Problem: accurate
Mike believes that they can pull off a surprise party for Connie in three weeks when she arrives in Uganda on Thursday morning. Mike believes he is accurate in his assumptions. After agreeing to hold this celebration. They all want to weigh in on how the event will go. They all believe their plan for the celebration is the best.
Solution: non accurate
_They all come to accept that when they work collectively and allow each of them to weigh in on a decision, things move on well and the collective impact is better than if it was one person dominating. They realize it was not accurate for them to think one person’s idea was better than the other people’s ideas. _
Focus: expectation
_the expectations of how the event should go slow down the already short time frame to organize the event and call the guests, _
direction: determination
they all agree to meet in the middle concerning the plans for Connie’s arrival.
Story concern: doing
They are trying to prepare a surprise celebration for their older sister Constance Olouch’s home coming after finishing her masters and PhD in Switzerland. The family has arguments about what kind of celebration they should have for her and where the celebration should be held.
Signpost one: learning -
The family come to learn about the return date for Constance. She tells them the transcript will be out in a three weeks.
Variation One: Knowledge
The family are having a phone call with their first born daughter Connie and are hopeful of seeing her in three weeks’ time. During the phone call she discusses that her time abroad is coming and she’s on her way back to her country. They are overjoyed. They are overjoyed that her time in university is coming to an end, they have spent 5 years without seeing her.
Scenes:
Scene One **: Reaction, **
The family react to the news of Connie’s graduation. They ask her about her graduation experience and if it was everything she imagined it would be. Connie informs them at the graduation ceremony and period met all her expectations.
I’m writing one throughline only - the OS throughline
Sunday 7th July, 2018 – Munyonyo Kampala
The Olouch family gathered in their living room to speak with their first born child Connie Olouch who graduated the day before. They settle into their dark leather chairs contrasted by the gleaming white walls in their living room.
Mr. Olouch picked up his iPhone and placed the call putting the phone on loud speaker. He wore a navy blue polo shirt, brown khaki trousers and brown flip flops. It rang five times then Connie picked up the call.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hey graduate, how are you doing?” said Jennifer Olouch her younger sister and second born of the family. She wore an orange blow and navy blue three-quarter sweat pants.
“Hi Jenny,” she replied.
“Hi Connie,” greeted her mom Millicent Olouch who was dressed in a dark green African dress that reached her ankles.
“Hi Connie,” greeted her father Mr. Olouch.
Mike scratched the back of his autographed Paul Pogba Manchester United jersey his uncle gave him on his twenty-fifth birthday back in February. “Hello to my favorite person,” said Mike.
“Congrats on your graduation,” said her Mom.
“Dad tried to call you yesterday but we figured you were busy taking photos, spending last moments with certain friends and all that.”
“Very true,” it was a splendid graduation after being here for five years.
Connie had finished her PhD at the University of Switzerland. She finished her masters in Psychology two years earlier at the same university.
“So how did it go? Who was the guest of honor?” said Mike.
“We had the vice prime minister of Switzerland as the guest of honor.”
“It was a colorful ceremony. My favorite part was when we all through our graduation hats into the air.”
“I’ll send you the photos as soon as possible.”
“It was a little bit of a sad time too. There’s lots of friends, acquaintances I’ll most likely never meet again physically. But this is the digital era. We’ll still be able to keep in touch.”
“That’s life,” said Jennifer. “We are with certain people for a certain season and once that season ends, we move on from them due to different circumstances.”
“True,” said Mike.
~-~
“So how many parties did you attend yesterday,” said mom.
“I attended two parties. There was one that was held at school for a course mate. My friend’s mom made such great cake. One of the best I’ve ever tasted. It was a splendid time getting to meet her parents, and siblings and her aunt and uncle. Families over here aren’t as big as hours.
Jennifer smiled. “And the other one?”
“The other one was splendid too. It took place at a restaurant next to a pier where ships dock. So as the ceremony was going on. Ships and other water vessels were going in and out of harbor. The scenery in Switzerland is just breathtaking. I miss parties in Uganda. The white folk here are very reserved in the way they do things and the way they dance. The party ended with us dancing to some Swedish pop music. I left about 10 am and headed for my apartment.”
~-~
“Thanks for making us proud,” said Mr. Olouch. “It’s easy to lose your way when you’re in a European country all by yourself to peer pressure and other negative influences. But you’ve made it through successfully.”
“Thanks dad.”
“I can’t wait to see the output and difference you’re going to make in your life’s work and career.”
“I’m flattered dad. I’m looking forward to what the future holds too.”
“Apart of me wishes I had got better grades in school.”
“Well, your grades are fine,” added. “The marks on your transcript are a minor indicator of the output you will have in your career. Keep reading, keep researching keep learning. Don’t look at this as an end to learning. If you keep learning and applying yourself after this, you will go places. For a lot of graduates, university is the end of their active learning. Don’t let this be your end.”
“That’s true dad.”
The house went dark. Within 30 seconds, their standby generator kicked in.
