It almost seems churlish to tell you about my lovely day by the sea yesterday since you are battling with the colder weather, but I will be back in it myself next week.
I went with the other long term volunteer, Sean, to a fantastic beach with the useless name of river number 2. The river behind the sand bar slowly fill with water which gets as warm as a bath. We rented a beach hut and had white wine and barracuda and chips. The bank opposite has mangrove trees and the hills behind are covered in rainforest.
Back in the noisy city and the last few days trying to get all the resources I am doing photocopied and collated to send out to the other schools on Thursday.
I am going back up to the primary school up the road this morning. They have about 80 children in the nursery. Chaotic. No one in the school is a trained teacher!!
I had a little party for my birthday. I bought a chicken pizza and made egg mayonaise rolls and popcorn and six of the teachers who live near the school went out to the local outdoor bar and I bought the drinks. The Christians drink lager and the Muslims drink Fanta and maltina which tastes like horlicks.
My life has widened out so much since my last birthday, now it is difficult to know which is 'real'. Well back to the real world on Friday so I will make this my last post for this visit. See you soon,
Pat
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Back in Freetown
I arrived back here on Tuesday evening. It's noisier than Rolal but the benefits are the loo, the shower and an electric kettle and toaster and far fewer biting insects.
I felt something walking on my face in bed last night. I jumped up and put the light on and saw a cockroach walking up the wall. I tried to splat it with a book but it ran too fast so I got it with a spray. Yuk.
I am going to pick up the boxes of toys and books I sent by ship this afternoon. I am looking forward to sorting it all out and cataloguing it. The idea is to lend the toys to the parents of children and I will give a box to the primary school I have adopted. they don't have anything much at all.
The rainy season is still here and we get some bad rainstorms but they should get less and less over the next few weeks until they disappear altogether.
I am writing some simple stories for the girls who cannot read well based on their lives. Somehow many of them are sad and involve early marriage. Education is their only way out but some of them have a long haul. Most of them only speak the local language Temne. If they speak the everyday language Krio it helps because there are a lot of English words so I learned to speak slowly. I will probably come back and speak in a very simple English to everyone!!
I hope I can go and have a swim later this afternoon in the sea. I have spent 7 weeks wishing for a swim. There was a river locally but bathing in fresh water is not advisable. You can catch all sorts of nasty things.
I was in Rolal to help with the opening of the new senior school. We had the official opening on Tuesday and it went well. The people who put up the money were very pleased. Now we are looking for someone to build the second floor.
Will get on with more work now, so will write again next week.
Pat
I felt something walking on my face in bed last night. I jumped up and put the light on and saw a cockroach walking up the wall. I tried to splat it with a book but it ran too fast so I got it with a spray. Yuk.
I am going to pick up the boxes of toys and books I sent by ship this afternoon. I am looking forward to sorting it all out and cataloguing it. The idea is to lend the toys to the parents of children and I will give a box to the primary school I have adopted. they don't have anything much at all.
The rainy season is still here and we get some bad rainstorms but they should get less and less over the next few weeks until they disappear altogether.
I am writing some simple stories for the girls who cannot read well based on their lives. Somehow many of them are sad and involve early marriage. Education is their only way out but some of them have a long haul. Most of them only speak the local language Temne. If they speak the everyday language Krio it helps because there are a lot of English words so I learned to speak slowly. I will probably come back and speak in a very simple English to everyone!!
I hope I can go and have a swim later this afternoon in the sea. I have spent 7 weeks wishing for a swim. There was a river locally but bathing in fresh water is not advisable. You can catch all sorts of nasty things.
I was in Rolal to help with the opening of the new senior school. We had the official opening on Tuesday and it went well. The people who put up the money were very pleased. Now we are looking for someone to build the second floor.
Will get on with more work now, so will write again next week.
Pat
Saturday, 16 October 2010
The smallest addition to the school
We had an adorable baby goat born a few days ago. a bit premature and very wobbly. the mother was very protectiv3e and squared up to anyone who went near the baby. They were kept separate from the other goats for the night and we had a terrible rainstorm in the night but it was still OK in the morning. Apparently goats are tough which is probably why there are lots of goats and no sheep here.
I visited the primary school again yesterday. I enjoyed the journey on the bike in the morning with the sun on my arms and the wind in my hair but it was spitting with rain and colder in the evening so far less pleasant coming home. For anyone confused by the reference to bikes, it is the only way of travelling on a taxi bike. Or I could walk for one and a half hours of course. I still get looked at as we race along muddy trcks past people's houses but generally everyone is very friendly. This is the politest and friendliest place I have ever been in.
We open the new school a week on Tuesday and there is still much sawing and hammering going on. We have the local MP and councillors coming as well as representatives of the charity that are providing the money for the school. The various clubs in the school are doing preentations and we have been busy making powerpoint prsentations to show the guests.
Looking forward to a hot shower when I get home and a plate of chips. Funny what you hanker after when they aren't here.
Bye for now,
Pat
I visited the primary school again yesterday. I enjoyed the journey on the bike in the morning with the sun on my arms and the wind in my hair but it was spitting with rain and colder in the evening so far less pleasant coming home. For anyone confused by the reference to bikes, it is the only way of travelling on a taxi bike. Or I could walk for one and a half hours of course. I still get looked at as we race along muddy trcks past people's houses but generally everyone is very friendly. This is the politest and friendliest place I have ever been in.
