School Opening, Sort of!

Two school weeks came and gone, but yet I feel I have not yet really started teaching.  There continue to be different interruptions (but they call them normal) that affect lessons.  

One big interruption that pretty much took up the entire day was inspection which was announced last Friday morning, which was unexpected for me.  The whole experience is a little heart-wrenching for Mzungus like myself.

Although each student had a "school supply list" which were sent out to their families through a newsletter, there are a few additional items each student are required to have.  So, an inspection of every student's worldly possessions were done by all teachers.  I was assigned to inspect Form 4 boys (seniors). 

The following items are required:  2 padlocks, 1 geometrical set, 1 long ruler, pens, one pencil, 1 mathematical tables, 1 dictionary, 1 atlas, 1 Bible (or Holy Quran if Muslim), 1 Golden Bells-Hymn book, pair of green (sky blue for girls) bed sheets, at least 2 blankets, a pillow and green (sky blue for girls) pillow case, 1 mattress, 1 metallic bucket, 1 pair of games shoes, 1 pair of black leather shoes, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, washing and bathing soaps, toilet paper rolls, good size towel, adequate inner wears, 1 spoon, 3 files, 1 warm school jacket, 1 calculator, 1 set of assigned reading books.

Referring to the "adequate inner wears", I asked for clarification as to how many is considered adequate.  They say at least two (yes two, for students staying in the boarding school for 3 months at a time).  Also, I am surprised about requiring their own spoons and mattresses, and toilet paper rolls.

So, all students have to haul every measly possession they have out of their dorms into the open, lined up, and be presented to the teacher.  I sat by a desk with a checklist, and instructed students to show me all the items above and inspected their trunks.  Again it was heart-wrenching to see so many of them having only ONE underwear, worn out few clothing, holes and worn out mattresses, and so forth.  Many of them did not meet the required checklist. 

The next day, those that did not meet the checklist (and/or outstanding fee balances) were sent home.  Yes, they travelled, mostly on their own, great distances to get to the school, and the principal decided to wait one week then have them sent home if they did not have everything.  About 2/3 of the student population were given their gate papers.  But fortunately about half of that 2/3 (sorry about the math) were able to travel to Karatina, the nearest "sizable" town (where I go for my groceries) and purchase the required items.  The rest will probably not come back until later next week (or not).

The school fees are about 17,000/= ($195) for three terms.

The previous Peace Corps Volunteer has been sponsoring two girls, and I helped facilitate and contributed to some.  I went to Karatina and purchased reading books and will buy a calculator for these girls.  I will also go to the bank and use my VISA to withdraw $195 in shillings to cover one girl's school fees (the previous PCV will mail me a check).

A Deaf guy working at the school.  He was a refugee from Uganda during their difficult times.

Holding a bowl of salt, everyone used their spoons or hands grabbing pinches of salt.

Kids washing their own plates and spoons.

Strawberries!  They are hard to come by, but I found them in Kenya's largest open-air fresh fruit/vegetable market in Karatina.

The school did not have table tennis (ping pong) balls for long time, so I decided to hunt them down and found them.  I drew "Wavy Jay" (my sign name) on the ball to tease the kids.

I found some "long life" milk (kept at room temperature), so I tried it instead of powdered milk with my cereal this morning. It was not too bad!