The Fulani School gets a roof

Submitted by Mathew Porter

A bit more than two weeks after the sticks went in, the work of the roof began today! The guys at the camp found an old roof lying around - as least 15 years old - that had been made with a very hard and strong tropical hardwood, called Odonta in the vernacular, and made with real galvanised roofing sheets - very thick - and most of the wood is still usuable. So they took it apart, and eventually carried it there last night, once we had organised to borrow WAASPS' amazing carpenter, Mr. Solo for the morning. We wanted a proper job done, and there is only one man I know who can turn a stick hut into a fortress that and that is Mr. Solo. He didn't let us down!

Mr. Solo is the only guy I know who puts a beam plate on neem sticks!

Not all the Fulanis were around this morning - Alai's father had had a cow stolen during the night, so they were off from early morning trying to track it, unsuccessfully... Within an hour though, they had gotten quite far...

However, the wood was only sufficient for the beams, not the pearlings. Mr. Solo was also able to remove two of the centre sticks, giving us more space inside...

Weekend at Mole… All Smiles the First Day and a Half

Submitted by Erin Nolan

I bounced out of bed bright and early because we were all heading out on a walking safari. I was so happy to get the blood flowing to my legs since we had been driving so much. The girls were so excited that they were about to see elephants and wildlife that they have never seen before. I was surprised that none of the kids ever experienced or even realized what type of precious wildlife exists so close to them (or at least it would be if the roads were properly maintained). But I equated that with how many New Yorkers have visited the Statue of Liberty recently. There was actually a chill in the air it felt so good, we met up with our group and our guide, grabbed water and we were off.

We walked down in to the “valley” which surrounded a tremendous watering hole where the Elephants sometimes come and cool down but not this morning so we enjoyed what the scenery had to offer.

We saw crocodiles, cobb, water bucks, and so many different types of birds. We were all enjoying the walk and the serenity that this place had to offer.

Yes that is Miss. Lydia carrying her drink on her head I just don’t have the technique down yet it is all about good posture! We walked for about three hours and unfortunately no elephant sightings yet. We saw some old tracks and heard that others who took the driving safari were lucky and caught a glimpse of a family.

After our walk we had some breakfast and I was thrilled to have my first cup of coffee not shaken in a plastic water bottle. It was actually served in a cup with milk and sugar and I didn’t even blink when it was still technically instant! aaaahh so good! Everyone had such excitement on their faces and we were blessed to be so close to nature. We decided to do an afternoon game drive because we were able to use our own car for just the cost of the guide. I think this was the first time I was excited to get back in the car! A quick observation of the fuel gauge indicated that the tank was full even after the extensive drive to Mole. Seems as if no we have a broken fuel gauge, once again Jonathan reassured me that he knew how many kilometers we had driven so far and we were ok for a few more. We decided to use the sunroof to give us a better vantage point to spot the game and of course the only way to get a cool breeze. We had been driving for over an hour and still no elephants. We had seen so many different types of animals but everyone was dying to see the pride of Mole. I offered a special gift to the first one to spot the prize Elephant. All of a sudden Juliet screamed out “I see one over there!” We immediately stopped the car and jumped out and just watched! It was truly breath taking for all.

We were so close that we were snapping photos right in front of him, everyone was ecstatic to be so close to these amazing creatures.

We watched him for awhile. He was chowing down on leaves and throwing dust all over his back. We were so close and he acted as if we weren’t even there. It was such a beautiful experience which really made the day complete. During dinner I presented Juliet with a special coin designed with the NYPD Aviation patch and wings. It put a big smile on her face and she truly felt special for spotting such a special creature.

The next morning we opted to do an additional game drive and we opted for another rooftop view with Jonathan driving and our guide leading the way.

We had gone a little further in the reserve this time and I started to notice the fuel gauge beginning to move. We all enjoyed the breeze and the sights again for about an hour and a half when Emmanuella shouted “there right there, STOP.”

This time we saw an entire family of elephants, there were 5 in total but this time our close presence was met with a little more aggression. Our guide noticed a baby in the pack and advised us to stand back because one may charge in order to protect the young one. We weren’t charged but one did rip out a shrub and throw it at us as a warning. Again we all had such a great feeling about what we were witnessing.

