Sunday Jan 12

Today I felt so refreshed. I actually woke up before our 7:45 alarm, and don't think I moved an inch all night. I slept like a baby and fell asleep SO fast. After breakfast we all piled in the bus to head to the equator.

The road to the equator was pretty busy. They are doing construction (putting pavement on the dirt) so there was a lot of traffic since we had to come to a stop as they moved trucks around. I fell asleep on the way there and actually got a little sunburned while driving to the equator with the window in the bus open. Once we got to the equator I was surprised to see how little was built up around it. There were shops lining either side of the street, but only about 10 on each side and a little restaurant. When we were taking our photos in front of the sign a little boy was sitting under a bush watching us with an empty coke bottle in his hand. He was asking if we had any water. I grabbed my huge bottle out of my backpack and filled it to the top for him. I couldn't believe it. Here we are coming to his neighborhood with our big bus and fancy cameras to take a picture in front of a sign and then leave, while he is living there watching this probably on the daily just hoping to get some clean water. I bought a scarf and some pants for Zach that will hopefully go to support this community that so happened to be built up around this tourist attraction.

When we first got to the equator the tour guide there gave us a short demonstration to show the different ways that the water swirls when falling toward the earth in the northern and southern hemisphere as well as directly on the equator. It was insane! Clockwise one way, counterclockwise the other side and straight down on the line. Mind blown. I love this planet.

After some time at the equator we hoped back in our car to headed toward our Ugandan teacher, Jjemba's village. Jjemba and his wife Sylvia have started their own dance center for the children in their village. Sylvia said they started the center (NIT) as a way to keep the children from committing crimes as a way to stay busy doing other things. She mentioned when she first started to teach them dance she would give them breaks for lunch so that they could go home and eat, but few of the kids would leave. They wanted to stay until evening because there was nothing for them to go home to. A lot of the parents of these children work in the cities away from the village during the week and don't come home until Saturday so these kids literally have to find food and take care of themselves all week. Also this "center" that they started is their home. They have them at their house and in their yard to learn dance and hang out, they don't have a separate meeting place. They have opened their home to these children. I guess a few years ago they were robbed. Someone came into their home and took their laptop, money, and everything. They said how hard it was to start up again after that since they had put so much into the program. They didn't trust the children anymore and started to blame them. The children said it wasn't them and kept showing up at their gate in hopes to continue to dance and after a few weeks Sylvia said she couldn't say no anymore and opened it back up. The children said they were investigating the robbery, but it doesn't sound like anything came out of it. Since then they have a new laptop and have lifted their spirits and look to be in a good place. She gave us three cd's of traditional Ugandan music and we each donated toward their center as a thank you for the gift and welcome.

When we first arrived we had to park the bus at the bottom of a big hill. The road was too uneven and narrow for the bus to make it up so we walked it instead. They had a huge appetizer feast waiting for us of jackfruit, mangos, passion fruit, peanuts and pineapple. I have NEVER had fruit so good in my entire life. The pineapple was like a dream and the juiciest sweetest thing ever. The jackfruit is my new obsession and I could literally eat it all day. It is the most bizarre looking fruit especially when you see it growing on the trees. It's about the size of a big beehive, but it is green with a bumpy surface. I had never had passion fruit before in my life and it is my new favorite food. It reminded me of candy. It was super sweet but then a little sour. Mmm, heavenly. Oh and the peanuts are an entirely different experience. They were served on a plate and looked like the kind of peanuts we have just a little smaller. The shells are very similar and you just pinch it to get to the nut. Once you do though and have that first bite you'll never want a roasted peanut again. It was moist and soft and that may sound disgusting, but it was so fresh and delicious I couldn't stop eating them!

