Sunday, August 19, 2012

a new semester...

The summer has been officially over since August 2, our back-in-the-office day, but this weekend felt like the last weekend for reals, as we get ready for our new batch of students due to arrive en masse early Tuesday morning. Their arrival will launch us in to full go-mode for the semester; two and a half days of orientation, home stay drop offs, 10 days in Rwanda and back on the 2nd to start classes on the 3rd. Craziness! So long carefree, easygoing days of summer and far less responsibility... Hello work! But its good, and always exciting to start a fresh new year and a new semester. 

Tuesday we went on our annual staff retreat day in Jinja. There are several new faces this year: Lisa and her husband Eddie (back left) and our two new Program Assistants, Tiffany (front left) and Ruth (front right). Missing old faces, but harnessing lots of good new energy!

Friday night several of the American families and folks on campus went to Hairy Lemon for a get-a-way. Lots of good time relaxing in the sun, watching the world go by, playing badminton, reading, chatting, swimming... Perhaps Hairy Lemon is a pre-fall semester tradition for me! One I'm very ok with. 

Cormorant drying out on rocks in the river

Lisa and Eddie playing badminton

Check out this fleet of dragon flies perched on this tree...

Mary and Rachel, the cute Bartel girlies enjoying the water...

Sunrise....

Tiffany enjoying her milk tea, wading in the river....

So 24 bright-eyed students are somewhere between here and there... on the ground, we're ready, everyone anxiously anticipating a good, full semester ahead.

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