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