After our appetizer we watched the group of dancers perform a traditional dance. They really know how to shake it here including the boys. Also the drumming was phenomenal. They were performing on a stage that Jjemba has set up on his property, and by stage it is really like an amphitheater since there were on the bottom level of the property with different levels of yard surround it like bleachers in a sense. While we are sitting on woven mats eating our appetizer, watching these incredible young (around 13 years old) dancers, there were turkeys, chickens, a kitten, and dog just walking around. Also a lot of younger children with little toys, a tricycle, and a swing they were playing on was off to the side. The weather was beautiful and sunny and since we had to walk up the hill to his home the view beyond his fence was incredible. What an experience.

After they danced we had lunch, which they made for us. I don't remember what everything was called, but it was delicious and I was full after! As we ate we moved around so that we would be mixed with some of the dancers that had just performed. I found myself sitting next to the nicest 13 year old girl. I couldn't understand her name that well, but I know it starts with a J. Luckily, she will be coming to our workshop this week at the ballet school so I'll be able to get her name then. I asked all about her life and family. She walks an hour each direction to get to school which has her leaving every morning at 6am and not returning until 5pm. At that time she comes to NIT and dances from 5-7 before being sent home for the evening. She has younger siblings and an older sister, but she left them at home so that she could come perform for us. After we had finished eating I walked over to a large group of dancers and as soon as I sat down I noticed my friend had followed me and sat with me. We all talked a bit more about dance, school, their families, home life, and took a picture.

As people started to finish their lunches we went back to the stage to teach them some "western" dance.  I taught my friend some simple ballet moves with her arms and a plie and she loved it! We took a group photo and had to leave before it got dark since the roads here at night are pretty dangerous. There aren't street lamps and so a lot of accidents happen especially since the roads aren't all paved, even if they are they aren't always well done. My friend walked me out of the lot, down the steep hill, and to the door of the bus all while holding my hand. It was hard to say goodbye, but Sylvia said she would be at our classes this week so that made it easier to let go.

On the way home we drove a different way then we came since we were taking a more direct route than going by the equator. We drove by some slums that I had yet to see since I had been here. After leaving my friend at her village and then seeing the conditions of these homes I became overwhelmed with emotion. I couldn't help but have a moment and shed some tears with looking at the living conditions. All I could think was how did I get to be so lucky to be born in America to a family with plenty of money to provide me with food for every meal, a warm bed every night, and countless other things and opportunities that these people will never have. I tried to put myself in their shoes and couldn't do it. I have no idea what it would be like. I can see it with my eyes, but I have no idea. I don't think I will ever forget what I saw on our drive home tonight.

After we got home and got showered we went next door to the Mackinnon Suites and had dinner. It was me, Krissy, Gaspare, Mariana, and Kunal. We weren't sure what kind of food they would have, but it turns out it was one of the best Indian food I have ever had. The contrast of good and bad here is so dramatic. I can be laughing so hard my abs hurt, and then in tears with my heart in my throat.

Tomorrow we start working with the kids, which means waking up early. Time to get ready for bed!

My new best friend during lunch

Some of the dancers

All of us in front of their stage

Equator

Sharing water with a local boy

Saturday Jan 11

Another quick recap. We've been go-go-going since Friday morning and I haven't had a chance to sit and blog, but will hopefully have time tomorrow to catch up. For today, only a quick recap. Details to follow:

Saturday AM: bus ride to the waterfalls

Lunch: at an incredible resort overlooking the Nile, horrible caesar salad, incredible grilled talapia!

Afternoon: Rode a boat on the Nile River to the source of the nile and around Lake Victoria

Evening: Dinner at the Fang Fang with Deb and roommate. Caught up on the dance world and had a very needed check in with momma Deb. I can only strive to be like her someday. Incredible woman and mentor. 

Goodnight!

Friday Jan 10

I'm too tired to post details, but will go back and fill in later.

Friday:
Class- morning: felt extremely light headed and had to sit out for most of the morning
 afternoon: lesson planning, trying some songs with the children hanging around our studio, serious rain at lunch

After class: shower, nap (10 minutes!) and get ready for evening

Queens ballet school: went to the Queens Ballet School to view the video Bouncing Cats with members of Breakdance Project Uganda as well as the founder of the organization, Abramz. Dinner at the ballet cafe, made new friends, had idea for next year's master's concert

Late Friday: returned home with enough time to quickly get ready to go out dancing with our Ugandan friends. Went to two different bars/dance clubs and danced the night away! Lost my cell phone in the process, but danced with everyone all night long! What an incredible group we have here.

