Teaching Blues

I wish it was "teaching the blues" but it's not; I just received some disheartening news. Followers of this blog know that my stint here was set from the beginning: 6 weeks. The first week was indoctrination, the second was observation of my co-teacher, week three I got my feet wet, and last week I feel like I hit my stride.
So, last Friday I find out that they will be conducting the national exams throughout Gulu starting Wednesday next. I also learn that Monday and Tuesday of next week will basically be the students studying on their own. So, I had one week of teaching left.

Today I went to school and found that the Ministry of Education decided to up the exams to tomorrow. I am, for all intents and purposes, done as a teacher here.

I blew out of school and now sit in Cafe Larem overdosing on caffeine. I am trying to figure out what next. One possible task is to get involved in the mentoring program where I would go out to the IDP (Indigenous Displaced People) camps or villages and meet with the family of some of the former abductees, young men and women who still suffer from a multitude of post traumatic syndrome symptoms. Part of the problem is convincing parents that their kids still have a chance, that their poor performance in school is a product of their history not a demonstration of an inherent lack of ability. There are orphanages aplenty here, so....

I am also kicking around the idea of a roadtrip to Sudan or Congo but I am pretty sure I haven't the stomache to run the risk of not getting back in time for my plane home. I do not want this to deterioate into just a vacation.