Yesterday Irvine was able to give Thazin what is left of his sponsor money (after buying resources for the school). He wanted to do this quietly so spoke to her at lunchtime. "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," she screamed. (She's so like me!) "I buy big television this afternoon and show you." Irvine insisted she didn't need to.
In the afternoon school finished at 2pm, staff training from us finished at 4.45pm and we were talking everyone out for a meal at 7pm. undaunted by lack of time, Thazin shouted up to our balcony at 6.30pm "Geoff, tell Irvine, I got TV!"
Sure enough there was an enormous TV sitting in the tuk tuk along with a variety of other equipment Thazin had been desperate to buy.
We went down to school and Thazin insisted on Irvine being photographed. You can tell from her grin that 'she happy'. She had bought 2 huge speakers, an enormous megaphone and a new phone for the school. It's not exactly what we'd have thought of buying her but as Irvine said, "She knows what she needs best." It was a delight to see her joy and excitment.
And of course when we went down this morning, the children were watching the enormous TV and the megaphone speaker is in place in the centre of the school. Forthview staff know how much Sheila loves the megaphone and how much it drives the staff nuts. Thazin's megaphone will be exactly the same. It's uncanny how alike we both are!
The big TV will replace the little TV that the school now use and as the school has 350 pupils, it'll be easier for the children to see it. We will use it on Monday to show the children the video Geoff took of the OUR BURMA BOOK exhibition. They'll love that. The little TV will now be used in teaching at the night school the teachers teach in every night from 5-7pm.
4 comments:
Sheila..I loved reading your blog. It brought a tear to my eye and reminded me of the work that we ( Murray and I) have done over the years. You have also inspired me to commit more to working with Dr Thein Lwin when we go back...we've been so caught up with other stuff, it has been difficult to commit. Also happy to report that we had a meeting with Norah from Newbattle and SQA have approved me as verifier for English Communication course at Migrant Learning Centre. Your love for all of this work shines through your blogs. Great to see that Irvine and Fiona had such a wonderful time and that the work will continue.
Been telling Pamela Deponio and others back at MH about your work Sheila...they are in awe. Bet you are looking forward to Louise coming..is there an overlap with yourselves?
Thanks Stewart for your heartwarming comments. You and Murray are the catalysts for all of this work as we are constantly telling people this trip - at Migrant Learning Centre, at Child Development Centre (which I am about to blog about), at Hle Bee etc. Without you and without Guardian Angel, none of this would have happened. So our thanks go to you both.
At the Migrant Learning Centre, we showed the students in the Scottish Qualification Authority English class, photos of Newbattle Abbey, of Dr Thein Lwin with DHT Norah, of Khaing Maung Maung's graduation and they were so impressed and they are really highly motivated to do their learning. One woman had written her story of fleeing from Burma in very good and moving English, so I really hope they can achieve the standard they are aiming for. They have a fabulous relationship with Nick, their teacher so it bodes well, with your and Murray's support. Let us know how it all goes and we will blog the progress of this creative initiative.
Hi Rowena, no overlap because "you are only 18 once" and that night must be spent using your new legal status to get into an Edinburgh nightclub! So we return on 30 July and she comes out on 18 August. However that is quite good because we are getting things ready for her here and leaving some clothes we brought and other essentials we are buying here, for her at Hle Bee School. She's in regular contact with us here, asking questions, so it's kind of a long distance orientation for her. There are so many very very kind Burmese (and Canadian) people here who have said they will look out for her and make sure she is safe and well. Far better than going off somewhere none of us know, I think.
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