Details to come later...

Thursday Jan 9

Today was great. Class was fantastic. We rehearsed the two dances we have learned in the first three days, learned more drumming, had a lecture from Jjembe, and started to learn a western modern dance from Deb. After class I went back to the post office with Brian and Mariana joined us. We sent the remaining letters I had left to send and went into midtown to exchange more money. Mariana and I came back to the hotel in a taxi (for less than $1 USD) with enough time to shower and regroup before meeting all of our NYU group downstairs at the hotel restaurant for a group dinner and reflection.

Our reflection really inspired me for my post tonight. I feel like I have just been listing things we have been doing each day and not really discussing what has really effected and changed me while I've been here. I started to have a quote for each day when I first started to blog and for some reason, I guess because I've been so tired, I've sort of forgotten to keep it going. One quote from today from Jjemba is,

"Dance is more than entertainment" 

also 

"You'll have a more fulfilled life with dance"

Jjemba's lecture today was incredible. It is unfortunate that it fell right after lunch and had most of our group at a sleepy time, but I found myself very interested in his presentation. He explained his research he has conducted regarding dance in Uganda in relation to rehabilitation for children who have transformed from kids on the street to acceptable thriving citizens in the country. I was so happy he gave us a copy of his slides from his presentation as I viewed it as a blueprint for what we need to open a dance studio/center in an underprivileged community. It addressed how the children first are when they enter the dance space including the problems they bring with them such as addictions to alcohol, smoking pot, foul language, lack of confidence, violence, and lack of community and sense of belonging. He also focused on the change in the very first day of class and what that looks like. He shared the physical description of children entering class on the first day and completing the first "dance". Coming into the room with very sunken shoulders, crossed hands, head lowered, and guarded. The first "dance" they engage in is "Head, shoulders, knees and toes". He had the Ugandans lead the song and they actually sing it different than in America. It goes, 

"Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes. Eyes and ears and nose and mouth, head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes." 

Anyway, I held onto the notes very tightly and can't wait to reread them when I get back to NY. Jjemba also gave me a copy of an exam he gives to his dance students at Makerere University. To my surprise the questions were VERY similar to the questions we are expected to know at NYU. I don't know why I thought that the education for a dance major at the University here would be so different, but I was happy to see that they are learning similar terminology and pedagogy.

 Jjemba has his own center for dance that we will be going to on Sunday. The centers and projects that we have learned about since being here and visited are absolutely unbelievable. To think that they create these communities and spaces to strengthen the weak and less fortunate from nothing is unimaginable. Also, to be as successful as they have been is phenomenal. There is so little funding and means to go around the leaders and founders must be very creative in order for them to succeed. I am excited to see Jjemba's center and ask about how it began and sustains itself. Most of these centers barely squeak by. It gave me an idea that someday I may try to open a center similar to Uganda Heritage Root (UHR) based on the model and explanations he included in his presentation. Any sponsors?

Anyway, back to reflection. Tonight at dinner Deb asked us to individually share one or two things that have stood out to us while being here, or a comment or thought about our experience so far. I shared three things because one is just too few. Here were my thoughts so far:

