Mvumi School Trust

I am watching the sunset: a normal pastime here as my office faces the setting sun. I am slightly disoriented as my secretary and a visitor have decided to re-arrange my office. It has lost that dusty, fusty appearance beloved of ex public school masters and I am confused. I have been helped out of an identity crisis by one of them who has kindly put the sign ‘headmaster’ on my desk just in case I have forgotten or it is not clear to those seeing me seated behind a rather large desk, particularly as the African diet has deprived me of a significant amount of my poundage.

My American friends Daniel and Kathy are about to attempt to rectify the dietary omissions by giving me cheeseburgers and Dodoma wine. It’s a bit incongruous when I have learned to appreciate rice and beans on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday and ugali on Tuesday and Friday. Ugali is an experience: thick maize porridge of indeterminate flavour and appearance: a cross between distemper and the ceiling filling which was all the rage in the 1990’s. Our students cannot believe it is not eaten in the west, and I have yet to share their fullest enthusiasm.

As a wine lover my introduction to African wine is something of an education. Made by an Italian he has developed a number of varieties to produce red, white and rose. Consistency may not be a strongpoint but it has some stirring virtues: potency, vivacity and plenty of vroom vroom.

A recent visitor

My house guest and I do not see eye to eye on some of our best friends. A recent visitor was a black rat, a cheerful lively young thing with lots of nervous energy, an inquisitive disposition, and lots of bravado. The only problem is that my History books told me that rats spread plague and we still have it here.

My guest is a kind soul given to supporting waifs and strays and rats are no different. I confess I told her that if it came to a choice between her and the rat going there was no contest. Her tolerance was greatly appreciated…

English fluency competition

It’s been a good day. Two of our students were representing our district in a national competition in English fluency. Both showed an admirable command of the language and produced speeches of craft and poise. You may ask: how does a school headed by a Scotsman with strangulated vowels promote excellence in the use of English? The good news is we have competent African teachers who can teach how best to communicate, avoiding archaisms and misused vocabulary.

One, Chiha, produced a speech which stirred and made her way into the Zonal final, just one step away from the national final in Dar es Salaam. She had the cheek to suggest that the school should be headed by a woman, but she may have a point!

Mosquito hours

It is fast approaching mosquito hours and the little devils have tattooed their trademark on my left buttock: always beware of what may linger under the seat. The cheeseburger is getting rather appealing and the night is drawing in. I would love you to see the astonishing night sky which is spectacular, but you may just get the chance if you ask nicely...