PAST REUNIONS

Memories

The Way We Were

Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember

Whenever we remember...The way we were...
The Way We were (Barbra Streisand)

NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Janet Karen Ntwatwa
Status: Former Namasagali College Student
Residence: Rhode Island, USA

Class of 1994

What started out as a joke dinner conversation with a couple of friends finally become a dream come true. I do remember a few people bouncing the idea around about a NOSA get together…it sounded like it would be fun! Boy was it ever!!!!

PAUSE! STOP! REWIND!!!

Let’s get back to the meetings and the preparations aaaaaand the dance classes…whoosh! Boy did we go through some drama and fun filled moments!!! I guess the Boston Crew will always have CHARACTERS BAR/LOUNGE. I remember trying out for the dances…(Dare I say, my whole Sags duration I was up for all the “Stage Acting” but NEVER “the dancing”… now FAST FORWARD to today…here Iam 20 somin’ weeks pregnant and trying out for the dances. Most of my buddies hooted in laughter when I told them, while others turned green around the gills (with horror)…visualizing Janet doing an “Arrow base” and the “HURRY BOY!!!”…I had a blast!!! I couldn’t for the life of me tell a soul in my family lest someone got an apoplexy just thinking of their rolly polly sister in a leotard doing a split (…wishful thinking J).

What most people may not know was that we decided to do the dancing 7-8 weeks before the actual NOSA do. Hehehe…we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into! Before we knew it, it was 3 weeks before the “do” and we were still struggling with ALL the dances. We all made a mutual agreement to meet 3 times a week (twice during the week and one day of the weekend). If anyone has been preggo before, you would be groaning right now. Darn straight! I was too!!! I had to commute from Rhode Island to Boston for all the practices, and we never ever left before 2am… NEVER!!! EVER!!!! For that alone, I really thank the Boston dance Crew…of course it took a toll but we all worked it out. The last week before NOSA 07 we decided to showcase what we had…what better place than…the ABDU MULASI CONCERT (as curtain raisers)….LOL….who did you think…P-DIDDY??? Not quite yet but give us time…Yap ABDU it was…I know most of you are shrieking but…hey, we did it for the publicity and to see how stage “Ready” we were. People loved us! Yes they did! A few sly (bordering on sleazy) comments from the MC and the crowd was won over ...the leotards people the leotards did it for them…the things we do in the name of NOSA ’07 (sigh!).

I barely remember that whole weekend, it moved in fast forward. The fun part was I finally got to see people I had not seen in years…bullied most of my big brothers to make it to NOSA and yes I got to meet good ol’ Father Grimes again…rephrase…Mellow Father Grimes…who actually gave me a hug (gulp!)…I bet most of you who remember “NTWATWA” in her not so funky Sags glory…there was no way Father would have given me a hug…10yrs or so ago( has it been that long??)…the little HORRORS we were! Buuuut…I digress!

The Friday night (ka-danke) a sheer delight. I got to see most of the people that night, danced the night away…I actually did the “running-man”…we re-capped all the dances of way back when, from Break dancing to “SQUEEZE”. I missed Mass (on Saturday) but made it for Conference, till the little bump screamed in hunger so had to dash out for a quick bite. I got to wear my “REEVE” ribbon again (Assistant Lady High…If I may say so…Oh yes I was…my classmates do remember!). I think I had the most fun at the Hillie Billy Party….BELTON…he really cracked me up…I have not laughed so hard!!! MJ/ MC HAMMER (Musa)…, TK, We are the World…I cannot wait for the DVD to come out.

My feet were the size tree-trunks with roots by Saturday night…I could not wear my flats and so wore sandals the whole night…with an evening dress…(ah the evening dress that would not zipper-up…no thanks to the belly that grew overnite…naye Maureen M and the 1517 designers…the magicians that you are-thank you! By the time Sunday rolled around…I was teetering on the last droplets of adrenaline…the BBQ…the BBQ…we were supposed to have a sports day…but nooo…everyone was tired and just wanted to relax…ME 2! It was over way too soon. I could not believe the weekend was over.

What can I say…NOSA 07 was a blast from the past!

NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Andrew Odeke
Status: Former Namasagali College Student
Residence: Denmark

1. What were your expectations? (Meet? Exceeded? Disappointed?)
Expected a trip down memory lane with people I once held dear.
Expectations met and exceeded.
Pity that some were not able to make it – e.g. Ndaruzi, Stephen Mukasa, Hope, Miriam.

