Continuing.......

So we finished the TEFL training on the Wednesday 16th. On the Thursday Jen and I travelled down to Milingano as we are to be teaching in the school there. Milingano is in the valley of the mountains, it's quite different to Yamba it is a busier place, much hotter and noisier. We also arrived on the busiest day of the week, market day!! Every Thursday in a square people come from surrounding villages to buy and sell local products, food and clothing. The village was very busy. Our house is right by the square and the village centre. It's actually 2 houses again rented off a local, Julius. WE have the luxury of a lounge in this house with sofas!! The real luxury however was the porcelain base toilet in the hole rather than a straight drop. This wider base was to prove so useful in days to come!

Milingano does not have the luxury of the mobile phone signal, however there is one square of ground about a 1km walk from the house where reception can be gained.

We were due to be teaching on the Monday of the next week. Ede the end of Ramadam meant that the Tues and Weds were due to be public holidays, so the plan was a 2 day tecahing week, Mon and Thurs. This meant we had Friday and Saturday to fill, before the others came down on Sunday for church in Milingano.

Saturday we went on a walk with a local guide called Peter, we went to some nearby waterfalls. This was a pretty tough trek and steep in places, and we were out for about 4 1/2 hours. A little after our return I unfortunately became ill!!!!! Without giving you too many details! I spent saturday evening and through the night with vomitting and diorrhea!!!! In the morning my dear house mate Jen had to venture to the distant mobile point to let people know in Yamba of my condition. Unfortunately I had to miss the church service, and was order to drink rehydration tablets. Due to the isolation of Milingano in terms of communication we then headed back up to Yamba, so I could get to the health post there and see if I was OK. Also just to be sure I didn't have malaria, due to no mosi bites I was confident that was not the case.

The trek up to Yamba was a very slow slog, require lots of rests. However due to my condition I was humoured by having my favourite musical numbers sung to me!! After a rest over night, I had an interesting visit to the health post, involving a narrow entrance pot, a match box and match and a finger p**** Fortunately I did not have malaria, however a very rare condition called Safira had found itself within me!!! OK so I had worms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When fully recovered we returned to Yamba on Wednesdya of this week, we were given our school timetables, I will be teaching stdII and stdVI.

At risk of boring my readers silly I will inform you of the school situation next week when we return to Tanga. Suffice to say it was an experience and it will be a challenge!!!!!!

Lots of Love to all

xxxx