29 July 08
~ 01.39hrs ~ Message from Theresa Bland and Family
Hi to everyone
I have been trying to make phone calls few times but was
not able to get through to Michael Bland. I have been following
their latest news from the website thanks to Esther McCall
and the parents who have been sending their children messages
through to the website. It seems that they have indulged
very much into the villagers lives, congratulations. It
is not surprising the degree of heat they are experiencing
there as we were having tempereatures as high as 30 Celsius
here today.
Kind Regards and Best Wishes on the next tasks.
29 July 08 ~ 13.18hrs ~ Phone
call from Esther McCall
With both Kelly Foulser and Cathy McComb ‘cracking
the whip’ (read this as organising the schedule
of work) the labours of the team are really beginning
to pay off and the project phase of the trip is progressing
very quickly now. Fingers crossed, the students hope to
finish the school early on Thursday morning or even on Wednesday
afternoon. The classrooms are looking ‘fantastic’
and the artwork inside is described as ‘superb’.
All 60 desks have now been completed… no mean feat
given that they have had to contend with power cuts and
only the occasional use of a generator. Logistically it
hasn’t helped that timber has had to be purchased
and brought onto site from Livingstone which is about a
half an hours drive away. Given that there is a limit to
how much wood that can be carried on the roof rack of the
land rovers, the ‘woodwork team’ have done amazingly
well.
Yesterday, everyone managed to get away at 3pm as planned.
They went into Livingstone where they visited the craft
market. All soon became well versed in haggling and bartering.
Even more enlightening was the concept of ‘swapping’
where various personal items e.g. socks and hair bands were
exchanged for goods. Someone even managed to swap a pair
of shoes for 3 very interesting gifts to bring home. Parents
should expect to see a variety of masks, carved elephants
etc.
The visit into town also gave everybody the opportunity
to visit a supermarket where students quickly stocked up
on chocolate bars, crisps and fizzy drinks etc. Esther said
it was like the students “hadn’t seen chocolate
before”!
This morning staff met with the Minister for Education
to sort out the order of programme for Friday’s handover
ceremony. Guest of Honour will be the District Commissioner.
29 July 08 ~ 21.17hrs ~ Email
from Jonnie Riordan
"Hey there only a week to go and im sure none of you
want to come back yet, but i cant wait to see you. hope
your well and havnt been eaten (rianne!). Been thinking
about you all the time! Mike and chesh you were missed at
stubbers. Sheila atim i expect a call when you get back
its been really surreal not having you around. Delgat and
Mcfull as well missing you all big hole missing in the group
atm! Make the most of it... My Jealous..."
30 July 08 ~ 19.17hrs ~ Message
from Tracy Epstein
Really lucky to get straight through to Charlotte again
this evening. She said they had finished their project today
and the little children were awesome. She said there was
a little boy outside playing football barefoot.
She said she has just paid for her helicopter ride over
the Victoria Falls, what a fantastic experience, how lucky
are they!
30 July 08 ~ 20.11hrs ~ Message
for Kelly Foulser
Yes I'm kicking myself! Twice now that you've called and
had to leave a message because I was out. Feel so bad that
I missed your call. Glad to know that you are well. You've
almost done your job there, but said even though it's been
a lot of work it's been really cool. We that KNOW you Kel
can only imagine that you would make the most of your experiece
there.
You'll be home here in Canada a week tomorrow and I'm excited
as well. I'm looking forward to the hugs, the "millions
of pictures", and the stories.
Love always,
Mom
P.S. Unless there's an emergency I'll be by the phone tomorrow
afternoon!!
31 July 08 ~ 08.54hrs ~ Message
from Message from Trish, Mike and Daniel Blake
Spoke to Thomas at 19.25pm yesterday evening. He said that
the work they were doing on the school has been completed
– he helped with painting and furniture building.
All they have left to do is the handover ceremony and then
take the children to Victoria Falls.
He said the experience so far has been better than he expected.
Thomas has been playing a lot with the children at the school
– he was beaten at checkers by a 7 year old!! He is
really looking forward to the activities at the weekend
– going to do a bungee jump (much to Mum’s
horror!!).
On one evening Will heard some rustling nearby and when
Alan came out and shone a torch there was a herd of buffalo
on the farm! They can hear the hippos at night.
Although we are counting down the days till next Wednesday,
Thomas is still full of excitement at the next few days
and it sounds like he could stay there for another month!
He told Daniel that when he returns he will be getting up
earlier than him – Daniel is a very early riser, but
Thomas rarely surfaced before lunchtime! How many other
changes are we to expect?