Part 2 …..Disappointment and Frustration at Mole

Although we were ending our safari experience on such a high note it seems there is always someone there to bring it back down. This long journey to Mole was not all about seeing the elephants, we were also there to see the condition of the airstrip and seek out support from the game reserve personnel. Unfortunately the manager was completely closed minded about the use of the airfield and the potential gain to the people and the area surrounding Mole.

When asked if we could go see the airfield his response was “why?” and when we tried to talk to him about the benefits of getting their airfield back up to usable specs he just yelled “why? Who is going to pay for it, how will we get the money to maintain it, and you have money and you get paid for the extra work you do?” I was appalled by his demeanor and couldn’t believe he was yelling at me with such distain. I just snapped back by saying that is the attitude that stops progress and no I don’t get paid extra to take care of my facility we all pitch in to keep our unit in good shape because we are proud of what we do! We never did get to see the condition of the airfield and no one will probably go back if the roads are not repaired to a level acceptable to travelers.

Maybe someone will read this story and no longer feel this individual is a good representative of Mole National Park and replace him with someone who cares about the benefits that aviation could bring to the surrounding community.

Unfortunately we have 86km of bad road to drive again tomorrow but looking forward to our next stop in Techiman :-)

An infected hand in the Fulani community

Submitted by Mathew Porter

Well, on Monday of this week, whilst stopping by Alai and Amina's place at the Fulani camp, Alai mentioned to me about one of the girls in the camp having an infected hand. So off we went to check it out... 

Monday...

We went to the house of Draiman. I haven't really met him or his family before - seems they arrived in the camp about a month ago. Living in a little 9foot squared cabin, cooking out front. Wife has three children, and a daughter from previous marriage living there as well. Draiman is a milk trader - goes up to another camp a few kilometres away to buy milk to bring it back, where the women make wagashi for market. Wife is very pleasant, and speaks very good Twi. 

Seems that their daughter, Asamau, got a stick in her hand some time ago. Hard to tell when exactly. The mother pulled it out, but it got infected. The mother, it seems, actually went to Alai's place when it was getting bad - people know that Alai has a small first aid kit and go there with small cuts and grazes. From what I can have pieced together, Alai gave her some cream for her hand but on seeing that it was not looking good, recommended she went to the hospital to have it looked at. On this Monday, they have already been to the hospital on the previous Thursday and been given some paracetamol, antibiotics and cough syrup. However, Asamau, who is almost 4, has a hand that looks like this...

Now I am very happy about several things - the first being that no herbs have been stuffed into any wounds...! The second that she has been to a hospital, and the third that Alai can see that there is still a problem, and is seeking more help. I literally call Nurse Lydia whilst I am still with the family, and describe to her the problem. Nurse Lydia asks us to bring the girl to her house so she can look at it, and off we go right away. 

Some of the aspects of this are very familiar - a few years ago, we came across a bigger infection than this in a 14 year old girl's hand, stuff with all sorts of ineffective local remedies. Amina's thumb from a few months back was a similar situation, but one of the things that struck me here was that the young girl was most comfortable holding her hand in the same position as Little Lydia from the AvTech Academy's hand is fused in place now. This worried me, as if the infection remained it may spread to other tissues and even bones - possibly resulting in something similar to what Little Lydia is dealing with now.

On arriving at Nurse Lydia's place with Asamau, along with her drugs from the hospital, she was obviously in a lot of pain. Nurse Lydia was very gentle with her, checked her hand and arm for muscular damage, asked a bit of history and checked out the drugs. The stick had gone in the palm of the hand, but the swelling, along with the infection had gone through her bones and muscles, and now also as a protruding sac of pus on the top of the hand. Nurse Lydia told us to go back to the same hospital, where they would be aware of the case, and they would make an incision and extract the infected liquids. Because it was not clear if muscles would be affected she did not want to do it there and then. It was also clear on inspection of her drugs form the hospital that they had not been administered accurately. Rather than 10mls four times a day of antibiotics, it seemed that Asamau had been getting 5mls two or three times a day.