1. The priorities people have here are so different than America. Maybe it is just the family I was raised in, but I have always been taught and told to make enough money in your career to be happy and not have to worry about it. The economics of a good job are valued so high in American culture it is what I see many of my family members striving for as their top priority. They want to make as much money as possible so that they can then enjoy their family and friends, hobbies, travel, whatever it is comfortably. Here it seems as if that isn't a #1 priority at all. It is more of a priority to follow their dreams and do what makes them happy as well as remain in a community. Out of the 5 children in my family we all live in different states. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles split us apart because we are all striving to educate ourselves, start, and develop our careers. It makes me sad to think that this is what I have to go home to in a week. Community and family is so strong here and although I still feel very close to my 4 brothers in Utah, Texas, Nebraska and Pennsylvania they are still so far that I may see them only once or twice a year. That would never happen living here in Kampala. I know there is another side of this argument and that we are given many more opportunities to travel and develop ourselves, which is great, but it is sad that we don't have a sense of community more. Even reading this again I feel as if I didn't articulate my thoughts clearly enough because I think what me and my brothers being apart is great and we are benefiting greatly with where we are at, but just the importance of community here and their priorities with life are so different than ours in America. 
2. The second thing I have noticed the most while being here is the relationships. There is such a common understanding about relationships here it blows my mind. I was walking around the city today with Mariana and Brian and an interesting relationship comment was brought to my attention. Well, Mariana and I are both light skin (I am glow in the dark white, Mariana is from Bolivia) and we were walking with Brian (native Ugandan, dark skin) and people on Boda-boda's (motorcycle taxis) were saying things to him in Luganda. I asked him what they were saying and he said they were saying we were his sister-in-law's and that he should share his sisters with them. That comment alone clearly shows the common understanding that is intertwined within this culture of relationships. If we were to be placed in NYC and someone were to shout at me and say share your brother, speaking of Brian, I would be so confused and look at them like, clearly he isn't my brother biologically. Also, people introduce other people as their daughters or uncles or grandparents or relatives even though they aren't really related. If they have a close enough relationship then they are related. I know this happens in American culture, but it is very confusing here because you think people are mother and daughter only to find out there is no relationship whatsoever. 
3. The last thing I shared was the positive attitudes people have here. The other day Mariana asked Grace (one of our Ugandan teachers) how she was feeling in the morning and she responded with, "Life is good. Why be miserable when you can be happy?" Even this afternoon when Brian was taking us to the post office and showing us around town I kept telling him that he can go home and doesn't have to take us around, but he made sure to tell me that I need to stop feeling like I am putting him out and that he is happy and fine to show us around and help us. It was the first day all week pretty much that he has been able to leave at 3:30 and have the rest of the evening free to himself, yet he didn't mind to take us around for errands. So so generous. Also the dancing that we have been doing is only correct if we smile. They stress the importance of having fun and smiling. Bagonza said the other day, that "mistakes are in the past, you have to move on and forget it, it was in the past." Grace continued to say that if you make a mistake while dancing, it is up to you to make the next part even better and bigger. So many similarities in dance at an international level! We are dancing traditional Ugandan dances that have been danced in their history for so many years and yet they have so many similarities with their performance aspect. I love it. Also, even though times are tough we rarely if ever hear them complain. Even waiting in the taxi no one complained about having to wait for 14 people to get in, oh wait, I did. I asked the boy sitting next to me how long they usually wait for it to go since it had already been about 20 minutes. He told me 14 people as if no big deal and we'll go when we go. I bought a water from someone who brought drinks to our window and waited patiently and talked to my friend, who had a very difficult name but Conrad was somewhere in the mix. I invited him to our performance on Friday of next week and he said he would come. I need to be more patient. Ask my boyfriend, mom, dad, brothers, anyone that knows me, I am so impatient. I think I will try to remember "Life is good" whenever I find myself impatient and "Don't worry". These phrases will hopefully stay with me as I return back to the big apple. I hear these phrases over and over each day. I love it. 

Those were the three things I shared at the dinner table, and we have about 13 people here from NYU all of which shared their own ideas and thoughts on their experience so far. There were tears and laughter and I felt overwhelmed with love and appreciation. I am so fortunate and happy to have this experience. I can't thank the people enough that has helped make this trip possible. It drives me crazy how expensive it is to get here, but I will try everything I can to come back someday, hopefully sooner than later. I would love to come back and teach for 6 weeks or something, that'll be my next project. I wouldn't feel right calling myself a teacher since I am just learning so much each day from them! I am SO happy I have over a week left. Hopefully it doesn't go too fast. I miss NYC, my boyfriend, friends, and family, but this experience is so unique and short it is hard to see it go so fast. 

