Dada Mdogo . . .

March 27 from Mama . . .

I don’t know if I can explain myself properly and do not want to offend because I will brag about family, but I must try so please bear with me.

My sister Pam left Tumaini last night with our newest Bibi (Janet) after three weeks of full on Tumaini loving.  We escorted them, with Pendo whom she sponsors, Said (pronounced Sieed) whom Janet helped with English, little Daniel who steals everyone’s heart, and Liadi.  We saw them off at the airport and I shared with Pam how proud of her I am.  How grateful I am that she invested the time, money and energy to come and share in her big sister’s vision.  Long before Pam came she spent hundreds of hours fundraising, speaking, scheduling events for me to speak at, shopping, laminating, screening and sorting donations to come to Canada and then on to Tanzania.  Her efforts resulted in my meeting a very special and caring family in the U.S. who sponsored the shipment of our soon to arrive (hopefully) container.  That family not only foot the bill to get it here, they worked diligently to help fill it with their own donations.  They were the depot all U.S. donations shipped to before coming to my family farm in Ontario, Canada.  Pam brought Bibi Janet and Mama Teri here to Tumaini and they in turn brought their own special gifts.  A friend bought us a much needed cow (pregnant and ready to deliver any day) which provides our children with milk daily.  Another friend supplied a ton of soccer/futbol equipment and many, many friends have embraced Tumaini as a result of her efforts and contributed physically and financially to the care of our family.

I marvel at her because I know our history.  I know her lifestyle.  We did not enjoy a love filled childhood.  Pam received very little affection growing up and NO assistance with her post secondary education.  She had to find her own way as our parents just didn’t care and yet, from somewhere within she realizes how important her giving is to these children, to Tumaini.  She is not wealthy and yet her family sacrificed her presence and the many of hundreds of dollars it cost for her to come here and help us.  Once here, she and Bibi were quick to reach out and provide assistance to numerous needs here in the village.  They purchased the sand to finish the front walk of the classroom we’ll finish painting today for kindergarten at a local government school and they PAINTED that classroom!  They paid the rent for Dada Omari whose sick infant forces her to stay home and care for her instead of finding day work which would have covered that rent.  They contributed to the gas for our children’s safari and bought us kuku (chicken) as a special treat for the children on their last Saturday here.  They worked with our weaker students daily to help them progress in their English and they joined us (49) excited and rambunctious and noisy and occasionally vomiting children on safari and forewent what would have been a much more luxurious experience had they travelled in a smaller group but they WANTED to be with the children.

Standing at the airport, watching my sister check in her bags and give us one more tearful (she’s a crier) wave goodbye, I felt such happiness and yes, I must admit, pride.  Africa is not for everyone and Pam has a few “phobias” she overcame in order to join me here.  She is not a bug person although she was virtually consumed by them while here.  She worried about the food and falling sick and coming face to face with a snake or a roach or a monster spider, and but for the snake she experienced them all . . . and she endured, with joy and love for these children we love so much.  She and Janet have some hilarious stories they’ll share and I think both of them will be back . . . I know we hope they will.

So back to the airport.  Waving her off, I was, and still am moved by the commitment, the sacrifice she made to join us here.  By the support she gives Tumaini every month to help us sustain ourselves.  And while I was standing at the airport feeling so very grateful to her I was reminded that each of you who comes to Tumaini makes the same sorts of sacrifices in order to be here with us.  I appreciate hers because I know her so intimately, much more than most other visitors/volunteers, but you, each of you, and the sacrifices YOU make in order to be with us, which I know nothing about, is no less significant, nor, less appreciated and that is the moral of this story.  It is so very important that each of you who visit Tumaini knows how terribly grateful we are for you having joined us.  For the gifts, large or small, you bring.  For the skills you share.  For the love you give.  I cannot appreciate your sacrifices to the same extent because I do not know you as well as I know my sister, but I hope you understand what I am trying to say . . . thank you!  To sponsors who month after month embrace that child you choose to help.  To those of you who work so hard to fundraise for us and send us much needed money to carry on our support.  To you who come and live with us and sometimes get chewed on by bugs and vomited on by children, and eat beans WAYYYYYY more often than you prefer . . . please accept a sincerely appreciative mother’s thank you. 

