And I've learned so much
I've learned you can never sweep your dirt yard as neatly as any Zambian
Caterpillars are tasty with lots and lots of salt
Don't carry more water than you capable of-- you might destroy your water container, or fall into the water hole
If you use dirt to scrub your dishes they sparkle
Even the most obnoxious of songs on my ipod can't scare these mice
I am a bicycle mechanic
I can cook just about anything with the odds and ends of food that I have
Meetings start an hour ... or two... later than scheduled
When I first arrived at site I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I still don't. But I front loaded the first week because I didn't want to give the wrong impression by staying in my hut. SO I biked around the surrounding 5 or so villages with the PTA chairperson. I visited the coffee company, neighbors, clinic, churches, etc. Since school didn't open until a week or so after I arrived I hung out at the clinic and made friends with the woman who works there. I ended up writing in the record book for a few days to help her out. The majority of patients that come to the clinic have malaria. I ventured to the nearby market about 10k away and made some friends- a women who works at a shop that charges phones, serves cold sodas, and shows Nigerian films (I don't know what these shops are called but there are a few, maybe the "store where you can access electricity and refrigeration'), and a women who owns a hair salon and wants to do a weave in my hair (no way)-- I actually visited her house and she has a huge statue of a giraffe in her front yard --random. When school started I really didn't know what to do with myself. I talked with some teachers, tried to observe, but found out that the first week of school doesn't really mean anything, and no one really does anything. Doctors without borders came in one day with their measles campaign to "vaccinate the entire province" I found myself helping out with crowd control (7 villages of children = angry mothers shoving and screaming babies everywhere). I went to church and found a sense of familiarity there because it was a Catholic service and reminded me so much of going to Church in Owego and Syracuse. But I'm taking it easy now because they want me to join the Catholic women's league, teach Sunday School, and read the scripture...so I don't go every week- I like to keep them guessing.
School now is started to pick up pace. I had a large community meeting where I was able to explain myself as a volunteer to the parents, teachers, and headmen. I am starting to observe more classes and seeing what teachers I want to work with for co-teaching (two teachers teaching the same together in a classroom for the term- its a way for me to expose teachers to new ways of delivering material). I'm developing ideas, and certain rules for myself- such as I will not work with a teacher who practices corporal punishment, and I do want to work with a teacher who is actually interested and dedicated to teaching. The classes here are all lecture-based. It's difficult for teachers because the class is overcrowded (100+ pupils), they are underpaid, and there are no resources. My job is to find these resources, think of creative ways to produce learner-centered ways of teaching, and motivating the teachers over all. I have a teacher group meeting tomorrow to present the co-teaching idea.
In addition to the above objective (supporting teachers), my job is also to support pupils, and the community. I am starting to get ideas. My community keeps mentioning learning English.. I have some books on adult literacy and I think this will be a good start to community support in my service. As for pupil support, I think I want to do some sort of girls empowerment club, and I'm working on creating a large world map painting as a teaching and learning aid on one of the walls of the school.
The village life is interesting and ever surprising. Today I accidently put Mexican spice in my Jungle Oats instead of cinnamon. Yesterday I fixed my first flat tire, last week I found the waterfalls all by myself (no iwe's needed). I've gotten a tour of the coffee plantation (biggest one in the country- and it's right in my village!) but they aren't producing coffee yet. It's been interesting learning about the "fall of Kateshi," In 2007-08 the company was thriving, there were 10,000 people employed, and the village was very populated. When the owner (a "rice white man") went bankrupt- everyone lost jobs, moved out, or turned to independent farming. There are several vacant huts in the village and abandoned tuk shops of what used to be. It effected everything, even the school. Parents couldn't afford to buy uniforms or needed the kids in the fields with them. Now the government has bought some shares so they are starting to grow coffee yet again. Since coffee takes three years to harvest (at which point I will be back in the U.S. of A) , they are starting with wheat in the meantime. I went to a funeral last week- it was intense. I'm not used to crying.. but not to wailing. I am getting sunburned like crazy and I think I'll have to switch my malaria medicine again.
I am in Kasama now because I just had a meeting with the DEBS (District Education Board Supervisor). I stopped by the provincial house to check mail and what not but didn't have anything prepared to write here so sorry if it's unorganized. I'm lucky I live so close to the prov. capital (there is a grocery store!). But for now it's back to the village. Friday I am going to visit my community school.