Our group

Back Row: Michael, Bagonza, Pricila, Alana, Kelly, Juddith, Kunal, Tacha, Grace

Middleish row: Sarah, Krissy, Michelle, Dana, Gaspare

Bottom row: Kim, Sylvia, Damian (sideways), Ashley, Jjembe, Brian, Herburt, Deb, Me, Mariana, Denis

Wednesday Jan 8

Today was AMAZING! Drums, new dance, new songs, lots of progress on our lesson plan, post office, break dance class, and birthdays!

We woke up to a rainy day here in Kampala. Where we eat breakfast every morning is in the Fang Fang hotel restaurant which is around back in the garden. You have to exit the front of the hotel and walk around to the back to get there and we had to run through the rain. It felt amazing. I was wearing flip flops and a t-shirt. We ate our scrambled eggs as it softly rained all around us. I actually had chills on the way back to the room, which is a first since I've been here.

We headed over to the primary school shortly after breakfast and had our lessons again in the morning. This morning Judith taught us all about the Ankole region including the history and reason behind the dance we are learning from that region found in western Uganda. The dance is called the Kimandwa dance. It's purpose is to worship God and communicate to him through dance. Luckily this dance had easier songs that went along with it and I felt like I was catching on easier today than yesterday.

Right before lunch we got our drums and had a short drum circle. Bagonza led us in a few rhythms so we could start to feel comfortable playing our drums. Mine is absolutely beautiful, well they all are! The ones we have at NYU are also beautiful, but you can tell have been very loved by many and used quite a bit. The one I have now is brand new with new cow hide and new hand carved sticks. I'll try to post a picture soon when the internet starts to work better.

During lunch Krissy and I met with Denis to work on a trio for the show. Since Krissy and I brought our tap shoes and Denis knows how to dance with rattles (tied to his legs) we are going to choreograph a trio for the three of us. It was a lot of fun and I'm excited to continue to work on that. Should be an interesting piece!

After lunch we met in our teaching groups to further develop our lesson plans. I really enjoy the two people I work with, Brian and Tacha. We seem to work very well together. I think our plan is coming along great and with two more days to plan it should be all set! Time flew by today. I felt like we had just started to work on our lesson plans when they told us 45 minutes had gone by and it was time to regroup before returning to the hotel.

I asked my teaching partner, Brian, about going to a post office to buy stamps for all of my letters and postcards. We decided to go right after class since we had about an hour before we were scheduled to meet our bus and head out to our evening activity. Brian and I walked to the post office and I loved every minute of it! It was so nice to spend some time walking with him and asking him questions all about his life here. He is so nice and respectful and I know I've mentioned this once or twice, but so smart! He was very helpful with buying stamps and turns out were a lot more $ then I had planned to spend. I was able to send all but three so I'll be going back soon to buy more and send the rest. Everyone that helped donate to this trip be checking your mailboxes! Mail will be coming soon!

After our walk back we quickly jumped into the bus and headed to Breakdance Project Uganda. It is a center where breakdance, hip, hop, youth development, and community events take place. Maybe some have seen or watched the film Bouncing Cats, anyway the movie is about the place we went. Look it up! We are going to a screening on Friday and meeting the star of the film (the founder of the project) there.

The space where the dance classes are held are outside. It is literally a long two story building with a basketball court in front to one side, a large yard of dirt and some grass, a driveway, and a cement covered patio. All of these places I just listed are the locations of different classes. I took beginning break dance on the cement covered patio. Other NYU students chose to sit on the grass and learn beat boxing, some learned a hip hop combo on the driveway, and some a pop and lock combo in the yard. All of the classes are going on simultaneously with one speaker looping through 2-3 different songs so everyone can hear.