Month end exams are ongoing today.  Tony continues to struggle and we are trying to diagnose why.  He is willing and enthusiastic.  Simply, he doesn’t seem to grasp different concepts necessary for him to build a solid foundation and advance academically.  Latifa continues to work to catch up. The rest of class one continues to progress.  Gerehad and Nelson and Zawadi and Latifa and Liadi are all a year older this month and thank you to sponsors for sending gifts and cards and well wishes . . .

Awards will be presented at Amani school on Friday (Marko, Rwekiza, Josephat, Francis, Esther, Gerehad and Jenny) and our Haradali children will come home Friday night for a month’s break.  (Mwajuma, Mwanhamisi, Lucia, Baraka, Evalin, Lazaro, Emmanuel, Margaret).  Kelvin and Connie, newly cosponsored by the Egles family from B.C. Canada (Dave and Jackie and Jordan and Christopher), are on safari together and getting to know each other on a more personal level.  It is always our wish that sponsors and their child(ren) work to establish and maintain a relationship.  Cards, emails, letters, even the occasional phone call are always welcome!

Baba Dave Egles has wired our house for our new solar installation which will come, one day, in the container.  He has become our resident Mr. Fix It and daughter Jordan has toured local schools good and bad and will report to us her findings.

We are well.  Healthy for the most part and looking forward to the upcoming school break.  Lohai is completely recovered from malaria and we wait to see how Reward reacts after his dawa (medicine) finishes.  He most recent scan shows no parasite in his brain.  Thank God!  We (Oddo and I) rushed to the Chikira family (a family of orphaned children we outreach to) to pick up Wema (12 years old) convulsing with fever.  We rushed her to the hospital but there is no lab in the evening and so I brought her home, got her fever down with some dawa (medicine), fed and showered her and she is asleep beside me.  We will see Dr. Lyimo in the morning but I don’t fear malaria. THAT is a relief.

Hoping all of you are well and your preparations for Easter are coming together as you wish.  I had hoped to be home for Easter but the container delay prohibits that.  Be well and thank you again, to each of you Tumainites who love and support us daily.

Tumaini Safari 2012!

Enormous thanks to Mama Karen Albert and the Just Ladies Travel Club for providing us the funding to take 49 children, two mamas, 4 volunteers, Katy, Oddo and I on a WONDERFUL safari of the Ngorongoro Crater AND Tarangire National Park where we stayed over in their hostel. The photos speak for themselves I think!!

And the gang's all here!!  49 children . . . 62 in total!  Safari kubwa!!

Mama Teri (USA) and Bibi Janet (USA)

A happy busful!!!!

But the other 4 hours they HUNT!

Does she look hungry?

Right outside our bus . . .

Why do they call him the laughing hyena?  He doesn't look that funny to me!

A Mama Wildebeest running her newborn calf . . .

Mama Dee on a bad day . . .

What are all those kids doing????

I think she smells our peanut butter!!!

My co photographer Kelvin

After a bath . . .

How lucky were we to see all this?????

Katy and Bryson . . .

Two teen Maasai wandering warriors . . .

From inside the crater . . .

Just before Lohai went down with malaria . . .

Look close . . . an elephant watering hole and oh what a vista!

King of the Savannah

Hubby and wives . . .

Harriri says thank you to Mama Karen and The Just Ladies Travel Club . . .

5:30 a.m. from under the net . . .

The roosters are crowing and this time its little Rashid sleeping with Mama.  Yesterday morning, in their haste to climb down from their bunk beds, Tony pushed Rashid, who hit his head and split the back of it open.  He rested in my room yesterday, after we butterflied his wound together but he still wanted kulala (to sleep) with me . . .

Mama Pam, Bibi Janet and helpers doing laundry!



New best buds Tony and Rashid

Karibu to Teri from Springboro, Ohio who arrived safely last night (I was already asleep but will greet her this morning).  Teri is a friend of Pam’s (my sister), who, with Bibi Janet, have settled into the Tumaini routine with full hearts and energy for the children.  Pam asked how I prepare to leave.  How I hug each of my children and get on a plane and return to my other life.  I don’t even want to think about it, but, suffice it to say, it is difficult.  Just ask Katy who returns to Canada after almost six months with us.  We were discussing her departure yesterday morning and both of us choked up at just the thought . . . there will be no party, no send off for her as it is just too hard, for Katy AND for her little brothers and sisters.  We truly have become a family . . .