2. What was done right?
Welcome committee at the airport and luxury daily chauffeurs – Thanks to Nabs, The big one, Joze kiddu, Moses, Mangeni and Stephen. This really made us feel pampered and at home.
Venue: Marriott Cambridge – excellent facilities (slightly costly lodging though)
Registration desk: constantly present and courteous
Event T-shirts – excellent idea. Though the customised Panthers T-Shirts had the rest green with envy.
Wrist tags – good control measure. Desk location though was tricky at some locations, forcing Stephen and Pauli to do lots of extra legwork to get people through.
Creative dance – well rehearsed highlight. A solo (Stephen??) or Duet would have been nice too.
Lost comrades – very touching. Nice touch with the glow lights. Slide pp show should have been much slower though.

3. What should have been done differently?
Dee Jay Music selection (could have focused more on the hits from way back when).
Production video show – a medley of 5 minute highlights from each production.

4. What was your highlight?
Conference – the whole of it. Mass, Richards Poem, Ogubedento, creative dance, we are the world.

5. Reflections on Father?
Well preserved, more jovial and eager to include.

6. Where should the Next Reunion be?
Exotic locations come to mind, but reality is that a venue with lots of local helpers is always good. The Boston crew did very well. The helping hands from near and far showed that good coordination and good will can bring one quite far.
Boston
UK (if they can promise good weather. Needn't be London)

7.What would you like to see in the Next Reunion?
More faces from the 80’ies.

Below are my reflections from 11th July on the sagali80s discussion forum:
Ahhh Boston Boston Boston ……. The Boston crew- webare munonga -respect!… I am only now attempting to shake off the spell that you cast over us (Yes Mo…I can smell the coffee now- thanks for the wake up call).

Man was that the land of make believe or what? I recall stepping briefly out of the restaurant that first night when Lovely Gerry had her birthday…... and even the street air was peculiarly still, thick, warm, and crackling with positive vibes. It felt like a warm silky blanket over my shoulders, (coming from cold Denmark, one doubly appreciates such moments). I looked back over my shoulder to see the laughing faces of Mangeni, Mosha, Joyce, Janet, Margaret, Gerry, Nabs, Persis, Mo and Onweng gathering for a group photo and I knew that even, though it seemed improbable (for we were already happily giddy at this point), from here on, things would get even better. And boy oh boy did we climb from height to height.

Mighty Moses fed the Masses! By the way people, this was no easy feat. The man literally climbed up the mountain and plucked the Manna from above. I was there with him ……and got my shorts drenched in Binyebwa sauce for my efforts. Mo about the leftovers, last I remember, the expectant mom J’ was carefully planning to stash some away for a midnight snack – ask her. And the Katwanka in the box…. Ask Gerry, she denied all of us a drop saying “no one should touch this Katwanka on the street. The Powlice will shut us down”. Oh oh …. you were in the same room with her, didn’t the box come up intact? Acting all innocent hmm.

Conference was for real – it came complete with Richards poetry drawing a standing ovation, and Ogumpe showing he still had it when he jumped up in the middle of Croco’s interlude call and demanded that the show go on. Pauli you took it in your stride – Nice man. Incidentally Pauli, ……..check if the coast is clear now coz I think you got a fan here, the missus has been like “whose that handsome one?”

The Dancers were elegant. You did us proud girls. You had all of us inching forward to get a first row seat. Nabs remember you asked me for steps and I said just keep it sexy. Oooooooh thanks for listening girl. Mc Hammer yes we couldn’t touch that – still as agile as ever. We are the world rocked – thanks to the real Quincy.

By the way London crew, I missed the last teary farewell. I took five in Pittsburgh, and you girls were gone when I came out. Hope you had a nice trip …. Me, they had to drag me back onto that Airbus.

And to all those who have pumped up my ego with the compliments, I take a modest bow and say ….a keep them a coming. Appreciate the love. …....Mo, please don’t comment.

Quote from Andy Dave Mwase a Boston local at the Grand ball, “… rarely if ever, do we have such a quality crowd gathered in Boston”.

During vigour, the stand up comedian (the other Andrew) kept asking people “can you feel it? Can you feel it?” Yes Andrew d*mn we can still feel it.

group hug

Andrew

NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Maureen Ndawula-Bobilya
Status: Former Namasagali College Student
Residence: Fort Wayne, Indiana. USA

My Nosa Reunion Reflection in Boston:

Words cannot express the anticipation I had when I got ready to go for this reunion. How many years? Too many for me to count, not to mention it would remind me of how old I am.
Will they recognize me? What will everyone look like?
Fr Grimes!!!! Will he remember me?

