Today was the first time we got to see the top of Kilimanjaro peaking through the clouds. It had been cloudy all day and was once again hidden but as we were driving back the clouds began to clear. All I can say is wow, and I can't wait for a completely clear day.
At the start of day, we all went to see the local director of education for the area me & Ruth are working in. He wasn't around but we met his second in command. She was so happy to have us here and working on the projects. She already has many ideas for the future. Then we split up into our two groups to go to the different schools.
Myself and Ruth went up to our little Primary school this morning and was greeted by children chasing the van. They were so excited to see us and surrounded the van, when we got out they kept grabbing our arms and saying good morning. It was so adorable and took us quite some time to get to the office to speak with the head. The other girls then left and we settled down for the day with the school. Unfortunately the builders hadn't shown up, the excuse being it had rained over night and was too wet. Just goes to show builders are the same world wide. Being Africa it had dried very well by the time we got there, and we could not see why they couldn't be working. The same frustrations, I could still be working Enterprise on rural bends back home.
The school: Existing classrooms and the new classrooms, still awaing funds to complete.
Not to matter we surveyed the site using traditional methods of pacing out, slightly inhibited by the kids as they were intrigued by everything we were doing. At one point I was walking around the site with about 5 kids on each arm, bizarre experience. Once the camera was out they were even more excited and each wanted their picture taken, you should of seen their faces when I showed them the picture afterwards. Words really cannot describe!!!!!!!!
The teachers welcomed us with open arms and are determined to teach us Swahili, I was given a crib sheet of numbers and every so often the head mistress would shout a number at me to translate back into Swahili. They found it so amusing everytime i got in wrong, which was often. Ruth has learnt the word for bull, and is trying to work out how to ask what the word for shit is????? I now have a few greetings jotted down, as i do not have a memory for language, but a few things are starting to sink in. By the end of the week I will be fluent ha ha ha.
The teacher I was sat with for a time has an infectious laugh, as you can imagine we were giggling at each other, particularily when we couldn't understand what either of us were saying. She was lovely and very patient with me.
I will leave Ruth to tell you about other events of the day........Naomi x
We had a good chat to Mr Meena and Mr Hamis (the old headteacher and now school warden for 12 schools in the area) about the construction of the kitchen and the programme of works. Feels like I am still at work. It looks very positive for the work to be completed before we leave. The school govenor has said he will make sure the builders turn up tomorrow even if wet to talk through the work. Apparently at the completion of our stay, we will plant some trees for them to remember us by.
After providing us with a morning snack of ground nuts, bananas and sweet tea we were formally introduced to the children. The children sang a welcome song to us which was just so lovely.
I went and braved the long drop (toilet) today which was just the same as roadside toilets in France and maybe even smelt slightly better. They had provide soft paper for us, which they wouldn't normally use, amazing. (Naomi - holding trousers amd knickers whilst squatting over a hole and making sure your trousers don't touch the ground is a real art.) On my way back one of the older girls wanted to meet me and say hello, unfortunately I can't remember her name but I hope we will meet again and she will help with my Swahili and vice versa.
We were fed at lunch time with the teachers a lovely meal of goat stew, avocado, cabbage and cucumber. Always seem to provide glass bottles of fizzy drinks with meals. The hospitallity in only two days is so much more than we would expect in the UK.
After the school day was over, we walked back to the tarmaced road with some of the teachers and what seemed like all of the children following us. We managed to get the kids to walk in front of us after Naomi stopped to take some pictures of the river (they are taking us up to the waterfall later this week).
Whilst waiting at the road for our driver we were greeted by the local church pastor (Lutheren) and elders and given a tour of the church. They offered to get the choir to sing a song for us as it was choir practice but we were worried that Godwin would be waiting for us. As it turned out we had plenty of time, not a problem as the choir continued to sing as they left the church and crossed the road to where we were waiting. At this point the clouds around Kili were clearing and we had a wonderful view all the way home.
Having bought vodka at the airport, Peter remembered today to get tonic water and we have been happily supping since we got back so apologisees forthe rambling (again after she deleted it some of it - arghhhhhhh).
Lots of joy to all and keep eating the chocolate at Jacobs as it can make such a difference over here..............Ruth
The day for Keilah and Amy was not as eventful as far as the projects were concerned. We spent the morning in meetings with Peter. We met with the Assistant Director of Education for our distract to discuss the lack of teacher support at our school (Masandaka School for the Deaf). It was adverbial tug of war concerning the need for teacher houses and transport at the school. To be fare the school i located far from every where with dirt roads that become rivers when it rains, and beautiful children who live on sight as it's a boarding school. I was interested to observe the political dynamic in the meeting, though uncomfortable...as with most school systems this department is struggling for money and has not made this particular need priority because they have so many other priorities. Peter has appointed himself as one of many advocates for this school.
The afternoon was a short stint, but a good start. Amy and I broke up into our respective rooms and groups. She, to work on the wall mural in the library, and I to give an introduction via role play on what a Library is and how the students will be responsible for the over all functioning.
At the start of day, we all went to see the local director of education for the area me & Ruth are working in. He wasn't around but we met his second in command. She was so happy to have us here and working on the projects. She already has many ideas for the future. Then we split up into our two groups to go to the different schools.
