Today I am supposed to go to my S2 class first, and then my S1. I have forgotten and spend someone else’s class time, teaching the kids using the posters I had made. It is really successful. This method gives me the ability to go from group to group and work with only eight children at a time, instead of 77.
I am really frustrated with one group though. Not one person in the group knew how to even begin answering the problem. I called over this really clever guy to come help them out. I don’t think they understand much of my English
I go into the teacher’s lounge and have a piece of bread. They have bread and tea for breakfast at the school. Sometimes they have cassava. I look on the schedule they have posted to make sure what time I’m suppose to be in my S2 class. This is when I realize what I have done. The teachers in the room laugh because they know what I have done. The headmaster says it’s OK and helps to figure out how I can still have my math lesson for the S2s.
After we have everything figured out, Moses says, pointing to Joe, “You’ve turned him into a Mormon, by the way. He has refused to take tea.”
“He’s turning himself into whatever he’s turning into, I haven’t made him do anything.”
Moses laughs and Joe smiles as he eats his bread. “I can have Soya Cup though!” Soya Cup is a coffee substitute made from soy beans.
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I talk to Marilyn about how things are going at the white house with the kids. She complains that they aren’t taking things seriously enough. She says, “Hopefully no one else gets sick, but at least we’ve all had our vaccinations.”
“… I don’t have mine.”
“What! Oh, Adam.. oh dear.” Marilyn is worried for me and says it’s foolish that I haven’t had the vaccination. She tells me to be so careful, to not touch any of the children and to wash my hands frequently. I tell her that every time I use the latrine I wash my hands with soap and water and then wipe my hands with the anti-bacterial wipes that I have brought.
Later at night, Marilyn comes to me and tells me that her and Fran have been thinking and they suggest that I buy my own basin and start doing my own dishes because Typhoid is transmitted through water, and we’re not sure in what way they clean the dishes. Also, they want me from now on to only use bottled water, instead of the boiled water they provide for us in the living room.
My family is going to flip out when they hear about this.
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I am alone in the white house tonight. Everyone is still in the fishing villages and Jeff, Kelley and Mom left this afternoon. It’s kind of fun with the place to myself. I’ve been using the Volset office all week by myself. It was nice to spread out and have a place to work and think.
In the middle of the night, as usual, I have to use the bathroom so badly. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but since I’ve been here I will wake up at least once, usually twice, in the night to use the bathroom. And it’s not a simple walk down the hallway either. I have to unlock the solid metal door and walk under the stars to the latrine and try to aim in the dark.
I thought maybe something was wrong with me, but every Westerner I’ve talked to has the same problem. We all have different theories as to why this is happening. I thought maybe it was the doxicycline.. which I blame for most of the problems I have here. Jeff is convinced it is our proximity to the equator. Though, the most plausible idea is that we eat right before we sleep, and with our medications we have to drink a full glass of water. At home, we usually have about three or four hours after dinner before we go to sleep.
Anyway, so it’s about 2:30 AM and I get up to use the bathroom. To unlock the metal door there are two metal bars that slide into holes in the wall. Sliding them into the unlock position is usually pretty loud. I slide the top one and it makes a loud clank. I hear footsteps running quickly by the door right outside. Usually Simba and Vicky, the dogs, are outside running around, but this is clearly the sound of a human.
I freeze and listen. I don’t hear anything and assume that this person must have run to hide. I think of this crazy woman who has been, for the past couple of days, sitting on our porch. I also think of one of the many guys that walk down the path with machetes. I slide the lock back in place and go to my room.
Right as I’m finish peeing in an empty water bottle, I hear a very quiet knocking on the door. They might as well been banging on the door. Quiet knocking on a door at 2:30 in the morning is just as scary. It suggests, “I know that you are inside and that you are awake, so I do not need to knock loudly. I know you can hear me.”
I stand very still and listen for more. There is nothing. I think of the locks on the door and reassure myself that they are strong. I wish there was a way of locking my bedroom door from the inside. I listen for any attempt by the person outside to get in, but hear nothing. I am never going outside to use the bathroom at night again. I am so tired and after two minutes can’t help but to fall back asleep.
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