The flash back of a life time
of a close knit family that was school gave me a nice warm feeling inside. We went thru so much. Me, a spoilt daughter from the city to a school in the bush.... But I digress.

It was unbelievable!!!! Lucy Bitature was the first that I saw when myself, Stella Ntate and Susan Musominari approached the first venue and she was just as beautiful as ever.

Time stood still as one after another I met all classes of former students from way back when. Age faded away and there was no risk of 'mixing levels' as we embraced, laughed reminisced and danced the night away.

The climax was meeting Father Grimes. The man who took me under his wing and guided me through my childhood into a lady. He had not changed a bit!!!! To see people from as far as London, Canada, Kampala and all over the States just re-emphasized the bond we still have as students from Namasagali.

We are a class apart from the rest, smart, successful, educated, beautiful, handsome ,talented, fun-loving and most of all down to earth real people who for a moment came together to remember the school that made us who we are.

I missed bringing my twelve year old daughter Rashiida ,and , loving American husband Rick, as I realized that they had to see this to realize what a wonderful group of people I grew up with - definitely next time - definitely.......I will bring them along.....
Special thanks to all that put this together. You did a great job!
Keep it up.

Maureen Ndawula - Bobilya
Fort Wayne Indiana USA

NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Richard Wakhewya

Status: Former Namasagali College Student

Residence: Massachusettes, USA

Trepidation

How many years had gone by?
Memories of a long distant past
Will they remember the goodbye?
Or were we just shadows of dreams to be cast

The train arrived and everyone was on board beckoning
People still so fresh and beautiful to behold
Namasagali at the Marriot was indeed an awakening
Of a proud past locked in memories untold

The dances and the songs were just the beginning
Making one feel like a youth once more
The events cruised like the great River Nile flowing
Bestowing its hope and grace on its beautiful shore

Will Father remember me?
Still there he was bestowing wisdom beyond our years
Acknowledging that he was just a messenger and a vehicle
To get us where we are now - most of us in tears

Amazingly in just a short period of time
We believed nothing could stop us in our tracks
To recreate a yearning for some more fond memories
On life’s beautiful road and the chance to shine

Richard Wakhewya

Massachusetts, USA 2007

NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name:Persis Kisitu
Status:Former Namasagali Student

Residence:London,United Kingdom

On the Reunion of Past Pupils of Namasagali College

– Boston, June 2007 –

Deep in Busoga Uganda, is a school
Namasagali is its name,
I went there so I know.

I also know it was a shrine
Where miracles were wrought;
Upon the lucky, lucky few –
Us children that it taught.

We students who were planted there
As simple seeds were sown;
But how we were to grow and bloom
We never could have known.

How could we have foreseen and how
Could we have been aware
That lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists, social workers
Sat as children there?

One visionary saint there was –
Perhaps he saw at times
The treasures that lay latent there
For he was Father D.Grimes.

He saw the beauties of the world
So rich and marvellous
And knew the talents that were stored
In every one of us.

So under his most loving care
Each petal then unfurled
And spread as envoys of his word
To all around the world.

To Canada, Uganda, Denmark,
England, U.S.A.
To Sweden – and so many more
There’s more than I can say.

Though so far flung in distant lands
We all are so delighted
To travel any distance here
To be thus re-united.

To those who’ve organised all this
Our thanks are most sincere
Indebted to all of you, to name but a few
For bringing us all here.

For seeing once again old friends
How wonderful to share
Those memories of who we were
And what we all did there.

For giving us a chance to talk
After so many years
And once again live through and feel
The laughter and the tears.

For giving us a chance to pause
Remembering friends so dear
Who were so vital to our lives
But are no longer here.

For Gerri’s birthday dinner and
The barbeque in the park
And for the ballroom dance where we
Danced on long after dark.

“We are the World” rang in our ears
“What more is left to do?”
And so – for just a little while –
We thought that it was true.

But not for long these selfish thoughts
We knew it was not so
To children out in Africa
We still had much to owe.

Far more important than our fun
Is what we had to give
To those not lucky, like ourselves,
A chance for them to live.

So may the charity we’ve launched
Grow rich so others may
Enjoy the richness of the lives
That we enjoy today.

And may its wealth supply their needs
Just like a trusted friend,
More valued with the passing years,
Live long and never end.

Persis Kisitu 2007