So almost the first month of school has gone by. Or just another week, depends on how you want to look at it. The Form 3's (11th grade) are here nowwhich makes me a busier person than before. Thus things are hoppin. I have screens on all my windows folks! Thus if you now come visit, you are NOT guarenteed to get malaria! Halleluijah! Also you probably won't get it because USAID has set aside some money so that every house on the islands of Zanzibar gets sprayed with mosquito killer stuff. They are trying to eradicate malaria here. Which is cool. Especially since apparently more people die form malaria in Africa than HIV/AIDS, which usually gets all the attention. And given that Africa has something like 90 percent of the worlds HIV/AIDS cases that really means that alot of people die from malaria. Which is why its so cool that they are doing this.
Anyway, things are very tropical here at the moment. I've become so very familiar with the look and feel of heat rash. Yuck. Schools good. After a rough lab the other week, I totally made up for it with a slightly tedious, yet totally working and realistic and applicable physics lab this week. Haha! And yea true, it would have been cool if I could do some neat physics trick with whatever, but honestly, alot of physics labs really are boring and tedious no matter how much time or money you have, so I feel good. Plus since my students don't really have much lab experience, I think its important for them to get the feel of how to follow directions, set up an experiment, test something, and then draw conclusions. Which while it might have been a bit tedious, they did get a chance to do.
Also I've become a teacher on my off hours...which is some good and some bad. Most people don't seem to realize that knowing how to speak English and being able to teach it are so very different things. As in most every school student who's struggling with their English. I can hardly blame them but at the same time, I can't much help them either. I can give them practice and thats about it, because I have honestly forgotten, past continuous, and present participles etc. And thats what they need most of. So I feel bad, and yet, there's not much I can do about it. I can work on phrases, and vocab some and just general talk to you, but thats it. On the other hand another person I have been trying to familiarize with the computer, and that is going somewhat better. Again, I'm not a computer teacher, but at the same time, computers are something I had to learn and pay attention too as well, so its not quite so an unconscious knowledge. Thus, I flatter myself that I've had somewhat better success at it. Which encourages me.
Well anyway, besides my newfound appreciation for the term "let your hair down", I've decided that the thing I may come away from this whole experience happiest about is just the general feeling of confidence at being able to do things I was worried were impossible. Like not just teaching, but also on the spot public speaking, impromptu soccor matches -sports having been something I've never been good at- etc. I mean before I left I thought I could do it, or rather I didn't really think about it, just thought, hey it'll work itself out. And then when I got here, I was freaked, and especially when I got to site. I mean worried that secretly I'd not be able to hack it. So I've discovered each and everytime that a secret worry dies away forever, its such a quiet peaceful feeling. Its not like a "oh my god look at that!" feeling, but more a "hey, well whaddya know?" type of thing. And well it never fails to be more profound for all its quietness, and spread farther and make me feel better than many of the more one-two punches I've seen. And it also never fails to suprise me. Even though I know I can do it, it never fails to suprise me when I do.
In anycase, hope the weather is wintry and sunny and America is great and I'll talk to you all lata
Love as always
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
First Bumps
So first bumps in the tropical-brick road here. I've discovered I won't be a fantastic teacher just straight off the bat. I know I know, its a shocker that a brand new teacher should have a bad class, in her second week of school. But hey. Anyway, we'll be behind alittle in my class, which only means the class on monday will be alittle akward in its format to make up for this. Not the end of the world I know. Anyway, I don't think the students really minded, but they are my chief worry, since I really really don't want to fall into the trap of being the easy friendly teacher who no one respects. But my class was easy this time since my co-teacher with the keys was completely unkowingly late, and then the experiment was botched because of bad equipment. ick!
