It's half term week

It's half term week and Malc and I are currently sitting in an air conditioned computer suite doing display work on photosynthesis - it's like we never left the UK.... I'm trying to work out exactly what to write as so much happens here and I think it's because we are experiencing the new and wonderful all the time. If you keep up with us on Facebook you'll have seen the photos of a mini (but great) game camp we went to about 3 weeks ago called Nsobe. We spent the day swimming, checking out the snake house, braaing (BBQ-ing) and taking ourselves on the game drive to see if we could see any animals - we saw plenty of Impala and other deer like animals - but not the Zebra or Giraffe that live there. Not so much of a shame when you live here and know that there is a next time! Lucy and Albert are loving it. Most weekends we are invited to somebody's house/farm for a braai where everybody seems to be invited as long as you contribute to the meal. Although the last one we went to they pulled a whole pig out of the ground that had been roasting for about 7 hours that day! No, Lucy was not impressed, Yes it was delicious. Last weekend was Lucy's 9th birthday and so we took them to the 'zoo' with a few friends - I put Zoo in inverted commas because it is actually another mini game camp. The Zoo is mainly about the bouncy castles, a play area, an inflatable swimming pool and free popcorn & candy floss. I am told before I go not to get my hopes up as you don't actually see many animals - possibly a cheeky monkey who appears when you get your sandwiches out. Malcolm's friend from Simba school arrived - and advised us all to wait until the sun has just started to go down before we go for the drive. Then he told us all to pile into the two 4x4 we had between us and follow him. If you didn't know he was the Yr6 maths teacher you would think he was a proper safari ranger - We took to calling him Bear Grylls as he drove us up and over the mounds through the game park while the kids all hung out the back of his truck laughing their heads off at nearly being thrown from the car. We rounded the corner after seeing the guaranteed ostrich only to see a herd of Zebras running across the plain - as we sped up to try and see them better we noticed that they were being followed by 2 giraffes. We couldn't believe it - we had no expectation to see any animals and we ended seeing loads - there were also some massive dark brown deer looking things with big ears and curly horns that were very cool - I will remember the name once I post this! There is of course work to be done and Malc has been working really hard - School days are often 7am til 3pm - which is tiring in this heat! Unfortunately, every spare minute Malc had during the first 4 weeks was spent trying to sort out our boxes that didn't want to arrive so he has plenty of catching up work during this half term - hence the display on photosynthesis I will be doing in a minute...But he is enjoying it and there is the added bonus of a dip in the school pool after work! I have been going in to the Beyond Ourselves community schools about twice a week and am really starting to find my feet - often I am sorting out dates for teacher observations or doing them. I think I have managed to observe nearly every teacher in all 3 schools. It is to celebrate good teaching, give feedback and small improvements that can be made but it is so helpful for me and I am quickly getting a very good idea of what teaching and learning is like here. It is easy to watch a lesson and make a judgement on it but the more you learn about the culture, traditions and disadvantages that are here in these communities, the more you realise that it really isn't that easy. Relationships are so vital. Yes I can be helpful in many ways but I will definitely be learning just as much along the way. Looking forward to having a chat with my bosses over the next couple of weeks about my main role here for Beyond Ourselves. Last note... 24th October 1964 Zambia became an independent country and so this year Zambia is celebrating 50 years of freedom. Lucy and Albert have had the chance to dress up in traditional clothes and celebrate Independence day' at School with their friends. Learning the national anthem and dances to perform. On Friday we will head to Kawama School to watch the Independence day performance and celebrate with the staff there.