Joe's school and other buildings

There has been a lack of blogging because there has been a lack of action. I had a pregnancy scare, but an 8 hour round trip to Colombo proved that the little thing is larger than he / she should be and is doing well, and all is intact. I enjoyed a few days bed rest and am trying to take things easier in general, which is aided by our house helper finally turning up after 2.5 weeks unannounced absence. Seems she was called in for medical tests and x-rays to do with an operation she's having in May (think she said she has Typhoo! Not Typhoid. I've checked.) We almost found another helper but after two days of long and confusing conversations, we discovered that the reason she didn't contact us is that she lives 3 miles from a phone and couldn't afford the tooing and froing to hospital and pharmacy, or transport to the phone. We've made it clear we'll foot expenses for contacting us in the future, and medical costs ... but don't know if she understands that either.





Watching a procession outside Joe's school



Joe has been enjoying his new school and is settling in and making friends. He particularly attracts the attention of two 3 year old girls, Samaya and Amne, and also a 4 year old boy who I test on the English alphabet, Zafar (he was insisting it goes q,r,s,B,u, and I didn't know how to convince him otherwise).


Joe gets lots of help from other children with puzzles and when the helper takes over he seems to fight back with smaller kids, or just ignore it with the older ones. We drop in together for 1.5 hours two or three times a week.


I'm reading up on Montessori teaching methods and am not sure I agree that it's a delusion that 'the adult forms the man through the teaching of the child'. However, I am pleased he's learned to say good morning and shake hands with Aunties Gladys, Raine and Violet, and to wash his hands before and after snacks. Still to learn to stop throwing beads across the room - but we have a lot of little helpers to assist in picking them up.


Joe having his snack watched by Sumaya and Amne



Joe's also developing at playing with his peers beyond the classroom. We meet 2 or 3 times a week with Tracey and 2 year old Ian, who are here with Dad aka 'big Joe-Joe', who's working for another charity. Ian and Joe really are great friends and love to squeal at each other, run cars over each other's heads (more gentle than it sounds), and while giggling wildly chase each other and pat or push each other around. They also share a passion for hats.


Ian in Donald Duck hat

Joe walks for miles now when we go out and will NOT get in the pushchair, nor will he go in any direction other than that of his choosing. All his energy is great, though exhausting to keep up with.


We've seen a few of Mike's colleagues, (locals and expats), recently, though a lot are leaving and more are starting. Mike's invented new office space for him and five others by having a large balcony enclosed with glass - blinds and airconditioning will be added before he moves in!

Work is buzzing from the recent completion of lots of new buildings: 50 new shops and 26 new houses were opened 2 weeks ago, and today everyone has donned saris and ties in the correct political colours to attend a 4 hour ceremony with lots of government ministers, for the opening of 20 more houses and the official launcing of a ton of boats.