Advertisement
Published: February 2nd 2007
My new hairstyle
The girls at the hostel braided my hair!Hello,
So last week I spent all of my computer time trying to figure out why this travelblog wasn't sending out e-mails so I'll catch you all up!
Well, school is coming along, and things are getting easier but the more I am here, the more I see problems. Ok, I don't mean to complain, but let me fill you in on some of the things that happen during a school day:
1. Sometimes, teachers just don't go to a class if they don't feel like it...that means "Learners" are just left in the class for periods at a time.
2. Learners and teachers are constantly coming in and out of classes to tell you or other children something. They will just walk in and say "Ms. Jessica, I need to ask so and so for a pen?" and I'm like "NO! Go back to class!"
3. We rarely follow the schedule. Everytime I try to follow it, another teacher asks to teach during that time, or when I go to my scheduled class, another teacher has just begun a lesson.
Needless to say, I get very frustrated at times, but I just keep trying to
Girls at the hostel
Some of the girls at the hostel. Also my next door neighbor Elizebeth who is a cleaner for the hostel, she is very sweet and teaching me how to knit! teach. When I do get to teach, I think I am doing a pretty good job for not being a teacher, but I find discipling takes all of my energy. The learners are starting to respect me (notice I say starting...the first weeks were a struggle) and I have begun to try some new things. For example, after Math class today, I told them that if they were behaving I would teach them a new game. So I tought them 7-up and they loved it!
The learners also had athletics this week so each morning the whole school went running. After the first day, they asked me to go with them and I told them I would. So each day we went running and then I would have them get in a circle and I would do stretches, and sit-ups and they loved it! I felt like an aerobics instructor! It was so much fun! Also, the girls at the hostel love to go running too, so sometimes I am running twice a day!
I also started teaching computer classes this week and it went great! They were so well behaved because they were so excited to finally get to use a computer. I just taught them the basics but it went really well
As for my free time, everyone is so nice and friendly. People just come up to me and ask me questions all the time. It's funny how they all know who I am and I am definitley struggling to remember all of their names. They also ask me constantly if I know famous people, "Do you know Oprah?" "Do you know 50 Cent?" It's so funny!
This past weekend I went with some new friends to Swakopmund...this beautiful beach town that actually reminded me of a smaller version of La Jolla, with a seal beach and all. It was great...I went swimming in the "sea" and then afterwards, we went to someone's farm, where they had a braii (bar-b-q). So fun!
So things are definitley good! I am getting more and more used to the hot weather although I am still looking forward to the rainy season, which should be coming soon!
ok, miss everyone lots! I will take pictures of the school for next time!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.146s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.098s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Judy Fern
non-member comment
Hmmm
Now I guess we know why it's a third world country. No organization, no discipline, no nuthin' but do what you want to do when. Can't get far with everyone going in different directions. Good for you for lining them up. Keep up the good work. L, J