“These power cuts are becoming more frequent,” said Jennifer.
“Not really. The daytime security guard told they’re changing the poles in the area. So once they finish with the repairs, the electricity supply will return to normal.
“What’s that I hear about electricity?”
“Power had just gone off but it’s back on now,” said Mike.
~-~
“Well, this week the government began charging citizens to access various social media apps, because they say they need money which they are most likely going to use for selfish reasons,” said Mike folding his legs onto the sofa.
“I heard about it,” said Connie.
“It’s absurd,” said Mr Olouch. Even LinkedIn in is blocked when accessing it via mobile.
“However at home because of we have Roke telecom internet, we are able to access all sites.”
“I saw something about it in my newsfeed on Facebook. So it seems like the OTT tax is limited only to the mobile internet.”
“That’s true,” said Mike.
“Life has been a little boring this week on social media since a lot of my friends are offline this week. People are planning to boycott mobile internet next week.”
“Sounds serious,” said Connie.
~-~
Scene 2 - Certainty
They get to learn about the date when there sister’s is arriving the family learns about Connie’s return date.
“So when will you be arriving back in Uganda?” asked Mike.
“Um, I’ll be arriving back on a Thursday three weeks from now.”
“Nice.”
“Have you already booked the ticket for that day?” said Mr. Olouch.
“Yes, I’ve already done so.”
“I can’t wait to be back in the hot sun of Uganda.”
“I’m tired of the weather here.”
Mike looked up and saw the maid bringing food onto the dining table. The maid brought in a large dish that radiated with the smell of grilled meat. Smells like grilled turkey, thought Mike. Kalo. Groundnuts soup and steamed vegetables and fruit salad. After she’s done, she comes to where Mrs. Olouch is and informs her that food is ready.
Let me just walk up to the table and grab some juice then come back and join the family, thought Mike. He walked up and headed for the dining table.
Just as he was walking past his mom, she grabbed him by the hand, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m just going to grab some juice.”
“That’s fine, I thought you were going to start eating without the rest of us.”
“No.”
~-~
Scene 3 - Potentiality
Dad says, make sure you try to get everything cleared quickly before even next week, you may run into some snags, the dad can give a bit of his experience where a clerk fell sick and things stalled for a while, or there’s the risk of long times at times. Dad is biased in the view that if her daughter is not keen on sorting out her clearing with the university and going to pick her transcript on time, she may find herself missing her flight deadline.
“I hope you’ll begin handing in your university clearance forms come Monday,” said Mr. Olouch.
“I’m thinking I’ll start on Tuesday.”
Jennifer walked up to her mom and asked to be excused.
“Where are you going?” her mom whispered.
“I’m going to the toilet,” said Jennifer.
Her mom nodded.
“I’ll recommend you start on Monday.”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” said Connie.
“Don’t take chances,” added dad. “I remember when I was handing in my clearance forms at Makerere University 30 years ago, there were days I would go to certain offices and find the members of staff were not around. Sometimes a document I handed in for example to the library stayed on the librarian’s desk for three days.”
The University of Switzerland is more efficient than Makerere University thought Mike to himself. He felt like verbalizing the distinction to his father but decided against.
Mr. Olouch did not like being intellectually challenged by his children.
“I’ll do as you’ve,” said Dad.
“Better to start clearing early. Something unexpected could happen and cause delays as you’ve said.”
“That’s my girl,” dad said.
Mike consulted with Jennifer whether to ask mom if they can serve food and eat from the living room while continuing to speak with Connie because their food would get cold.
“Give it a try, but you know mom, she’s a stickler for rules and traditions.”
Mike walked up to mom and whispered in her ear.
“That’s fine.”
Mike gestured to Jennifer and both of them went and served their dinner.
“When they returned, Mr. and Mrs. Olouch went and served their meal.”
~-~
Scene 4 - Pro-action
Connie shares with them about how she’s been proactive in getting herself ready to come back to Uganda. Time frame for picking up her results.
“What are you going to do about your belongings?” said Jennifer. “I doubt you’re planning to ship all your furniture back to Uganda.”
“Well a friend told me I could auction them on eBay so that’s what I’m going to do for most of my belongings.”
“I’m selling my wardrobe, desk, chair and bed.”
“I’ll be leaving out of my suitcase for the last 7 days of my stay here.”
“As for my beddings, I’ll have them dropped off at charity that helps homeless people nearby.”
“That’s kind and brilliant of you,” said Mike.
“Thanks. The a few extra Euros in your pocket doesn’t hurt and doing good for the less privileged is fulfilling too.”
“I’ve never been privileged to lie on a pillows filled with feathers and comfy like the ones you’ve been using. You should at least pack one for me.”
Their mom shook her head.
“I guess I’ll bring you one of the pillows,” said Connie.
I’ll also be taking time to go to the Swiss Alps for about 3 days and just take in all the scenery and magnificence of this area.
“It’s going to be a very long time before I can have the same experience once again.”
To be continued