We open the new school a week on Tuesday and there is still much sawing and hammering going on. We have the local MP and councillors coming as well as representatives of the charity that are providing the money for the school. The various clubs in the school are doing preentations and we have been busy making powerpoint prsentations to show the guests.
Looking forward to a hot shower when I get home and a plate of chips. Funny what you hanker after when they aren't here.
Bye for now,
Pat
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Of plastic kettles and other things.
When I first arrived in Rola, I was intrigued by the number of stripy plastic kettles i saw. They seemed about as useful as chocolate fireguards, speaking of chocolate, tere is none here, or at least I haven't seen any.The total lack of fridges might have something to do with it. Anyway, back to the kettles. It didn't take very long to realise that they go to the toilet with them for washing, which also explains why the floor is always wet on the left hand side. I still don't like the the ground so a real toilet will be a bonus when I next visit Freetown. Eating etiquette is very strict. Food is not touched with the left hand, all food is eaten with the right. I was eating out of the communal dish the other day with my spoon when someone took it away and said it was time I ate like an african so I did. You mix the rice and sauce to make a squashy sausage and then put your hand right up to your mouth to eat. A bit messy but the plastic kettles are there to pour water on the hand to wash.
Last Sunday was a special day at church. They were collecting money for the youth group. Mass took 2 hours and the singing and collections etc from the youth group took nearly another hour. I hope I earned enough brownie points because I skipped off this morning because I had things I had to do before the car goes back to Freetown this afternoon.
I spent Friday and Saturday in Maronka, the little village with the primary school. I had another ride on the back of a bike taxi. The drivers are really skillful, going through mud and huge puddles and across log bridges. This time I stayed overnight but the grass mattress wasvery hard. I still slept, I ws tired. there ae 27 boys and girls who live in. Some are children of staff but most are rescued by Miriam. I have mentioned little Binta before. Her mother was in jail and she had been sevrly neglected by the person she was left with. Whenever I go, she rushes up and clings on and pushes all the others away.She is much better now. When she first arrived, she would not talk to anyone, now she plays and is happy. Little Ibrahim was taken from a severly alcoholic mother. He is 9 but really small and doesn't seem to grow at all. All the little one cling on and poke my skin and feel my hair
I was in the compound chatting this morning when a bike turned up with a boy on the back who gave me a lovely salad dish with noodles and hard boiled eggs and a few real baked beans sent by one of the other teachers. A lovely gesture and nice to have some food I recognise. I eat rice and stewed leaves and gari but I don't look forward to it. Most eggs are hard boiled as soon as they are laid. A good precaution in a land without fridges but I also suspect it has something to do with the fact they all run loose with the cocks so the eggs are fertile.
Will sign off now and maybe have a little sleep soon, it has been a hot morning althought he clouds are gathering so we are most likely in for a soaking later.
Pat
Last Sunday was a special day at church. They were collecting money for the youth group. Mass took 2 hours and the singing and collections etc from the youth group took nearly another hour. I hope I earned enough brownie points because I skipped off this morning because I had things I had to do before the car goes back to Freetown this afternoon.
I spent Friday and Saturday in Maronka, the little village with the primary school. I had another ride on the back of a bike taxi. The drivers are really skillful, going through mud and huge puddles and across log bridges. This time I stayed overnight but the grass mattress wasvery hard. I still slept, I ws tired. there ae 27 boys and girls who live in. Some are children of staff but most are rescued by Miriam. I have mentioned little Binta before. Her mother was in jail and she had been sevrly neglected by the person she was left with. Whenever I go, she rushes up and clings on and pushes all the others away.She is much better now. When she first arrived, she would not talk to anyone, now she plays and is happy. Little Ibrahim was taken from a severly alcoholic mother. He is 9 but really small and doesn't seem to grow at all. All the little one cling on and poke my skin and feel my hair
I was in the compound chatting this morning when a bike turned up with a boy on the back who gave me a lovely salad dish with noodles and hard boiled eggs and a few real baked beans sent by one of the other teachers. A lovely gesture and nice to have some food I recognise. I eat rice and stewed leaves and gari but I don't look forward to it. Most eggs are hard boiled as soon as they are laid. A good precaution in a land without fridges but I also suspect it has something to do with the fact they all run loose with the cocks so the eggs are fertile.
Will sign off now and maybe have a little sleep soon, it has been a hot morning althought he clouds are gathering so we are most likely in for a soaking later.
Pat
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Shopping in Port Loko
On Monday, I went to do a bit of shopping in Port Loko. It was about 2 miles down the road and i ended up with a blister and it was very hot. I got hard boiled eggs, oranges, bread and bananas. To get back we took taxis. That is plural because they are all motor bikes.They usually take 2 passengers but the road was slippery so they refused and Abie and I had to get separate ones. I rather enjoyed it. I will have to take one again on Friday because I am going to the primary school in the village of Maronka each Friday and it takes about one and a half hours to walk. Some of the kids come from the village every day but they walk faster than me.
I have just removed a large black ant from my shoulder, before it had tme to take a bite. There are small balck ants in my room and I think that is what is biting me at night. Obviously the mosquito net does not frighten them. we are going to put kerosine round the outside of the room to try and keep them out.
