That was today's conversation. Most of the morning has been spent in chatting (kind of!!) to various people who have passed my door. I successfully asked Alzira and Alvena (think that's how you spell it) if they would like a drink?
It was quite amusing but I did successfully get the right drink to the right person. My role here is definitely one of support and encouraging. I never thought that my skills and interests could ever really be used outside my job. See the network course is helpful, Ian was right!
Today is dia da lavagem - wash day. I don't know if I've got the right verb but today everything get's cleaned and washed. I have been warned to make sure that everything is ironed because a little fly likes to lay it's eggs in damp clothes which the hatch out and the lavae bury under the skin - eek!! So advice is to iron the clothes (guess it cooks the eggs!!) and then don't use them for about 48 hrs - nice!
I'm also creating resources for each of the year groups for the curriculum and saving them on the PC. Hopefully, I'm also going to be writing an outline scheme of work for them. Fortunately, it's another nice day, so I'll do a bit then when I'm fed up looking at the screen I can take a walk.
I missed the CFM, my apologies! It's good to know that I'm not forgotten :( poor me - lol
As I sit here I can see Cooper (golden labrador) chasing the gardiner up and down and he mows the grass. One way of getting some exercise. He needs it, he is chubby. There's another dog, Chesser a Rhodesian Ridgeback, also a little chubby because all the children feed her snacks! We also have cat, Felix, a ginger tom. I haven't made him out yet, he looks as though he could be grumpy.
Good get your blogs - need to go and do some work.
XXX
Friday, 29 July 2011
Thursday, 28 July 2011
está ensolarado
Yes today is sunny. Last night it was so cold I had to wear socks in bed! Well we all like the sun including the snakes. I didn't meet him, but apparently there was one outside one of the other houses. Are snakes territorial? I hope so. He can stay over there.
Today I have been Mr Technician. My lounge looks like the technicians room at school. Fortunately Windows 7 is very kind to technophobes like me and I survived the day.
The start of the day - note the manual!
Half way there. Swapped the manual for the Haribo - thank you Katherine :)
Behind me were a stack of boxes, extension leads etc. But they all work. There are 6 new computers going into the suite, to be joined by 10 "older" machines, lovely mix of Vista and XP. So I think this is the lull before the storm.
The suite is almost finished, it has a ceiling, still no windows, but they're getting there.
Today I have been Mr Technician. My lounge looks like the technicians room at school. Fortunately Windows 7 is very kind to technophobes like me and I survived the day.
Behind me were a stack of boxes, extension leads etc. But they all work. There are 6 new computers going into the suite, to be joined by 10 "older" machines, lovely mix of Vista and XP. So I think this is the lull before the storm.
The suite is almost finished, it has a ceiling, still no windows, but they're getting there.
The "older" PC's - sitting and waiting
Once the windows are in the suite I'll start reconnecting the older machines and try to get them all to talk to each other.
Next week I'm helping with Inset so I need the PC's to be all working and doing what they're supposed to do.
Tonight I'm having dinner with Larry & Susan, two other missionaries here (they had the visit from the snake!). It's hard to believe that only a week ago I was at school at the end of term BBQ.
I understand that a few people have had trouble blogging me. I must admit I too have had problems and I just thought it was Mozmbique.
I had wanted to ask if my dear son was still alive and if my dear daughter could upload a picture of my beautiful conservatory.
Also just to say yo Bill - Cedar Point is not a wise move for someone with vertigo. You should know better.
Finally to say to Andy & Joy, really praying for you. Being here on mission, I understand a little more some of the difficulties you have to deal with.
Love to you all
XXX
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Onde está o leite? Um saco de plástico. Muito obrigado.
Hi
That was my conversation with Naomi, a Mozambican who works here. I've achieved something - wahoo!!
You all want to know how my lifegroup/cell activity went here in Mozambique. You can check out the photographs.
That was my conversation with Naomi, a Mozambican who works here. I've achieved something - wahoo!!