On the other hand students automatically respect teachers alittle more here because of corporal punishment so I won't come out of this quite as bruised as I would back home. Which presents its own interesting moral dilemma. Philosophically I'm not opposed to corporal punishment in certain situations as long as its done justly. But in practice, watching 3 seperate classes all get wacked in one day by a teacher I like does give me the heeby-jeebies alittle. And I do mean everyone. So the fact that my weak stomach can't stand behind what I'm philsophically for brands me not a way I'd like. On the other hand, I also benefit from the fruits of corporal punishment in that students in classrooms here are infinitely more respectful of new and inexperienced teachers here than they ever would be at home. (especially in the light of a bad class) So the fact that I can't morally commit one way to this situation and yet, am enjoying the fruits of it, also doesn't strike me as very ethical. And yet above it all, they really haven't been so bad here. No student recieved a strike that 10 minutes later wouldn't be fine. And I've heard in some places teachers do go to far. So I don't know why I should be that unsettled about it. Plus, its not my culture so is it really fair for me to be making ethical claims about the rightness of a societial structure which I don't fully understand? Yea, really unsure about it at the moment and I'll let you all know more later.
On the other more funny in a bad way note. You know how in the past in the u.s. people would say, "go get a switch so I can hit you with it" well, one student really did have to run and get the switch that everyone felt the brunt of. Pole sana!
On the other hand students automatically respect teachers alittle more here because of corporal punishment so I won't come out of this quite as bruised as I would back home. Which presents its own interesting moral dilemma. Philosophically I'm not opposed to corporal punishment in certain situations as long as its done justly. But in practice, watching 3 seperate classes all get wacked in one day by a teacher I like does give me the heeby-jeebies alittle. And I do mean everyone. So the fact that my weak stomach can't stand behind what I'm philsophically for brands me not a way I'd like. On the other hand, I also benefit from the fruits of corporal punishment in that students in classrooms here are infinitely more respectful of new and inexperienced teachers here than they ever would be at home. (especially in the light of a bad class) So the fact that I can't morally commit one way to this situation and yet, am enjoying the fruits of it, also doesn't strike me as very ethical. And yet above it all, they really haven't been so bad here. No student recieved a strike that 10 minutes later wouldn't be fine. And I've heard in some places teachers do go to far. So I don't know why I should be that unsettled about it. Plus, its not my culture so is it really fair for me to be making ethical claims about the rightness of a societial structure which I don't fully understand? Yea, really unsure about it at the moment and I'll let you all know more later.
On the other more funny in a bad way note. You know how in the past in the u.s. people would say, "go get a switch so I can hit you with it" well, one student really did have to run and get the switch that everyone felt the brunt of. Pole sana!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Jan 10
Hey hey? Who's gonna win the blogger award for effort?
And we're done. Anyway, first week of school under the belt, and although things aren't completely sorted out yet, I'm glad to have that under my belt. Now when I tell people I'm a teacher, around here, it will be backed up by the weight of fact. Anyway, really though the point of this blog is to give all the Springsteens out there, heart.
Fear not family of mine! There are nations of people who operate on our time schedule. There are even countries, where are time of arrival, is EARLY! Yes, you may have thought you were the only one, in a sea of people who watch the clock, to operate on the -ish time table, but its not true. Frankly from what I can tell, Africa as a continent, is -ish. Yes, when they say be there at 7, they mean 7-ish, which encompasses to 7:30 and beyond almost to 8 without being late. Heck, we're early by alot of these standards. Who knew?!
Also, I noticed it on the mainland but I REALLY notice it here. I am a really really wierd person here because I'm not yet married. I mean the guys keep asking for my hand in marriage, and the woman keep teasing me with not being married yet. I think its something I'm supposed to be ashamed about or something. I can't quite tell how it all works. On the one hand, some one asked to be my boyfriend, and when I turned him down, like a week later I find out he's getting married. So I don't know if he was just sleazy, or if its just common to get married quickly. Really though, the one man 4 wives thing doesn't work out for me. And Yes. Really. According to the muslim culture of Zanzibar, many of the men over here have more than one wife. *and its fairly common on the mainland too* My good friend who lives upstairs from me is one of her husbands 2 wives. Now I've met him, and I like him and thats cool, but man, am I too integrated into the western culture of marriage, cause I something in me really irks at the thought of being one of 4 wives, or even one of 2. Anyway, as much as they don't get my not being married, I don't get their obsession with it. So I suppose it'll be good for both of us to have this experience.
