During my stay I was not only able to spend time at the school but I was also lucky enough to join the staff, teachers and children on two special outings arranged by my friend and companion Malin Basil, an established supporter of the school. Here are a few of the colourful patchwork of memories I brought home with me.
Malin Basil and Susan Bidmead visiting the school
Our first outing was to the Science Park, with all the children looking pristine in their clean, neatly pressed school uniforms. I was struck by how often I was approached by members of the public who asked which school the children were from. Their behaviour was so exemplary, their interest in everything so genuine and their pride in their school so evident, that people wanted to know who these children were. What a proud day for the staff and teachers! One sweet memory from the day is of a group of girls decorating our hair with blossom from the trees in the gardens where we ate lunch. Afterwards Malin and I walked around in a cloud of falling petals as, slowly but surely, the flowers slipped from our hair.
Susan with the children at The Science Park outing
For our second outing we were in a high state of anticipation as we were going to Nicco Park and I was assured that there would be plenty of daredevil rides that I could 'enjoy' with the children. As it turned out the best ride of all was the most unexpected! Our coach broke down enroute and with customary calm the staff soon loaded us into taxis to finish the journey. I found myself in the back of a taxi with numerous youngsters, none to sure if the locks on the taxi doors would hold as we squashed in and raced off down the road at alarming speed. The children had no such qualms, turning the ride into a rollercoaster, leaning first one way and then the other as we swooped around the corners. The taxi driver was quick to catch the mood and decided to race one of the other taxis, also full of Mathieson students. The shrieking from our taxi was pure joy from the children but something closer to sheer disbelief from me. Needless to say we arrived safe and sound, if a little breathless.
In the pool at Nicco Park, the children cavort with one of our 24 hour security guards
Those of you lucky enough to attend Anup's 50th Birthday Fundraiser will have seen the beautiful birthday cards he received from the school. Each child was keen that their card should be as special and individual as possible and their concentration and determination was palpable. However my abiding memory is of one small boy. Everyone else had finished their cards, all the coloured pens and sparkly stars had been collected and the veranda swept clean. But this little boy clutched his pencils and kept working, oblivious to the emptiness around him and no amount of prompting was going to make him hurry. The photo of him holding up his finished card, a huge smile on his face, is guaranteed to brighten any day.
Greeting cards made by the children for Anup's 50th birthday
Perhaps my favourite memory is of one evening when our visit to the school ran late. The children had finished lessons for the day and most had disappeared to amuse themselves during their free time. It was very still and turning to dusk and, as is quite usual at the school, the sound of cello drifted through the air as various students practised. Left to my own devices I sat on the veranda with a group of girls and boys and we read stories. Slowly the older children drifted off until it was just me and a handful of the smallest girls. The moon was rising; full, translucent and low over the flat grassy landscape. We sat and watched as it turned to deep orange, rising higher in the sky and the pleasure shown by these little girls and the way in which they wanted to share this sight and this moment so touched me.
Susan-Jennifer Bidmead