An always busy Harriri . . .

Our newest volunteer Milou . . . Karibu!

I would like to welcome Milou, from Holland, who is joining us through Projects Abroad a volunteer organization we collaborate with.  Milou had a shaky start in Dar Es Salaam to her volunteer experience of three months where her placement didn’t speak English and she found herself to be alone and terribly lonely . . . we are doing our best to ensure she feels welcome and welcomed and she too is settling into what I hope will become a full volunteer experience for her.  Her focus is to work daily with Teacher Winner to assist the children who struggle with printing, reading and math.  Children such as Tony, whose attitude is excellent but whose aptitude requires development, or little Latifa who is soooo bright but still requires help with printing.

An always happy Esther . . .

And speaking of Projects Abroad, they will be joining us here in a few hours to paint our parameter wall which is, if you look in the background of our photos, is a dull, dreary grey.  We hope to brighten the place up a bit here!!!

Dorris, our cow is about to give birth any day I think and Holdem still provides milk for us every day.  She will stop soon in order to prepare for the birth of her baby!  Thanks to our donors we will be starting a herd soon and Ranger, the cow that was so sick we felt we would need to euthanize her is VERY slowly beginning to recover.  Our veterinarian visits her every other week and treats her regularly and her lungs are beginning to clear.  We are cautiously optimistic that she may survive.  The children are in class and studying (Francis was number one in his class for both January and February, we are so proud).  We have good days and bad, (we have attitude in Tanzania also!)  but, MOST days  are positive ones and the youngest children are learning that this is their chance to have a real future. 

Thank you again to our friends who provided the opportunity to take our children on safari! We received a wonderful donation with instructions to gift the children at Easter and then the Just Ladies Travel Club (in the U.S.) visited us here at Tumaini House and added to the pot!  Mama Pam and Bibi Janet have gifted us with the gas money required to hire a special vehicle to take our masses (62 of us will attend) down into the Ngorongoro Crater, after seeing Tarangire National Park and a night over at a hostel in Manyara, near the village of Karatu!  You cannot imagine how excited the children are and all of us would like to pass a big Asante Sana on to everyone who helped make this possible!  You may wonder why our Easter is coming so early.  Dada Katy had to be included in our safari and with her departure next Tuesday, well . . .  thank you all, so very much for making this possible!

L/R Lohai, Nelson, Zawadi and Raymond with friends and family!

Yesterday was Nelson’s(Mary,Reward and Kelvin's brother) 18^th birthday and I persuaded him to join us for dinner and a birthday cake!  (He stays alone at his home in the village while he waits for his advanced level school placement . . . you may remember the District Education Office Demare Mchome trying to help us get he and Mzamiru both of whom excelled in sciences and math a good placement???) He messaged me yesterday before he arrived, to tell me this would be his first birthday celebration EVER and that he was very excited!  We will go together next week to town to choose an appropriate birthday gift for him . . . AND, today is Zawadi’s eighth birthday!  Zawadi wanted to enjoy his cake with Kaka Nelson and so they did so together, and thanks to the Crooks family who help support Zawadi for your continued love (and your birthday gift)!

Nelson’s sister Mary, attending second year university in Dar Es Salaam is struggling with both the flu and malaria.  She has received treatment but is very uncomfortable right now . . .

We are getting our ringworm contained!  Griseofleuvin seems to be a wonder drug for treating this impossibly difficult head fungus which “pulps” the scalp in large, scabby blotches, and although not really painful, is terribly embarrassing for our children to endure.  Emmanuel has struggled on and off since last year but he seems to be almost cured of it!  A Tanzanian Doctor Martha visited and inspected our children and advised we try it!  A Godsend I hope for Emmanuel, Gerehad, Martha and Anna whose scalps are virtually clear again!

 

We will need sponsorship support friends for (12 yr. old) Neema, who is the child I spoke about, HIV+ and who has lost 5kg. (9 lbs.) in just six months as a result of her living situation with a very poor Bibi.  She weighs the same as our seven year old Neema.  We have seen the fatal combination of malnutrition and HIV and what it wreaks on a child’s body, a child’s life.  We cannot allow it to happen to this little girl!  Bibi Janet has already offered to help where she can but Neema will require monthly support to the tune of $144.00 as will the little man sleeping beside me Rashid . . . both are darling and deserving little people.  Polar opposites of each other, Neema is outgoing, gregarious and a chatterbox, and so happy to be here . . . Rashid on the other hand is very serious and one can see fear in his eyes although he is just beginning to open a bit and even smiles on occasion!  Both need our help, for it simply isn’t available in their homes, living with desperately poor grandmothers.

