1 February 2010

Terrible night. For some reason could just not drop off which is SO unlike me! Last looked at the clock at 3:20am and the next thing I know my mobile goes and it is Ken sending me a text at 4am!!! To be honest I was not a happy bunny! As I had no credit on my phone couldn't even respond BUT did learn how to save it to resend the next day!!!

It was pouring with rain so I used the Lodge transport to get me to the office early as I needed to print out some stuff to take with me. The office was still closed!!! The start of my first trip to Raikos didn't auger well! Didn't help that I had had some feelings of unease about it for a few days.

But phone topped up, kaikai bought for the teachers lunch [carried back to the office by the supermarket security man!!] AND saw the boat was here waiting for me! In the meantime the Finance Director had gone home to get me a mack. Rotary books [10 boxes] were loaded and we were off in my own banana boat with Marshall, our education support man, and three boatmen.

It soon stooped raining and we had a relatively smooth ride over. The one hour I had been told was in fact 2 and not helped by the fact that basically they were lost!! Missed seeing the turtle that they all saw but did see loads of beautiful flying fish [they moved too quickly to photo though. So because we were lost we went near the shore to ask a group of women who sent us up the coast. It was at this point I nearly went overboard and I did squeal I can assure you!!

We then found what we thought was our landing place but the waves caught us just as the two boat men got off and we were full of water! Marshall was bailing us out fast and I saw the bung removal in action [Ken will understand] and the water finally drained out. By this time we were back at sea with two stranded on the beach!

We eventually got near the shore and Marshall and I had to jump out! So dripping wet, without my backpack with dry clothes in we walked what I would say was more than two kilometres up the "road" track really. Then we saw the school!

We trudged to the office and found the new Head, who fortunately I knew quite well] and with him was the Chair and Vice Chair of Governors sitting with him waiting for me!!! I may have been reasonably dry by now and must have looked a total sight! We chatted and they were pleased with my ideas.

Went for a tour of the school and met with the three senior staff. Out of 20 teachers so far they have 8! This is what we would call a sink school. Three more newly qualified teachers were due to arrive that day. At least the three senior staff and Nick the Head liked of my ideas!

By this time Marshall had returned to the boat to unload it, how I don't know!

Nick and the Vice Chair then walked me back through the bush to get the boat. But the boat was nowhere!! Eventually he came. He'd had to go far out to sea to avoid being swept in by the strong current. The kids on the beach were fascinated so I took pictures of them and showed them!

By the time the boat came in there were a few more men to give advice! It ended up with me having to wade in up to my thighs and be hauled in as the skipper Paul tried to keep the boat from grounding. All safely aboard and off we go. Waves very high and well it was two hours of agony as each wave we hit. We were all at the back of the boat, me on the floor as couldn't sit on the plank which is above the top edge of the boat!!! Every bang hit me and my lower back was in agony so I was virtually lying on my side with nothing to hold on to! At one point I bounced so high Marshall was "white" with fear thinking I was going over board!!! Sailed back into the VSO jetty where the water was so calm!!

When our Director Karen saw me she said, "you forgot sun cream didn't you?' I was BRIGHT red but to be honest there had been no sunshine and all my stuff was in my bag under me!! I was very wet but at least had clothes to put on and then at the bus stop a Rotarian picked me up in his car. At 7pm the Head called to check I'd got home OK!! I think he was worried when he saw us bouncing towards the horizon!

I woke at 6am this morning and my backside was in agony!! When I went to the bathroom and saw my face……….My right eye was closed up and left nearly!! And my nose was double in size. Oh dear I looked a right red mess. I couldn't sit down so walked, which is usual, to the office with sun glasses on avoiding anyone's eyes!!!

I can now sit down! Just! My eyes look piggy and my nose is back to normal and my face not TOO red.

So my first visit to Raikos and I said I'd return in week 3!!!!!