Easter Break

All but four children left yesterday for their Easter break. Or as Mable says, "Me! I'm going to eat Easter" followed shortly by "when is my mom coming?". Mable and most of the rest left Monday afternoon/evening. Tuesday morning Colin, Shameem and Hamza were cheerfull. Hamza because he knows he is here until December and the other two eagerly anticipating their mothers arrival to take them home. Brothers Ausman and Sabula were in a funk waiting for their sister. There are three more; Harriet, Esther and Joel. They arrived at the begining of the term from a small village in East Uganda. Their "uncle" dropped them off without sufficient clothes nor a penny for school fees. Of course they also want to go somewhere for Easter but I think they are like Hamza, here until December. They owe school fees but I can't send them home to get them, it is to far and they don't know how to get there.

Colin: a stuborn boy who's mother wants me to beat him for his transgressions (not allowed here). He has no idea of what a trouble maker I was at his age. Slowly we are coming to a plane where he is learning and not trying to challenge authority.

Shameem: a cheerful, precoucious, smart second grader who is always smiling. Always part of what is going on.

Hamza: is inteligent, likes to run with his arms up like he is riding a motorcycle. Yesterday we worked on making a wooden chair copy of one from Northern Uganda. He is a eager and serious student. On our fishing trips he is one of those who has their hook in the water most of the time.

Ausman: Last term went to the police when the previous headmaster didn't feed them for three days. He is in 4th grade, should be with his brother in 3rd. His mother is handicaped and earns money selling charcoal. His father makes bricks of mud. It is his sister who comes with school fees and to take them home.

Sabula: like his brother really wants to challenge authority. And like his brother I hope to see them both graduate from St. Fausta's with above average grades. Since there is now electricity at the school I brought over a laptop with Linux learning games. For Sabula I think learning with educational video games will be part of the solution.

Mable: tiny and vocal. She is not afraid to express here desires/demands. Quick to jump out of her seat if there is something more interesting going on. Very well spoken in English. And her mother brings about seven other students with her to St. Fausta's.

Peace
John