Month 1!
on Martin Preston (Ethiopia), 26/Oct/2010 19:00, 34 days ago
Hi all!,Ok, sorry for the lack of blog so far, but with one thing and another, I've now caught up with myself. Here is an account of my firsts months activities. From here on in, I aim to update once a week.Thanks for visiting, I look forward to hearing from you all. -- SeriouslySupply of the directors cut of the following will be available by email upon request. Contact:starv_hungry8@hotmail.complease do!Disclaimer: Any misspelling, missed out words or other childlike written English mistakes, are entirely the fault of my parents.Real Disclaimer: The views stated within are entirely my own at the time of writing, depending on my mood and not necessarily the views of V.S.O.My First ten days here were great.We arrived on the Sunday Morning, local time. I hadn’t slept for 24 hours and was shattered. We dragged our bags up to bed and crashed. Another load of vols were due to arrive the next morning and I was to gain a room mate.During the flight I had managed to aquint myself with some of the other volunteers. The number had risen already to 19. The flight had two legs and after an amazing crimson red sunset, we unloaded two thirds of the plane in Amman. One of the volunteers had be given a place in business class from the start, just by chance, so when most of the seats around him came vacant I strolled down and took up my rightful place amongst Champaign and leg space. However I was discovered and despite flashing a cheeky smile at the flight attendants (probably my downfall) I was spotted and I was turfed out.After cruising over the desert for a while and viewing the electric paint splats of the towns and cities unimpeded by hills or trees reaching out over the sand, we trimmed the Red sea and Mecca, skirted south of Ertriaran??? for a some reason! and headed down over the reaching sprawl of Addis locked in with its veil of smog and the 4 million people at 2400m by hills and mountains on all sides. Over the city It was dark and there where lines of light just like England and lighting on streets just like any place. However, there were large, vast areas lit only by the moonlight shimmering off their roofs. As we got closer you could see some make shift set-ups, but mostly darkness.I woke up in the morning, when we had some free time. I was just in time for lunch. My roommate wasn’t coming so I made myself at home and poured out all my stuff onto his bed. In the night two more groups had arrived and when the last of the arrives showed up our party numbered 36, including British, Indian American, Canadian, Australian, Kenyan, Dutch,, a disproportionate amount of Irish Philippineo, Plymouth, and New Zealander. After a slow start the first day, things quickly gathered pace.We had three existing volunteers organising the ict with the support of VSOE which is run by Ethiopian Nationals. The volunteers were what you might call the face of it and had some great advice based on there own experiences. The first night we stayed in the compound as per orders. We were all tired and I prepared for my birthday the next day.On Monday I woke up, showered myself and generally got ready to go down to breakfast for our first day of training. Then I sat myself down on my bed opened my cards one by one and displayed them. I also discovered a kindle mint cake I had bought in Brighton, opened it up and had myself a little birthday cake. Then I sang myself happy birthday like a mad man.Whilst what was to follow turned out to a great training period, Unfortunately and prehaps inevitably, the programme for my birthday wasn’t the greatest. Admin, lots of forms and crucifixion by power point.We did learn a bit about VSO position in Ethiopia. I hadn’t quite got to the very recent history in my book and this was the first bit of knowledge waking me up to the status quo in EthiopiaWe were given the hard fact about some of the challenges facing this Developing country.3-6 million people annually and 9 million seasonally are dependent on aid to see them through the year.TO sort out activities for social events, At the end of day messages the social committee was formed and I was on it, It was great to work in a team with some fellow volunteers and I spent the next 9 day running around like a headless chicken. I do like being busy tho so the lack of free time was compensated by not feeling home sick (i’m not saying i didn’t think of you guys, come on!)SO despite a dull and long first day we did get to go out that evening. As I said before the Irish were there in strength and one of them me a triple Yeni Raki for my birthday, which really spoilt my next day.The next day also happened to be the first day of my language training. Be chance me and a retired headteacher managed to sit next each other, so together the two of us, John and I, set on a course which has set me up nicely I feel to learn lots of Amharic if only I can get them to stop speaking English to me.Evening Event.Whereas I was beginning to regret bringing a suit this cming evening convinced me I was vindicated. Dressed to nines I made my way. The evening was to be a treat.All the volunteer were invited to the Embassy by the British Ambassador. It was also our first view of Addis by day. Smoggy and busy are the allocated adjectives.On arrival to the vast grounds overlooking the city*, delicately above the quilt of smog we passed through the gates and were met by the disappointing site of some 1990's building. Thankfully we drove around that and headed straight for the 1910’s colonial style proper building. Met on the top of steps by the Ambassador flagged by columns and shiny things*Out of sight was an 18 hole golf courseInside was lush and after signing in I shook hands with five or six glasses of some of the best red wine this boy has set his lips around.- due to the fact we hadn’t had dinner yet, I was also forced to have the equivalent of a three course meal in ordurves (all amazing and on waiter service tap – I strategically positioned myself by the doorway leading to the kitchen)The toilet will stay engraved on my memory forever. The only reason I didn’t give it a 10 is because there wasn’t a monkey with symbols handing out warmed handtowels.Both the embassy itself and I were sorry to see me leave. We both felt like we’d met someone special and that I belonged. I had come home.Wednesday passed without much event, We had a very interesting lecture on by a local professor on the development context and how Ethiopia had found itself in the position it had. Being a geek I lapped up the facts which with my excellent book on the history by a Mr something Marcus I will be able to regurgitate as facts of the day hence forthWe then had our first social event which was to have some of the staff in the restaurant who were good at Ethiopian traditional dancing come and show us. The girls particularly enjoyed. We had some beer brought in and that meant that the candle capture the flag game after was hilarious. Running around the compound like nutters in the dark trying to steal each others candles.Thursday was real highlight.After some practical tips from the existing volunteers some lunch and a brief by the British embassy Doctor we headed out to the Programme Office in central Addis. We were sent out in groups of three with a list of information to collect people to rendezvous with and items to buy. Points deducted for getting ripped off. It was great to be let out as we were starting to feel like caged hens in the compound.As we know i can get competitive. Especially when it seems to be one of those rare occasions it may not be something I am obviously destined to fail at. The ladies I was teamed up with really but themselves forward too. Anyway. Long story short we wern’t quite the fastest but almost and we won overall. The best point was when we had almost given up on being able to find a newspaper and were on our way back to the VSO programme office for a well deserved pint, when on the corner I spotted 2 street kids of about 14 or 15  trying to dry out some scanky old news paper. I asked them sint nOw? ( how much) They looked at me funny because they couldn’t see anything around them that a ferengie might want to buy off them. They cottoned on and realised that considering that this ferengie must be crazy they should probably rip him off.  10 birr they said (about 40p).‘No way’ that’s ferengie price!’  Sost birr  said I convinced i’d really nailed this haggling malarkie (3) (i insisted in speaking amharic and they on replying in English) ‘Ha ha 7 birr!’ ‘Amist’ (5) i replied. Ok they said. I knew i’d got ripped off but luckily it didn’t matter on this item. This was comfirmed when I walked away turned around and saw them high fiving. Looked down at the paper the cost to buy it new was 3birr.We all ended up a bar next the VSO Programme office. We then headed to a v. posh hotel which was sporting live Jazz that night. The music wasn’t amazing but the food was. I had just a burger as it was pricey, but I can still taste it as I look down my spoon at tomato pasta onion and garlic soup.And the club sandwich that was left over. Yum!This evening I told I was not in fact the youngest VSO in Ethiopia but the second youngest. Damn.I struggled throughthe next day along with the other social committee members we set up what turned out to be the most popular event of the week. Abyssinian Olympics. Basicly sports day, but just the funny stuff, with beer. The best events were the banana knee passing game and the orange chin passing game. You just can’t beat seeing 2 people who don’t really know each one little one large trying to give the other an orange with there chin. HaSaturday arrived and Things were starting to draw to a close. We continued with our language sessions in the morning.  