Marking!?! Bring it on!!
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 02/Mar/2009 06:58, 34 days ago
Been a fairly uneventful week and the highlight was probably finishing all the marking... (mmmmm maybe I am going insane...)Monday 23rd FebruarySo I finally got some pay! But it was only one month... They called it November and I had to sign for it. The bursar told me she was going to Dar to find out where the rest is (which remind me I must ask her today). In the afternoon I went to pay the cheque in, there was only a small queue which was a relief but when I tried to pay in the cheque they told me it was a duff cheque... Oh the joy of banking and lack of payment in Tanzania! The staff were helpful though (they have improved!) and they phoned up ministry and sorted out the cheque for me. I did the local thing as they were faffing about and left the bank to go to the posta as I had a parcel (from Mum and Dad). I then went back to my place in the queue. Very local and very liberating!!Tuesday 24th FebruaryThere is a secret conspiracy at work!! The ICT team are worried that the server does not have AC and will overheat, so we are not turning on the thin clients - this means no computer access for the students or staff! They are doing so the college will pay for the AC. I was not sure if I agreed with such extreme methods as the students are missing computer practice but was told that it is the only way to get things done... (Maybe I should stay at home until I get paid hehe...)So I had to teach my two lessons today as theory lessons. I felt bad for the students but it was a good chance to talk about spreadsheet theory and tips on how to teach spreadsheets.In the evening Harune came over for his pay and after paying him I told him that I can no longer afford to employ him, I felt bad but he does have another job and I wrote him a nice reference. So now I am getting tsh50,000 extra a month that can be used for luxuries or travel. The down side is I have to wash my own clothes, clean and cook - but now I get the real Tanzanian experience!!Wednesday 25th FebruaryI had my best class today and they were a little put out at not having the computers but I gave them a good theory lesson and demonstrate all the different spreadsheet functions and discussed spreadsheet theory.We were given the practical ICT exams to mark (about 140 each) to save paper we marked them electronically and I recorded the details into a spreadsheet.In the afternoon I did some hand washing and cooked some cous cous which I have missed and really enjoyed!Thursday 26th FebruaryI spent all day marking the exams, I wanted to get them finished by Friday and by the end of the day (2pm) I managed to do 100!In the afternoon the guy from the office (How rude - I cannot remember his name!) bought me some mail! It was birthday parcel from Hannah, Marina and Vron which was a nice surprise as they sent me 'Tropic Thunder' on dvd and some sweets! Thanks guys! I watch tropic thunder that evening and laughed so much its great!Friday 27th FebruaryMarked the last 45 exams and did some whizzy amazing spreadsheet formulas that totalled up the results and converted scores into grades (not sure what the real boundaries are but it won't take much to change it). I had a nice peaceful afternoon off relaxing and it felt good!The boys in Tanzania go around with catapults - this may make you think of Spiky hair, knobbly knees and Walter the Softie (ie Dennis the menace!) but the boys dont shoot bottles they shoot birds... This makes me sad but I am told they eat the birds, though I am not 100% convinced...Saturday 28th FebruaryI got up early today and in the morning watered the garden as the plants are so so dry. I dont think the runner beans will survive in the lack of water... I went to do some food shopping mid morning and cooked some Okra, Sweet potato leaves (yes leaves!) and rice for my lunch.I went to meet Charles the new VSO volunteer from Uganda who is going to be based in Mpwapwa and working for SACCOS (a local community loan scheme) SACCOS did not meet him off the bus which was mean so I am glad I went to meet him. I cannot imagine anything worse than stepping into Mpwapwa alone and not knowing what to do (well maybe stepping into Portsmouth or Sunderland alone...) He got all sorted though eventually.In the evening I did some geeky online gaming with Thad until we had a powercut at 10pm ish.Sunday 1st MarchThere was no power all morning and I decided to go to town for a lunch of Chipsi Mayai and soda. It was typical though, just as I started eating power came back! Still it was nice and I was due my weekly treat!Did some more online gaming with Thad and went to bed quite late for a Sunday but I do not have lessons on Mondays (a perk!)So thats the week - I worked hard, did not get much pay and now have to fend for myself... But I am still winning (I think!) Keep sending me encouragement!!Take care