Exploding the Myths about London
Trip Start
Jan 03, 2008
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15
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Trip End
Feb 10, 2008
Nanyuki, Kenya
Monday, January 21, 2008
Martin dropped me off with all of the materials. I then spent the day tinkering with the recipe for the whitewash and painting the rooms. I started on the two new classrooms which have not been put into use yet (they were built during the holidays at there has not been time yet to move the desks into them).
I soon gained a few unofficial helpers in the form of two naughty boys who were avoiding their lessons. They were rather amusing and as they are only about 6, there English is not good enough for me to tell them to go back to their classes. Even when I mentioned the issue to Joseph (the head teacher) he said that it doesn't matter (that was until the boys got into a fight over who was stirring my whitewash bucket).
In the afternoon I had four boys from the oldest class helping which meant that we completed the first coat of one and a half of the classrooms.
During the lunch hour, I sat out in the playground (in the sunshine) chatting with one of the teachers. I ended up having a long conversation about London (which I then ended up having again with Joseph), which included:
... there really are not that many jobs available (particularly for immigrants) that are well paid for people who have not been to university
... that although we are paid a lot in contrast to in Kenya (average monthly wage here is about 2 pounds per month plus accommodation), everything costs A LOT more in London (e.g. a 100 acre farm in a good location with a good sized house costs about 50K here)
... there are a lot of poor people in London
In the afternoon Martin picked me up (I was knackered by the time he turned up).
In the evening Martin & Tiddy's friends Jane and Terry popped in for a coffee (and a glass of wine) which was fun.