We arrange that I will take her to the hospital in the morning - this is to ensure she gets there at all, as well as on time. I also want to be able to find out what doctor says in case of further recommendations and future administration of drugs/treatments...

Tuesday...

Today I meet Draiman, Asamau's father. I also get to the house to find that the top of her hand has burst overnight and is oozing this morning. Her father is happy that we don't have to go to hospital now it has burst... Well, me and Alai have some news... We are going to the hospital all the same!

I need to stress here that the family are really doing the best that they know here - and thankfully Alai is on hand to guide them with his own experience of his wife's hand, and help them to understand where I am coming from and the logic towards getting further care. Right now, we can see that the open wound needs dressed - it may need further treatment, especially as there may be some debris stuck inside the hand. Draiman has to come with me to the hospital. His wife is looking after other children at the house. This means he is going to lose a day's earnings. However, untreated, this is going to cost a lot more than that. Thankfully, Asamau is registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, and this should be covered under that.

Above we see Alai and Jane are there - Jane is surprised by the fluent Twi of the mother. 

The hospital visit is lengthy. One hour to get the records, one hour to see the doctor and one hour to collect drugs. In there, Draiman was very friendly and open with me - he speaks good English so communication was good. He was thankful for us going there together, and understood that I wanted to understand what was going on as well. The doctor, once Draiman had explained everything, pointed to the date on the records for the nurse to see... Asamau had been in the same hospital four days earlier. And here she was back again. Had the infection gotten much worse because the drugs were not being taken accurately? Had the previous doctor made the wrong call or underestimated the seriousness on the hand - had it been that bad the previous visit? Was it left too long before going the first time? Probably yes to all the above questions...

The doctor sent us to the theatre straight away, and prescribed a different course of antibiotics. We were met by a nurse at the theatre who set about dealing with Asamau without hesitation - no doubt the nurse has seen much worse than this. The time that we have been in the hospital, the hand has continued to weep pus. So the nurse has no trouble just squeezing it out. Asamau however, is in a lot of pain. We have to hold on to her tight whilst between 25 and 50ml of pus is squeezed out. The ensuing 1cm hole wide hole is packed and bandaged. Asamau is also left with a hole inside the hand where the pus has come out from. My teeth are gritted the whole time. She is to come back in 2 days. After a lot of screaming, but a lot of relief, Asamau falls asleep whilst we are waiting for her drugs. Draiman and I manage to stay awake whislt we watch our third Nigerian movie in the waiting room. NHIS covers everything even the drugs. I explain to Draiman the dosages very well. He will come back in two days for re-dressing. He is also happy, but heart broken at the pain Asamau is going through. 

Wednesday...

Asamau slept very well in Tuesday night, as is looking a lot happier on Wednesday! However, the dosages need to be explained again to Draiman and his wife. They understand it, but get confused with having to give one 5 ml spoon of this and 10 ml of that. I have spoken to Nurse Lydia who is happy we have been to a doctor, and we have agreed that we need to arrange our next session very soon - next week is earliest we can do it, and the session will be entitled Drug Dosages! I have had some ideas that in the school we can put up visual charts for 5mls and 10mls, and times to give 3 times daily drugs and 4 times daily drugs to make it all a lot easier and safer for the men and women to give and take drugs! The hospitals tell patients these - and there is a pictorial system of circles for drugs dosages that is drawn on boxes by pharmacists and doctors. Lack of education though limits the understanding and increases the confusion. I agree to drop them off at the hospital on Thursday morning to make sure they get there early and seen before things get busy.

The parents understand not to touch the bandage which is also very good. It would not have been the first time someone comes back from hospital only for the family to decide that they know better!

Thursday...

Thursday morning, 7am... No, nobody is ready to go to the hospital...Asamau is not dressed and not taken her medicine yet. She is much better - I talk to Draiman, and am sure that he will send her with the mother later - I have to get to work.

Friday...