One man started the warm up and introduced all of us and then started to call on different individuals to lead warm up for the whole group. I was chosen to start to warm up the torso and spine. What a CRAZY experience to be directing, and learning at this center. It sits on a busy street so just on the other side of the tall fence wrapped in barbed wire and gate was a lot of foot and car traffic. Also you could look down the hill a little and see part of the skyline of downtown Kampala. I couldn't and still can't believe I was learning break dance at this incredible location in the heart of Kampala, Uganda, in the heart of Africa. The goals of this center are:

• Bridging the gap between people of different backgrounds
• Building young peoples' leadership skills and self esteem
• Promoting positive social responsibility and social action
• Increasing access to formal and informal education
• Generating employment opportunities
• Connecting local and international artists. 

I received a flyer from there with the above bullets listed and a website to visit for more info: www.bpuevents.org Also, you could watch the movie. While we were in class there were people of all ages and background. Literally I learned the 6-step from an 8 year old girl. These little children were taking our class with us and killing it! I was loving every minute of it and by the looks of it so were they! We all had so much fun and were laughing pretty much throughout. The teacher of the class, named Mark, also paused the learning to play a game and give our minds and bodies a break. I couldn't believe it when he was teaching it because it was a game I had learned and played from Mabingo! I totally felt like a local knowing this game already especially since some Ugandans had never played.

After our class we had some time to walk around and take photos and talk to people. I met two really nice guys and we talked about dance, obviously. It turns out one of them teaches salsa every Sunday near the National Theater and invited us to come and try. I made sure to invite them to our performance next Friday and we exchanged Facebook names before having to leave. 

Once again at the end of the day I was exhausted and starving. We decided to eat dinner downstairs at the Fang Fang restaurant for Chinese. It was absolutely delicious food. Also, it is our assistant director of the program, Sarah's, birthday so we sent ice cream to her and Deb's table. We also decided to get dessert and tried the chocolate ice cream and fried banana and honey. Not what you would expect, but still delicious! 

I am ready for bed and another busy today tomorrow. I am starting to get really sad thinking about leaving this place, which is crazy since it is still so far away. I just know I will try everything to find a way to come back again someday. We have gotten so close to our teaching friends and I will be so sad to leave all of them. 

Tuesday Jan 7

This morning we went back to the primary school and learned more of the dance. I woke up pretty sore in the lower back from our first day. The class part went very fast today. It is so cute every time we are learning little kids come up around our studio/classroom and watch. Sometimes they mimic our movements outside on the sidewalk and act as our mirror. It is the cutest thing ever and makes me laugh while I'm dancing, so fun!

Today Judith and Grace dressed a few of my classmates up in traditional clothing and explained the importance of them. Ugandan culture has so much history and tradition and it surprises me how much is still in practice today. For example, there is a certain dress that a male has to wear when he is going to meet his future mother in law. Also, when he goes to meet her he has to bring her a traditional Ugandan dress since he is taking her daughter for marriage. There is a lot I learned about the dress that I will have to add at another point when I have more time to dig through my notes. 

After class we had a VERY short time to get back to our room and get ready to go to the Afrique Cultural Center to watch the Afrique Dance Troupe. Read more about the grouphere. One of our teachers named Michael is the founder of the troupe. It started in 2004 and is a group that brings kids off the streets and orphans, as well as other talented kids and adults to become dancers and better citizens of the world. They teach them these skills of how to dance, teach, sew, etc. so that they can get jobs with their skills and sufficiently take care of themselves. They make their money by teaching dances to different schools that use them in dance competitions, also they have over 500 costumes that they loan out with a fee to different groups that want to rent costumes for a show or performance. Many of the members have gone on to graduate from Universities and become teachers themselves. They have also won many awards regionally as well as internationally. There are 45 members now 25 of which are orphans due to HIV/AIDS taking their parents. I was blown away by this organization and how much it has accomplished in the short time it has been around. 

While we were there the troupe performed 4-5 different dances. While they were dancing a herd of children gathered to our right side. I don't know where they came from, but they were watching them dance and also staring at us. I got some incredible photos from this performance since we were the only audience there. 

