Notes from Nairobi 3.

The Internet is not reliable, yet at the ‘w’ place it is apparently the best networks out of the schools.  We need to plan for usage of ICT, however not rely on them for lessons. I should be used this from Uganda, but it doesn’t make it less frustrating or time consuming.  My dongle reception from my cottage is also incredibly slow and if I am lucky to get online, I can only have one page open at a time –these are my excuses for not keeping in better touch. But what are yours? I keep turning my phone on and off and jiggling my SIM card around, as I have had about 4 messages in the same amount of days...and one of those was from a mechanic 

After such incredibly busy days at the ‘w’ place (a 6am personal training session with a hard-core Kenyan bloke for an hour, before work, has some down sides!!) it is nice to see you have news from the ‘outside’(as in ‘outside the world of school’).When I looked at my phone this evening I was pleased to see I had 4 missed calls and 4 voice mails...’horay, horay’...I thought! Nope, they were all calls from the said mechanic by accident and the voice mails were full of background noise. Fantastic!

Feeling guilty?

 Good.

Mmm-if you are interested-the car hunting is taking a wee break and will restart next week, as on the weekend I am off to Lake Naivasha, to camp, to count dik-diks and to marshal  a charity challenge. (I don’t know much about the actual event, apart from the fact that  I am on the ‘tree planting’ challenge(!) and that Strathallan school (in Scotland) sponsors all our food and drink...wayhey!)

Traffic

When I started my blog, it was just for friends and family -I was inspired by my friend's (Mike and Erin) cool photo/travel blog. Then I opened it up and allowed it to be found on search engines.

Traffic is still mostly made-up of friends and family, although it is usually people I have never met (other bloggers) that comment on my posts.

Recently these funny things have been typed into a search engine and people have stumbled upon my blog...maybe they left disappointed...some may have come back.

"I hate Uganda" movie -I am sure this person didn't find what they were looking for on my blog.

Africa school days photos -I rarely mention the 'w' place- but there were photos of my friends and I painting the mural of Ntinda School for the Deaf and of our visit to Acholi Quarters and of course Valley View (on this page).

Beautiful things in Uganda - I haven't written my 3BT for a while, but I did for a while and there are LOTS of beautiful things in Uganda.

Giberish - Yes-  I did blog about how I when I was younger I spoke Giberish (as I lived in Gibraltar...) and have no Scottish accent, but an International one.

How Does African Mamas Give Birth - Well, I really don't think it is going to be any different from another Mama!!But I did write that my friend is now and African Mama.

Hairylemon/Tsetse fly - ah, maybe these people wanted to find out if the Tsetse fly really spoils the visit to the Hairy Lemon. Well- I wrote about my first fishing trip; I didn't come back with many bites, or the sleeping sickness, but my friends and I all got Bilharzia. TIA!(This is Africa!)

Oh-one more thing. I think (ready for a sweeping statement...) some visitors from the States may find me and think, "ah, white woman in Africa, a teacher...she must be on a Mission". As (no offence intended, it is just interesting), quite a few of my readers seem to have badges on their blogs like; "I follow Him" or " I am proud to be a Christian" etc. Anyhow- a missionary I am not, a get paid to teach...yep...paid for working in Africa.   

Juneathon Day 4
A better run. An early start and the sun was shining. 57 min solo, slow and hilly jog, about 8km (that included me going into the shops and getting airtime and water).
I really want to go to the pool to swim laps, but have a few jobs to do in town. Maybe later.

Something has to give

Over dinner, quite some time ago, I became involved with a conversation about time. Now that we have music to download, i-pod shuffles to set, Facebook accounts to check, e-mails to write, Twits to make (whatever!); there must be something or someone that loses out?
Do our friendships suffer for this?
Is time in techno-land taking us away from the reality of relationships?
One guest stated that his commute  in London gave him  time to do all his 'tinterneting'! Fair enough.

But something surely has to give or do we just stay awake for longer?
Mmm no, anyone that knows my sleeping habits(bro, Tania) knows that I am no night-owl!

Running is usually time where I can catch-up with friends and have a gossip.
I don't own a TV, I don't clean (a perk of living abroad, one that I will not easily give-up) and I don't have a long drive to work. So, maybe I gain a bit of extra time on the clock by living in this time zone!

Therefore, how did I still not manage to finish my book-club book for this month!!??

My excuse is that my version of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" did not come with Cliff notes!

Last night, as I tried to skim-read the remaining 20 chapters (!), I realised I wasn't willing to miss out on an evening in the American South -so I went to our meeting anyway; wearing my pearls and cardigan, I drank iced tea, ate cheese grits and soda dread ...and talked about... the cover! "Do you think the horse symbolised death?"

So -I found my thing that I lost!
I am now going to step away from the computer and get out my Orhan Pumak novel!

3 more beautiful things

The day is not even over- but I have 3 more beautiful things to share that gave me pleasure; the shuffle, wool and calendars!

• My brother sent me a bright pink i-pod shuffle for my birthday. It is pretty and shiny and will give me faster running legs! I tried to sort out my music last night, but failed, but an ICT technician at school was easily able to sort out my shuffle! I am now ready to rock and run!!
• It has been pretty grey in Kampala of recent, so I decided that today I would wear a cozy woolen dress that a friend gave me in Kuwait. I miss wearing soft clothes and layers- so I am taking full advantage of this mini autumn we are having! I would love to wear tights and boots with it...but the flip flops are still a must!
• I have just found out that it is more than likely that we are off school for one day next week, as it will be Eid. A lovely little surprise. I am also checking out flights for my April holiday to Cape Town. I am not wishing my life away, I just enjoy looking forward to things! 

Technical Difficulties!

It has been pointed out to me that readers cannot comment on my blog postings. The "it's not you, it's me" phrase comes to mind! After spending hours last night on my 'settings',  the problem is still not solved. An annoyance and a shame, but not the end of the world. You can always e-mail me a comment by clicking on the envelope below the posting...or just e-mail me to say 'hello'!