English Language Fellow in Mbarara, Uganda

The English Language Fellow Program is the premier opportunity for experienced teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad. Through projects developed by U.S. Embassies in more than 80 countries, Fellows work directly with local teachers, students, and educational professionals to improve the quality of English language instruction offered at prestigious universities and other academic institutions.

The duties of my specific placement as an English Language Fellow (ELF) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) include organizing, supporting and teaching reading and writing skills lessons and communication skills classes, working with faculty to develop and formalize the writing skills curriculum, delivering academic writing workshops and creating English language courses for university staff and local teachers' professional development.

Centipede nightmares

The giant centipede that woke us up this morning

This morning, when we woke up, Sean complained of a weird burning sensation on his foot and I joked that perhaps it was one of those giant Japanese centipedes that we had heard about as their bites supposedly sting pretty badly. When we got up and pulled back the covers it turns out that it WAS one of those giant centipedes and it was a pretty dramatic and horrifying sight. The insect was about ten inches long and the width of my thumb, including all of its legs. I immediately freaked out and took pictures of it obsessively while Sean sprung into action. He grabbed a dust pan, got it to crawl on it, which was quite a trick because it could move extremely quickly, and then dropped it out of the window.

A picture from Google Images to give you some frame of reference

After we got rid of the centipede, I did some research. It turns out that it's called "Mukade" in Japanese and is known for giving a nasty bite, which hurts worse than a bee sting. Here's the information on Mukade that is given to new JETS (Japanese English Teachers):

Mukade (ムカデ) :

The most commonly spotted of the three bugs that can put you in the hospital in Japan. If you live in a rural (or even semi-rural) area or near a mountain, you may have to deal with a mukade at school or home. These giant centipedes have yellow legs, black abdominal sections, and red heads with oddly appropriate curly horns.

They like to find dark places to hide and have been known to lie waiting in futons and clothing. They’ve also been spotted in sink traps, bathroom drains, and on tree trunks. Folk wisdom is that they come in pairs.

If you are bitten:

While the venom is not fatal, it does cause a lot of pain (likened to an electric shock) and severe, persistent swelling. If you are bitten on a limb, ice it and see a doctor the next day. As with bee stings, some of the stronger 虫刺され medicine is marked for use on mukade bites, so that can hold you over until you see a doctor. If you are bitten on the head, neck, or chest, you should seek medical attention immediately.

If they are in your school, in your apartment, or crashing your picnic:

Mukade are not reviled for their looks alone–they are aggressive, fearless, and distressingly tough. Your best bet is to immobilize it with bug spray or head trauma and then sweep/toss it away. Killing them by squishing, while therapeutic for you, can release pheromones that attract more. It may continue to move even after bisected. Show no mercy, for mukade know none.

I read a bit more and found out that they are extremely territorial creatures and consistently return to the original place where they were found, which is not great news. When I showed the pictures of the Mukade to my private English student later that afternoon, she was shocked and horrified. She lives down the street from me and had never seen one in her life. She, among several others, said that Japanese people believe that they come in pairs and warned me that we should be on the lookout for one more. Also, not the best news.

So far, Sean's fine. The bite on his foot swelled up and hurt a bit, but he still went to frisbee practice today. As for me, I'm totally grossed out and freaked out by possible future giant centipede encounters at night. These alien creatures from the deep woods are the stuff of nightmares. Sweet dreams!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

0 comments

Wanderlust

In Runyankole: Ekihika kyo kurambura nokwenda kumanya

According to my Runyankole tutor, the term 'wanderlust' can best be translated as 'having the desire to explore'. In the above translation, 'kumanya' has several meanings such as 'to know', 'to explore', or 'to understand'. He also added 'omurambuzi' which means 'someone who loves to travel frequently'.

English Language Fellow in Mbarara, Uganda

Centipede nightmares

0 comments