Nkwagala Nnyo

Elloh! Olyotya?
So its friday, which means I come home in 6 days. This saddens me, but I am anxious to sleep in my bed, cuddle my dog, watch TV, and take a shower that isn't out of a bucket.
Two days ago I taught a physical education class to P5, which is equivalent to 5th grade. We played a game of tag where when you are tagged you join the tagger holding hands and try to tag others together. After everyone had been tagged they were exhausted and still with 20 minutes left of class, so I slowed it down a bit. The next game was zip, zap, zop. Many of you may know this game, but I will explain it for those of you who don't. It is a game which requires a lot of concentration and focus. Picking up a message from one person and sending it to another at a fast pace. The signals must be clear with eye contact. If your message is not clear, or you are not quick enough then you are eliminated. Another way to be eliminated is by messing up the order; Zip, Zap, Zop. This may sound confusing so luckily a staff member was there to translate for me. Some of them failed quickly, but others were very good and caught on really quickly. The kids loved both of these games, which made me feel very accomplished.
Later that day we played football (soccer) with a banana leaf ball wrapped in yarn. They are soo good! I couldn't keep up. So I went to milk the cow (my favorite activity of the day). Later that night I did some math help with some of the P6 and P7 students.
Yesterday was a really good day. I slept in until 10! When I woke up I ate juicy pineapple and fresh cows milk. Some of the younger children that don't know English got out early from class and wanted an activity. So we went to the library to color. Unfortunately there was only one coloring book. I started to trace a few pictures from the book so they could color them and keep them to decorate their trunk. A few pictures turned into 20 because each child wanted one. They all spent a lot of time on their picture and were so proud. Later on I went to get my hair braided! Now I have cornrows. As soon as I walked into the store for my hair to be done, the ladies started laughing. None of them knew English so when I attempted to explain what I wanted done in Luganda they would mock me. I sat there patiently as they tugged on my hair and giggled. I knew the subject of conversation was the white girl in the chair because I would hear every now and then "muzungu" or mentioning words I tried to say in Luganda. Then a small child walked by. She spotted me and yelled something I couldn't understand in the other direction. Next thing you know there are 10 kids crowded around the doorway of the shop, laying on their bellies with their elbows in the ground and face perched in their hands. They wouldn't talk, or make jokes to each other, just watch. Then one reached out to touch my foot, as if my skin would feel any different from theirs. Another one poked their finger at me again and I flicked them off saying "Tokwatako!" (don't touch). The ladies laughed once again and I found myself a bit humiliated. 2 1/2 hours later it was over, and the outcome was worth it. When I got back to the home all the children would say "you are smart! Who tied you?" Here, you are smart means you look good. Auntie Debora and I went back into the trading center to get some fruit for the next day. We finished our shopping list and were on our way back to the home when she suggested that we visit her friend. I loved this idea since I had never been a house guest to a Ugandan before. Her friend up the road had just given birth to her third child and it was custom to stop in and congratulate them. We walked in to the tiny house, leaving our shoes at the doorway. In Uganda, whenever you walk in doors you take your shoes off at the door. Even when you walk into a store, or into your own bedroom. We sat down on the torn couch and Auntie Debora and her friend began to speak Lugandin. This gave me time to look around at the framed pictures on the wall. Mother Mary, the children, and mothers of the parents. There was no door to separate their home from the outdoors. Auntie Debora asked me if I wanted coke, or sprite. I told her that I was fine and she quietly explained to me that it was custom to take food or drink if you are a guest at someones home. So sprite it was! The 9 year old daughter brought us two warm sodas in glass bottles. She served us as if we were going to leave a tip. Then she brought us each a photo album to look at. They were full of pictures of their family. I loved flipping through the personal pictures of a family I had never met. Even though I didn't know any of their names, I felt like I learned so much about them. After our visit the man of the house walked us to the road leading to the home and thanked us for coming. It was so nice to learn the customs of being a house guest in Uganda.
Later on Margaret taught me how to hand wash clothes. Its a lot harder then it looks. We scrubbed and scrubbed. When I began to wash my underwear she looked a bit shocked and whispered to me that I was not supposed to do that in public. Apparently I'm supposed to wash my underwear when I bathe. How was I supposed to know?
So thats my update. I officially have 54 seconds left on this computer. See you soon everyone!