Tomorrow we are going to separate the girls who cannot read at all and I will start to teach them from the beginning. Some of them have not been to school at all and the local primary seems to be useless. One problem is that the government does not pay teachers for months so they have to find another way of getting money so they don't do much teaching.
The church has already got me in its sights. I've had an envelope addressed to me for money for the collection for the poor next sunday. mass starts an hour later at 10 but I am told it will go on for about 2 and a half hours. O for Fr Tibor's homilies, short and sweet.
Noow it is cooler, I shall get on with some work. Keep watching,
Pat
I have just removed a large black ant from my shoulder, before it had tme to take a bite. There are small balck ants in my room and I think that is what is biting me at night. Obviously the mosquito net does not frighten them. we are going to put kerosine round the outside of the room to try and keep them out.
Tomorrow we are going to separate the girls who cannot read at all and I will start to teach them from the beginning. Some of them have not been to school at all and the local primary seems to be useless. One problem is that the government does not pay teachers for months so they have to find another way of getting money so they don't do much teaching.
The church has already got me in its sights. I've had an envelope addressed to me for money for the collection for the poor next sunday. mass starts an hour later at 10 but I am told it will go on for about 2 and a half hours. O for Fr Tibor's homilies, short and sweet.
Noow it is cooler, I shall get on with some work. Keep watching,
Pat
Sunday, 19 September 2010
10th anniversary
Yesterday went well. Despite it being a Saturday, all the children ere expected to attend school and most of them did. we had a play abhout TB, a quiz on AIDS, TB maths and english which sounds a bit serious but the girls won.The girls had a football match aND THEN THE BOYS DID. iT WAS REALLY HOT AND i WENT FOR A NAP IN THE AFTERNOON. iN THE EVENING WE HAD A DISCO FOR THE HOME BOYS AND GIRLS, (THE ONES THAT LIVE IN) Ignore the capitals, must have pressed the cap lock. A lot of the local women came with their children and we all danced energetically despite the heat.
Today I walked a miole to Mass with the school head. I slipped over and my knees nd hands landed in thick red mus (there's a lot of it about) but we went to a house and got water to wash me down. The church is really nice and the service good although a bit longer than I'm used to at 2 hours. Much singing and drumming and clapping. A bit different than usual. the hurch is Our Lady of Lourdes.
I am getting used to the hole in the floor but the loo is about 50yards across the comp9ound and needs a torch at night. The wash cubical is a concrete block behind the loos and someone puts a bucket of water in for me. Everyt5hing here is bare concrete, not very aethetic but functional.
There is fruit around, mainly oranges and bananas. Those golden plums are called lemo9ns here and have a prickly stone inside. My other mainstay is egg mayonnaise rolls and laughing cow cheese. I also have a good supply of cup a soups. Not very African.
We are waiting for Miriam to arrive. She flew in from Kinshasa for the anniversary celebrations aqnd is visiting all the schools.
There are a lot of insects of all types here. Oddly enought he houseflies are the least unpleasant, most of the others bite and seem to love my legs. Itr is just too hot to wear long sleeves and long trousers so I'll keep taking the tablets and trying to scare them away with repellant.
I think it wil rain again soon, its been on and off all day and it is very muggy. Everyone here is very friendly. I may be the only white oerson in the district (this is not a multicultural society) but a man came up0 to me this mo9rnng to thank me for what I was doing. The word for white person is opoto and the little ones point and shout. The babies all cry when they see me but I'm used to that now.
Lets hope this goes. Will post again soon.
Pat
Today I walked a miole to Mass with the school head. I slipped over and my knees nd hands landed in thick red mus (there's a lot of it about) but we went to a house and got water to wash me down. The church is really nice and the service good although a bit longer than I'm used to at 2 hours. Much singing and drumming and clapping. A bit different than usual. the hurch is Our Lady of Lourdes.
I am getting used to the hole in the floor but the loo is about 50yards across the comp9ound and needs a torch at night. The wash cubical is a concrete block behind the loos and someone puts a bucket of water in for me. Everyt5hing here is bare concrete, not very aethetic but functional.
There is fruit around, mainly oranges and bananas. Those golden plums are called lemo9ns here and have a prickly stone inside. My other mainstay is egg mayonnaise rolls and laughing cow cheese. I also have a good supply of cup a soups. Not very African.
We are waiting for Miriam to arrive. She flew in from Kinshasa for the anniversary celebrations aqnd is visiting all the schools.
There are a lot of insects of all types here. Oddly enought he houseflies are the least unpleasant, most of the others bite and seem to love my legs. Itr is just too hot to wear long sleeves and long trousers so I'll keep taking the tablets and trying to scare them away with repellant.
I think it wil rain again soon, its been on and off all day and it is very muggy. Everyone here is very friendly. I may be the only white oerson in the district (this is not a multicultural society) but a man came up0 to me this mo9rnng to thank me for what I was doing. The word for white person is opoto and the little ones point and shout. The babies all cry when they see me but I'm used to that now.
Lets hope this goes. Will post again soon.
Pat
Thursday, 16 September 2010
here at Rolal
Well, arrived here on Tuesday. That was a tiring day, up at 5.30 and lots of bumpy road. Much more peaceful here than in Freetown. It was so quiet, I slept until 7.45 this morning and staff meeting was at 8.
