This update is from the previous week -about 23 Feb 2010. your blog editor is running behind, but intent on catching up.......

Well we are up and running at ALA. Yesterday was my introduction at the school assembly and I had to give a short address to the school to say who I was and what I was going to be doing at ALA. I only had 5 minutes so had to be short and enthusiastic about it. After that Jack and I and Gavin went to get the room ready as a class room. It was filled with junk but we cleared it and got tables and swept it and the cleaners mopped it and then I set up for the first lesson at 3.00. It was a big effort to get something in place for the first day but wanted to have things going on straight away. Jack was a wonderful help getting things in place for me. So my first beautiful students came along . It is purely optional and apparently there was a big maths exam on today so I had a bit of competition, but I did have 6 students attend, which is just lovely,I did a contour drawing activity andit went well. I will see if they come back I suppose. There will be no class today as the timetable is very tight so cannot offer another session until wed evening. Then I will have a big class on Thursday where people seem to be very interested and I will be doing "Drawing on the Right side of the Brain."

We went to have lunch at Gavens apartment in the school with his student group. Lovely to meet with the students in an informal setting, They are all so gorgeous, confident , and bright. Then later we went to the Mall with Gavinand got sim cards organised. The mall is like any other mall in the world, same same merchandise. One of the students, Steven who was with us and who comes from Uganda said there are no malls in Uganda.

Classes again tomorrow, and more work on the art room. Jack and I will start the painting of it as it is in need of beautification.The whole story of the school and how they come to be here is fascinating.

Have spoken to the Dean a few times and he has invited us to have dinner with him sometime next week.

Must go, will try to get some photos organised so you can see the progress with our art room.