6.30am I tend to wake up with the breaking of dawn, to have breakfast and a quiet time before the business of the day.
8.00 am Off down the hill to the Out Patients Department for morning devotions. It is made up of some worship and then 20min of teaching.
8.30 am To school – this is the best teaching slot – as the students are alert and the day is still cool, I don't flag while teaching at this time. If I'm not teaching usually there will be paperwork to do. A time table to make, Ward reports to check and file, a lesson to prepare, practical lessons to plan, exam papers to be written or marked.
10.30 am Tea break – kindly prepared by James our office messenger. On alternate days we eat mandazi (like a doughnut without jam) with our 'dry' tea (black tea).
11.00 am If I didn't teach first thing I might teach in this slot. On Mondays and Thursdays I try to use this time to go to the Primary Heath Care department in time for the antenatal clinic, to work with students. On other days of the week I aim to go to the maternity ward.
1.00 pm Lunch time! I climb the hill in the heat of the day to home where lunch awaits me – cooked by Florence.
2.00 pm Back down the hill – at slower pace as by now I'm feeling sleepy with a full stomach and the heat of the midday sun. This is the worst teaching slot to have as the students are feeling the same way. And as I teach I see eyes closing around the class room as I drone on! The class room is hot by now.....
4.00 pm The work day is drawing to a close. Time to shift the last bits of paper, give permission to students who want to go to town to buy personal effects, or collect money to pay school fees, deal with the student who's not feeling well etc.
4.30 pm Time to close up and wander up the hill for a refreshing shower and for a refreshing drink. I usually use this time to catch up on emails - Internet connection is OK at this time of day, later in the evening it becomes painfully slow.
7.00 pm I may wander to a friend's house for some company for the evening, where I usually will end up being fed supper, consisting of enya (made of cassava flour), greens/ beans/ fish....
Or if I have not finished preparing the lesson for the next day I will put the finishing touches on it and print it off on the over head projector acetates.
10.30 pm Time for some rest, a refreshing sleep and thankfulness of God's mercies and faithfulness every day.
Although that is supposed to be a typical day, there are always interruptions! The latest have included receiving the delivery of goods from the EU including 10 computers, 40 chairs with a small table attached to the arm, 10 dining tables, 20 benches, a fridge, teaching models to name but a few....
The school has been refurbished through an EU project that refurbished 15 nurse training schools across Uganda. It has provided a significant improvement! Thanks to the EU!