I bought hard boiled eggs, bread and mayonaise on the way here so have been eating egg mayonaise rolls for a bit. We had rice and stewed green leaves, done in palm oil for lunch and I must admit I can't get on with it. I had just rice (called empty rice) but a girl came round with big yelleow stewed plums this afternoon for 5p each so I had 2. Lovely. Latr I saw someone with round slices and thought they were pancakes. In fact they were cucumber, the ones here are very short and fat but nice to crunch so I had 2 slices. These less than 2p a big slice.
I have a mosquito net like a dome tent. My matress fits inside and it zips up just like a tent. Good job, the insects here are many and various and a lot of them bite. but the bites go away if I can stop myself scratching.
I am doing teaching wit the womens project here and write the daily phonics lesson and seend it to the other schools. We have an internet stick so can access e mail so do write and tell me what's going on and I will try to post every week. Haven't had coffee or tea since I arrived, no hot water. They only light the fire to cook at lunchtime. Probably do me good.
best wishes, Pat
I bought hard boiled eggs, bread and mayonaise on the way here so have been eating egg mayonaise rolls for a bit. We had rice and stewed green leaves, done in palm oil for lunch and I must admit I can't get on with it. I had just rice (called empty rice) but a girl came round with big yelleow stewed plums this afternoon for 5p each so I had 2. Lovely. Latr I saw someone with round slices and thought they were pancakes. In fact they were cucumber, the ones here are very short and fat but nice to crunch so I had 2 slices. These less than 2p a big slice.
I have a mosquito net like a dome tent. My matress fits inside and it zips up just like a tent. Good job, the insects here are many and various and a lot of them bite. but the bites go away if I can stop myself scratching.
I am doing teaching wit the womens project here and write the daily phonics lesson and seend it to the other schools. We have an internet stick so can access e mail so do write and tell me what's going on and I will try to post every week. Haven't had coffee or tea since I arrived, no hot water. They only light the fire to cook at lunchtime. Probably do me good.
best wishes, Pat
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
nearly home.
Well, I'll be back on Saturday morning, hopefully to some dry weather.
I did some maths training at a local primary school tody but the rain was coming down by the bucketfull. That wasn't a problem, I had my raincoat and umbrella, it was the flooding in the road. It turned it into a river and the only thing to do as to hitch up my skirt and wade ankle deep through the red muddy torrent. The nice thing is that you dry out quite quickly and the rain is warm.
We have been to the beach several times this week in the evening and I have been wave jumping again with Kofi and another little three year old boy who was convinced he could swim.
I do hope the weather is kind for the journey across the estuary to the airport on Friday evening. It takes half an hour on the open water and won't be fun if we have another of those violent storms tat keep coming and going.
I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing everyonebut will miss it here again.
Signing off, Pat
I did some maths training at a local primary school tody but the rain was coming down by the bucketfull. That wasn't a problem, I had my raincoat and umbrella, it was the flooding in the road. It turned it into a river and the only thing to do as to hitch up my skirt and wade ankle deep through the red muddy torrent. The nice thing is that you dry out quite quickly and the rain is warm.
We have been to the beach several times this week in the evening and I have been wave jumping again with Kofi and another little three year old boy who was convinced he could swim.
I do hope the weather is kind for the journey across the estuary to the airport on Friday evening. It takes half an hour on the open water and won't be fun if we have another of those violent storms tat keep coming and going.
I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing everyonebut will miss it here again.
Signing off, Pat
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Weekend in the provinces.
I went up to the provinces with Miriam and Kofi to do soe training on phonics for the primary school at maronka. we stayed in the village and they put grass mattresses and mosquito nets up for us in one of te clasrooms. The mattress was quite hard. It didn't stop me going to sleep I was so tired out. I was creaky in the morning but up at 6:30. Used the loo which is a hole in the ground and washed in a bucket in the little washouse they had constructed next to the loo block. then had a lovely breakfast of boiled cassava and meat spiced with oil. the meat was a kind of small deer, sad for the deer but very tender and tasty. Lots of Miriams waifs and strays live in the village and the chief treats them like his own, also numerous with three wives. the generator had broken so we used torches but it was really nice sitting outside with a totally black velvet sky.
we went to the beach this evening and I had barracuda and chips but it is locking up time for the computer room so will go now. Back next Saturday.
we went to the beach this evening and I had barracuda and chips but it is locking up time for the computer room so will go now. Back next Saturday.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
rain,rain,rain.
Well. the rainy season has come at last. It has been very hot and dry all day but over Thursday night and all day Friday it rained stair rods. I always say you do not see West Africa, you hear it and the rain is no exception. It bangs on the iron roofs and concrete and you can hardly hear yourself speak.
I have been teaching in the Woman's Project for most of my time here. some of the girls have very basic skills. apppaently some of the primary techers don't get paid for months so they don't bother teaching and a lot of them have no training anyway. One of the other teachers told me that one of the girls who lived in a corrugated shack near the river had her whole house washed away and now they don't even have clothes except what people have given them. We really can't imagine what it must be like to live on the edge anyway and then lose the few bits you do have.
I went to the local shopping centre today and bought two huge mangoes, some bananas, bread, popcorn, two little sponge cakes and some coconut fingers. they are like crunchy cakes. I do eat good food as well. One of the teachers brought me some wild rice they call country rice and groundnut soup. It was very tasty and she didn't put in too many peppers which the kids who cook here do. I hope I am losing weight, won't know until I get back.
