Book of Judeah:

Finally back in the land of soils, banana plants and bad 'roads'. Mbale town is the third largest in Uganda (although to be fair, that doesn't really count for much ... seeing as it boasts just two roundabouts and a clocktower). It's still a pretty buzzing place, where most have fantastic englsh. This is because, those who live in more provincial areas (anywhere other than Baganda heartland i.e. the central regions) feel the need to learn english, as their mother tongue (generally Lugisu in Mbale), simply isn't enough to get around Uganda where Luganda is so predominantly spoken. This means that I can use my poor Luganda to get batik fabrics for 1000 less due to shopkeepers almost collapsing with my knowledge of how to say "how are you?" in Luganda. I'm not complaining.

The next two weeks for me will be spent in Putti village, around 40 minutes outside of Mbale town (incidentally they tend to speak Lugwere here - a very similar language to Luganda as they are both Bantu tribes (this doesn't mean Ill get any grip on it!)). I'm staying with one of the small jewish communities in the Eastern districts of Uganda. On entering, I would like to say that I was drawn to the chalk menorahs scrawn on the walls as mezuzot - but my attention was taken away in some way by the 250 chickens who live in the room just opposite mine!

Needless to say, the jewish community here is much like Woodford, but a fair bit younger, with a better taste in music and better tans. They are all hungry as hell for any tiny scrap of information about judaism itself, hebrew, and how the jewish community works around the world. I wish I'd been as passionate as some of the children I'm working with now when I was in primary school. Perhaps sometime s they can be perhaps a little too intimate. On looking at my legs, still sufferng after a recent mosquito attack (mosquito nets are great, but you cant exactly wear them everyday!) the children looked on folornly, and proceeded to scamper off and bring me bite cream - which they then rubbed into my legs, arms and face (?), they also won't let me cook lest I burn myelf ... this is probably for the best.

If you'd like to get in touch with the community - I can pass on any messages. For now, I'll be testing out my headscarf tying skills ... or lack of.

Keziah