I don't get a chance to go there again till Friday morning - this morning in fact! Her bandage has been changed, and she seems to be getting the right dosages of drugs. Unfortunately, the mother has decided that the 6month old baby could also use a little paracetamol syrup for a cough when I get there this morning - I get there just as she is getting the baby to take it. I ask if it is prescribed, and on finding no, I try to stress in my Twi that this is really not cool if the doctor has not recommended it - and thankfully another French speaking Fulani woman comes to my rescue to make sure it is understood very well. I have to explain the whys and the why nots in as nice a way as possible - whilst being firm. The balance between not embarrasing and offending and upsetting and insulting is a difficult one! I also mention this to Alai on the way out - he assures me he will go and clear things up there as well! Nurse Lydia's Dosages event is going to be a mandatory event! 

On the way home again tonight, I stop by Alai's - he was able to understand the seriousness of giving drugs to babies that are unprescribed and spent time with Asamau's mother today. In talking to Alai tonight, I have been getting some insight into how far he has come in his ways of thinking and doing. It was tonight that he was telling me that his little first aid kit from Nurse Lydia has run out - comprising of gentian violet, cotton, paracetamol and antiseptic ointments, the children and men come to him for their little cuts. I ask if Amina is involved in this too, and he tells me she deals with the ladies as he cannot as a man... It seems that Asamau's mother came to him on the Wednesday or so before going to hospital with her hand, and he applied some cream to it but recommended she see a doctor. Exactly which events took place when and how is a bit hard to decipher in Alai's broken French - but he definately knew that it was not good and not better when coming to us about it - and has definately learned a lot; I think he has learned the lessons from Amina's thumb a few months back. I also think he is ready for some more training on dealing with basic injuries, as is Amina. I have also seen a change in Alai's other outlooks on life. He is less satisfied, and even slightly frustrated, with the other men sitting and drinking tea when there is work to be done around the place...AND has swept up the rubbish around his house and yard! These changes in habits and attitudes are growing and spreading. In the near future, at this rate, trips to the hospital will become less common. 

Asamau is due again to hospital for dressing tomorrow. I will try and get some pictures of her smiling! I have explained to the family and Alai the purposes of taking these photos and documenting this, and they are quite okay with it.

Update Monday February 7, 2011

Today, one week after coming across Asamau, she was out playing with her friends at lunchtime when we were working on the hut. I wasn't able to catch up with her till evening... When she was smiling!

The hand is also looking good - she got some good wrist movement, and the swelling certainly has down, as has her pain...

Glad I went by tonight though, as the mother wanted to take her to a differnet, closer hospital tomorrow for dressing - and I found out this was because other hospital was too far and transport too much, not having consulted doctor... I explained to her the problems with this, and got Nurse Lydia on the phone to re-enforce the point - ie., new hospital, no records, don't know what to do, any other problems, they wouldn't know history! So we agreed that I would drop her there in the morning, they would change the dressing, and Nurse Lydia would come by in the evening to see how it is doing, and maybe talk to a doctor in Akuse about carrying on there, or some other way...

But she is still taking her drugs, at the right times, in the right dosages too. Still doesn't like taking them though! So, we will see what tomorrow brings...!

Rough Roads Begin- Next Stop---- Tamale

Submitted by Erin Nolan

We left very early to get on the road to Tamale. I didn’t need an alarm clock because the sound of the early morning Muslim prayer was enough to get me up and moving before the sunrise.  As everyone piled in the car I was sad to leave these great kids but knew our adventure was far from over.  As soon as we left town, the roads were a complete disaster.  The roads are all made from dirt, there were huge pot holes every few feet, and are badly corrugated.  I have never seen a corrugated road before and driving on one feels like you’re constantly driving over tiny speed bumps and it never stops until you hit another pot hole.  Every single second the car is on the road it is literally being destroyed.

   

I couldn’t believe just after a short drive north how much the scenery changed.  The dirt started to get darker in color and it reminded me of a clay tennis court, the communities started to get further and further away from each other, and people would just appear out of nowhere and would be walking along the road side.  Everyone here lives on the land, no electricity, their houses are made from mud, water must be fetched if they are not lucky enough to have a bore hole and pump nearby, farm all the food they eat, and carry everything on top of their heads.  I was so impressed by how much these women can carry. 