In the afternoon we set off in the sun to the programme office, having our money settlement for the first month and our equipment given to us. Filters etc, plus we had a cooking lessons. Luckily mum, i’m feeling ok about making the best of basic ingredients. I’ve done some marvellous things with onions, tomatoes, garlic, potato’s and pasta these last few days.We then headed out with an existing volunteer. First obstacle was the rain in shorts t shirt and espadrilles i was hopelessly underdressed for the monsoon style rain I should have predicted despite the sunny morning. Anyway. We did our shopping and I was glad my placement was not in Addis, the smog is headache giving. Skipping amongst rancid water filled puddles very quickly becomes the norm.AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A MR ROBERT CLAHAN FOR HIS INSPIRED DECISION TO BUY ME A JACK WOLFSKIN SAFETY WALLET WHICH HANGS AROUND MY NECK. IT SAVED ME A MONTHS MONEY (100quid) THIS DAYAnyway. Towards the end of the shopping trip which now I am wishing I bought a lot more food on, A man was talking to his friend and stepped in front on me on a busy corner. I was walking so fast that unfortunately I knocked him over. But as he fell over he put his nearest hand in my pocket.Luckily I had almost nothing in it. Only a very important pass I’d just been given which he didn’t get because it was so obvious that I just grabbed his hand pushed him away and told him to:- well you can imagine what one might say. He backed off surprised and then smiled and bounced off like an old ex-leper. I was lucky. I owe it to my wide gait which had propelled him to the ground. The plan I’m certain was to hold me up long enough for his friend to rinse my pockets as there was somebody behind me but luckily I just pushed him over.Again we met up for a drink near VSO but the evening was brilliant. Pub quiz. Written for people born in 1968 and before but brilliant. Best were the intermission games.‘Who can hop for the longest’ gets pretty violent. Plus a fair amount of cheating occuredSunday was chilled. Thankfully a later start. A good lecture on geopolitics Then a mano a mano chat (girls in a different room) about the complication of relationships here. The real part of interest to everyone was the statement of how easily you can unwittingly find yourself married.In the afternoon a city tour. Then a trip up the longest hill in the world to see Addis from above. Cool!By that evening everybody was shattered and the film room that night was packed.It got serious on Monday. We continued to continue our language session in the morning.In the afternoon I met with my VSO programme officer who will be overseeing me and we discussed the move, roles and responsibilities in Hossiana the town in which I will be workingHere are some of the particulars about my placementWater-There are very serious water shortages in Hosanna and it is important that any volunteers heading there understands this, the college supply is poor and is only switched on for 20 mins a day during working hours. In severe shortages it is sometimes necessary to pay a donkey and cart to fetch water from the main town pipe. The toilet is a pit over which you also have a jug showerElectricity– is often interrupted. As it is hydroelectric at the end of the dry season, it is often 1 day on , one day off. Cuts often still occur during the on days.The road between the college and town is safe by day but not from dusk onwards. This is because hyenas that roam the area of park and woodland’ (the campus is surrounded by woodland) 16 people were killed in the last 6 months –two nights ago I heard the hyenas at their closest yet. About 20 meters away having a chat, about me. ( I could almost hear the pad of their feet)That evening-Back by popular demand that evening was the Olympics, this time with prizes and dancing after.Tuesday. Final Language Sessions and in the afternoon our partners came. My new employer theDean broke the ice by saying it was good I was young.Anyway the final night was great. The selection of food was immense. Both Ethiopian and western. I hadn’t realised how good because my plate was full up and then I looked up and saw I was only a quarter way around the buffet table. I had writen and delivered a speech because I was in the socail committee and nobody else was daft enough. my speech went down really well. Phil’s wedding had made completely calm about it, luckily.We also had some professional traditional Ethiopian dancers and a traditional Ethiopian band play for us. The dance mostly, unlike European