You all want to know how my lifegroup/cell activity went here in Mozambique. You can check out the photographs.
Great fun.
I think the team here had a little insight into my true personality. So next time I offer to do something they know that it's going to be slightly different, and active. I'm not sure if they're ready for the pig or porco activity and the gingerbraed man story will definitely get me a wallop!
I missed you all yesterday. I kept thinking Tuesday evening what will they be doing? Knowing my life group it probably involved food!
It's really windy and cold here today, the leaves are blowing everywhere. It has to be sunny soon.
Yesterday when I was collecting sticks for my activity, Naomi became quite concerned. This poor white lady was having to collect sticks, was she not being looked after by the other missionaries? I'm not sure how it was explained to her, but I think my request for milk today has probably only confirmed to her that I'm poorly looked after. When in fact I think I'm going to go home 20lbs heavier!!
Today, once I've done this blog, I'm helping to prepare resources for the teacher Inset which will be good. It will also be a challenge to my "pedagogy" (it's ok its meant to be a scary word) because I will have to look at it from a different context and culture. It will also be without the technology. I wonder if I can get Ofsted points for doing this?
I slept a bit better last night which is answer to prayer. Not impressed with the cockerels here. Someone needs to tell them exactly what time dawn is. At the moment they're more like a cuckoo clock - with an hourly sing song throughout the night.
Regarding wildlife, we have bats. they're nesting in a gum tree just outside. One of the other missonaries (also a teacher) was seriously surprised that they do hang upside down.
I've got an answer to my (or rather Castle Point's) magotty food bin - a fire pit. There's no such thing as rubbish collectors here. I'm not sure what it's like in the city, but here people have fire pits and evrything is thrown into the fire pit. When you drive around, you can often see fires or charred earth where they have had fires and burnt their rubbish and there is a lot of rubbish about, more than you could imagine.
Anyway nearly lunchtime and I've got prep work to do.
Love
Ro
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Tuesday
Hi,
I only partly raised the dead - 2 out of 3 computers. On the whole I didn't have to do too much.The dead one is staying dead. For those geeky people reading this - it was a pentium II, 512K. Does anybody remember those days?
An interesting challenge - fixing the computers, the dos screen was in English but when I got into Windows all the error messages were in Portuguese. Eh!! I did pray that we didn't have a power cut else that would have really confused me.
I did my little talk, which was ok, I got a marriage proposal! I don't think there's much of a future though. It would be a very short marriage - he was very old. Also, I'm not sure about the dowry! Here in Mozambique not only does the bride's family pay a dowry but they also have to bring gifts for the other family andhave big parties.
My ice-breaker will come tonight - waiting in anticipation!
It's cold here today, dark clouds and it's threatening to rain. I've been accused of bringing the English weather with me.
Reading some of the blog responses - I am a little concerned about the colour inside my house and people pictures will come soon.
Love
Ro
I only partly raised the dead - 2 out of 3 computers. On the whole I didn't have to do too much.The dead one is staying dead. For those geeky people reading this - it was a pentium II, 512K. Does anybody remember those days?
An interesting challenge - fixing the computers, the dos screen was in English but when I got into Windows all the error messages were in Portuguese. Eh!! I did pray that we didn't have a power cut else that would have really confused me.
I did my little talk, which was ok, I got a marriage proposal! I don't think there's much of a future though. It would be a very short marriage - he was very old. Also, I'm not sure about the dowry! Here in Mozambique not only does the bride's family pay a dowry but they also have to bring gifts for the other family andhave big parties.
My ice-breaker will come tonight - waiting in anticipation!
It's cold here today, dark clouds and it's threatening to rain. I've been accused of bringing the English weather with me.
Reading some of the blog responses - I am a little concerned about the colour inside my house and people pictures will come soon.
Love
Ro
Monday, 25 July 2011
piccies
These took ages to load - it's windy - don't ask?
The computer suite - the computers are to be moved in later in the week. Hopefully everything will go well. There's also the teachers' room and the office to do.
