I arrived safely in Salone but its been a hectic week getting everything ready for the boys to arrive back at the Academy and getting set up in my new role.
Already I have conquered my fear of public transport by travelling to Freetown by Poda Poda (kind of like a mini bus but jam packed and def not MOT’d!) with one of the new volunteers Laura. It was kind of scary as we had no idea if we were going the right way but we lucked upon some very nice people that assisted us - one who even accompanied us once we arrived in Freetown to make sure we met up with the others safely! There are some really nice people here!
Since the boys have been back I have been kept busy by various ailments - fevers, conjunctuvitus and rashes I have never seen before! I’ve even picked up a charming cold and a nice heat rash myself! Im hoping its the Doxycycline I’m taking as an anti-malarial as this is known to give you sensitive skin and hopefully it will clear up soon - if not I’ll be switching to Larium. Unfortunately Larium has its own side effects - including potentially sending you loopy!
Other than treating the boys I have been busy organising the team houses at the Academy. There are four houses, each named after four famous historical figures in Sierra Leone. The houses have been set up to encourage a competition for points in things such as a chores rota and the house with the highest number of merits per term. There will also be a forfeit for the house with the highest total number of conduct cards per term too - any suggestions?
My house is Adelaide Heyford House and our colour is blue - bit handy as thats my fabourite colour! I have 8 boys in my house as one is unable to play football at the moment while he awaits a knee operation.
Our team is Mohai (captain) Suli, Rodney, Baillor, Brima, Ozil, Fatta and Joseph Sam.
Today we designed the house flag and sorted our team motto. All the boys came up with suggestions and we voted for the best one. Myself and Dave (the other house leader for the blue team) even joined in and designed our own!
I was very impressed at the final flag and motto so will be making a large flag for us to have up for house meetings and during house tournaments. When I can find a Blue Fabric Pen I’ll make the boys up some t-shirts too
Adelaide Heyford House hard at work:
From left - right: Joseph Sam, Brima, Suli, Mohai, Abu/Ozil, Dave, Fatta and Baillor (Rodney is still in England with his family)
The finished flag and motto designs:
