Wednesday 4 December 2013

Year complete!

So, we've finished our first year teaching here at Amano. We've been here for just under a year which seems weird that we've not been home for that long we're due to come back to the UK in August which will be after 20months in Zambia. Its still hard to get used to the weather, Rich had his birthday and for the first time ever it was hot on his birthday and didn't feel like his birthday at all its always cold on his birthday! Then its coming up to Christmas and its definitely not Christmas weather. We've got Rich's parents coming out for a few weeks over Christmas which is very exciting but, is weird that we'll spend christmas together in the heat! No Roast Turkey here!

Teary goodbyes (and taking the opportunity for a little hug!) 
Us and the 6th form students!
So whats been going on, well mainly things have been involving saying good bye to people in the last few weeks. We've had leavers service, good bye party type thing in the dorm and leavers meal which is another story. As well as a staff farewell and a Christmas concert and carols by candle light! So its been a very hectic few weeks and we're certainly glad to have got to the end of term so we can have a break. As we're a boarding school then there are things going on all the time and it can be hard to get away from things and have some time off especially when you live next to one of the Dorms. So its nice to have nice long holidays away from pupils to be able to catch up with things and properly recharge the batteries! We'll need to be fresh ready for next year as with several staff leaving and none to replace them as yet we'll all be doing more making up for staff that aren't around anymore.

Traffic jam in Zambia!
We went with the 3 6th form students to have dinner in Garneton which is about 40mins drive away from Amano, we left at 18:00 and arrived about 22:30! as you may be able to figure out we were stuck in traffic for quite a while. In Zambia when the traffic in front of you goes slowly you don't  figure there is a problem ahead and just stay in a queue. You drive on the left and right of the road and get as far forward as you can. Unfortunately in this situation traffic from both sides was blocking traffic from the other side from getting through.  So although the main issue of an accident of break down (we never found out) would have caused a bit of a blockage the Zambian driving technique meant we were stuck for ages! However we still had fun as the general thing in Zambia when stuck in a traffic jam is to get out and have a chat with people who are about, and everyone is fairly relaxed and chilled out about the hold up. Which makes it weirder that they're in such a hurry to get places that they cause such a long hold up in the first place.

So for the next 5 weeks we're house sitting for the Cracknells in musenga, they have a bigger house than we do with a nice garden which is nice! Also they have a swimming pool which is definately nice when its so hot! It'll be nice to have somewhere Rich's parents can stay with us rather than being somewhere else! Also we're Cat sitting for well someone we don't know but they're cat is only 12 weeks old so is still very cute apart from when she decides to try to scratch and bite we're looking after her for another few days!
Sheeba!