Hospital Life no 1

Weeks have passed since my last update... in fact more than 3 weeks! Most of the time I have been with Alfani in hospital. I was getting up very early in the morning and going with tea and food for his breakfast everyday... For anyone who knows me well, you'll kKnow that this nearly killed me... I'm not a morning person! I'd be able to spend 45 minutes helping him brush his teeth, wash his face, go to the toilet and then eat and drink. The hospital staff do not help with any of these things.
I'd then set him some school work to complete by lunch and then more for the afternoon, sometimes adding artistic projects as well.
In the first 3 weeks I arranged that 6 or so classmates visited him at lunch going on the school bus and back in time for the last 2 lessons. The classmates are only going twice a week now
I always go back in the afternoon or evening, depending when I finish work. I correct his schoolwork and work through a series of exercises for his arms, stomach and good leg, then stretching. We even have some muscle strengthening exercises for his broken leg.
In the first week I was shocked, worried and concerned, especially with my little medical knowledge. I had noticed that the plaster cast was on his lower leg with the steel nail through the lower leg-bone, but I knew that the break was in the upper leg. I sought advice everywhere. I emailed medical friends, arranged to see a physiotherapist of the same hospital (who assured me of the opposite of which had actually been done) and then I took his xray to a very good Dr and he reassured me and gave me all the details, exercises etc.
It's completely hands-off treatment here, so I also introduced daily massage and encouraged laughing at all moments. I look forward to going there everyday and am very grateful for such a meaningful purpose in my last few months here.
So, Alfani has 2 more weeks in traction and then on crutches for some time.
The other distraction has been that we had the school inspectors arrive at St Jude's. They went through all individual lesson plans, teaching logbooks, copies of reports etc etc. They interviewed some teachers and students and asked to see everything! I had to get the school to sing the National Anthem with the school band (the band with the recorders and drums that Gemma didn't like so much earlier this year) plus other patriotic songs and the school song. Apparently all of this singing earned the school many points and I was in the 'wonderful' books again. Yes, the inspectors issue points for all things, what kind of book covers, furniture etc. We got 89 points out of 100 which is a grade 1. Apparently there is only one other school in Arusha that is a grade 1 and it's an international school so we were proud... all great except for the bribery!!!
Our 4th Graders are sitting their national exam next week, the one they have been tormented by all year, staying back all hours and on Saturdays to study for. They get one school day off after the exams then back to school to work for the end-of-year school exams... meanwhile, this year's class 3's are going to be staying back after school instead ready for next year!!!
I begin writing my 700 reports in English next week, then to write them again in Swahili. I also have my homeroom reports which are more detailed.
Then I'll have to start packing to come home, even though I can't get a ticket until 17th Dec, then to arrive on 26th in Sydney! I'll have to wait a week in Bankok... the last thing I want to do... so if anyone wants a pre-Christmas holiday and wants to join me in Thailand I'd love it!
Meanwhile my drumming lessons are going very well and I'm writing everything down so I can remember all the traditional rhythms when I get back to Australia.
I can't wait to get home, miss everyone and everything,
love Em