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