Neema left, will be thirteen this year, Neema right is seven.  They weigh the same . . .

We’ve had a meeting with SOS about Athuman.  The village director and his assistant (Justin, whom we met on our initial visit) came to Tumaini and all of us sat down to talk.  As we suspected, neither we, nor they, were told the truth about Athuman’s situation and after a long discussion, sharing what each of us knows about the family, the children and the situations, SOS has decided to reapproach the family, tell them what they know and then SOS and Tumaini will attempt to return Athuman here, along with his younger sister Nasma and keep the siblings together.  I explained to SOS that we will need to find sponsorship support for Nasma before we can welcome her but how nice would it be for brothers and sisters to be here together?  And speaking of that, Gaspar has been assessed and is taking daily study in reading, writing and Kiswahili to start, from his own, one on one, instructor and Anna (who suffered the extraction of an abscessed tooth two days ago-don’t ask about the method) is hoping to feel well enough to join us tomorrow on safari!

I hope you are well . . . our container is now definitely scheduled to arrive on the 30^th, in Dar, and I hope to see my husband just before it does . . . it has been too long apart.  Every day our children, your children change and learn and grow and I have no words to express the gratitude I feel for the loving support you continue to show them . . . their English is remarkable and their spirits . . . they will survive their heartbreaking beginnings with your care and shine and each of us here, wishes each of you there, our love and our thanks.  Be well.  Know you are loved . . . and appreciated, so very much!!

Please consider helping us help this little girl. . .

From Mama under the net . . .

Things are good and busy and, as many of you who have already visited us here know, just a bit crazy . . . our heartfelt thanks go out to Caroline and the Hummelshoj family for embracing Esther with your sponsorship support.  Also, to Collin Ferster of Canada for helping care for Harriri.  To the Giglioti family for your kind and generous donation, Aunt Mayre for your continued contributions in care of Mary and to all our regular and ongoing sponsors, Asante Sana.  We would not be able to provide the wonderfully loving care we do without you . . . 

My sister Pam arrived a few days ago with our new Bibi Janet and both have settled into the somewhat chaotic life of a Tumainite . . . those of you who have lived with us will recall our tempo . . . and our kilele.  To friends and family of both Pam and Janet, in Ohio and Canada, who contributed to our care, Asante and a special thank you in memory of Bob and Irene Holdwick to the Sparks family . . .

As one would expect, we have our ups and downs here at Tumaini and this week has been no exception. 

Last Saturday, Pendo (from Ndoombo), you may recall the HIV+ child we helped with rebuilding her home and providing ongoing food to her, her sister and her Bibi when needed?  We also provided school fees, uniforms, books, bags, etc. and while they were here requesting beans, rice, sugar and oil, I caught Pendo, her sister and their friend loading a school bag up with balls and toys here for our children.  They stole from the very children who were kind enough to help them!  It made me truly sad to send them on their way, but we cannot support anyone who doesn’t appreciate how hard we work to provide what we do . . .

We, (Katy, Pam, Janet, Jeremiah, and I) went to town a couple of days ago and got a puncture (a flat).  Actually, it’s a slow and persistent leak, attempting to inform us that the life expectancy of our tires (Thank you again, Freeman Tires in Simcoe), has peaked and they are on the way . . . OUT!  While Jeremiah visited a nearby tyre shop to get a price on replacements (I almost had a heart attack when they told us 400-600,000TZS PER tyre - $280.00-$420.00) we spell tire t-y-r-e here . . . Katy sat on a curb when a Tanzanian hawker presented her with “just what she needed”.  Understand that Katy has been here since September and in all that time she has not exactly worked on her tan (unlike my sister who has bbqd one arm already) and this hawker tried to sell her . . . SKIN LIGHTENER!  True!  Just ask her!  In a coloured country our salesperson (probably starving for his lack of judgement) tried to sell KATY skin lightener . . . it was hysterical!

