Biking, Rafting, Safari... and more

Well, it certainly has been quite a while since I've updated my blog.  Hmmm... lazy, or just super busy.  Maybe a bit of both, let's be honest.

Alright, well I'll first start with the bicycle tour.  Which, by the way, was absolutely amazing.  I love going for bike rides anyway but I had the chance to go through a village right across Lake Victoria.  Kampala is loud and, well, city like.  Sometimes you just need different scenery.  I wish I knew the name of the area that we biked through but I don't.  I know that we biked up to Ggaba Beach and then took a local boat across the lake.

Our bikes on a local boat to go across the lake.

When we landed on the other side.

A picture of the adorable kids that I ended up playing a game with.  The girls aren't pictured but there were two of them.  I'd turn my head and the girls would creep, ever so slowly, toward me.  Then I'd turn my head quickly and they would run off giggling.  This happened several times but they put a huge smile on my face.

Next, on the blog agenda is, the trip to Jinja.  Which was absolutely incredible!  Jinja is completely different from Kampala.  (Well, I mean it sort of is the same but only in the sense of shops.)  Jinja is just slower and less crowded.  When I was there I went horseback riding and rafting, for the first time ever.  The Nile River is host to class 4 and 5 rapids, which is thrilling and terrifying all at the same time.  My first flip and I was a little panicked but I made it.

First rapid! Oh which, we of course, flipped.  But as you can see, there are kayaks there to help you if you go to far from the boat.  Which I ended up having to utilize.

Our Uganda tour guide, Nathan, abandoning the raft on the last rapid.  I think he left on purpose, what do you think?

The last thing I'll talk about if Murchison Falls.  Another amazing safari trip and the second one that I've taken in Uganda.  Unfortunately, I lost my camera to the depths of the river though.  It's the Nile, I believe, but it's late so I don't exactly remember.  I should confirm that though.

Two giraffes, one of which is stuck in a wire that was put there by poachers.  We, of course, saved the giraffe.

Of course, the highlight was seeing elephants.

Well, I should go eat dinner now.  Thanks for reading! And good night from Uganda.

Feeling touristy

Over the weekend, I was feeling a bit touristy since I feel like I have not gotten nearly enough pictures since I've been here.  Saturday was such a beautiful day so Brittney and I ventured out to Coffee at Last.  Basically that means that we walked down the hill.

And no, the guy next to Brittney is not someone that we know. 

Then met with the American doctor, Lana, and went to an area of town called Kisamenti.  Brittney and I both took bodas out there and I got some pictures of my journey along the way.  I was trying to catch Kampala traffic at its finest.

First thing, must wear a helmet!

Going down a hill, I forget the name of the road but it is a road that I have traveled a lot.

The picture does not show this, but we were zipping through the traffic.  The boda drivers up ahead are coming toward me.  Boda riding is fun but you have to be careful.

Lastly, these are the wonderful women that I've had the chance to meet and then spend Saturday night with.  Left (me obviously), then Phoebe, Brittney, and Lana.  I miss my girl friends back home, but these ladies have been absolutely wonderful and feel already like great friends!

I love life here in Uganda! :)

Test Day for Grade 6

Good morning,

Today is test day for my Grade 6 classes, which is all 3 of them in which I teach.  The test itself is going well and it is allowing me so much needed catch up time.

ISU has really placed a lot of my plate at the moment.  I'm teaching 3 Grade 6 classes, one Grade 7 class, personal assisting a Grade 6 boy for 3 lessons a week, and I have to do a presentation about student motivation and transitions.  Whew.  That seems like a whole lot.

One of my collaborating teachers has been out sick since Wed so I have been planning all of Grade 7 lessons.  I'm teaching a unit on magnetism and where I world normally love to have hands-on activities my Grade 7 has proven to me that they cannot be trusted.  I attempted to let them look at iron filings, bar and horseshoe magnets but they nearly destroyed the materials cause they were playing the whole time.  Each time that I tried to get their attention they would not listen or follow directions.  Needless to say, I'm a bit annoyed, can you tell?

As their punishment for today, they will not be able to have an interactive lesson.  They will be reading from their textbook, listening to me lecture at them (so boring!), and taking notes.  This is the sort of dreaded lesson that I never wanted to have to plan.  However, I cannot let these students disrespect me and the materials.  So, I must put my foot down.

Other than that, my time in Uganda has been going well.  Recently, I planned a trip to go rafting on the Nile in Jinja.  Also, going to Murchison Falls for a safari.  I think I'm going to try to find a walking tour to go on soon.  One of the housemates went on a walking tour and really enjoyed it.  Seeing as I am a social studies major as well, I think that I should see more of Kampala.

Hopefully more pictures soon to come!