I cannot believe that, as I write this blog, I am talking about my last full week of work. The time has gone so quickly, and I really feel that I am just starting to make significant changes in each of the schools I am working in. On refection a three-month placement seemed very long initially, but it actually takes you that long to settle and understand the cultural differences. However, any longer would mean that I could not go back to my original job, so it is a compromise.
Monday started in Ongwediva this week as Penny and I were doing some joint working. When I got up I also found a Praying Mantise on the ‘Bird of Paradise’ Flower, which I attach a picture of. As Penny’s leg is still not healed, I drove, and firstly dropped some papers to Nuuyoma School. I then went to Mupewa School and spent some time with the Head and some of the staff. Mupewa had taken on the task of using the training I had delivered to them on Cumulative Record Cards, and delivering it themselves to all the schools in the Omusati region. This was ambitious, but we had gained the approval of the Director of Education for Omusati, and today was their first workshop. There were four staff involved on the first workshop and I went through each section with them. In the afternoon we met them at the area office where the training was to be done. I sat at the side of the room with the type of nerves you get when one of your children are performing in an event at school. Penny was there to report back to the Director on the quality of the training, and whether it should continue. We needn’t have worried, and I sat there like the proud Father as they delivered an excellent workshop. I kept hearing my words come out of their mouths, and the thirty schools there, all seemed pleased with their training. The picture is the mupewa staff during their training.
Tuesday was working from home in the morning and then picking up five Mupewa staff in the afternoon to deliver another workshop at a different circuit office. Once briefed, I let the staff do the training again, on their own. It was another great success, and I could see the staff grow in stature as I fed back my evaluation to them.
However, feeling really good about the work I had done with Mupewa was short lived that night, as I felt terrible with a fever, sickness, stomach cramps and various other unmentionable symptoms.
The next morning was no better and I just about managed to get myself dressed. and meet up with Penny. We went directly to the Health centre and tried to get an appointment with the Doctor. I arrived at 9.00 and as seen at 11.30; it makes the NHS look really fast. The good news was that it wasn’t Malaria, but it was probably another bite, which I would have to live with for a while. The rest of the day was spent between work and the toilet, but I did have a little sleep in the afternoon, as I had not slept the night before.
On Thursday, I woke up still feeling ‘grim’, but I had managed to get some sleep. This was just as well as I had a meeting in Outapi, 100 Kilometres away, at 9.00 am. We managed to get there on time and I met with the special Needs Team. Another volunteer also showed me around Outapi Hospital, which was quite an eye-opener. I have seen cleaner farms, and the infection rate must be very high. In the afternoon I presented the new development plan to the Nuuyoma Staff. I felt shattered at he end of the day, but did get myself back to Ongwediva to sleep at Penny’s house.
Friday was a general workday, but I did go back to Oshikuku, in the evening, to show a film to the children in Nuuyoma School. Harry Potter and the chamber of Secrets’ went down extremely well, but I would hate to have Health and Safety check the electrics that were set up.
The weekend was highlighted by another trip to Etosha on the Sunday. Penny wanted to go again and we took an American volunteer called Gretchen. It was great as usual, but we didn’t see any Elephants or Lions this time. However, I did have a troop of Mongoose try to bite me. It doesn’t sound good, does it; in an area of wild and vicious creatures a Mongoose attacks me. It was quite big though, and I attach a picture to show how ferocious it was.
I expect next week will be my last blog, but before that, Ann will be joining me. I am hoping to be able to show you some of the pictures and tell you some of the tales.
Take care.
Barry
Monday started in Ongwediva this week as Penny and I were doing some joint working. When I got up I also found a Praying Mantise on the ‘Bird of Paradise’ Flower, which I attach a picture of. As Penny’s leg is still not healed, I drove, and firstly dropped some papers to Nuuyoma School. I then went to Mupewa School and spent some time with the Head and some of the staff. Mupewa had taken on the task of using the training I had delivered to them on Cumulative Record Cards, and delivering it themselves to all the schools in the Omusati region. This was ambitious, but we had gained the approval of the Director of Education for Omusati, and today was their first workshop. There were four staff involved on the first workshop and I went through each section with them. In the afternoon we met them at the area office where the training was to be done. I sat at the side of the room with the type of nerves you get when one of your children are performing in an event at school. Penny was there to report back to the Director on the quality of the training, and whether it should continue. We needn’t have worried, and I sat there like the proud Father as they delivered an excellent workshop. I kept hearing my words come out of their mouths, and the thirty schools there, all seemed pleased with their training. The picture is the mupewa staff during their training.
Tuesday was working from home in the morning and then picking up five Mupewa staff in the afternoon to deliver another workshop at a different circuit office. Once briefed, I let the staff do the training again, on their own. It was another great success, and I could see the staff grow in stature as I fed back my evaluation to them.
However, feeling really good about the work I had done with Mupewa was short lived that night, as I felt terrible with a fever, sickness, stomach cramps and various other unmentionable symptoms.
The next morning was no better and I just about managed to get myself dressed. and meet up with Penny. We went directly to the Health centre and tried to get an appointment with the Doctor. I arrived at 9.00 and as seen at 11.30; it makes the NHS look really fast. The good news was that it wasn’t Malaria, but it was probably another bite, which I would have to live with for a while. The rest of the day was spent between work and the toilet, but I did have a little sleep in the afternoon, as I had not slept the night before.
On Thursday, I woke up still feeling ‘grim’, but I had managed to get some sleep. This was just as well as I had a meeting in Outapi, 100 Kilometres away, at 9.00 am. We managed to get there on time and I met with the special Needs Team. Another volunteer also showed me around Outapi Hospital, which was quite an eye-opener. I have seen cleaner farms, and the infection rate must be very high. In the afternoon I presented the new development plan to the Nuuyoma Staff. I felt shattered at he end of the day, but did get myself back to Ongwediva to sleep at Penny’s house.
Friday was a general workday, but I did go back to Oshikuku, in the evening, to show a film to the children in Nuuyoma School. Harry Potter and the chamber of Secrets’ went down extremely well, but I would hate to have Health and Safety check the electrics that were set up.
The weekend was highlighted by another trip to Etosha on the Sunday. Penny wanted to go again and we took an American volunteer called Gretchen. It was great as usual, but we didn’t see any Elephants or Lions this time. However, I did have a troop of Mongoose try to bite me. It doesn’t sound good, does it; in an area of wild and vicious creatures a Mongoose attacks me. It was quite big though, and I attach a picture to show how ferocious it was.
I expect next week will be my last blog, but before that, Ann will be joining me. I am hoping to be able to show you some of the pictures and tell you some of the tales.
Take care.
Barry
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