Speaking of hysterical, on that same day, I found a young (too young to be where he was) trying to find work in the central market.  I insisted we take him home and talk to his mother about why he wasn’t in school.  We all climbed into the car with one of our rafiki (friends) who help me when I shop for fruit and produce there.  He protects me from thieves and pickpockets and he carries our purchases.  Well, it seems that our little boy didn’t speak Kiswahili, only Meru (a tribal dialect) and my helper does also.  He came with us and asked the boy how far up the road his house was.  The boy said two km.  About 8 km. later (remember our bad tyres  and that the roads are terrible), we stopped the car.  Pam and Katy’s bladders were about to burst and we needed to how many MORE two kilometres we had to go . . . our little man informed us that we had about another ½ to travel.  Pam and Katy, lacking a public toilet or restaurant or any sort of facility went in search of some bushes.  They looked around, discovered what they thought was a safe place to pee and dropped their drawers only to hear, seconds later, “Karibu!  Karibu!!!  All things had proceed beyond the point of return and so, halfway up Mount Meru is a man who just a few days ago, caught not one, but two, woowoowoo, wazungu!!!  PS. Pam got stuck on the way out of the bushes!

Reward, our second year university student and brother to Kelvin, Nelson and Mary, who suffered a parasite in his brain caused from eating undercooked pork, finished his dawa (medicine) just after he returned here to Usa River for a three week break.  Within a week of ending his medication his symptoms returned . . . dizziness, headaches.  We contacted his specialist in Dar Es Salaam who ordered him to repeat his prescription and ordered a second CT scan upon his return which will be this coming week.  I will update you as soon as I hear from him and please, keep him in your prayers as surgery is not out of the question in a situation like this and we are worried.

Francis’ end of month exams were rife with 100%s . . . we don’t know what we will do with him, and the rest of the children are doing well also.  We finally located Athuman.  You might remember that his family took him “for a few days” of prayer at the beginning of December.  Well, what we were told isn’t true . . . the “fabricated” a few facts, threw in an extra child, (his cousin, but they claim she is a sister) and relocated him in another school, neglecting to share with the coordinator there that he has six more siblings, five of which are HERE!  In all honesty, the organization is a big one (SOS Children’s Village) and has on staff doctors to help counsel Athuman with his emotional problems, something we had attempted to facilitate in December when Dr. Pat was with us . . . I was so happy to see him and to see where he is and that he is safe . . . in the end, that is what matters.  To Jane and Erica, thank you so much for your support of this little boy we all cared so much about . . .

Oddo and Scola had their son, Reuben Robert Oddo Ndonde, and he's all Mama! (The children keep asking me if he's a mzungu, like me!)  Visit www.tumainimama.blogspot.com to see recent photos of the little guy and of US!  Doing our thing!

I was honored and nervous with having been given the responsibility of naming their child . . . Reuben is the name of my grandfather, whom I loved very much and it also, biblically, means, “behold!  A son!” which is what Oddo was not so secretly hoping for in order to balance out his family of four children (Elizabeth, Joseph, Ruthie and now Reuben).  He says we will nickname him “Babu” which means “grandfather”, in honor of both our grandfathers . . . Scola recovers from her C-section delivery but both are doing very well!

This past week Oddo and I took the District Education Officer Demaree Mchome and her husband for dinner to thank them for trying to help us help some of our children . . . (she helped us with Omari and is trying to help with Nelson and Mzamiru).  The level and concentration of corruption is heartbreaking in this country and it is rare when we find someone who shares a truthful compassion and empathy for poor children.  Demaree is such a woman and we are so very lucky to call her friend.  It was an honour to discuss education, political opinions and hopes for the future of this country with someone sharing our vision . . . Asante Mama Mchome!!

Surprise!  Our container has been delayed!  It is sitting on a dock in Sallalah???  Waiting for a four day trip to Dar . . . it’s at least on this continent!!  We are saddened by the delay as the rains have begun and our tractor is not working yet.  Also, solar friends Dave Egles and his daughter Jordan, have booked a flight to revisit us in order to install our solar array which won’t arrive until just after they leave . . . there is no use getting upset . . . these things happen every day here but we are sorry for those who have made plans to come and help us and we MUST say, once again, thank you SO very much to our friends to made the entire journey possible in the first place! 

