Bye Madame-ooo!

What an amazing week this was! I have a ton to write, so I might have to finish this entry tomorrow.

Last weekend I visited Gulu with my friend Shanda. We had an amazing time with friends and were able to spend Saturday with Agnes and her newborn baby boy! Friday and Saturday night we sang songs and worshiped with some kids at my friends Ron and Joy's home and on Sunday the kids performed a song in front of the church. It was awesome!

I returned to my village early Monday morning and prepared for the performance at school. Monday, July 6th, was the day for St. Maria (whom my school is named after) so we celebrated with a church service and entertainment.

During the service, many children were baptized and the kids performed the songs we had practiced on guitar. The pastor and parents loved it!

The entertainment portion was rad! Along with performing the traditional dance, the kids recited poems about their school and performed really cute songs and dances.

After the celebration I attended a burial with the other teachers for an old man who died in the village. It was crazy! There were hundreds of people all seated on the ground around the house and everyone sang songs as he was being buried.

The rest of the week was filled with teaching and training for the soccer tournament I organized with a nearby school where another volunteer is working. I was fortunate enough to coach the boys (and even had some of the girls practice with us!) and we won the match 4-2! It was so fun!

Madame Christine, a fellow teacher and great friend, and I are both super competitive and were on our feet yelling and jumping throughout the entire match. The kids thought we were hilarious.

Saturday was my last day in the village, so Friday and Saturday were filled with hundreds of tears and also lots of singing and dancing the Maquarana, which became the kids favorite dance after I taught them during my first week. I have SO much more to write, but am out of time for today.

Tonight I am taking my friend Usher from the village, along with some other volunteers and their friends, to the Ryder Hotel to eat dinner and watch a traditional dance performance. It should be amazing.

I will try to write more tomorrow. Miss you all!