It took us over seven hours to travel approximately 200km due to the conditions on the road.  About three hours into our drive the AC decided it was taking the rest of the day off, trying to get some ventilation we opened the windows and the dry dust filled the car.  It was up my nose on my clothes and literally all over everything.  But it was a choice; suffer from the heat or the dust, my choice being dust.  A few hours later we realized the car had a flat tire and the girls sprung into action again.  The car was pulled over to the side of the road and the girls placed hazard markers on the road to alert the crazy drivers that we were in distress ahead.  It wasn’t like a highway or anything but from time to time an overloaded truck, crazy Tro Tro, or just someone in a 4x4 would scream past us with no regard.  Another talent that Patricia has that I do not is that she isn’t afraid to change a tire right on the spot.   A few local men did come out to give us a hand which was a help when we noticed the jack needed an extra lift in order to get the car up high enough to change the tire. The car was chocked with rocks to keep it from rolling and the local men brought us some wood to put under the jack and Patricia went to work. I took this opportunity to find a clean tree to take care of my necessities because I didn’t see any rest stops along the way, the girls joined me near their own private tree, and again my baby wipes came in very handy.

Another awesome job done by Patricia because some how she remained clean even in this harsh environment.  As we continued bumping along the roads the conditions never improved they only got worse, at times we had to get out of the vehicle and walk ahead in order for the car to pass some sections of the road.  The extra weight of us 7 and our bags were just too much for the car to handle when it was facing a crater in the road.  To be able to make this journey without incident you really need a high sitting truck with huge tires or wait I just had a thought, what about an airplane?

As we were three quarters through our journey I began to question our fuel situation.  I hadn’t seen one suitable filling station along the way and was curious what we would do if we ran out of fuel.  I was told not to worry calculations were on track and we should make it to Tamale before we need to refuel.  As we continued along, the roads were just so awful that the dust was seeping through every opening in the car every time we bumped along.  It was coming in through the vents and even up from the floor boards, I have never seen anything like it before.  I am beginning to understand why Jonathan insisted on having the AC fixed prior to our departure, and I feel bad for all of us that it didn’t hold out.  Our last half hour before making it to Tamale the fuel became critical.  There was not a fuel station in sight and we still had some distance to travel, Jonathan began to economize by turning off the engine to coast downhill and would restart in order to make it uphill.  I was very concerned about the fuel and what would happen if we got stuck.  We were far from home and no one for miles that could come and help us.  Jonathan continued to reassure me that any local person would be happy to take care of us until we solved our situation.  Well luckily enough the fuel was just enough to coast into the first fueling station in Tamale. What a relief, we filled up and set off to find a place to stay.

 Everyone was exhausted and we really didn’t have a plan for the night so we ventured into ask some people working in a water authority building hoping they could direct us to a clean and safe place to stay for the night.  We piled out of the car and guess what? We had another flat tire!  Here we go again I thought, I couldn’t believe it.  Thank goodness Jonathan brought along 2 extra tires and a small air compressor in addition to the spare.  Patricia and the girls did it all over again and we were on our way but now had 2 bad tires in the back and a really dirty car.  We found the local tire guy and dropped off the tires for repair, I still can’t believe the over abundance of tire repair guys all over the country!   Our accommodations for the night were pleasant and clean we had running water and again an added bonus of AC.  Can you believe that the dust actually penetrated either the zipper or the fabric and made it through my backpack and on my clothes? Unreal I still don’t believe it!

Our next challenge was to track down safe food to eat. Tamale is the 4th largest city in Ghana, and you could immediately tell by the amount of people everywhere.  People were on bikes, scooters, cars and on foot, I realized this is the second time I had seen any traffic lights and thank goodness for them.  We were trying to find a Chinese restaurant in the area because it seemed that was the safest food to eat and I was sure to find something I could eat too but we began to all laugh hysterically when we keep driving around in circles and weren’t able to find it and kept missing the turn to turn around.  We were all hungry, tired and very silly.  We eventually found it but when we walked in it was empty and not very nice the concern came back and when the young boy turned on the AC the lights went out so we decided to leave.  Good choice because we stumbled upon a very nice place on a side road just by luck.  It was the Gariba Lodge which was a hotel that was still being built and it turned out that the owner had seen Patricia on TV and knew all about her being a Ghanaian pilot.  How lucky was that? We all had a great meal and an enjoyable conversation.  

