Mrs.O's writing room.

They say no news is good news and I think that is true for me, I haven't gotten lost or done anything really crazy so I don't have much to say. Well except for once when I went to order food at a take away and I told the guy I wanted chicken and chips. The guys says great, how do you like your chicken and because I know they serve the chicken with hot pepper I said I would like it mild and that was fine. Then for the chips he asks what size would you like, and I'm thinking size?? don't they all come out the same? he goes on to say there is the big packet, medium size and then the small one and by now he was pointing at packets of what in UG we call "crisps". Immediately I remember the other phrase they use here "french fries" and so I tell him, and that sorted me out. He was a really nice guy plus I was so glad they had the "crisps" on display coz I honestly don't know how I would start explaining to Sam my new concoction of chicken and...

I was really close to tears today as I watched Mich try to play some of the kids in the neighbourhood. We went to a play ground near by and Mich was all too glad to join in with the other kids, unfortunately for him the first thing that catches his attention is gadgets, bicycles, skates and the like. There was this one kid who immediatly picked his bike and began to ride ofcourse that wasnt his original plan, so Mich follows him for abit and finally gets the vibes that he is not welcome. He runs off to find some boys playing freezby and even there some mean little kid screams at him saying "go away" you should have seen Mich's expression, he moved back and then looked at me with the expression of "what did I do wrong" that got to me. Anyway I told him to run along and play with the slides and when I got a good chance I told the boy to stop being mean. Most of the kids are older than Mich, they should be ranging between the ages of four to eight years but because...

I also discovered some interesting information about the University of Pennsylvania, it was the first University in America, isn't that amazing?! makes me want to apply immediately so that by some chance I can join in February. Another thing that struck me about it is the solidarity of its students dating back to the beginning. Every where you walk on the campus there are plaques with names of different students and the years they attended and their contribution to the school after they left. By the way the contributions are not minor for example I went to what they call the Perelman quadrangle, there was one guy who contributed a "tree-lined plaza and an amphitheater" now that's awesome, then a family of mother and daughter who created a garden of flowers, isn't that something? oh yes and then there is a huge bridge almost in the center of the campus that was done by a whole class, their names are engraved on the side walk. Makes one stop to think of our belove...

Life can be tough and interesting at the same time. I have enrolled in the Wharton Partners club and today was balling night just for the partners. I wasnt really enthusiastic about it but Sam encouraged me to go, he thought it would be nice for me to get to meet other people in my shoes and also have some time away from Mich, l liked the idea. The only problem is, it was quite a distance away and I dreaded getting to use the bus and train system on my own. Anyway he helped me get the directions told me which route to take and I was off. I was going to 13th & chestnut and home is 44th locust, anyway I was well equiped, took the train for the first time on my own and that was great, I knew where I was getting off so I walked confidently, got onto the street and started looking out for the 13th chestnut street. The way roads are set is in a grid format so really one can not fail, should not fail to get to a particular place and besides there are lots of signs and directions and peop...

My escapades continue, I met one of Sams classmates who told me of a nice park where I could take Mich to play, called "Clarke Park" so yesterday I decided to go and find it, I knew the general direction so that was not a problem. Half way the journey things get fuzzy so I decided to ask the next person I met. The first lady said she was not from the area so she didnt know, the next lady I met seemed willing to help so I tell her Im looking for Clarke Park and she says she has never heard of it, so I break it down to say its a play area for kids and she goes "oh you mean Clorck Pork" as in that is the way it sounds and I quickly nodded yes. I finally get there, beautiful place, moral of the story?! guys if I keep my UG accent I might not get anywhere so .... Im going to twist and turn my tongue for a bit. Hmm then there is the whole washing machine business, I had decided to wash my clothes in the tub, for two major reasons really not to get in trouble shrinking ...

... more news Looks like the last mail I sent was a blank--after I had poured out my heart like in 4 pages--anyway I was using a laptop and the battery was running low so I hurried to send it but alas it seems it disappeared. Ok lets see if I can recall what I was telling you guys... well a few high lights, Mich's favorite words lately have been " mummy I do not like the home " so every time we go out for a walk getting him into the house is a real hustle. I guess that is because the home is a flat and there is no play area, besides, it is a little dark on the inside and the man just does not like small spaces. But I think things are looking up, well at least some days they look up and he seems quite happy. Slowly he is getting used to the place, it is really slow. We go everywhere together, he does not seem to like spending time with Dad I guess because he is away most of the day. I think he really misses playing company and I am growing a little old for the running arou...

My life in the city of brotherly love Hi People, Greetings from 236 Buckingham place, philadelphia, PA. It was a loooooong journey, this morning Mich asked "Mummy you have brought me where?". Its so hot here I miss home, Ug has the best weather you all know. As in the house is so hot that one can just put a cake in the baking container and leave it in the sitting room, it will bake alright. You know how in UG it gets cooler in the night?! well that doesnt happen here, its actually hotter in the night, no need for bed covers or even nighties. Explains the skimpy dress code Iam seeing, Sam just told me an old lady died of heat in her apartment, yeah its that bad. Ok about the flight, lets just say when we were getting off the plane almost everybody wanted to see the little boy who couldnt stop crying. First we get into the duty free area at Entebbe and Mich sees a toy car, he insisted I get it for him, he was crying "Mummy I want a car", so under pressure I get it f...