A Day in the Life ... A Visit by the Prince

I arrived early to ensure that everything was ready for Prince Hassan's visit to the Clinical Skills Laboratories. The 2 nurses who work with me in the labs had been working hard to prepare everything but there were a few last minute adjustments. For example, we needed to move some of the manikins into different rooms so that the tour would be suitable.

Royal protocol

Some of the medical students had volunteered to demonstrate different Clinical Skills, so I briefed them on what they needed to do to demonstrate measuring blood pressure, listening to heart sounds, taking blood and having a medical consultation. I also walked around the labs with the Prince's protocol officer to ensure that the tour would be appropriate.

Is it alive?

I then waited in the main lab with the main patient simulator, that was looking quite life like - breathing and blinking his eyes! This is one of the most advanced patient simulators in the Middle East! We heard clapping and cheering to signal that Prince Hassan (the King's Uncle) had arrived. Very soon he entered the lab with his entourage and was introduced to me. We talked about Oxford University (where he studied) and Cambridge University (where I studied and also his daughters and wife). Then we began the tour.

A Jordanian welcome

His Highness spent time talking with the medical students about the Clinical Skills course and he even had the opportunity to feel the pulses on the main patient simulator. As we walked to the second laboratory there was a crowd of students waiting to catch a glimpse of the Prince and they welcomed him in true Jordanian style with clapping, singing and ululating!

A down-to-Earth prince

The medical students in the second laboratory gave very good demonstrations of their Clinical Skills and everything went very smoothly. I was amazed at how the Prince, such a famous and important person, was so approachable and down to earth.

At the end of the tour there was an opportunity for photographs and then the Prince moved on to give a lecture in the main auditorium.

Day in the Life ... First Day at New Schools

First Day at my New School – by Kira

It was my first day at my new school. There was too much traffic, because lots of other people were also going to school, so we had to park and walk the rest of the way. I led Daddy to my classroom, because he didn't know the way. I learnt the way when I went with Mummy to visit my school for 2 hours, last Wednesday.

It took a long time for everyone to arrive at class, because of the big traffic jam and 5 kids didn't even come at all. I sat next to a girl called Lillian. My first lesson was Arabic, but since it was our first day, we watched a movie while the teacher was getting our Arabic books ready.

No one to play with

At break time, I went to the playground and I stood by myself, because I didn't have anyone to play with. But then 2 children from my class asked me if I wanted to play. I sat and played with them for a bit, but then they ran into another part of the playground, and I was not sure if grade 1 kids were allowed there, so I didn't follow them, and then just sat in the same place by myself, until the end of break.

Lot of movies

We went back into the classroom and had a French lesson, where I learnt that Samedi is French for Saturday. Then we had another break to eat our lunch. After break we watched another movie until going-home time. I hope school is like this next week, but probably we won't keep watching lots of movies like this. Lots of other kids were picked up early and there were only a few of us left when Mummy came to pick me up.

First Day at my New School – by Isaiah

Daddy walked with me to my new school after we had dropped Kira off and there was still lots of traffic jams. I'm in Barney class and my teachers are Miss Zena and Miss Wissam. We played with play-dough and a singing teacher came and we sang “If you're happy and you know it...” in Arabic. I liked stamping my feet.

I had bread with Lebenah at break time. It tasted funny, a bit cheesy, a bit yoghurty. I also had Zataar which I liked.

The teacher drew round my hand and I coloured it then she cut it out when Mummy came to pick me up. My teacher says they will put all our hand pictures on the wall to show that we are helpers.