I AM SO ANGRY.

Said the well-behaved Christian girl.

What follows is the reply email sent from Mr Langat responding to a sharp email Paul and I produced yesterday. Anything written in bold is my response at various points.



From: samwel langat

Dear Paul, I acknowledge receipt of your email.
oh good.

While choosing not to dwell much on last weekend, i nevertheless wish to convey our school's apology for the issue of accomodation It occured to me that Hannah looked enthusiastic to teach at Chagaik and i hope she still is.
Hmm let me see, that would be a no?

As i am writing now ,the contractor is on site and setting out to fix the cistern and pan in the house as well as the sinks and drainage.
Setting out? I was assured it was all nearly finished. Bodes well.
Paint work is over in all the other rooms except the bathroom which will be done soon.
There was no mention of paintwork at the weekend, just the plumbing. And the bathroom will be done soon?

I want to take his word that the whole plumbing job and any other work remaining will be over in 4 to 5 days.
He wants to take his word. Right. Well considering we were looking for a definite time frame that doesn’t PARTICULARLY help matters.
We all felt that the house need be in an acceptable state by the time Hannah and Lyndsey will be arriving.
There is much emphasis of Lyndseys presence here – we hadn’t confirmed to him when she was coming and what to do because of communication problems and now he is dragging HER into it? Plus they may have wanted the house to be ready when we arrived…but it wasn’t?
The fact that the house is in the school compound will give them the necessary experience and security.

Throughout all inward visits from the High Sch, we have taken every measure possible to assure our visitors of utmost security.
That is because the British Council organised everything.
This time we will do so appropriately. I once again assure you that in those 4 to 5 days the house will be fully ready.
Yet he is taking the word of a local plumber…enough said.


These past few days we have had to change our teaching plans with respect to Hannah and Lyndsey's absence and i do not want to think about students and staff response should Hannah decide not to come back. It will be devastating both to us and our Partnership with AHS.
We emphasised many times I was not going to the school on behalf of AHS for insurance purposes, this is unfair ‘blackmail’ and not at all deserved.
We had all looked forward to their presence.
Well I looked forward to going.

We will provide fuel as had been agreed on.That is Gas and lantern lamp.
HURRAY!
Hannah and Lyndsey will be expected to teach and assist in Drama As had been agreed. Any other related duty like accompanying students to the field during PE will also be considered. Worst part of the email. We had in fact agreed that I would be teaching two African novels and the Merchant of Venice in English Literature classes. I was also to teach History. I have this in writing, and I even have record of Samuel saying that drama lessons only occurred outside of school time. So in his eyes, I would be teaching drama after school and walking people to the field? Not exactly 8 weeks worth of work now is it?

I once again give you those assurances.Regards to Hannah and Alicen.Bye.

Samuel

So, I am riled but at least he has given us an accurate insight as to what the proceeding 8 weeks would be like (hell) if I were to return to Chagaik. For this I am at least thankful, in knowing that I do not want to return. There need be no more thinking about on this matter – Samuel has pretty much made my decision for me in that one email alone.

However, today I was searching for the right solution to this and at least I have now been provided with this. I will continue to be positive – there are many options for me back here in Nairobi and I just have to trust in God that this is what I am meant to be doing and that actually something better will occur from this.