Walking, talking and appreciating Uganda

It's been a great experience being here in Uganda. The days move by with sweltering heat, smiling and curious faces that are in the foreground of some glorious scenery. The young kids dance, sing and smile at us. The older ones stare deep into your eyes, like they have a million questions. We get out of the van which takes us to coach every morning, with the head teacher waiting for us, class teachers waving, pupils attention on Maths or English subsides. The day begins... always in such a positive manner. We have coached in a total of 4 schools now. Let me talk about the pitches first. Our best pitch was on a slope however if the grass is relatively short and has no stones/bricks then you are on the Ugandan equivalent of the Emirates pitch. All sessions are normally intervened by cows or goats, however to the kids this is nothing and they carry on like the cow is playing up front for their team. I think we need to start coaching the cows better positioning on the pitch, they keep straying offside! But a big round of applause to Standard Academy for winning the best pitch award. To the next award... funniest staff room antics. This award goes to the primary school called African child. Over one week these guys provided such joy, such natural conversation like we had all been friends for years. It's these guys I would visit if I was to return to Uganda again. They would joke around trying to marry us off to one of the female staff or provide us with land to build a house on, fill it with cows and even a swimming pool! I knew that even though they were pulling a "joke" they really meant it and wanted us to stay with them in Uganda. Maybe one day I will get that house! So Alex, Mark, Luciano and Baalam... thank you ever so much. Most enthusiastic school kids award goes to... Well all the schools. Thank you guys for making me smile more.

I appreciate my time with my fellow coaches Michael and Kerstin a lot more as time moves on. We have built up a strong togetherness and we know how each of us works. Michael (sorry for talking about you) is a quiet guy. Some might think he's not suited to coaching. But viewing his coaching methods has given me a whole new approach to it all. Being quiet keeps you calm, allows you to put your message across in a more intimate and measured way. I can see Michael thinking alot and not just shouting out pointless things like pass pass pass!!!!!! Very Arsene Wenger like. An old Chinese proverb explains... The ones who speak, do not know and the ones who do not speak, know. Who knows we might even spend another 3 months together ;). I have enjoyed Kerstins development as a coach. She is more assured of her qualities and has impressed me with her control of a class. You are the organiser of our team, and you maintain a fun and positive environment for the kids to play. Cheers guys, you have taught me a lot.

I have traveled alone this weekend to see some old family friends at Buhoma, Bwindi. A popular tourist resort for people tracking gorillas. I took part in a waterfall walk today and it was seriously good. A lot of people chat too much, I strode out in front so I could be alone. This gave me time to really appreciate where I was. It was one of the most captivating walks I have ever taken part in. So much mystery... It felt still and calm but there was so much life within this forest. I was feeling peaceful like I was the only human on earth and had just landed on this curious planet. "Hey, hey have you watched Finding Memo?" One of the kids on this walk had caught up to me and I remembered that I should probably get out of my head and wait for the rest of the group. Next 10 minutes were spent chatting about Nemos adventures through the sea and what great friends he met on the way. This story can sometimes relate.

Thinking back to the last few weeks, there was a certain Sunday that sticks out in the memory. Balaam, one of the teacher's invited me, Michael and Calum (a volunteer) to a church service. The journey to the church took us through a swamp, tea plantations, the rain forest, a small remote village and finally to the church. Such variation of habitats and environment kept your mind very satisfied, I really will miss walking in Uganda. The service was a jubilant expression of character, lots of preaching, singing and of course dancing! We were special guests, so without questioning it we had to introduce ourselves and give a short speech. Learning the local language certainly endears yourself to people and all of us made sure we included some Ruchiga as part of our speech. After, there was an auction at the church, where a goat and chicken were sold off, we then proceeded to having lunch at the church guest house. This is only used on special occasions, so instantly I thought that we seriously didn't deserve this. The food provided that afternoon was sensational. To stop Balaam from talking is quite an achievement. We all sat round, for a couple of minutes in complete silence. I knew that everyone was simply just loving the food. In those 2 minutes I felt so at ease and so happy with where I was. All we ate was chicken, rice, beans, avocado and cabbage. It was more than just eating food.

I've engaged in some interesting conversation with people here. It normally starts with a bit of chat about football or English weather then getting onto the deeper matters like the controversial reign of the current leader Musevani. There is a feeling of what can we do? A lot of people laugh it off, "yes we are suffering but we have to get on with life". The hotel guard I chatted to the other night says Musevani gives no one hope and describes him as a very funny man. Which is an interesting way of describing someone you hate. Power with the man at the top, corruption and greed, can he really be happy? He will die in power, Uganda will just have to wait for someone who represents them all in a more humanistic way. I'm just an arsenal coach out here, but lots of these conversations stay with you mainly due to the way the Ugandans explain them, In such a passionate yet resigned way. I can't do anything but it has certainly broadened my mind. That's what traveling is about. So cliche.

Less than a month to go in Uganda. I think I will appreciate my time here a lot more as it gradually comes to an end.

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