dances, has the emphasis on the head and shoulders. Which could I magine look ridiculous. But done properly by Ethiopians, as it was , is amazing. The boys, sort of swing their heads around so that it looks like they will fly off.Wednesday. I woke up Wednesday, not really feeling hung over but with a terrible stomach ache.After taking medical advice (the advantage of a bunch of vso’s together is that your garenteed a rep from almost every profession. Especially medical.) I had to take some immodium –to get me through the journey-  and some stuff what stops your muscles cramping which really did the trick. The driver arrived and after a goodbye (it had been an intense, hilarious 10 days) to all those left waiting for their cars we set off. The road was goodSo I must have been really ill because if fell asleep. I awoke as we were turning into a hotel thing for refreshments. I felt ok at this time so accepted the offer of a drink. I ordered tea.Ethiopia is thought to be the home of the coffee. First discover by goat herders here. Thus tom I have already on numerous occasions had fresh coffee beans roasted and even blessed in front of me. Then had it made into the drink for me.However, the Tea, I know this is the news you have really been waiting for. If you order tea the Amharic directly translates as tea withmilk. I have yet to figure out the term which ensures that what arrives is not milk with tea. Literally. You receive a cup of warmed throffy??? milk and a shot of tea to pour over.Anyway we arrived at my placement and I was feeling ruff.. We got hold of the vice dean. I was sick just before his arrival but on his arrival he kindly offered me dinner. I remembered how rude it was to refuse. So I ate. Then I was sick in his garden, which went down really well.When the key arrived I got everybody out of the house and slept. Wednesday merged into Thursday. I couldn’t wake up when I wanted to. After 18 hours or so in bed. I crawled out of bed. Weakly I managed to get to town and buy essentials. 2 days with no food and  I managed an ok dinner. Ironically enough my first self cooked meal contained my nemesis, tuna.Friday was cleaning day. I had found out the evening before that water comes on for 20 mins at 9 in the morning. Luckily I had had 1.5 litres with me and acquired another litre had which lasted me until then. Luckily I had the sense to get up Friday and fill the buckets because there was to be no more until Tuesday. The house was full of wild life but I cleaned and unpacked in the morning.In the afternoon I was invited around to 'chat' with some of other lecturers and later we headed out for a beer or two.Saturday and one of three was the only one left in town but had offered to take me to the market. We started by opening a bank account which went more smoothly than I could hope.Sunday.I felt comfortable having a bit of me time until the evening when the meskel ceremony occurs.It’s a big christian event in the south and celebrates the story of the Ethiopian women who travelled to jeruselem to find the resting place of the cross Christ was crucified on. Apparently it was done by lighting a fire, where the smoke led the women found the pieces of the cross.On arrival I attracted a lot of attention from the children, being the only white person in town a that time. I was surroundedI missed the bon fire itself because I had to get back before hyena time. Luckily I had had my hoody on me. Had moved about abit and covered by it, had slipped away largely undetected. Later though, my Ethiopian colleagues are very friendly and when I went to see some local fires in the compound.One of the adults, a fellow lecturer invited me for dinner. They gave me home made beer.Monday really was quiet as a feast day. I managed to get stuff done whilst waiting for my first day of work to come and eyeing my water levels which had reached about 4 litres by the time Tuesdays water came.ON Tuesday I met the rest of the faculty. I managed to get the keys to the office, resource room and model classroom.I wanted to be busy whilst the other lecturer were away recruiting first year students, Wednesday was spent cleaning and in the afternoon I shifted the 4 tonnes of paper that was lying around the resource centre which the students and existing teachers can use for various tasksI then ordered everything so that it could be put in an inventory ready for lending to schools and teachers in my cluster unit. Today also opened a  PO. Box, If you wuld like to write or send cool stuff like chocolate and books, feel free. Nothing electrical related. Cheers!My address isMartin PrestonP.O.Box 611HossanaHadiya ZoneSNNPREthiopiaAfricaOn Friday morning I travelled into town to the bus station for my trip to Awasa. I was greeted by about 40 people. I’m not sure if they expect me