Adolescent in Uganda
Ane is a long-term volunteer in Uganda. She is going to monitor a couple of projects schools, where they for instance are taught Adolescent (changes of the body). The trip to the schools can be an experience in itself, especially if you bring grapes.
By Ane Norup, March 2010.
It is early morning in a hotel room in Kampala – I am packing the last things in my bag before I head down to the bus station, where I am planning to catch a bus at 9 am. It is always exciting to go with public transport in Uganda, you never quite know, when the busses are leaving as scheduled.
Today, I am lucky; the bus leaves according to schedule. I bought grapes for the bus ride and I am reading a newly bought book. My fellow passenger thinks it is extremely exciting. They would like to have a taste of my grapes, which clearly is a sort of fruit they are not familiar with. And one asks me if I have an extra copy of my newly purchased book he could have – he thinks it sounds thrilling.
Liver and chicken
After four hours in a rumbling and ever stopping bus, I finally arrive at my destination; Masindi in western Uganda. Every time the bus stopped, the passengers were given the opportunity to buy liver and chicken on sticks through the windows.
I take a quick bath at the hotel (you are always quite sweaty after such a ride) before I head towards the Red Cross branch in the town. My programme today is to monitor sessions at two of four project schools in town, and since the Red Cross-motorcycle is out of order the visits will be on foot.
A good atmosphere
At the first school, the visit is short and we have to talk to the principle and write in the “Visitors book” before we meet with the project class. Everybody claps to welcome us and seems eager for “a word from the visitors”. Afterwards, the session of the day continues as well as our programme.
In the school yard, we cross the red African soil in 35 degrees Celsius and arrive at the next project class. After meeting the principle and writting our names in the “Visitors book” we are ready for the session. Today’s subject is Adolescent – changes of the body.
The girls tell about changes for the boys and vice versa. After a few minutes the whole class is laughing and someone shouts that it is not true what the others are telling.
The atmosphere is good but loud as it normally is when a group of teenagers are gathered to a talk about stuff like wet dreams and pubic hair.
After the last session of the day, I am invited home to one of the Red Cross-volunteers so I can see how she lives, when she is in town. Once again, I am reminded how Ugandans are an incredibly kind and warm people.
The monitoring is finished for the day – tomorrow I will attend monitoring on two more project schools.