The main "street" in the compound. The missionary houses are either side of the road.
The entrance to the compund. The guard entrance is to the right. It was a little off putting seeing armed guards, but that's life here. They even have a guy checking your shopping when you leave the supermarket, bit like makro.
The outside of the high school
Looking across the "playground" from the high school building towards the back of the junior/elementary school building.
Finally..............something I've often longed for..........
my own utility room!!
Tomorrow it's up at normal work time (5.30) to go to the seminary and try to raise the dead (not literally) some very old computers. They even have floppy drives! No USB ports. Now can I remember any DOS commands.
Then, I'll be giving a short testimony to some students. Not sure what will happen in the afternoon. Teatime/dinner is a bring and share, I thought that as it'll be Tuesday and life group day, I'll do a little "ice-breaker". I wonder if I'll get the sam reaction as at home?
I could do with a little prayer for some sleep and a tickly cough that just won't shift.
Be in touch. XXX
The computer suite - the computers are to be moved in later in the week. Hopefully everything will go well. There's also the teachers' room and the office to do.
The main "street" in the compound. The missionary houses are either side of the road.
The entrance to the compund. The guard entrance is to the right. It was a little off putting seeing armed guards, but that's life here. They even have a guy checking your shopping when you leave the supermarket, bit like makro.
My house whilst I'm here
Main entrance to the school
Looking across the "playground" from the high school building towards the back of the junior/elementary school building.
Finally..............something I've often longed for..........
my own utility room!!
Tomorrow it's up at normal work time (5.30) to go to the seminary and try to raise the dead (not literally) some very old computers. They even have floppy drives! No USB ports. Now can I remember any DOS commands.
Then, I'll be giving a short testimony to some students. Not sure what will happen in the afternoon. Teatime/dinner is a bring and share, I thought that as it'll be Tuesday and life group day, I'll do a little "ice-breaker". I wonder if I'll get the sam reaction as at home?
I could do with a little prayer for some sleep and a tickly cough that just won't shift.
Be in touch. XXX
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Sunday in Maputo
Hi
Just to touch base. My flights were great, all on time, no problems at the borders, luggage all arrived - great answers to prayer.
I'm settling in well, there are a great bunch of people here, all different ages, from all over the globe. The "compond" is a huge piece of land with 6 or 7 small bungalows (I have one to my self). The wired fencing and armed guards takes you by surprise at first.
Church was interesting this morning, the preacher (Dave/Ian take note) sang before he delivered his message!! The language is a bit tricky, it was interesting in church hearing the familiar tunes but the words didn't match what I could see on the screen or what my brain was telling me. I had to do liitle introduction, rxplain where I was from etc.
I've had a tour around the new school and it's going to be amazing when it's finished. The pictures below tell a different story - but I've been assured.
It's sunny and warm by UK standards (28 degrees), yet it's quite funny to see people sittng in blankets, coats etc. Tomorrow I might be helping to box up computers and help with preparing teaching materials for inset next week.
Keep blogging - it;s really encouraging
Just to touch base. My flights were great, all on time, no problems at the borders, luggage all arrived - great answers to prayer.
I'm settling in well, there are a great bunch of people here, all different ages, from all over the globe. The "compond" is a huge piece of land with 6 or 7 small bungalows (I have one to my self). The wired fencing and armed guards takes you by surprise at first.
Church was interesting this morning, the preacher (Dave/Ian take note) sang before he delivered his message!! The language is a bit tricky, it was interesting in church hearing the familiar tunes but the words didn't match what I could see on the screen or what my brain was telling me. I had to do liitle introduction, rxplain where I was from etc.
I've had a tour around the new school and it's going to be amazing when it's finished. The pictures below tell a different story - but I've been assured.
It's sunny and warm by UK standards (28 degrees), yet it's quite funny to see people sittng in blankets, coats etc. Tomorrow I might be helping to box up computers and help with preparing teaching materials for inset next week.
Keep blogging - it;s really encouraging
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