I was aghast when I discovered that Ugandan people eat the head! It is, apparently, the best bit!! I declined for obvious reasons!

We then returned to Mary’s village and I was again treated to a lovely dinner consisting of Irish potatoes and Pork and gifts from Julius. He really is a special boy – so nice and talented. I look forward to sharing his poems with you when I return – I know you will be impressed! He is desperate for a pen pal and the person who agrees to have him is very lucky indeed! I have promised to send him a Paul Frank t-shirt (as the character logo is called Julius) and some football boots! I presented the family with some gifts I had brought including my travel kettle which they were all on cloud 9 with – they could not believe my generosity. I left on Boda Boda back to my hotel where Mary was very sad that it was my last day! I then stated packing to come home.