looking good!
After spending a week or so hairing round on the motorbike getting stuck in the sand, weaving in and out of undergrowth, dodging oxen carts, sheep, goats, being trip wired by runaway donkeys and stopped in my tracks by kamikaze chickens. I had finally completed my baseline assessments of the schools in cluster 4 and Seedy and I realised there was some work to be done with the phonics. So we arranged a Saturday workshop for 45 ECD, grade 1, 2 and 3 teachers in the cluster. We provided breakfast and lunch and everyone dutifully turned up – eventually!
Kate and I had planned it and she came to Kwinella on the back of my bike as hers is tempermental to say the least! It’s about an hours journey on terrible roads. It didn’t start well when I had to pull over having been stung on the thigh by some waspy thing.
However despite this everything went smoothly enough at the workshop. We got the teachers working in small groups to plan and teach their lessons on letter sounds and then spent some time making letter sound flashcards out of rice bags.
It was on the way bag that things got interesting when my motorbike suddenly spluttered to a halt 10 minutes out of Kwinella and we were stranded on the side of the road, no where near shade in the hot sun with empty water bottles. Not a good predicament to be in. Luckily we had just enough phone credit so we called the mechanic who wasn’t that keen on coming all that way on a Saturday. He suggested we clean the spark plug, which we did, but no joy. We were a little bit parched so I walked to the nearest school, Nema, where I found the head teacher, reading a Dickens classic under the mango tree. I asked politely if I could get some water from the local pump, braved the load of wasps around the pump and eventually filled the bottles and was on my way again. I then called upon my super dependable cluster monitor, Seedy, to come and rescue us which of course he did despite being on his way to Tendaba. He cleaned the spark plug again, properly! The motorbike spluttered into action but then died again 100 yards up the road. Again we phoned the mechanic and thankfully he came to rescue us. Seedy had in the meantime discovered that there was a lot of water in my petrol tank and so when the mechanic came he had to empty the fuel tank, drain off all the water and then refill the tank. Alls well that ends well. I have to say the 7o dalasi gin made another appearance that night!
Kate and I had planned it and she came to Kwinella on the back of my bike as hers is tempermental to say the least! It’s about an hours journey on terrible roads. It didn’t start well when I had to pull over having been stung on the thigh by some waspy thing.
However despite this everything went smoothly enough at the workshop. We got the teachers working in small groups to plan and teach their lessons on letter sounds and then spent some time making letter sound flashcards out of rice bags.
It was on the way bag that things got interesting when my motorbike suddenly spluttered to a halt 10 minutes out of Kwinella and we were stranded on the side of the road, no where near shade in the hot sun with empty water bottles. Not a good predicament to be in. Luckily we had just enough phone credit so we called the mechanic who wasn’t that keen on coming all that way on a Saturday. He suggested we clean the spark plug, which we did, but no joy. We were a little bit parched so I walked to the nearest school, Nema, where I found the head teacher, reading a Dickens classic under the mango tree. I asked politely if I could get some water from the local pump, braved the load of wasps around the pump and eventually filled the bottles and was on my way again. I then called upon my super dependable cluster monitor, Seedy, to come and rescue us which of course he did despite being on his way to Tendaba. He cleaned the spark plug again, properly! The motorbike spluttered into action but then died again 100 yards up the road. Again we phoned the mechanic and thankfully he came to rescue us. Seedy had in the meantime discovered that there was a lot of water in my petrol tank and so when the mechanic came he had to empty the fuel tank, drain off all the water and then refill the tank. Alls well that ends well. I have to say the 7o dalasi gin made another appearance that night!
Hey Luce, really looking forward to catching up in Dec! Sounds like all is going well although the motorbiking still seems to be a challenge!!! Let us know what you would like to do/eat or drink when you come home so we can prepare!!!! All the best x x x
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog. Contacted you before regarding the Connaught school and our process of growing our links with Pakalinding school.
I wondered if you are able to come to Aldershot when you arrive home...obviously not immediately, to speak to the pupils and staff here about your experiences at Pakalinding or if geographically that is not a feasible request.
Best Wishes
Tina
Hi Tina. I am only home a couple of weeks over Christmas. So this time its probably not doable but if I come home in the summer or when I come home next december for good I will be glad to come and speak to your pupils and staff. Best Wishes Lucy
ReplyDelete