I am helping the group doing the equivalent of GCSE with science and electronics at the moment and on Monday I start helping the advanced group with biology. My mind has to flip from basic phonics to helping with advanced physics and maths in the evening so obviously the heat hasn't poached my brains yet.
Will try and write a few more before I am back on 10th july.
Bye, Pat
I have been teaching in the Woman's Project for most of my time here. some of the girls have very basic skills. apppaently some of the primary techers don't get paid for months so they don't bother teaching and a lot of them have no training anyway. One of the other teachers told me that one of the girls who lived in a corrugated shack near the river had her whole house washed away and now they don't even have clothes except what people have given them. We really can't imagine what it must be like to live on the edge anyway and then lose the few bits you do have.
I went to the local shopping centre today and bought two huge mangoes, some bananas, bread, popcorn, two little sponge cakes and some coconut fingers. they are like crunchy cakes. I do eat good food as well. One of the teachers brought me some wild rice they call country rice and groundnut soup. It was very tasty and she didn't put in too many peppers which the kids who cook here do. I hope I am losing weight, won't know until I get back.
I am helping the group doing the equivalent of GCSE with science and electronics at the moment and on Monday I start helping the advanced group with biology. My mind has to flip from basic phonics to helping with advanced physics and maths in the evening so obviously the heat hasn't poached my brains yet.
Will try and write a few more before I am back on 10th july.
Bye, Pat
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Not much has happened
the last few days have been fairly uneventful. I spent an hour or so at the photocopying shop yesterday and spent the evening supervising making the last of the electronics books. We had a fantastic thunder and lightening display last night but luckily, it didn't turn into much of a rainstorm because they seem to be accompanied by high winds that are very noisy. The rain came this morning but it doesn't seem to have cleared the air much.
I have discovered they grow lovely avocado pears here. they call them water pears. Most of the rest of the fruit is past its best but some bananas are OK. I went to the supermarket and bought some triangle cheese spread and a jar of pate. Such are luxuries round here. I have to say the bread is very nice and freshly cooked at the local bakery. I think I am losing weight again. It's difficult to tell because the only mirror i have is a face mirror but the shorts are getting looser. I'm sure a health farm would be more luxurious but not so interesting.
A school has given educaid a load of computers and we are going to get a container so I should be able to ship a lot of the stuff i have collected which beats carrying it so I will be looking for any books, mainly non fiction that might be of interest when i get back.
I hope the longest day tomorrow has weather to match for you.
best wishes, pat
I have discovered they grow lovely avocado pears here. they call them water pears. Most of the rest of the fruit is past its best but some bananas are OK. I went to the supermarket and bought some triangle cheese spread and a jar of pate. Such are luxuries round here. I have to say the bread is very nice and freshly cooked at the local bakery. I think I am losing weight again. It's difficult to tell because the only mirror i have is a face mirror but the shorts are getting looser. I'm sure a health farm would be more luxurious but not so interesting.
A school has given educaid a load of computers and we are going to get a container so I should be able to ship a lot of the stuff i have collected which beats carrying it so I will be looking for any books, mainly non fiction that might be of interest when i get back.
I hope the longest day tomorrow has weather to match for you.
best wishes, pat
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Long time.
It has been hard work since I last wrote but the main reason for the long gaps is the internet. the mains electricity is very low voltage or quite often zero and the wireless does not have the power to transmit. we were without any power fro three days last week but luckily we do have the generator for evenings or it would be impossible with 180 pupils in the dark.
We had a little 12 year old boy with sickle cell anaemia have a crisis the other night. He was in agony with his knees and miriam and I spent the night holding him and giving him what painkillers we could. His father is dead and his mother has no interest in him so he lives at the school all the time. There are lots like him round here.
I have been spending a lot of my time teaching maths to the girls in the women's project. It is quite tiring teaching for 2 hours at a stretch in this heat.
It is nothing like as wet as I thought it might be but that just makes it stickier. Miriam is away again for 10 days so they are going to repair the tank downstairs while the flat is nearly empty. I will have the one roof tank of water until its fixed so no long showers. It's hard to believe that a cold shower could be so welcoming, even though it comes in a solid stream, no fine spray.
We had some old bananas so one of the girls is making banana rice cakes for me and some of the older students. they are made from banana ( obviously) and rice flour then deep fried.
We went out to a hotel on the beach in freetown a few evenings ago. I had a plate of fish goujons and chips and a local lager called Star. I'm getting quite fond of it. It really is very nice to sit out round a table on the beach and see the stars and hear the sea, or more accurately the Atlantic ocean. On Sunday we went out to the cotton club. It sounds very colonial and posh but it is very run down. All the buildings are dilapidated and the swimming pool has seen better days and was a bit murky but still nice to swim in. Tourists used to come and stay here but no more. It started lashing it down with rain on the way and the dirt roads run with red mud streams and then it stops and all is well again and the cars swing round the new ruts.
I have finished rewriting the electronics materials and am going down soon to supervise them being bound into booklets. I am obviously a women of many talents, have to be here.
the school in Magbeni on the river is waiting for parts for the pump so apparently they have to drink river water. Nasty idea. I have decided that buying bottled water is a mugs game. The tap water is perfectly good, especially if cooled in the fridge. The power was off for so long last week my bottle of milk went sour. Still the cat seems to still like it.
