Day 304 – Saturday 27th November 2010

It was an early start as Armorel and I headed into town for some early morning shopping. We are buying gifts for everyone and so ended up with 25 kangas for the clinic ladies, 45 buckets for all the clinic staff and 20 football shirts for my football boys.

Armorel was then clinic bound and I was off to football. It was very hot and luckily the boys decided we would play using one goal, which would greatly limit the running distances. I then treated them all to a lift home in the car. I wish I had the camera. 15 boys and 1 white man in a car!

This afternoon I have failed to watch rugby because of power cuts and Armorel has been busy doing countless jobs, which included cleaning all 45 buckets!

She has also done some great organising. Look at her with her proud bags!

Day 303 – Friday 26th November 2010

We had an early morning game of football between Form 1a and 1b, and controversy followed. Somehow 1b managed to play the first half with 12 players, and held a 2-1 lead. Teams were sorted out for a goalless second half, with countless yellow cards and a red for a horrendous two footed lunge which was criminal! I asked for an exclusion! After a committee meeting, me and the science teacher, it was decided that 1b be disqualified. A small riot ensued!

I then escaped to the clinic. Armorel was busy continuing to tie up loose ends and trying to stay out of the ward so the nurses get used to her not being around. It is easier said than done.

I was then soon recruited for a shopping journey, and headed into town to buy doors, maize, nails, wood, paint brushes, varnish, nails, door locks, bolts and a blue and white kanga!

Exhausted we headed to Ruth’s for dinner. I had a bet with her a couple of weeks ago about rain, and the loser was baking a black forest gateau. Ruth lost!

It was wonderful!

Day 302 – Thursday 25th November 2010

An uneventful day!

Armorel was working on putting together a procedures folder for the nurses. Basically she is writing an algorithm for any procedures the nurses may have to do in the hope that one they do it, and two they do it correctly.

I played geek this morning, and redesigned some of my tracking sheets and did some analysis to see progress over the year and the comparison between boys and girls. Boys continue to outperform the girls, but the gap is closing, and the top score from the end of term test was from the girls!

First games of the sports tournament, and we had a shock as Pre-Form 1 beat Form 1B 2-0 in football! Armorel had fun with the netball girls and saw a thrashing by 1B.

This evening we are at the Orion for dinner and there seem to be hundreds of white people. I really don’t like it! It doesn’t help that none of them try to speak to the waiters in Swahili and are just rude.

Do we want to come back to more of these people?

Day 301 – Wednesday 24th November 2010

The last day of exams, and I have the pleasure of invigilating the 2 hour chemistry exam. I was so bored.

The funniest thing was watching the students who blatantly had no idea how to answer most of the questions pass the time. One girl decided to see if she could tear a piece of paper into 1000 pieces.

The wind hindered her efforts as the pieces flew across the room.

So now what? The exams are done, the teachers aren’t going to teach, and the students have nothing to do.

I gave my exams back, and we have organised a sports tournament. We need to do something, school doesn’t close until Tuesday!

Armorel was at Kilungu today for her penultimate village clinic. It was a very quiet one, as everyone is busy in the fields preparing for the next big rains and the planting to begin.

Tonight we had Lucas, Noelina, Dixon and Faraja over for dinner, and a special treat, quarter of a pig. Mama Ndugu had given us a wonderful chunk of her pig, and so I embarked on a roast.

I must say I was impressed, and the crackling was so good!

Day 300 – Tuesday 23rd November 2010

Armorel started the day with her next nurses training session. Today they started the Respiratory System. Funnily, the nurses asked her if they were going to get a graduation for attending these lessons.

Hilarious!

I have completed marking the English exams, and luckily a couple of students have done very well and impressed me greatly. However, the overall performance is a little below par. A view also held by the headmaster it would appear. He was less than happy that as the ‘expert’ English teacher that I hadn’t taught all the students well enough to get them all 110%.

I smiled politely.

After work Armorel visited Noelina to help her with some translation. We are writing cards to everyone we work with, and though we have written them in English we want to translate them all. Mainly because most of them wouldn’t have a clue what we were saying!

We had rice and beans for dinner tonight, but I struggled. I really have had enough of this meal!

Day 299 – Monday 22nd November 2010

We leave 2 weeks today. Now that is scary!

This morning started with the students’ end of term English exam. One and a half hours to show me all that they have studied for and learnt.

I have marked half. They aren’t very good.

Am I a very bad teacher or are they just lazy and not very good? The jury is out.

Armorel worked from home this morning, planning her next teaching session on the respiratory system and catching up on paperwork. She arrived at the clinic at lunchtime. Sadly one of the patients, who was on the mend and about to be discharged suddenly died this morning. I think it was quite tough on everyone.

We were soon off again to say goodbye to Philip and Elaine at the airport. I then left the workers and popped into town for a haircut. I knew it was risky to try a third African haircut, especially as the first two had been successful. I am not too impressed.

This evening the time has come.

We settled down for the last episode of ER.

I still want to be a doctor!

Day 298 – Sunday 21st November 2010

Another cold, grey day and the jumpers came out the cupboard.

Church was its usually mix of comedy and interesting singing. The novelty has really worn off.

We arrived home to another power cut. They have been really bad this past month with spells of 5 hours each day without power. Armorel cycled into town to do some bits, and help some of the new visitors get a grip of the market.

This afternoon we headed out for a drink. Armorel kept herself occupied with some work whilst I tried to watch football on a very grainy TV picture.

This evening we enjoyed cheese on toast with David Attenborough and the penultimate ER. This evening we have also been joined by millions of bugs. The rain has filled the sky with loud, flying bugs of all shapes and sizes.