A Broad Abroad: A Week of Firsts

I think it’s safe to say that after a week of chickens in the house, improvised dinner recipes, balcony a cappella, and far too many episodes of The O.C., we are finally settling into life in Kasese. We’ve met a number of locals, explored the rustic neighborhood, and even built up enough confidence to travel to the market alone.

The vibrancy of the Kasese market

Beans and rice for sale

Now, as most, if not all of you know, the reason for my African-excursion was not solely to climb mountains and share colorful dance moves with innocent locals. (Hard to believe, I know.) Instead, it’s been my privilege to accept an invitation to teach at Rwentutu Christian School—a rural primary school in a village bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Our first week at Rwentutu has been filled with warm welcomes and encouraging conversations.

Top students in Primary 5 raise flags at the assembly
welcoming students and teachers to third term.

Each day the American, Canadian, Ugandan, Rwenzururu Kingdom,

and Wisconsin flags are hoisted above the school's central courtyard.

After a week of observation, conversation, and deliberation, the four of us have each selected a grade placement. I will be teaching literacy and math in the Primary 2 classroom and could not be more excited!

My classroom for the next 7 weeks!

During our time at Rwentutu, we’ll be working closely with the faculty in order to compare methods and challenge our practices. In a meeting today, the Deputy Headmaster, King James, put it well, saying that we are all like pieces of metals. At times, we each assume the role of the file—jagged and demanding. At others, we are more like the sword—pointed and sharp. As educators, we are all working towards a common goal, but without the file, the sword could not attain such incisiveness.

No surprise that such wisdom came from a man in a Badger shirt.

Now that we’ve found some semblance of a routine, I’m eager to dive into lesson planning and instruction. The coming weeks are sure to test my flexibility and creativity but are also certain to push me to become a better educator.

Let the fun begin!

Oh, and before I bombard you with kid pictures, let me make note that this afternoon we were gifted a chicken—now named Ovechkin—by a P6 student at school and have made plans to slaughter it on Sunday. Wish us luck, and GO BADGERS!