Photo Journal: A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Student, Rural Northern Uganda
July 24, 2008
Be the first (human, at least) to arrive at school.
Crowd into your classroom with 61 (yes, 61) of your closest friends and enemies.
Recess! Climb a tree.
Play an instrument.
Find a goat tearing up the school gardens; punish it. (Not shown: Join three classmates in holding down the goat and kicking it; get yelled at by a horrified-looking mzungu, or white person.)
Play with strange-looking brown hair on the white girl’s head. (Not shown: Yank on it, get yelled at again.)
Lunch! Stand in line for gooey posho (ground maize) and beans. Scoop it up, wolf it down, go back for more.
Try your hand at digital photography.
Improve.
Reflect.
Head home.
**Author’s note: While I’m sure that actual learning does go on in these schools, you can’t tell it from my photos. My presence within 10 feet of a classroom meant that all education ceased and everyone in the room clambered to the doors and windows to get a look at me, making candid classroom shots a bit tricky.
I love the picture story and hope that you are having a good time!
This is fascinating. Look forward to keeping up. How long will you be in Gulu?
wow. And we thought Yats was a tough gig … very colorful pics, fresh commentary. Please be safe. You’ll be in my prayers. c
Faith:
The pictures are very interesting. It really looks “primitive” there. The school room does not look as if they have any organization in the age makeup of the students or class. What is the education of the teachers? Do they go to college? Are the courses of study general or specific?
Love ya
DAD
Faith:
Don’t know how my name came out as “.Missracy” McCollister in the previous comment. Obviously, it should have been “Tracy McCollister.”
Love
DAD
faith!! i didnt know you are in gulu.but when i see them picture,i was happy to see you are keeping doing your thing and having wonderful experience as always.sachi