Off to make some books. I do like getting e mails so don't forget to write.
Enjoy the summer!! Pat
We had a little 12 year old boy with sickle cell anaemia have a crisis the other night. He was in agony with his knees and miriam and I spent the night holding him and giving him what painkillers we could. His father is dead and his mother has no interest in him so he lives at the school all the time. There are lots like him round here.
I have been spending a lot of my time teaching maths to the girls in the women's project. It is quite tiring teaching for 2 hours at a stretch in this heat.
It is nothing like as wet as I thought it might be but that just makes it stickier. Miriam is away again for 10 days so they are going to repair the tank downstairs while the flat is nearly empty. I will have the one roof tank of water until its fixed so no long showers. It's hard to believe that a cold shower could be so welcoming, even though it comes in a solid stream, no fine spray.
We had some old bananas so one of the girls is making banana rice cakes for me and some of the older students. they are made from banana ( obviously) and rice flour then deep fried.
We went out to a hotel on the beach in freetown a few evenings ago. I had a plate of fish goujons and chips and a local lager called Star. I'm getting quite fond of it. It really is very nice to sit out round a table on the beach and see the stars and hear the sea, or more accurately the Atlantic ocean. On Sunday we went out to the cotton club. It sounds very colonial and posh but it is very run down. All the buildings are dilapidated and the swimming pool has seen better days and was a bit murky but still nice to swim in. Tourists used to come and stay here but no more. It started lashing it down with rain on the way and the dirt roads run with red mud streams and then it stops and all is well again and the cars swing round the new ruts.
I have finished rewriting the electronics materials and am going down soon to supervise them being bound into booklets. I am obviously a women of many talents, have to be here.
the school in Magbeni on the river is waiting for parts for the pump so apparently they have to drink river water. Nasty idea. I have decided that buying bottled water is a mugs game. The tap water is perfectly good, especially if cooled in the fridge. The power was off for so long last week my bottle of milk went sour. Still the cat seems to still like it.
Off to make some books. I do like getting e mails so don't forget to write.
Enjoy the summer!! Pat
Monday, 7 June 2010
A long time
Sorry I haven't posted in such a long time. I did write one a few days ago but he net wouldn't allow me to post it and the electricity has been off for long periods some days. it went off at 8 am this morning and has not come on since so we are on the generator. Ours is quiet but the one next door is doing my head in.
I have been upcountry, one of those very early days. We stop for breakfast about 8.30 and it is a bit weird to sit outside a roadside hut eating beef stew. Mind you, they call all meat beef so it could be anything but it is tough and the stew is hot in the pepper sense but the rice helps. It was nice to meet old friends again.
There have been some spectacular storms, mainly in the evening or at night with wind, torrential rain and lots of sheet lightening. The roads upcountry are stating to become impasable. the road to the school at Magbeni was fine until it was 'improved' by digging drainage ditches on either side. Unfortunatly the contractor dumped all the soil on the road surface so now it is a sea of mud and Miriam is away delivering 3 months supply of food to them because the village will be cut off soon. Not even a four wheel drive will be able to go down there.
Over in the primary school at Maronka, I met a sad little girl whose mother was in prison. there is no provision for the children and she had been left with someone who really neglected her and she just hangs on to any adult who arrives but doesn't speak to them, she only speaks to children. She is being looked after in the chief's family now and hopefully she will recover. There is no social safety net here at all and their children are their wealth who will look after them in the future so many children!!
I did a training session in the local primary school explaining phonics to them and trying to convince them we didn't hit our children or make them squat down or stand with their arms up, all used here all the time but not at educaid, there is no physical punishment at all, just more work.
Its a quarter to eleven so I will go to bed with the generator and my radio and see which one wins. I have the fan on while we have electricity and it is not as hot as it has been at the moment. the locals say it is cold but they have never actually been cold, its still about 25 degrees now and I am in my sleeveless top.
Bye for now, will try and get on sooner next time,
Pat
I have been upcountry, one of those very early days. We stop for breakfast about 8.30 and it is a bit weird to sit outside a roadside hut eating beef stew. Mind you, they call all meat beef so it could be anything but it is tough and the stew is hot in the pepper sense but the rice helps. It was nice to meet old friends again.
There have been some spectacular storms, mainly in the evening or at night with wind, torrential rain and lots of sheet lightening. The roads upcountry are stating to become impasable. the road to the school at Magbeni was fine until it was 'improved' by digging drainage ditches on either side. Unfortunatly the contractor dumped all the soil on the road surface so now it is a sea of mud and Miriam is away delivering 3 months supply of food to them because the village will be cut off soon. Not even a four wheel drive will be able to go down there.
Over in the primary school at Maronka, I met a sad little girl whose mother was in prison. there is no provision for the children and she had been left with someone who really neglected her and she just hangs on to any adult who arrives but doesn't speak to them, she only speaks to children. She is being looked after in the chief's family now and hopefully she will recover. There is no social safety net here at all and their children are their wealth who will look after them in the future so many children!!
I did a training session in the local primary school explaining phonics to them and trying to convince them we didn't hit our children or make them squat down or stand with their arms up, all used here all the time but not at educaid, there is no physical punishment at all, just more work.
