Mr. Shilton's Ugandan adventure: Diary for Thursday 21st April 2011

FOR FANTASIC PARACHUTE VIDEO visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdEQsRjpRog

It was officially the last day of the school term today! Although I would be going in tomorrow to plan with the teachers for Mary’s return visit to Priory.

The day began early when I realised that I had not enough Ugandan shillings to pay for my hotel room so we left to head towards Masaka to obtain money. We got about ¾ of the way when we realised that there was a riot happening do we made an alternative route into the city. I bought 4 mangoes for a pound on the way back and felt very happy to save money! I managed to get money and we returned to Kayabwe (where my hotel was). We then took a Boda Boda (motorbike) to the school. The rain was torrential and I managed to take cover in Mary’s office. The children were disappointed as they were desperate to see the parachute that you have designed for them! We waited a while and the rain stopped!

I took out the parachute and, let’s just say the impact was astounding! Thanks to Mr. Chatterton for coming up with the ideas and all of the children, teachers, parents and governors for decorating it. I will let the video tell the tale when I return.

After the parachute, I had lunch with the school management committee (which is equivalent to our governors) and planned the links with Priory. The committee were delighted to see me and loved the scrapbook – they all want to come to England!! I showed them Robin Hood statue and one of the men had heard of him – I tried to explain that Russell Crowe played him in the recent blockbuster – but they hadn’t heard of him either! We talked about a possible curriculum link with both schools and we agreed that keeping healthy and keeping safe would be a good link. We also agreed that looking at types of food and animals would also be fascinating for both schools to look into. I have mentioned earlier about the various animals roaming about the people’s houses but an interesting fact is that cats and dogs are not stroked and cuddled like they are in the UK, they are just left to wander around. Keeping safe is a good area because in Uganda they have to be safe when using a hoe to dig the land and in England we have to be safe when surfing the internet – two very different examples!

Following this, I took a group photograph of all of the children and the children presented me with some wonderful gifts again – I will show you when I return. The teachers were busy writing reports today and the children were digging the fields and finishing off work. Mary suggested that the teachers write to the Priory teachers and they did. I look forward to showing the teachers when they return. The teachers really were lovely people – caring and welcoming! In fact, the people of Uganda are incredibly friendly and welcoming! I took many more pictures before waving my final goodbyes to children and staff.