to pay them for shouting and walking with me to the bus the first person told me the location of the bus. to be one the safe side I just ignore them. When you get to the bus it has about 50 or 60 seats on it. Each one about ¾ the size of the space needed to sit on properly.Now the bus is counted as public transport. I know our public transport is private but not in this way. Basicly a bunch of guys, Entrepreneurs I grant you, decide to buy a bus. They can do what they want. There is competition and a market price for fairs so 50birr is the going rate for the 4.5 hour journey or 125 miles, mostly on farms tracks on the sides of hills. I say hills because when a bus goes over I imagine they don’t free fall like in the Italian job. The landscape of the plateau down into the great rift valley is more of a dramatic version of Devons geographically unique rolling hills. As such the buses are going to tumble like those wheels of cheese in Somerset.SO the journey is a bum numbing, back aching 4 hours but you are fatigued long before you start your journey because they bus does not move until every seat and other nook and cranny is filled. To this end on my outward journey to Awasa, I got on the bus, got off, had lunch, got on waited another hour for the bus to fill. Then there was pandemonium as the‘conductors’ .flittered between how many people over the realistic number the bus could take, they were going to allow. Would it be 10 or 12. Then as we got on our way and the guy outside the bus station had given up filming me with his mobile phone through the window we picked up more villagers as we went along the way. There seemed to be tens of them at each place. It was distressing as these people were obviously desparate and without a viable means of reaching their destination.What did strike me on the trip however was the sense of community. Throughout the bus you could see everybody was uncomfortable. It was strange compared to going on the tube say how willing people were to help. I found it hard really figuring out who the children belonged to as the ones that were car sick or fidgety or the parent was tired seemed to be passed around. Children from 4 up to say 9. And these people didn't get on the bus  together. Again someone had a delicate earthen coffee kettle, however, it was passed around from person to person as each got tired and at the end of the journey it passed to the owner.On both ways the person next to me took upon themselves to get to know me. Both bought me a banana chewing and the second managed to squeez my number out of meI arrived in Awassa with the sun still up and with just enough time to see my two friends apartment which had running water, three balconies, a hot shower and a rat but no yet any furniture, before we went out to the post rendezvous.A pizza restaurant of sorts. Meat pizza includes lot of veg plus minced meat which has been fried but not drained and then cooked on with the rest. Heaven to me after a week of making different combo’s of tomato, onion and pasta. It indeed looked pretty sexy. The bar is the place where the volunteers meet up every Friday. You think unadventurous but still in a small city here there won’t be that many places worth going and everybody knows to go there. It’s such a tradition that it is evenin the lonely planet guide that all volunteers go there. Accourdingly we also met up with some peace corp guys who get mega languages training and speak the language almost perfectly.Only down side is having to go home relatively early. This is because road travel is so dangerously bad at night the police are stopping it and so after 9 the tuk tuks or bajaj as they are called here don’t run.The next day we got up failry early and went to get some breakfast with another volunteer. After listening to these people who have a hot shower everyday complain about the lack of chocolate. we headed for possible the best food i’ve had so far. It was called a Fattera Special. It’s like a crispy pancake sandwich. In between are eggs meat load of veg and just the most amazing taste. With some honey on top. Plus to make it extra special, i couldn’t even finish. After we went for what described as an orgasmic coffee. Yar, it was ok. If I was tom and I liked coffee, it would have been amazing. But I don’t, so I took it on the chin for you bro. Damn shame you couldn’t be there.They we went for a stroll down to the lake which was restfulThat afternoon a couple of us climbed a hill half cut away for a quarry. The afternoon view with heavy cloud was stunning and a rainbow ever made a guest star appearanceThe next morning we got up and once again I enjoyed the pleasures of hot running water and had myself a lovely shower. My favourite time of year. Then we set off to conquer the hill by the lake before it got