Its a quarter to eleven so I will go to bed with the generator and my radio and see which one wins. I have the fan on while we have electricity and it is not as hot as it has been at the moment. the locals say it is cold but they have never actually been cold, its still about 25 degrees now and I am in my sleeveless top.
Bye for now, will try and get on sooner next time,
Pat
Saturday, 29 May 2010
I'm here
In fact, I've been here nearly a week. The weather is not as bad as I feared. It is hot and sticky but the rain showers come mainly at night. One was so heavy, it got over the balcony and under the bedroom door.
There is another person staying in the flat at the moment. He works for a charity organisation that gives microloans ie very small ones to set people up so they can make a living. It is often the women who benefit, they start buying and selling. They are building a junior secondary school near Freetown which Miriam is going to run
Some of the teachers are staying in the flat as well until Miriam comes back so they put cushions down and sleep on the lounge floor. It is like piccadilly circus round here.
It feels like I haven't been away. Everything is much the same. About 6 people are up here watching a Nigerian film. It seems a bit slapstick to me but there is a lot of laughter. They seem to be attached to Bollywood films as well.
There is a nice breeze at the moment and we might go down to the seaside tomorrow. makes a break from typing, I'm rewriting more booklets, electronics at the moment.
Best wishes,
Pat
There is another person staying in the flat at the moment. He works for a charity organisation that gives microloans ie very small ones to set people up so they can make a living. It is often the women who benefit, they start buying and selling. They are building a junior secondary school near Freetown which Miriam is going to run
Some of the teachers are staying in the flat as well until Miriam comes back so they put cushions down and sleep on the lounge floor. It is like piccadilly circus round here.
It feels like I haven't been away. Everything is much the same. About 6 people are up here watching a Nigerian film. It seems a bit slapstick to me but there is a lot of laughter. They seem to be attached to Bollywood films as well.
There is a nice breeze at the moment and we might go down to the seaside tomorrow. makes a break from typing, I'm rewriting more booklets, electronics at the moment.
Best wishes,
Pat
Friday, 21 May 2010
Two days to go.
I've been trying all day to get my luggage down to 40kg but I'm getting excited about going now. Watch this space.
Pat
Pat
Friday, 15 January 2010
Last day.
Well, home this evening. I am looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone again but it really is like another world here and I shall miss it terribly, and not just the heat, to which I am now fairly acclimatised.
I will be working right up to this evening to finish the last bits of writing but leave to get the water taxi about 5.30 to go across the river to the airport.
I am bringing home a suntan, quite a few photos and lots of memories of all the lovely people I have met here. I think my e mail will be busy for a bit if I get all te messages promised.
Not looking forward to the weather in England but you have all had it for weeks so I don't expect I'm getting a lot of sympathy.
When I get home, I will try and post some of the photos so keep looking.
Pat
I will be working right up to this evening to finish the last bits of writing but leave to get the water taxi about 5.30 to go across the river to the airport.
I am bringing home a suntan, quite a few photos and lots of memories of all the lovely people I have met here. I think my e mail will be busy for a bit if I get all te messages promised.
Not looking forward to the weather in England but you have all had it for weeks so I don't expect I'm getting a lot of sympathy.
When I get home, I will try and post some of the photos so keep looking.
Pat
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
nearly home
Well, Tuesday already and coming home on Friday. I am going in to the city centre tomorrow to see the sights. There is a huge tree called a cotton tree that has loads of fruit bats that live in it.It is a famous landmark of Freetown.
When I was in Rolal last week I heard a load of twittering noises in the trees but I was told they were fruitbats not birds. There were some beautiful golden birds nesting in a couple of trees, darting around their small nests.
I haven't seen much wildlife here, only a few lizards but there were some kids (the goat variety) and some lovely piglets, that played with a bag just like a toy, in the villages.
Two gap year girls came back with Miriam, they are going to Magbeni for three months to work with the woman's project. I will be going with them in the car on Thursday to show them to their new home. The conveniences are a small hole in a tiny cubical with little light so that will take a bit of getting used to, as will the washing facilities which come as an enclosure with a bucket of cold water.
I was telling Miriam today that I am really looking forward to a long HOT shower. We went to the beach this evening and I sat in the breakers and came back and had a cold shower but it takes more getting used to at 7.30 in the morning.
I am working hard getting all my work collated and ready to be photocopied and turned into teaching booklets but I have managed to rewrite almost the whole of the integrated science course now and am quite proud of my work.
I'm hoping the worst of the freeze will be over by the time I get back on Saturday morning. Getting off that plane at 6.30 am will be a big shock to the system.
Will try and tell you about the fruitbats before I sign off.
Best wishes, Pat
When I was in Rolal last week I heard a load of twittering noises in the trees but I was told they were fruitbats not birds. There were some beautiful golden birds nesting in a couple of trees, darting around their small nests.
I haven't seen much wildlife here, only a few lizards but there were some kids (the goat variety) and some lovely piglets, that played with a bag just like a toy, in the villages.
Two gap year girls came back with Miriam, they are going to Magbeni for three months to work with the woman's project. I will be going with them in the car on Thursday to show them to their new home. The conveniences are a small hole in a tiny cubical with little light so that will take a bit of getting used to, as will the washing facilities which come as an enclosure with a bucket of cold water.
I was telling Miriam today that I am really looking forward to a long HOT shower. We went to the beach this evening and I sat in the breakers and came back and had a cold shower but it takes more getting used to at 7.30 in the morning.