Myself and Ruth went up to our little Primary school this morning and was greeted by children chasing the van. They were so excited to see us and surrounded the van, when we got out they kept grabbing our arms and saying good morning. It was so adorable and took us quite some time to get to the office to speak with the head. The other girls then left and we settled down for the day with the school. Unfortunately the builders hadn't shown up, the excuse being it had rained over night and was too wet. Just goes to show builders are the same world wide. Being Africa it had dried very well by the time we got there, and we could not see why they couldn't be working. The same frustrations, I could still be working Enterprise on rural bends back home.
The school: Existing classrooms and the new classrooms, still awaing funds to complete.Not to matter we surveyed the site using traditional methods of pacing out, slightly inhibited by the kids as they were intrigued by everything we were doing. At one point I was walking around the site with about 5 kids on each arm, bizarre experience. Once the camera was out they were even more excited and each wanted their picture taken, you should of seen their faces when I showed them the picture afterwards. Words really cannot describe!!!!!!!!
The teachers welcomed us with open arms and are determined to teach us Swahili, I was given a crib sheet of numbers and every so often the head mistress would shout a number at me to translate back into Swahili. They found it so amusing everytime i got in wrong, which was often. Ruth has learnt the word for bull, and is trying to work out how to ask what the word for shit is????? I now have a few greetings jotted down, as i do not have a memory for language, but a few things are starting to sink in. By the end of the week I will be fluent ha ha ha.The teacher I was sat with for a time has an infectious laugh, as you can imagine we were giggling at each other, particularily when we couldn't understand what either of us were saying. She was lovely and very patient with me.
I will leave Ruth to tell you about other events of the day........Naomi x
We had a good chat to Mr Meena and Mr Hamis (the old headteacher and now school warden for 12 schools in the area) about the construction of the kitchen and the programme of works. Feels like I am still at work. It looks very positive for the work to be completed before we leave. The school govenor has said he will make sure the builders turn up tomorrow even if wet to talk through the work. Apparently at the completion of our stay, we will plant some trees for them to remember us by.
After providing us with a morning snack of ground nuts, bananas and sweet tea we were formally introduced to the children. The children sang a welcome song to us which was just so lovely.
I went and braved the long drop (toilet) today which was just the same as roadside toilets in France and maybe even smelt slightly better. They had provide soft paper for us, which they wouldn't normally use, amazing. (Naomi - holding trousers amd knickers whilst squatting over a hole and making sure your trousers don't touch the ground is a real art.) On my way back one of the older girls wanted to meet me and say hello, unfortunately I can't remember her name but I hope we will meet again and she will help with my Swahili and vice versa.
We were fed at lunch time with the teachers a lovely meal of goat stew, avocado, cabbage and cucumber. Always seem to provide glass bottles of fizzy drinks with meals. The hospitallity in only two days is so much more than we would expect in the UK.
After the school day was over, we walked back to the tarmaced road with some of the teachers and what seemed like all of the children following us. We managed to get the kids to walk in front of us after Naomi stopped to take some pictures of the river (they are taking us up to the waterfall later this week).
Whilst waiting at the road for our driver we were greeted by the local church pastor (Lutheren) and elders and given a tour of the church. They offered to get the choir to sing a song for us as it was choir practice but we were worried that Godwin would be waiting for us. As it turned out we had plenty of time, not a problem as the choir continued to sing as they left the church and crossed the road to where we were waiting. At this point the clouds around Kili were clearing and we had a wonderful view all the way home.Having bought vodka at the airport, Peter remembered today to get tonic water and we have been happily supping since we got back so apologisees forthe rambling (again after she deleted it some of it - arghhhhhhh).
Lots of joy to all and keep eating the chocolate at Jacobs as it can make such a difference over here..............Ruth
The day for Keilah and Amy was not as eventful as far as the projects were concerned. We spent the morning in meetings with Peter. We met with the Assistant Director of Education for our distract to discuss the lack of teacher support at our school (Masandaka School for the Deaf). It was adverbial tug of war concerning the need for teacher houses and transport at the school. To be fare the school i located far from every where with dirt roads that become rivers when it rains, and beautiful children who live on sight as it's a boarding school. I was interested to observe the political dynamic in the meeting, though uncomfortable...as with most school systems this department is struggling for money and has not made this particular need priority because they have so many other priorities. Peter has appointed himself as one of many advocates for this school.
The afternoon was a short stint, but a good start. Amy and I broke up into our respective rooms and groups. She, to work on the wall mural in the library, and I to give an introduction via role play on what a Library is and how the students will be responsible for the over all functioning.
We came back to the lodge to find a lovely view of Mt Kili from our lodge garden...breath taking moments like this, the sound of eager children laughing, or the vibrant display of color in every day motions confirm what seems slightly astonishing (especially after the struggle to get here lol!)...We're In Africa!
Ok now got a google account and hopefully can leave comments.
ReplyDeleteVery pleased to hear what's going on so quickly the web is a fab tool for this stuff
I'll now read day 1-3 but suffice to say crack on ladies!