Most children are well although we struggle with ringworm on the kitwa (head) of Martha, Anna, Gerehad, Ema, Stephano Neema and Priska and Latifa just finished her dawa (medicine) for a stomach infection.  Raymond, home awaiting results from his Form VI (final grade) national exam, contracted typhoid while at school writing.  Several other students fell ill also and some were unable to write.

We’ve brought two of our outreach children to Tumaini from Majengo, the village we almost moved to near the Kia airport.  Neema and Rashid, (you may remember we provided outreach assistance to these two HIV+ children, too poor to find the money for transport to their monthly clinics where they receive their ARVs and unable to afford milk, vital for their health).  Neither has a parent, both live with their Bibi and in Neema’s case, she has lost 5 kg. (almost nine pounds) in the last six months.  She will be thirteen on her next birthday and although a full head taller than our Neema here, weighs the same at 25 kg.  I showered her tonight to look for injuries, scars, rashes, etc. and she is scary thin . . . we don’t have the funding now, but we also don’t have the choice.  We had to bring her.  Both are suffering with that terrifying combination of poverty and HIV.  In Neema’s case it could turn into a fatal one . . . Rashid, although struggling also, is not quite as bad as Neema but is desperate to stay with her and so we add two more, for now at least.  Say a prayer we find the support we need to help these precious children who have already lost so much . . .

I will close.  The children have just finished their Friday night movie (thank you donors for building us a wonderful children’s video library) and Harriri has arrived for a sleepover with Mama.  He is giggling in bed beside me, amused by the sound of my fingers on the keyboard.  The lights are off, the net is down, and there is no more kilele (noise) coming from the house!  Wote wamekwenda kulala . . . (all have gone to sleep).  Harriri is negotiating for a bite of some wonderful brownies Janet gifted me with from Dorothy Lane Market in Springboro (oh thank you Janet!) so I guess I’ll have to share!

Please scroll down to the post below to see photos of Baby Babu and some general Tumaini silliness of our own!!!  Be well!

A few more things Tumaini

Neema, Anna, Pendo, Connie and Latifa joined Katy, myself and the rest of the children for a walk!

Katy fell, Eva fufued (farted) and no one could stop laughing!  No one was hurt in the making of this photo . . .

We got rained out and the security guard for Shule Mungano allowed us to wait out the deluge in a corridor of the school.

Our beautiful little Anna LOVES to go for a walk, especially when we're going for ICE CREAM!

No complaining from Stephano . . . nor from Daniel below . . .

Returning home after ice cream, happy and sated . . . Mount Meru in the background.

Stopping to wash our feet in the river after getting stuck in the mud . . . Katy is lagging behind fishing malapas (flipflops) out of the mud!!

Glory, always the ham, STRIKES THE POSE!!!

Nelson, one of the young men I love most in the world gives his heart to Tumaini.

Oddo and Scola's new baby boy, Reuben Robert Oddo Ndonde.  He doesn't look like Baba!!

I was honored with the privilege of naming Reuben, biblically meaning, "Behold a Son!", what Oddo secretly wished for to balance his family of two girls (Eliza and Ruthie) and now two boys, (with Chi, or Joseph).  I explained that Reuben was the name of my Babu (grandfather) whom I loved very much at which point Oddo became very excited exclaiming that Reuben's nickname would be "Babu", after his and my grandfathers.  Oddo's grandfather loved him so much, he kept him with him when Oddo's family left Songea and came to Arusha, fearing that, because of his limp (polio), children might be cruel to him.  Oddo will tell you it was the greatest thing his Babu might have done, building confidence and eradicating any sense of victimhood in Oddo. 

Mother (Scola) and Son

"Babu" Reuben didn't like the flash of my camera and is saying here, "shhh, I'm trying to sleep!"

A very proud Baba (father) and our children return from a trip to our local DREAM (AIDS) clinic in celebration of their anniversary . . . Katy and the rest of the children piled in the back of the truck.

My sister Pam and new and dear friend of Tumaini Bibi Janet visiting from Ohio, USA

Pendo is so happy to have one of her sponsors visitng . . .

"Holdem" was a gift to Tumaini from friends in Ohio . . . mmmmmmmmmmmasante!!

Happy birthdays to Teacher Winner, Latifa, now five and Liadi now four!!

Cutting their cakes!

And our birthday party master of ceremonies Raymond is getting over typhoid, contracted at school while he was writng his national exams.  We all await the results!!