I am working hard getting all my work collated and ready to be photocopied and turned into teaching booklets but I have managed to rewrite almost the whole of the integrated science course now and am quite proud of my work.
I'm hoping the worst of the freeze will be over by the time I get back on Saturday morning. Getting off that plane at 6.30 am will be a big shock to the system.
Will try and tell you about the fruitbats before I sign off.
Best wishes, Pat
Saturday, 9 January 2010
back in touch
Hi everyone.
Sorry for the long delay, but the wireless e mail has broken but I have got the use of one of those sticks that connect to your computer. I have just got back from a trip upcountry to see the other three educaid schools.
Well, first my New Year. It was quite low key, but everyone in Freetown goes to the beach so it was very crowded, far more than at Christmas. I went swimming in the sea though, then walked home and bought a bag of popcorn on the way.
School started on Tuesday but I left at 6.00 am for the upcountry run. I spent a lovely afternoon at the primary school in the village of Maronka. After school, I was shown round the village, which is very small and took some photos. Everyone loves looking at themselves on the image on the digital camera. I took one of the chief's three wives. The first wife seemed to be doing all the cooking. Had a meal of rice and stewed cassava leaves and some palm wine and then walked with some boys to the other junior secondary school. It took one and a half hours. they assured me it was only 2 miles but that was African miles. The first part was lovely, through the trees on a path the chief had had built and he walked with us to see some of his other villages. The next bit was not so nice. All the roads in the area are made of the bright red clay that is everywhere. Whenever a vehicle passes, there is a massive cloud of dust that covers you in red. Anyway it was nice when I arrived, everyone is so friendly.
On thurdsay morning, one of the junior staff came with me to the bus stop. That was in Port Loko and at least a mile away. Then we got a minibus to the junction for the next school. We had to wait three quarters of an hour for the bus to fill up. The roof rack was loaded in and the chickens came inside. The first part of the journey is on a very bumpy road but it did get better when we joined the 'main road'.
When I got off the bus, it is five miles to the village so my first companion, Anthony went back and I was met by someone else from the school. The only way to the village is by motor bike taxi, and one had been chosen because he was more careful than some of the others, so I was in the middle and off we went down the dirt and bumpy road. I loved it!! The warm air on my face, great stuff.
Magbeni is a bigger village and by the river Rolal which is just about tidal at that point. Yesterday I went for a swim and some of the girls joined me in splashing about, very few here can swim at all. This morning I did some science demonstrations for some of the home pupils (those that live in)and then the car came for me about 1 o clock, so here I am back.
Will sign off for now but I have kept up with your weather on the BBC world service.
Will write again soon, now I'm back.
Pat
Sorry for the long delay, but the wireless e mail has broken but I have got the use of one of those sticks that connect to your computer. I have just got back from a trip upcountry to see the other three educaid schools.
Well, first my New Year. It was quite low key, but everyone in Freetown goes to the beach so it was very crowded, far more than at Christmas. I went swimming in the sea though, then walked home and bought a bag of popcorn on the way.
School started on Tuesday but I left at 6.00 am for the upcountry run. I spent a lovely afternoon at the primary school in the village of Maronka. After school, I was shown round the village, which is very small and took some photos. Everyone loves looking at themselves on the image on the digital camera. I took one of the chief's three wives. The first wife seemed to be doing all the cooking. Had a meal of rice and stewed cassava leaves and some palm wine and then walked with some boys to the other junior secondary school. It took one and a half hours. they assured me it was only 2 miles but that was African miles. The first part was lovely, through the trees on a path the chief had had built and he walked with us to see some of his other villages. The next bit was not so nice. All the roads in the area are made of the bright red clay that is everywhere. Whenever a vehicle passes, there is a massive cloud of dust that covers you in red. Anyway it was nice when I arrived, everyone is so friendly.
On thurdsay morning, one of the junior staff came with me to the bus stop. That was in Port Loko and at least a mile away. Then we got a minibus to the junction for the next school. We had to wait three quarters of an hour for the bus to fill up. The roof rack was loaded in and the chickens came inside. The first part of the journey is on a very bumpy road but it did get better when we joined the 'main road'.
When I got off the bus, it is five miles to the village so my first companion, Anthony went back and I was met by someone else from the school. The only way to the village is by motor bike taxi, and one had been chosen because he was more careful than some of the others, so I was in the middle and off we went down the dirt and bumpy road. I loved it!! The warm air on my face, great stuff.
Magbeni is a bigger village and by the river Rolal which is just about tidal at that point. Yesterday I went for a swim and some of the girls joined me in splashing about, very few here can swim at all. This morning I did some science demonstrations for some of the home pupils (those that live in)and then the car came for me about 1 o clock, so here I am back.
Will sign off for now but I have kept up with your weather on the BBC world service.
Will write again soon, now I'm back.
Pat
Monday, 4 January 2010
Can somebody put a shilling in the meter?
Pat has sent me a message letting me know that she is having difficulties in getting online at the moment.
Not exactly sure why, but lack of power is a good bet.
So if you were wondering where the latest blog was, or expecting an email, now you know!
SteveP
Not exactly sure why, but lack of power is a good bet.
So if you were wondering where the latest blog was, or expecting an email, now you know!
SteveP
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