From my Dear Mother

The following is written by mum, Sharon Bullock:

As we rounded the last bend in the road before reaching Teach Inn, a wave of yellow-clad Ugandan children ran alongside our van, waving and smiling. It was at this moment all of the built-up pressure in prepping for this trip gave way to overwhelming relief. My heart caught in my throat, tears welled in my eyes. Like Leif had said, I will have a feeling like I was coming home.
Now, more than a week into our month long stay, we are having an unbelievable experience. People of this remote area are very poor. Parents are working in the crop fields all day long and the kids are on their own most of the time. When not in school, kids are scampering up and down the terraced slopes fetching water, collecting firewood, herding goats. It's not unusual to see 3+4 year olds wielding machetes, hacking away at bushes for burning.
Teach Inn is an oasis for these children. Since they experience little interaction with their parents, they very much appreciate the time with us volunteers. We give them attention and they are polite and welcoming with open arms.
In the classroom, we are to teach in a manner that lets them feel expressive and creative. When with their regular teacher, the students copy the written English from the board into their small exercise books. What I'm gathering is they memorize much but may not necessarily understand what they've written. For the most part, handwriting and spelling are well done.
Our lessons focus on sparking the imagination. At first the students are reluctant to open up, creatively, but after brainstorming and prodding , they usually get going. Most kids are shy, but they are warm and affectionate, always.
Some tidbits of info: since we're at 6000ft, no mosquitoes or snakes-yeah! No one here has running water, including us. Recess is all soccer—most boys are Arsenal fans. No wild animals around here except exotic birds although goats, chickens, pigs, and cows are everywhere. A motorized vehicle anywhere around is rare (very nice). The lucky ones have bicycles. It's a treat to walk around here. Fresh fruit and veggies rule! Lots of pineapple, avacado, spuds, carrots, and tomatoes. This close to the equator, it ecomes dark@7 all the time. The wet season just ended, dry season begins.
Oh, on our first day we were formally introduced in a morning assembly, complete with singing, drumming, and clapping. After I said my name and Leif his, it was noted I shall from then on be known as 'Mama Leif.' The headmaster told me this was a title of honor and my presence is greatly respected. He also said, "thank you for Leif." Most volunteers are 20-somethings. A middle -age ol' gal is a rarity. Everywhere I go, I hear, "Mama Leif."