We have had a great week schooling – we finally got our kitchen stools this week so we have a much more suitable school space and easier for working with. Zach Sam and Bri have completed good amounts of work and we sent off another package, postage 136,000=/, our only problem with Bri’s schooling is that a lot of it is either done on the internet or tape and her taperecorder was one of those things left in the suitcase returned home.
Finally our stove is working too, the house has a huge Ariston Gas stove, brand new BUT the oven thermostat has never worked properly. It has been ok, but I have been unable to cook anything over 20 minutes without sitting at the oven and physically holding the gas igniter button in the for duration of the cooking time, bit hard when you are trying to cook, prepare and get dinner organised for 20 people. We have had 3 technicians out, finally we went to the store and the man told us it does happen to 1 in every 100 stoves, trust us to have got that 1 with a broken thermostat!!!
Deane went to Luwero to meet with some others there and arrived home for dinner with Simon (18) and Alex(19), two Ugandan orphans that have looked after themselves since their parents died, they work for SOS Ministries and are the land caretakers at Luwero. They are working for this year to save money so they can pay and complete their schooling next year. We had a great evening with them and it was interesting talking with them about their lives and showing them photos etc of our lives in NZ. They were just amazed at the correspondence school books the kids are working from and the high standard of learning. In Uganda they go to school from 7am to 6pm 5 days a week, 11 months but don’t finish their education until they get to around 23 or 24 years old, if they are lucky enough to finish it. That is not even going to University.
Alex and Simon enjoyed dinner – they only eat beans and rice, 3 meals a day but they get good fruit from the Luwero property. They aren’t sure if they believe anything Deane says cos he jokes with them so much. They couldn’t believe him when he said we were coming to stay in their mud hut with them, they just laughed and said no, you can’t do that. Zach and Bri aren’t so keen but Deane, Sam and I are – I just love the challenge and also meeting up with some of the local children and woman out there. No showers or toilet but I am getting good practice at using a longdrop successfully, a lot of the restaurants only have them and of course, if they are a proper toilet you wouldn’t want to sit on the seat anyway – good for the leg muscles.Briana enjoyed having Emma over for dinner and a sleepover, so she wasn’t out numbered with guys.
