This text was written in 2007 by Noah Liberi. He was 20 at the time, his only formal education being a rural secondary school in Bukinda, Kabale. But he would read and observe a lot and condense his wisdom of life into the story about Teach Inn Uganda that we will publish in weekly instalments. You can learn more about Teach Inn and Noah in Miha’s Blog.
Oh! My lord!! Teach Inn is getting crowded. This afternoon, 10 May 2007, the guys of Generation 2 arrived. Dave, Ki, Steve and Georgina, three guys in fact and one lady (as our Ugandans would say). An unusual share of men for a teaching project!
During their orientation they climb Mashure Hill. What an interesting tour!! “Who would have imagined that the top of Mashure—at just 2053m, 30 minutes a way from Teach Inn Uganda—gives you a sweeping view of Rwanda,” Miha wrote. There is also much more to view and get to know and visit, like the ancestral trees and the attractive ancient cave whose age no one can tell apart from only guesswork. Part of the cave serves as a habitat for some interesting birds (sparrows) that are ever flying in and out as if doing s hockey-pockey game, and they welcome everyone with their musical noise.
But let us rather talk about our new volunteers…
Stephen Cox
For Steve whom I may prefer to calling “Steve the bearded man“ because so far he is the only Steve I have seen with beards, this is the first time to camp. And what a tent he got to use: a millionaire one! We tested a gift from the Silver River team; the British entrepreneurs and the TV crew donated a whole camp to us (including tented showers, toilets and so on). What a lucky Steve!
Steve is a man who has somehow reached his life expectancy. He does everything with experience and seriously uses his minds and efforts much of his time to class. He prepares everything and goes to class carrying different stuff. He loads his hands with the materials, like going to teach students about different writers and novelists.
Steve likes advising his fellow volunteers on some issues, because he is experienced. He has been in Africa for some years, especially in Gambia and he loves to tell about his experience there. Whatever he says he refers it to Gambia and his time there. His co-volunteer Dave calls him “Dickhead” but he does not care for this; it is like a kid challenging its grandmother.
David Robinson
Dave or “El Douche” is an easy kool boy who is active in mind but seems lazy in physical exercise works. He cannot even skip the rope six times, unlike his fellow Ki who does 800 laps of skipping. He does however understand that a man must work so he does some exercise, fixes some goal posts for the kids and does some jogging and road work.
Dave is a welcoming man who welcomes one from a distance as long as you are heading to the location. He admits everything as it comes around. He believes that whatever comes around goes around and that whatever must happen must happen.
He likes playing with the kids and loves the duck-duck goose game. He cannot make even four steps before a kid overtakes him yet still enjoys it. He is so appreciating and wants his fellow people to be treated in the equivalent manner; he loves respect for all. “Treat Noah, Hannington and Justus with respect they are THE MEN!” Dave says.
Ki Kwon
Ki is basically from Korea but lives in USA. He is a man whose face and what he actually does tells that he might be a soldier. And indeed he is a soldier. He was one of the American peacekeepers in Iraq. “Life was not so hard because we used to do our operations in shifts,” Ki says when Noah and Hannington ask him how he found serving Iraq. He spends his leisure time positively doing some physical exercise. He likes skipping, doing 103 pressups and working on his muscles.
He is so principled and devoted that he can do whatever must be done in one way or the other. He cannot be bribed of his minds; in fact whatever he says he means it. He wants everything to be done as suggested and agreed upon especially during the meetings conducted to pave way for Teach Inn ’s success and progress. “I’m gonna put it down,” Ki says.
The Teach InN main house is “tied up” inside the fence and it is like it is a zoo. So in the meeting it Is agreed upon that part of the fence should be removed but the management committee seems not to take the matter serious. So Ki does it himself. He is “a man plus”.
Ki would fit in Africa. A man who can taste raw sweet potato!!!
He likes sitting between the kids and has much to share with them. He is the centre of conversation. Kids prefer mentioning his name because its as easy to pronounce as drinking water. He loves them and wishes them the best. “Please take genuine interest in these children as l honestly feel they deserve more than what had been given to them,” he writes.
Georgina Gast
We are talking of Georgina Marie Gast from Canada but who lives in USA. She is a pretty lady with at least long hair which she changes every day.
She loves teaching so much that before class time she is already inside the room waiting for kids. Meanwhile she is doing some cleanliness (picking some papers on the floor and arranging the room). She likes games and sports like playing with the children and loves to sit with them during break time.
She is creative and practical and the kids like her for that. She likes conversations and discussions and jokes. Ceteris paribus she knows when, how and what to do given time and chance.
She knows how to spell out the word “wine” and really respects Gilbys wine. She is kind and moving.
text: Noah Liberi