So with another day comes scorching sunshine. Ever the stupid girl, I was unable to reach certain parts of my back to put suncream on (although at the time I thought I had done fine) thus resulting in a weird patch of sunburn right in the middle of my back. Great.
And with another day comes more development on the chaos of Chagaik. I find it both disappointing and bizarre that the school’s organisation failed so. When they spoke of wanting me to have a great time at Chagaik so that I could feed back to others wanting to follow my lead, I did not imagine they would balls it up so royally. Kenyans all seem to have huge ideas, and the best of intentions but they are crap at following through with them. This is why the Indian population was invited to settle in Kenya under colonial rule - because of their entrepeneurial skills. And this is also why there are such large expat communities here. Companies want to bring their own staff over who know the job rather than train up new people because they sadly just don't havethe capacity (very generally speaking) to follow through with managerial positions. This is again another reason why unemployment is so high, and it all falls down to education. Whether you've had it but been lectured at rather than encouraged to problem solve and evaluate, or whether youcouldn't afford it.

At the end of the day, if I do make it back to Kericho I will find myself with only 4-5 weeks maximum of teaching time. I came out to Kenya with the idea that Chagaik was the central and integral part of my trip, but now I am filled with more scepticism towards the whole scheme. What appeals right now would be to find some voluntary work within Nairobi part time, 4 days a week perhaps, giving me extra time so see more of the country that I have been so drawn to for a long while now.

When discussing previous AHS – CSS links with the teachers on Satuday night, it transpired that it is actually the British Council that organises the link both ways – but more so for the girls coming out to Kenya. The guesthouse not far from the school is actually owned by Unilever and is used mostly for company visits etc. The British Council actually pays for and co-ordinates staying in the guesthouse and flights for the girls. Had I known this before I went out, rather than going with the false knowledge that the organisation is done jointly between schools, I would have scrutinised the process of organisation far better than I actually did. Anyway, no matter, I am a leaf in a stream(thanks ruth!!) and this is all developing for whatever reason and I am sure to find out what I should in fact be doing in due course. (one hopes).

Alison’s mother Micky returned from a weekend at fairseat an elderly home today, and seemed very spritely. She said ‘I’m going to give you some advice, and if I were you I would just tell the school to SOD OFF’. And this from a woman the same age as my grandmother who looks like she just ate some lemon if anyone uses such profanities!!

Anyway, am taking the week to think it all over and see what action the school is taking. So basically a week of sunbathing and relaxing (oh my it is SUCH a hardship…) so here’s to that!


Hannah