We made our farewells to Namilyango College in a final assembly on Friday afternoon, leaving behind gifts of 150 poetry and story books, and some sports equipment - aerobis and rugby balls. Callum and Ella did a great job of speaking on behalf of the students, and I shared a sonnet as part of our thankyous:
Beneath Ugandan Skies
Beneath Ugandan skies my skin gets burned
And sweats through reddened pores where it is bitten.
Strange dreams pervade my sleep at night unbidden
And crawl like cockroach stealthily concerned.
Beneath Ugandan skies my skin gets drenched,
Cascades unleashed by daily liquid sun;
Birds call and mock me in their foreign tongue
Assaulting ears, and, yet, my heart is wrenched.
Good friends, your words begin to sing,
Mouths of music serenade in speech.
You make our language do extraordinary things:
Dignity and eloquence beyond my reach.
Your thousand welcomes make me feel so blessed;
Beneath Ugandan skies I feel my best.
In return, we were presented with a Ugandan guitar, and treated to a night of entertainment Namilyango College style! Our students joined in with some of the dancing. We really hope that we can repay the hospitality we received when Madame Kirabo visits in January, and when we try for the first Ugandan student visits to the UK next May.
We touched down at Heathrow at around 6.40am on Sunday morning, having been on the go since 8am on Saturday. Lots of shopping in Kampala before a flying visit to Entebbe wildlife park completed our week's activities. There were some teary farewells to new friends at Entebbe airport.
Now, weary, but happy to be reunited with friends and family - we are ready(ish) to resume life at the Weald on Monday!