After the performance we came back to the Fang Fang, showered  and headed back to the Sheraton for dinner. It is always good to wrap up the day with a good dinner with good friends. We came back earlier than other nights so I could blog and pass out early. I think I've fallen asleep 5 times while writing this post. I am so tired I'm pretty much typing with my eyes closed. Ugandan dance is no joke! Can't wait for tomorrow, we get our drums!

Tonight at Afrique- They had us get up and dance after the performance, obviously.

Brian and Me at Afrique- He's my teaching partner with the kids and you can usually find both of us with our camera in our hands. 

Me and Michael- the mastermind behind Afrique. Absolutely incredible man right here. 

The group of kids that stopped by to see the Afrique Dance Troupe perform. 

(I think most of these are children in the company and live there due to loosing their parents from HIV/AIDS.)

Monday Jan 6

Today was another incredible day here in Kampala. It was my first day of actual "class". We walked across the street to Nakasero Primary School where we met our teachers and started to learn our first Ugandan dance! The dance is from the Mushroom tribe and has so much history behind it. Grace did a very good job at explaining the origin of the moves and reasoning behind the dance. It was originally created for a King that was put in power when he was only 2 years old, because his father the King was killed in war. Well, they actually never say that here, he "disappeared" in the war. In other words, "Long live the king!" Also, the dance is very entertaining and would be danced to entertain the little boy so it was distracting so he wouldn't cry like most 2 year olds tend to do. It is taboo for the King to be seen crying no matter what age.

Anyway, we spent the first 3-4 hours learning the dance moves and some of the songs that we will be singing while we dance. The songs are the hardest part. I seem to be picking up the dance moves easily enough, but the language is very challenging. The teachers are very good about spreading themselves among us though so we always have someone near by to help.

After our dance and singing lessons we had lunch and joined back together to be split into our teaching groups. I am going to be teaching with Brian and Tacha. Brian is brilliant and full of facts. He is so intelligent it is impressive! I wish I knew everything he does, he always is teaching me something. We brainstormed different ideas for our lesson and decided on the theme of Rainbow. We decided to focus more on ROYGBIV as the inspiration for the dance we are going to create together.

So this is how this program works. This week all of us (NYU & Ugandan teachers) are learning two traditional Ugandan dances as well as 1 modern Western dance. We are spending the mornings learning the dances and songs and the afternoon planning lessons. Next week we will spend the mornings teaching children and then the afternoons to continue to rehearse our dances. This week we are at the Nakasero Primary school because they are not in session, and the school is just across the street. It is one of the nicer schools in Kampala if not the nicest. They go back to school next week though so that is when we will switch to start going to the Queens Royal Ballet School (yes, as in the actual Queen of Uganda's ballet school).

Each morning there will be two classes going on simultaneously. One floor will be the younger class (6-10 year olds), and the other floor will be the older class (9/10-12 year olds). At the end of each 2 hour lesson we will have created a dance with the children based on a theme we choose to plan our lesson about. Each day we will have new lessons and create a new dance with the children. We will continue to rehears the dances we learned the previous day as well as the one we learned on the current day so that come Friday we will have 8 different children dances (4 for each age group) as well as the 3 we teachers are learning on our own time. We will have a performance at the National Theater on Friday January 17th to show all these dances. From what I've heard about past concerts people from all over the country come to watch.

Anyway, after lesson planning we went back to the hotel then quickly turned around to head back to the grocery store. We needed more snacks and water. When we returned we showered, blogged, and took our time with getting ready for dinner. Mariana, Gaspare, Krissy and I walked up to the Sheraton and had a delicious western style dinner, or actually mine was Italian. I just ordered a giant pizza while everyone else had split pasta, pizza, and a wrap. The sheraton actually has food on the menu that American's would recognize and want to order. It was delicious, but don't get me wrong the Ugandan food we have everyday for lunch is delicious too!

A group of children that were watching us dance most of the morning.

Deb teaching us how to go about planning our lesson plans

Our classroom with the afternoon sun shinning in

One of the cute boys hanging around our studio all day.