I lacked a better title for this blog, so went with the obvious! A month has passed that was marked by the long rains and the closure of schools and restaurants, as well as a virtual border around Greater Nairobi.
This meant the girls started their new schools with online learning. Hannah was quite capable of doing everything independently, whilst Leah still needed the tutor to help due to her challenges focusing on studying (rather than playing, particularly with the temptations at home) and the need for more support in more basic subjects. However both have progressed well and the quality of the online learning has been fantastic with excellent attitudes and commitment from the teachers, very good material, some innovative thinking and prompt feedback on submitted work. The approach (just like a real classroom, sensibly) was mostly live explanations for a while, then individual work (not much group work unfortunately), whilst the teacher was available online for support at any time.
Both children have therefore started to learn French and Swahili, whilst also having various PE, PSHE or even swimming lessons (swimming is basically still PE) and Leah was the star of the week in her first week, though it hasn't really inspired her. Only one more week to go until the schools reopen and they can start to physically meet and make new friends. The routine of the last few weeks with Andrea going to a rented office to work and me and the tutor being at home all day will then change - and I'll be alone working during the daytime, probably more productively!
With restaurants closed, most entertainment places also closed, so we've just been walking, horse riding and cycling, and letting the kids play at the weekends. The Easter trip to the beach was postponed yet again, and we managed to find the odd food court that would sell take away food and let you eat it there, and the odd picnic bench in a park.
So now everything is back open again weekends can be more fun, and we can even plan more trips outside Nairobi. And there will be less cooking at home too!
