English for Chinese nursery school graduation

Just had an entertaining lesson with my Chinese 6 year old in Xi'an, China, over Zoom. He has been asked to be the master of ceremonies for his nursery school graduation. His mum had asked me to get him to practice his lines on Thursday but unfortunately we had to give up on that lesson as the internet from my phone (there was no ZESA) was too slow. Today was better and he had me trying not to smile as he had a battle of wills with his mum sitting next to him, over his pronunciation. The word "glorious" was particularly challenging for him. I had to offer a few corrections as some of the English wasn't actually right. By the end of the lesson he had had more than enough and started bellowing out glorious randomly in his own interpretation of how to say it. I got called an alligator as he tried to remember "see you later alligator". I thought his graduation was yesterday but there are still two weeks. Two weeks of continuing to practice this. He has memorised the words (and there are a lot of them) pretty impressively. I don't think I could remember all of that in Chinese.

There have been some funny moments at school this week. The one little girl, Melissa*, in grade three got to school early and decided to give the other early arrivals a spelling test. For number three she called out, "Number three, Melissa. Melissa is a lovely girl." With lots of people leaving the country one student announced his family was leaving the country. When asked where they were going to, he replied Victoria Falls. He then corrected this to Ruwa. We are doing cross country for sports day at the end of term and one student re-named it "running across the country".

Have started my NILD assignments already, even though the course only starts on Monday. Gives me a head start on my first essay. I am very fortunate that I don't get power cuts (touch wood), where I am house sitting as it would otherwise be really difficult to fit in the online work around teaching. The rest of the country is really suffering from crippling power cuts at the moment, my mum at home included. The internet seems to be doing funny things too. Got cut off on a skype board meeting for Xen Arts on Thursday. They did a great intercultural dance project exchange in Hunstanton in Norfolk. I was just filling them in on the current situation in Zim for a possible dance outreach project here when I got cut off with loss of wifi.

When grinding one's teeth gets costly

I ventured out to the dentist this morning after a long leave of absence. Have been getting a twinge in my molars when I eat sweet things and wanted to check I am not developing a cavity. Well after prodding and peering the dentist declared that it wasn't yet a cavity but my enamel is gone on one tooth and she then cleaned my teeth and applied a special gel to the tooth in question. She did ask if I tend to grind my teeth a lot. I guess I do. And if I floss, mmm sometimes and if I use mouthwash - uh, no. All of that came to a neat USD 110, yikes and there's the chance that if it does become a cavity I'll have to go back again soon. Was told I better start flossing and sloshing mouthwash as I am on the verge of developing gingivitis and my gums are slightly receding. Oh the joys of teeth and dental care. I have to wait for the gel to set for two hours before I can eat or drink anything. Am dying for a cup of coffee.

Went to get the mouthwash and dental floss and once again was bowled over by the prices. In the pharmacy they had their calculator at the ready to work out what prices for swipe are with the current rate. I was told at the dentist that the price could change by this afternoon. Our salaries just don't go up with the cost of things and you really can't afford to spend more than you absolutely have to as you just don't know what might hit you tomorrow. The life and times of Zimbabwe. I thinks we are all gnashing our teeth a little.

I pick arum lilies

In my dream, I am bending picking arum lilies.
I then recite endless poetry
of love and life and light.
You come to mind and I am blinded,
I stumble and once again come unglued.
You have moved on, but here I sit,
still aching and trying to cover over the wound.
The sun that shone has gone
and I sit here in the gloom.

A hint of sadism

Today's gym session was gruelling. I looked at the white board and saw each set had an ending of 10 burpees. Each set was repeated x3 and there were 5 sets - uh, that's 150 burpees. My goodness gracious me. I made it to set 4 and failed at 6 burpees and was let off having to do set 5. I asked Cara if we could have a break from burpees on Tuesday. My body is going to protest a little tomorrow. Feel good though.

It is half term - yeeha! Although it feels like the first seven weeks have gone relatively quickly. I was sick with blocked sinuses last week and missed some school. Seems some other people had it too. Think it is all the dust and dry air. My one student made me an appreciation bookmark which made my day when I got back. My mum has just joined the school after finishing at the International School, after teaching there for almost ten years. Our house is becoming chocker block full of school stuff as she packs up her HIS classroom. Groan. She is a lot better and seemed to enjoy her first week at my school. I am now known as "Mrs Lannas jnr".

Will have to finish preparing exam papers this weekend as from the beginning of July I redo the NILD course on learning difficulties and educational therapy and that is likely to take over my life a little. I should really do the Search and Teach course to help students lower down with learning difficulties as it would help with my grade 2 student who has dyslexia. He came up with a question of what do you get if you add one infinity with another one? ... To infinity and beyond! I thought that was very cute. He is off in Mana Pools this weekend, lucky fish.