Twalamonana!
I've learned you can never sweep your dirt yard as neatly as any Zambian
Caterpillars are tasty with lots and lots of salt
Don't carry more water than you capable of-- you might destroy your water container, or fall into the water hole
If you use dirt to scrub your dishes they sparkle
Even the most obnoxious of songs on my ipod can't scare these mice
I am a bicycle mechanic
I can cook just about anything with the odds and ends of food that I have
Meetings start an hour ... or two... later than scheduled
When I first arrived at site I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I still don't. But I front loaded the first week because I didn't want to give the wrong impression by staying in my hut. SO I biked around the surrounding 5 or so villages with the PTA chairperson. I visited the coffee company, neighbors, clinic, churches, etc. Since school didn't open until a week or so after I arrived I hung out at the clinic and made friends with the woman who works there. I ended up writing in the record book for a few days to help her out. The majority of patients that come to the clinic have malaria. I ventured to the nearby market about 10k away and made some friends- a women who works at a shop that charges phones, serves cold sodas, and shows Nigerian films (I don't know what these shops are called but there are a few, maybe the "store where you can access electricity and refrigeration'), and a women who owns a hair salon and wants to do a weave in my hair (no way)-- I actually visited her house and she has a huge statue of a giraffe in her front yard --random. When school started I really didn't know what to do with myself. I talked with some teachers, tried to observe, but found out that the first week of school doesn't really mean anything, and no one really does anything. Doctors without borders came in one day with their measles campaign to "vaccinate the entire province" I found myself helping out with crowd control (7 villages of children = angry mothers shoving and screaming babies everywhere). I went to church and found a sense of familiarity there because it was a Catholic service and reminded me so much of going to Church in Owego and Syracuse. But I'm taking it easy now because they want me to join the Catholic women's league, teach Sunday School, and read the scripture...so I don't go every week- I like to keep them guessing.
School now is started to pick up pace. I had a large community meeting where I was able to explain myself as a volunteer to the parents, teachers, and headmen. I am starting to observe more classes and seeing what teachers I want to work with for co-teaching (two teachers teaching the same together in a classroom for the term- its a way for me to expose teachers to new ways of delivering material). I'm developing ideas, and certain rules for myself- such as I will not work with a teacher who practices corporal punishment, and I do want to work with a teacher who is actually interested and dedicated to teaching. The classes here are all lecture-based. It's difficult for teachers because the class is overcrowded (100+ pupils), they are underpaid, and there are no resources. My job is to find these resources, think of creative ways to produce learner-centered ways of teaching, and motivating the teachers over all. I have a teacher group meeting tomorrow to present the co-teaching idea.
In addition to the above objective (supporting teachers), my job is also to support pupils, and the community. I am starting to get ideas. My community keeps mentioning learning English.. I have some books on adult literacy and I think this will be a good start to community support in my service. As for pupil support, I think I want to do some sort of girls empowerment club, and I'm working on creating a large world map painting as a teaching and learning aid on one of the walls of the school.
The village life is interesting and ever surprising. Today I accidently put Mexican spice in my Jungle Oats instead of cinnamon. Yesterday I fixed my first flat tire, last week I found the waterfalls all by myself (no iwe's needed). I've gotten a tour of the coffee plantation (biggest one in the country- and it's right in my village!) but they aren't producing coffee yet. It's been interesting learning about the "fall of Kateshi," In 2007-08 the company was thriving, there were 10,000 people employed, and the village was very populated. When the owner (a "rice white man") went bankrupt- everyone lost jobs, moved out, or turned to independent farming. There are several vacant huts in the village and abandoned tuk shops of what used to be. It effected everything, even the school. Parents couldn't afford to buy uniforms or needed the kids in the fields with them. Now the government has bought some shares so they are starting to grow coffee yet again. Since coffee takes three years to harvest (at which point I will be back in the U.S. of A) , they are starting with wheat in the meantime. I went to a funeral last week- it was intense. I'm not used to crying.. but not to wailing. I am getting sunburned like crazy and I think I'll have to switch my malaria medicine again.
I am in Kasama now because I just had a meeting with the DEBS (District Education Board Supervisor). I stopped by the provincial house to check mail and what not but didn't have anything prepared to write here so sorry if it's unorganized. I'm lucky I live so close to the prov. capital (there is a grocery store!). But for now it's back to the village. Friday I am going to visit my community school.
Twalamonana!