too hot. However we are useless so we got there at mid day. I'm not going to lie about this. I didn't put on any sunscreen. It hadn't got that hot until then (it the start of the dry season and as a write this it hasn't rained for two weeks) and the result was I burnt, or rather the sun directed it's nuclear generated power specifically down on me. The hill is wrapped in awasa on all sides but on which adjoins the lake.We got a Bajaj over to the right side of town as far as the driver could be bothered to go.I'm not sure I have covered Bajaj's. When in one you can't help but drift off into thoughts of how many more times exactly are your odds increased of being maimed or seriously injured. It's not that your essentially driving around in a glorified tin can, keeping you from didtches, donkeys, goats or other crazy bajaj's, neither is it fact the wheels are arranged in a diamond so as to ensure capsize(ment?) at some point. It isn't even the fact the doors are made from curtains. More alarming is that whenever you get in one, perhaps motivated by the prospect of good tip from a ferenji, the nut-cases driving you around always seem to be the fastest, most fearless yet technically inept aggressive driver on the 'road'.We climbed up the side of the hill. Told it was a hard climb, we were relieved to find our selves at the top of the kidney shaped hill. Both the points of which pointed at the lake. We bumbled along the curve of the top we had great views of the lake and town. All the time ducking as the frequent bumble bee's the size of turkish delights sortied overhead, sound like helicopters as they did so. Awasa the town did not exist 50 years ago but has quickly grown to 125,000. I suppose for its useful proximity as a stopping place before travelling on to Addis as well as it's beauty. It is a well planned town and a relief for its roads, lack of craters and dust. The best bit was still to come.We decided then to try and skirt th foot of the hill back next the lake. As we wnet down we were joined by string of children all happy to follow and see their pictures on the screen after having one taken and not asking for money. Usually the second phrase after 'what is your name' 'is give me money'. So we made our way down and the group swelled to 7 or 8. After walking through wht seemed to be peoples back gardens we follow a hedged path into a clearing the other side of which was hedged by the lake and a hive of activity. For the next ten minutes the female in our party didn't know where to look. Firstly the 56789 or 10 year old boys playing naked in the water between a herd of cows and a flock? of goats didn't cause to much embarrassment but set the tone. Next were the grown men washing in just tee's. Several of the naked boys started to run out of the lake shouting ferenji or 'you, you' and we hastened on. Skirting around the bend we came to a quiet spot. It was alive with wildlife. After taking a pictures of three different kind of kingfishers, and some other colourful ornithological beauties we continued on to pass closely by a man completely naked washing his shoes and several miniature fishermen again with only t-shirts on.The serious point to this, if indeed there should be one, is that the lake contains Bilharzia a microscopic parasite that has evolved to live half it's life in the lakes resident snails and half in humans. It passes into the body through the skin (really easily) and out in faeces. It can cause problems for all but in children it has lasting damaging effects on several organs, particualy the liver which it swells the give the appearance of malnutrition as well as considerably stunting children’s growth. It effects millions in sub-Saharan Africa but ironically is simply and quickly treatable.Our posse was still with us and now a man joined us. Suspecting the aim of his intervention we refused his guidance but he persisted. After heading back to our journeys starting place via some even smaller fishermen who had managed to catch some many fish that they were struggling to cope with the weight, the gentleman indeed asked for money for his unsolicited guidance, which I mostly ignored because I was too fascinated by the red kite about 10ft above heads.On our way home we stopped at the supermarket and I spent a small fortune. It was worth it though. Powered milk, burberry spice, tinned tuna, baked bean, chick peas, bleach, mae ploy sauce, porridge.... mazing!We then headed for quick a turn around and attended the 1stbirthday party of the son of the lady whose job I have taken over. It reminded me that I won't get to see my own Nephews first birthday which is sad. At the party I didn't seem to have lost the strange thing where babies just seem to stare at me. After securing some food we headed of the watch the Chelsea - Arsenal match in a giant shed. The match was predictable but the fight in the crowd next to my head wasn't. Most enteraining of all has to be paying the he guy collecting 10birr ahead for entry, (not a small sum, a ten minute public taxi cost 1birr or 4pence ) serving us 7 birr bears and whilst he has left, watching how many people run in for a free view.The trip back was uneventful other than Firstly: waiting 2.5 hours for the bus to start its 4 hour journey. Secondly seeing 20 dead goats which had tipped out of an overturned truck which apparently had hit another truck and two now lifeless donkeys and their cart.So I got back late on Monday. the next day the Dean introduced me to the new American ifish volunteer, Megan, Megan will be working in the English language improvement centre.Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday were taken up stocking up on fresh food as well doing some more tidying in my Model classroom and resources as well as catching up on bits and pieces and exploiting my newly stocked cupboard of food.Friday. Action! The vice dean took us to see three school. The centres of the mini clusters within the bigger cluster of 14 schools, the teachers of which I will be working with. All the school were tucked away in the town. Mud and wooden beam buildings, brightly painted and with educational mural on the outsides. Unfortunately we didn't have time to look around the classrooms. The schools we visited were really and happy to meet us.In the afternoon I bought some scrap 1 by 1ish from a local carpenter who only seems to make pews for churches, carried it home and started to make a compost bin. Realising I had no nails and despit the fact I know I just don't have the patience to make wooden stuff like the old, old man I none the less wasn't going to be beaten and went ahead and started using finger/dovetail joints to build a 4 sided box. Shortly after starting I gave up because as I was guiding the saw in with my other hand on the side of the blade I Pulled the saw back pushed it forward and because the saw gets smaller at the end managed spectacularly to cut my finger open with the blunt side of the saw. I'm up to row 10 now. But neither have I finish or has my finger healed which now has the appearance of a fish with one gill. It's not happy either as it is the same finger I chopped a considerable amount off the tip two summers ago whilst making a sandwich. I never found the tip but the sandwich was very tasty. The reason for the compost bin is mainly because everybody in the compound just chucks their stuff in a hole despite almost all having a garden.Saturday we visited the market properly this time and I managed, despite the crowd following usround to see what crazy stuff ferenji might buy, like onions I suppose, to get vegetables for the week making food cupboard look splendid. At the market I also saw a kid selling bugs on threads. A massive beetle of something which he had lassoed round the leg and which was flying round and round like one of those fake bats on wire you buy in dingles at Christmas for no apparent reason.On Monday I was keen after Fridays atcion. However, first of all my water didn't come on and so I had to spend part of the day securing my supply. Then as it was my first pay day some paper work there got in the way of my plans to start making appointments with my centre link schools.As it was admissions week, not all staff were at the full commitment of the lessons timetable. Therefore I spent Tuesday and Wednesday with paper work and more preparation in the office and also preparing for Fridays meeting in Awasa with the Ministry Regional Bureau based VSO volunteer of Regional CPD development.After posting a letter and taking lunch I wondered back to college via a spot of table tennis (which along with table football and volley ball they are mad about here).I've also started a garden. After asking if I could borrow a mini machete they all use here the gardener for the college instead cleared the bushes next to my house so that I could turn it. I started last night. It is fresh groundI'm gradually pick axing all 72 meters squared, and it's knackering. To spur me on to complete the job faster is the fact that recently the locals cleared the perimeter fence of foliage. My house is in the corner of the compound and the fence corner is one side of a cross road. During my work I constant get a stream of you! Or ferenji! Or money money. The children are impressively persistent and in a small crowd can keep up their calls until their through run dry.Last night I spent ages making a crap excuse for a Thia green curry owning to the fact that I don't have 90% of the ingredients. Still it wasn't badTomorrow (Friday the 15th) I go back to Awasa. Fun.Next Update due this week. Hit me xxx