Ugandan Arrival

September 28, 2008
Dear ICHS,

Hello from Fort Portal, Uganda!

I have only been away ten days, but I already miss you all so much. I think of you everyday and wonder what you are learning. Are you enjoying the human heart in science class? How is the Constitution in social studies? Do you like the new building, and your new teachers? Please write and tell me about anything and everything!

As you know, I am very disorganized. I left many important things at home. One of these important things was the list of your email addresses. I am sorry! If you have time, send me an email at celia.ft.reddick@gmail.com, or write your email address on this Blog, and I will write back. I need to go back to school to learn how not to lose things!

About Fort Portal, Uganda:

I am living at the Canon Apollo Primary Teachers College. Here, 450 Ugandans learn how to become teachers for elementary school. The students live together in small dormitories; they go to church together, eat together, wash clothes together, do everything together. There is a small elementary school here at the college as well.

I share a small house with another volunteer named Hannah. She teaches Kindergarten in England, and will be working on Special Education here in Uganda. Next door lives Sascha, who has been here for a year, and who also works on Special Education. Hannah and I will be teaching Special Education and English classes at the college, and working with students in the villages.

Many of you have been to schools without a lot of money in your home countries, so you understand what the teachers and students experience here. I am surprised by what students have to face to get to school, and how difficult it is to learn once they get there. What did you experience at school in your home countries? What did you like about your schools, and what was difficult?

It is beautiful here – Rashid, I remember the houses you drew of Bangladesh last fall, and Oumar, I remember the pictures of your village. Mohammed K, you always drew the palm trees (banana trees?) of Liberia. What do you miss about your countries’ landscapes? What do you like about New York’s landscape?

We can see the Rwenzori Mountains through the window. We are surrounded by cranes, monkeys, banana trees and corn. It rains a lot at the moment, and is very cool. Still, though, Uganda is on the Equator, so the sun is hot.

The electricity is about to go out, so I should end this. Please write when you get the chance! I love and miss you all!

Ms. Celia

Celia Reddick
celia.ft.reddick@gmail.com
celiareddick@yahoo.com

Canon Apollo PTC
Fort Portal, Uganda
Air Mail

077 582 8730