Truly unique!

I always knew living and teaching on a ship would bring its own unique points, but just as things are starting to feel pretty normal today I was woken up again to life while floating :)

When getting things organised in a 'normal' school usually its the janitor and school maintanance to keep on your side, suddenly ive had to start talks with: the Chief Officer and the Captain about space, for non-teachers: these are not normal terms to be heard around a school :D

Then stranger still we got the teachers handbook today:

section 3.something, protocol for seasickness (interestingly its illegal to throw up over the railing..)

section 3.something else, protocol for appointments; medical/hair (and these are the same categorie how?)

Then always important in schools, the emergency drills, but I dont remember previous schools making the difference between:

In-Port Emergency drill

At Sea Emergency drill..

In all unique, challenging, differnt, quirky, fun, you name - ive thought it!

Blog you all soon! God bless

Ben

ps oh yeah, all this and the classrooms sway.. ;)

Ben in Benin

I'm here i'm here i'm here!!

It was a long journey (5000km) but last night I arrived on the ship.

I met up with 2 of the other new teachers whille getting of the plane, so we are enjoying getting settled together.

After having the tour of the ship this morning i'm still managing to get horribly lost :P

This is my desk/office/workstation in the Academy, photos of my cabin will follow when ive got myself set:

the other photo is of the 'big room' in the Academy with my workstation just on the photo back/right.

Each tuesday morning there is a devotion meeting for the whole crew, this morning it was about miracles, and what a miracle this ship and its work is!! And what a miracle God has brought me here! Its stil hard to comprehend that I am in Benin and this is my home for the next 2 years.

Tomorrow we start the teachers meetings preparing for the new term with 10days to go till classes start.

Ill keep you all posted!

God bless,

Ben

Tomorrow;s the big day..

Tomorrow the adventure begins, early in the morning my flight goes from Amsterdam, via Paris (croissants in the morning!!) to Cotonou, the capital of Benin.

For those I havent spoken to thanks so much for all your support, it realy gives me a sense of peace to know everyones behind me!

Next message will be from the Africa Mercy itself!! Blog you all soon!

Ben

Cotonou airport and the dock is to the east.

Google earth

My first blog..

Just a week to go before I leave for Benin to join the Africa Mecy.

Exciting times so it was about time I got a blog setup to keep everbody up to date.

Keep checking the site and Ill keep posting ;)

Greetings,

Ben