24th October School holiday at work

The past week Merijn had his midterm break, and since I am a working mother with officially 5 weeks off per year, I cannot simply stay home, and have a holiday too every school holiday. Merijn has 13 weeks off per year plus some extra days of as teachers study days and recover days after camp. The math for this equation can be made to work using several factors. Here in Kenya it is very common to hire an aya (nanny), but Merijn is almost 11 able and does not need that on daily basis, such arrangements are very hard to make. Family can step in, like this summer, when Merijn stayed with my parents, but they are 9 hours flying away and I am not exactly rich. Merijn could have spent some time with friends with younger brothers and sisters that do have an aya. I tried to arrange this, but all feedback was negative, since they were going away them self on a holiday. Some parents are working at school, which makes coordinating easier, but I do not. So Merijn joint me at work, he has his own laptop, his own desk and most important free internet connection which is of the highest standards, in African context. So he is playing Dofus a virtual world where with chatting possibilities and fighting monsters together with friends or he is watching manga ‘Son-goku’ on youtube a little. He joins us at lunch, he has found that the salad bar here at ICRAF has his favourites, graded carrots with raisins and cucumber with mais. There was some rain last week, not very much, but enough to bring the temperature of the UN Rec centres swimming pool down under what even Merijn considers comfortable. So we went there only once, to wash our hair, since it was high time for a haircut. Even Merijn was content with the result, although he prefers his grandma does it. Luckily I do not have to pay by weight, but I think I have to pay more next time than Kesh 600. As my friends know, I do never go to hairdresser; they are too fond of cutting to my taste. I usually do it myself or ask my mother or a friend. I am not going to take braids either, the mere thought of having to sit still for many hours’ gives me panic and again to take them out. Anyway it never looks as good in straight hair as long as in afro. On the other hand I am becoming more and more fond of the haiwaii/toe slippers they sell here. They are made of leather lined rubber with over your foot a band that can have many shapes embroidered with different kinds of beads in an array of colours and combinations. On top of this they are very comfortable and long lasting. I will add a picture soon.
Otherwise I am organising different travelling plans. My parents are coming here in Merijn’s Xmas holiday, then I am going to celebrate a real long holiday too (mostly). In a few weeks we are going to India for a week for work, Katja, Miyuki and I. I still have to organise a good place to stay for Merijn for most of that time, but I do not think that’ll be problematic.