Smiling faces and dust

I had forgotten that one of the first things that grabs you when you arrive in Uganda are the smiling faces - everybody is so friendly and because we are white wants to try and help us or speak to us or just practice their English. The second thing I had forgotten is the dust, a rich, thick red dust that gets everywhere, consequently i have a really sore throat this evening, but hey...

I am here with four others, Bex my daughter, Emily who is 17 and studying for her A levels before going to do medicine, Jayne who is a childrens worker with north staff youth for Christ and Kate a friend of jaynes who is an actress. We arrived late last night after a long journey via Dubai and Addis Ababababa as the captain said (if he cant get it right who can?) and were all fairly exhausted. Today we headed into Kampala to get orientated, on a matatu which is a public minibus whihc should seat 12 but takes as many as they can pile in - for the equivalent of 20p you travel quite a long distance. Money changing and some lunch followed after which we all headed to Nansana Royal Primary School.

An exciting experiance for Jayne, Kate and Ems who were feeling a bit lost and disorientated as the children just won their hearts - their happy smiling faces and pure pleasure at seeing us was a real joy. We toured the building, admired the new cow shed with its concrete storage tanks for manure and urine (ummm not sure that much detail was necessary) and stood under a tree whilst the children seranaded us with a song welcoming us to their school.

Next week the work at the school starts. The girls are gonig to do a whole series of craft and teaching sessions based on noahs ark. Kate is going to do some music and singing with a couple of classes and I am going to meet with staff and head teacher to review and plan things with the trust.

We have come up the hill to a guest house for supper and emails.... so, having read my emails, I'm going for my supper! Tomorrow we are planing to visit Lungujja and have a first look at Rock of Joy school -more smiling faces no doubt!