Harmattan

Harmattan is the name given to the sub-saharan wind that can blow for days and create a fog of red dust up to several metres high. What looks like a dense fog in the distance is the amount of dust billowing around in that area. If you've ever wondered why regular kids looked caked in dust from head to toe, whilst wondering why their mothers don't make them wash more: now I understand! It's impossible. 
Everywhere around gets covered in dust. It blows under doors so that science equipment looks as if it hasn't been touched for years!!! You hang washing out on a 'clear day' only to find it wasn't that clear after all. All clothes take on a slight rusty appearance, especially after washing...
Then there's the water issue. We've had no water for two days, so Mr Sani took his Indian taxi laden with water carriers to a bore hole in the town to fill. Bless him! Some staff walk the nearly two miles there and back with a small dustbin of water on their heads - around 40 litres worth. Now why would any mother be concerned by a little dust that her 10 year old picks up whilst playing football outside?Think of the water you would have to use! It's not that there isn't water, it's just how far you've to go to collect it.
The Heath Robinson contraption that keeps going on a whim and a prayer pumping water, seems to have given up the ghost. No water in school either. That means 800 boys have been without water to drink or wash with for two days. Nobody seems bothered - only me!

Reciting from the board

One of the Foundation Classes

Home time!

There are different Harmattan's for different times of the year. Nigeria, hopes every election time that a 'wind of change' will happen for the nation's better. We visited a 'model' school and had been warned beforehand not to think all schools were like this, as this was better than most.
The Principal and Deputy were very welcoming and hospitable. The children were splendid and well behaved. The prefects had different coloured hats on depending on what they were prefect for. Some for gardening, sports captain, class monitor etc. We saw neat rows of wooden benches, populated by boys to one side and girls to the other. The rooms were bare and clean - monitors clean the floors of any debris that flies in from outside. They also had a games pitch and field to go to!
We saw some handwriting practice and some Arabic lessons - learning by rote.
The majority of classes had a teacher, some of those without had prefects to look after them. They had a library, and a few computers but without internet access. Occasional children would be invited to learn about the keyboard and mouse operations. It was a very informative visit and showed how the primary phase fits with the secondary in education. It's quite breezy today!

"Some mothers do 'av 'em!"