Kete Krachi Here We Come

Submitted by Erin Nolan

As we headed out I was so looking forward to the day because I couldn’t help thinking how are we are going to communicate aviation theories to kids who may or may not have even learned about anything like this before. But my hat is off to Jonathan because he really knows how to take information that some deem difficult and make it easy to understand for both youngsters and kids who may be completely new to all of this. The kids broke up their desks and immediately were being reviewed. 

Selected kids will be a part of the Fly-Me day in March where 100 kids get to take their first flight so all of the kids are being actively observed and will be selected to participate in this upcoming event! For instance who picked up the trash that was left behind when moving the desks, who challenged statements and questions like which is bigger Africa or the United States, answers to certain questions like how does an airplane fly, and who answered the aviation homework assignment correctly. The best part of the day was when we discussed the four forces of flight. As I already mentioned Jonathan is amazing when it comes to relating to young people and trying to get a difficult principle across so we used active participation to encourage both excitement and learning.

After discussing Lift, Thrust, Weight, and Drag the kids demonstrated these principles simulating a chair as a plane with each student acting like a force accordingly. This was the coolest way to teach aerodynamics I have ever seen!

Oh and then I had to do the same and relate it to a helicopter! Not easy especially for the young man who was chosen to be the rotor and had to keep spinning around. And the girls who had to try and pick me up as the pilot had it rough too.

The excitement continued when friction was discussed and the kids were told to rub their hands together and explain how they felt. Most said hot, then they were asked to put a drop of engine oil in their hands and do the same thing and they said it was still warm but easier to do. Wow! now that is a sure way to explain friction and heat and why oil helps. I honestly have to say I would have never thought to use that technique… bravo!

The best part of the day is when Patricia speaks to the group. Not only is she articulate and captivating but everyone in the room can relate to her. It makes everyone feel like they too can learn aviation and become a pilot or an engineer. You can see it on their faces when she says she was born, raised, and trained in Ghana.

Some more discussion continued and a condition called bilhazia was brought up asking if anyone was experiencing symptoms. It is an issue because we were in a community that resides along the lake and this condition stems from being in infected waters. A few kids admitted to having symptoms and were told how to handle the sickness.This never was a determining factor on how kids were selected. Actually a youngster who was selected to fly was possibly infected and will be given care upon arrival. 20 kids were selected for the fly-me day and unfortunately their picture had to be taken in addition to other pertinent information to ensure the same students who were selected show up for the event.

 Oh and by the way I will be watching these two girls during the fly-me even, they have been actively involved all day and have displayed so much interest and excitement.

Our next stop of the day was a visit to the Kete Krachi airfield. It seems to be in decent shape needing only minor repairs to get it up and running again. It would be a real resource to the community and everyone involved seemed interested and positive about getting it up and running. I was really surprised when I learned they already have their own active weather office still located at the airfield. Could you imagine if a child that is involved in the fly me day one day flies back into their own community via an airplane built in Ghana?  How many more kids would be inspired by that type of event?

Our last stop of the day was back at the ferry port to give a safety briefing to port employees and local fisherman that work on the water near the port. Focus was on safety of everyone around the port and what the local fisherman can to do to help keep the local waters clean for themselves and accessible for future water landings on the lake. 

All of the attendees were appreciative of all the information and suggestions that were given and I found out today they were extremely impressed by Patricia and would like her to return for future briefing at other ferry ports.Funny thing I am so impressed by her as well!

The 90 day challenge

Submitted by Mathew Porter

Well, I was given this to start more than 90 days ago – beginning of this year - to create a site on the airfield with a wind turbine, a water filter and a mud hut for demonstration purposes.