Just staying afloat with the situation in Zim. We make a plan around power cuts and try save fuel. I am lucky to have the extra student as it helps me survive inflation. Going grocery shopping is a little frightening as the prices just keep rising astronomically. I don't know how people in lower income brackets are making out.

A Mental Health Day

Just got back from the workshop at the UZ School of Health Sciences which focused on mental health services. There were a variety of people there from health practitioners to sufferers of mental illness and current patients at Tirivanhu psychiatric rehabilitation centre in Ruwa. The first part wasn't that interesting but the lady from Ethiopia who has set up an organisation for services raised some valid points about conducting research and involving patients. It also then became more lively when the floor opened and we got onto the topic of affordability of medication and access to it. The point being raised of what happens when the drug you are supposed to be on is no longer available and conditions for patients in government hospitals. The human rights of patients was also discussed and what is in place in Zimbabwe compared to Ethiopia. Also the issue of funding for mental health care and prioritising it in government spending. So it was a good afternoon and I made some contacts. There is another mental health trust that does some similar things to Unquiet Minds and also tries to do fundraising for Tirivanhu.

There is electricity but I am going out to dinner in a bit with a friend and her son who also has mental illness. So it is a very mental illness filled day today. Just now I am talking on whatsapp to a friend in Australia who ran the fundraising for Tirivanhu here.

All systems go

This week is a bit frenetic with last minute stuff for the Wild Geese Art Festival on Sunday. I decided to get some more art mounted by Wechi, so went charging off there yesterday after school to get it done. We played around with different colour backings and they kindly said they could get it ready before Saturday. Whilst at 167 I also booked for a friend's 60th birthday lunch at Aroma on Saturday. Originally I was going to be hosting it.

Tomorrow I have a workshop looking at bipolar depression at Parirenyatwa Hospital with a visiting psychiatrist from Ethiopia. It should be interesting. Had to move my lesson from tomorrow to Friday (means less time to find petrol, but oh well). I have been invited to dinner tomorrow evening with a friend in Monavale to meet her son who I am Facebook friends with but haven't actually met in person.

Sent two students to the head today for misbehaving. The one cheekily said to the head when she asked what he was doing there that I had said they got the plural of mouse wrong. Er no, that is not what I said, nice try. The girls in my maths class today decided they were going to do each fraction sum in a different colour of the rainbow and then took it upon themselves to mark their answers and give themselves full marks even though they got some wrong and gave themselves a smiley face. It has been an interesting day. I need to come up with ideas for races for the school sports day by Friday. My personal trainer Cara, suggested coordination with opposite arms and legs and things for core strength.

Talking of personal training, I had a reprieve today with a Pilates session. I have been pushing quite hard up until now with some heavy going workouts. I think it is paying off. The Pilates wasn't easy today.

Hanging in there

Feels like life in Zim has become just that much harder this week. You eke out on what you earn and try to make fuel last to the end of the week for work. Extra trips across town now feel like a luxury and you plan your life around power cuts. As one teacher said, she wishes we had diesel readily available so you can run your generator. We've come to the point where we are happy to have that as the norm - why do we need to depend on generators? Life goes on though and I wake up each morning in the dark to go to another day of teaching at school. If I didn't have that keeping me busy I would do my nut in. I have taken on an extra student twice a week in the afternoon to help boost my income a little. The mum has kindly said the rate can go with the exchange rate of bond to dollars. It has jumped this week. They put up the price of fuel too which is going to mean everything goes up again.

Trying to stay positive. Tomorrow it is Sr Paulette, my junior school headmistress's jubilee of being a Dominican nun. My mum and I are going to Emerald Hill Children's Home, where there will be a celebratory mass for Sr P., followed by a bring and share. Have just whipped up some cheese puffs to take while the power was on. Two good friends came for tea this afternoon and I laughed hard. Was great to see them again. Tomorrow I am skyping one of my best friends in Switzerland and after Sr P's do, hoping to go to a chamber music concert at Arundel. There was a craft and wine fair at The Flying Frog today. Had thought of going but it is across town and you had to pay to go in and then be tempted to buy stuff. Need to watch my finances. Next weekend will be the Wild Geese Art Festival. Went home this morning and sorted through art work and might try get a few more paintings mounted on card to exhibit.

On 26th. May 1969 I made my vows as a Dominican Sister. 
Now 50 years later on Sun. 26th. May 2019 we the Dominican Sisters would like to invite you to celebrate this Golden Jubilee with us.
Mass will be at 9.00am here in our Chapel at Emerald Hill followed by a bring and share get-together. Please join us. 👏🏻

There are days I just have to put my head down and get through the day. I still miss Matt terribly.