Primary 6 and Primary 7 travel to Entebbe and Kampala, the
Capital city. Lacey and I were not going to miss this trip with these students
and I think the teachers felt the same way. The primary 6 class is really
special. They are so competitive about knowledge (and everything else), so
animated and yet so sweet and caring. They really are the stars of the school.
The primary 7 class, including the teachers, has been working tirelessly to
cram an entire primary education review into one term after completing the
necessary curriculum. They finish paper after paper and exam after exam Monday through
Saturday and even study on Sundays, too. The Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) was set
for two weeks after their tour and the trip was a proper motivator in the final
push to revise as well as mentally prepare to sit for the PLE. Both classes
really deserved this trip.
5:30 am Thursday morning was the time to report and the
students were prompt, primped and packed to adventure to the big city. Their
smiles were so big as they waited for the Elgon Flyer bus to roll into Kikholo
trading center – a true sight to see. When busses were packed with red-checked
uniforms and the chaperones, the horn sounded and the trip officially began.
The singing started almost immediately, and so did the vomiting. Thank goodness
Elgon Flyer knows that young children from the village who don’t travel much
get motion sick so easily; they came prepared.
Along the bus ride, Teacher Michael pulled out a map of
Uganda and the students took turns tracing our route and taking note of the
change of environment in different districts. Also, the students kept track of
different crops they spotted in those districts. Teacher Ronny spent much time
in the back of the bus asking and answering questions for the students to
reflect on their country as it passed in our tour bus windows. Their eyes were
wide and so were their smiles. In between geography lessons, students sharpened
their math and bargaining skills at roadside window markets. Grilled meats,
fresh fruits, cold drinks and sugar canes soon filled our bus and for a moment,
there was a quiet peace.
The morning came quickly and after bathing and cleaning our
rooms, we played “acting” (charades) while taking tea – always a great way to
get the energy flowing in the morning. The zoo was fabulous and I was impressed
with the diversity of animals and plants they had on display. After the tour,
we spent time on the beach front and a group of students even took a boat ride;
their first boat ride. I watched them
test the stability of the dock with white-knuckles on the railing and struggle
with life jackets; most put them on upside down. Moments like this really stick
with a person who tends to forget childhood normalcy is not universally
defined. I daydream about one of those students growing up to be nautical
engineer which was all inspired by the simple 1,000 UGX boat ride.
When we finally made it through the jam, the children
resumed their songs in the darkness of the night and the staff settled in for
the cross-country trip. The drive was quick and flawless, except that we
arrived at 11:30pm. Some of our students live deep into their villages and the
timing made it impossible for them to make it home safely. Last minute
accommodation and food for the students were put together at the school. A meal
was prepared at midnight and the students went to sleep on the library floor.
Student slept on the floor with broken mats and the bed sheets they had packed
with them from the trip. (I later learned that the students who live far also
have to sleep at the school the night before the trip in order to make the bus
so early) After a two-day mega adventure, I am sure they all slept soundly. I
know I did.
Teacher Patrick’s preparations were so crucial to the flow
and success of the trip. Of course the traffic and timing of such events are
never spot-on but even when our timetables were adjusted, he handled it calmly
and efficiently as to not deprive the children of an opportunity to learn. He
had planned a fun, educational and well-balanced study tour with all of the
necessary comfort and support such as bathroom breaks, meals and accommodation.
We are so grateful for the support of the US and the hard
fight in the Uganda team that made these trips happen. The entire staff feared
the disappointment and educational backlash that would have occurred had the
trips not been able to go forward. The week before the trip, the staff room was
filled with teachers passionately confessing the true importance of the study
tours. Not only do the trips provide school incentive, motivation and something
to look forward to but the true spirit is to give them life application. They
push through the core subjects, memorize facts and try to understand the world
beyond the village boundaries. These opportunities provide real life
experiences in which they can attach their knowledge to treasure memories.
Giving the students the chance to witness some of life’s opportunities not only
strengthens the education they receive, it creates a hunger for more. I,
unfortunately missed out on some of the sights because I was too busy watching
the students’ faces. They were filled with awe and wonder. The teachers on the
trip were also looking at the students’ faces as they beamed with pride and
fulfillment of their roles in the AAH family. It was sweet.