I like this as a challenge. Most of it is right up my street – no, ALL of it is... I also decided to add in a medicinal garden (to include artemisia of course) – and a vegetable patch for good measure, surrounded by a living fence. This all sounds very ‘green’ as they call it now in the more developed nations. Normal (some may even say poor) in the less developed countries. I like to think it will combine renewable and sustainable energy solutions, with low cost affordable buildings, sustainable water solutions and permaculture principles combined with natural medicine. Bit more of a mouthful though. To say common sense solutions for the common man may be misconstrued…

We decided to use an area of the airfield that is away from the flying side of things, nearby current accommodation – so those living on site can help maintain and eat from the gardens and also so those who wish to can stay in the mud hut – and on an area of land that is fertile, on an old kraal site on the field. It also had to be far enough from flight paths for the wind turbine to go up 15 metres. Obviously big enough to contain all of the above, plus a little extra for any add-ons, such as solar dryers, refrigeration solutions etc.

So we paced out 100 feet by 140 feet, an area which was looking naturally fitting, and set Moses, our human tree stumper, on it. 3 days later, all the trees have been ripped out the ground, apart from one, central neem tree that looks like the sort of tree that one should sit under.

The area (at the moment) will be split into 4 sections – mud hut in one quadrant, water and power in another, medicinal garden in a shady/fertile quadrant, and vegetable garden in the final one. Now cleared, next step will be house and living fence to go up – fence will take a little while to establish; it will be a mixture of moringa and jatropha plants. I asked around the site for any competent mud builders, and one of the masons, Emmanuel (nicknamed Man-no-fear, for he tackles any job…) reckons we need two weeks for completion of walls – mud huts are built in layers, like the laying of courses of blocks or bricks, and each layer takes about three days to dry before you can lay on the next one. The size we are pegging out is 12feet x 12feet. Should be adequate. Also remember that mud huts are really only for sleeping in, as all jobs – washing, cleaning, cooking – are done outside!

So now, with all the stumps cleared up, the place is looking pretty neat and ready for marking out for the mud hut. So, pictures to follow very soon…and updates I hope to be very regular too!

Morning Came Quickly: and by afternoon we arrived in Kete Krachi

Submitted by Erin Nolan

 As soon as I woke up I was happy to be alive and I felt so much better knowing there was daylight.

As we started to get ready for the day we stumbled upon someone who made a place to sleep right outside our door.  She never did hear us moving around bright and early I’m thinking she has done this before and looks prepared for the long journey.

The scenery was beautiful and it was a calm trip the entire way along the lake.

Patricia also was so kind to help me make a ”semi-cold” iced coffee since I packed plenty of Starbucks instant coffee so I could still enjoy some coffee in the morning and then Patricia made us all cheese and avocado sandwiches for breakfast and we began the day. I probably would have had another if I knew this would be the one of two days I ended up with the pleasure of eating cheese. 

I then did a trip around the ferry to snap up photos of what I saw in the evening.

 

Part of this ferry trip was for everyone to point out any safety concerns we came across and report back to the company with our recommendations.  We were lucky to get a chance to go down to the engine room and get an engine briefing from the engineer.  I thought being on deck was hot, but I would prefer the engines running on high than not at all. 

Our next visit was with the captain in the pilot house.  We talked about how the ferry operates, communications, the means of navigation, and how they rotate the crew.  It was an interesting discussion, we discovered the GPS was unavailable and we were navigating via the old fashion compass and points along the lake.  We also discovered that the radios were also inoperative.  The more I heard the more I was happy to have found out now and not before I feel asleep.

The ferry arrived safely at the Kete Krachi port and it was a mass exodus.  Everyone was trying to get off all at once; people were in their cars and getting ready to disembark.  The ramp was lowered and everyone was on

their way.

We planned on going to Kete Krachi the following morning after a restful evening and time to settle in but there was a “miscommunication” and they told us all the school kids were waiting for us in the auditorium so we went right to the school to give them an introduction and an assignment for the next day’s presentation.  They were asked to define the following aviation terms; aviate, navigate, and communicate.

Every one of the students looked so intrigued and excited to have visitors.  I’m so excited to have had the opportunity to be a part of these kids hearing and learning about aviation. We headed back to our room so we could settle in, wash up, have a dinner and rest up for the next day.  All of us had a nice dinner together and the room was really pleasant, it felt so good to take a shower and an added bonus was the cool AC.