After my assembly, the children seem a little less shy. This is demonstrated by one boy from the baby class, sidling up to me and surreptitiously rubbing my arm. He has a puzzled look on his face. His classmates are watching and a few of the braver ones join in. It feels like I’m being exfoliated! Teacher Catherine explains that they are trying to rub the white dust away from my skin! That will take a lot of rubbing.
School is dismissed but many of the children return to classrooms to continue working, to complete homework or to play on the chromebooks until about 5.30pm. Every child walks to and from school by themselves or with older siblings/neighbours – even the four year olds in the baby class. Many of them have very long journeys which include crossing rivers. At this time of the year, during the rainy season, it can be very dangerous. Several children walk between 10k and 20k each way to reach school. One child was walking 30k but the HT found him closer accommodation with a relative during term time. No-one complains about distance. No-one complains about walking (in any weather) It is just part of life.
Time for my first staff meeting. A sea of cautious faces awaits me. Who knows what to expect from the muzungu? I have planned ahead and include a few interactive ice-breakers. Soon there is much more engagement and even a few smiling faces. At the end of my wee spiel, I ask if there are any questions. I am ready to be challenged o active learning, the new curriculum, approaches to teaching and learning, effective use of resources and so on. One of the teachers asks, “Do you believe in God, do you pray and do you go to church?”
I am a bit taken aback. There is a palpable silence from the other teachers. I am aware that everyone is waiting for my answer and that what I say will be significant. Luckily, I can genuinely answer in the affirmative because I know that this will have a huge impact on my credibility. There is an audible sigh of relief and now everyone is smiling. It feels like a passed a test.
Meeting over, I head to the accommodation block for my first night in my new house. I unpack a little and organise myself for the next day. I must dress smartly and be in school for 7.30am. No-one has told me this but it is just what all the other teachers do so I am determined to do likewise. This would normally not be a problem but my body clock is still on UK time. This means I will have to be in school for 4.30am. I will have to set an alarm.
Nora arrives with my evening meal – beans and ugali (also known as maize cake) I have asked for a small portion so she has only given me twice as much as I will be able to eat instead of the usual 4 times as much. The ugali is a bit bland with the texture of congealed wallpaper paste, which makes it sound more unpleasant than it actually is! I make a cup of mint tea, on my one-ring stove and sit listening to the noises around my new home and the coming and goings of the teachers and their children who live with them. Tea finished, a quick wash and I crawl into bed.
My wonderful bed
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