And thats all I got for now. Tomorrow we celebrate the Zanzibar revolution day so theirs no school! So happy independence everyone! And as they say in Tanzania everywhere
Be Free!
And we're done. Anyway, first week of school under the belt, and although things aren't completely sorted out yet, I'm glad to have that under my belt. Now when I tell people I'm a teacher, around here, it will be backed up by the weight of fact. Anyway, really though the point of this blog is to give all the Springsteens out there, heart.
Fear not family of mine! There are nations of people who operate on our time schedule. There are even countries, where are time of arrival, is EARLY! Yes, you may have thought you were the only one, in a sea of people who watch the clock, to operate on the -ish time table, but its not true. Frankly from what I can tell, Africa as a continent, is -ish. Yes, when they say be there at 7, they mean 7-ish, which encompasses to 7:30 and beyond almost to 8 without being late. Heck, we're early by alot of these standards. Who knew?!
Also, I noticed it on the mainland but I REALLY notice it here. I am a really really wierd person here because I'm not yet married. I mean the guys keep asking for my hand in marriage, and the woman keep teasing me with not being married yet. I think its something I'm supposed to be ashamed about or something. I can't quite tell how it all works. On the one hand, some one asked to be my boyfriend, and when I turned him down, like a week later I find out he's getting married. So I don't know if he was just sleazy, or if its just common to get married quickly. Really though, the one man 4 wives thing doesn't work out for me. And Yes. Really. According to the muslim culture of Zanzibar, many of the men over here have more than one wife. *and its fairly common on the mainland too* My good friend who lives upstairs from me is one of her husbands 2 wives. Now I've met him, and I like him and thats cool, but man, am I too integrated into the western culture of marriage, cause I something in me really irks at the thought of being one of 4 wives, or even one of 2. Anyway, as much as they don't get my not being married, I don't get their obsession with it. So I suppose it'll be good for both of us to have this experience.
And thats all I got for now. Tomorrow we celebrate the Zanzibar revolution day so theirs no school! So happy independence everyone! And as they say in Tanzania everywhere
Be Free!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Jan 6
Well, New Years was great and now I am gearing up for the school term. I have to say, its a very unnerving thing to do too. I'm not actually certain which classes I'm teaching yet (we find it out on the first day of class) and well it makes it hard to plan. So yea, I got an overplan. I have the back up plan for if I have to teach these few classes and if I don't I'll just toss it. Who knows! Theres nothing like playing it by ear.....or rather there is, but I think this is another of the faults of the plan to the test education system we got going here, logistically it makes it hard to plan for classes cause they don't actually have the results yet. My culture of impatient preplanning is working against me here. But a plan is better than no plan right?
Also, am down for the count with some form of sickness so heres hoping it clears up within the next day or so. Let the trials and tribulations of the new year begin!
Well in anycase spent the New Years on the beach, and that was spectacular at least. The beaches are beautiful! Really they are. When you are just sitting talking to friends you can't help but think, man, its all worth it. This rocks. Yup and we (other PCV's and myself) as the night wore on, got to talking to a couple who were just taking a vacation from Ethiopia. He is doing some internship with the UN and she works with an NGO (Non-governmental organization *supposedly!*) in the area. In anycase, it was very enlightening and partly just because I've been hearing so much in the news *God Bless the BBC!* about Ethiopia invading Somalia, and so I got to talk to an American couple about what its like to live there. They said they live north so they don't see the war there but they were saying too, the poverty in Tanzania, is nothing like the soul-sucking poverty just a few countries away. By the way, it is somewhat odd to realize you are only seperated from a place like Somalia *a country where I've only heard horror stories of war and starvation* by not that far. So I can only imagine what its like for the couple in Ethiopia. Ethiopia itself not being the land of oppurtunity either (apparently the opposition group to the president has been in jail for a good year now on trumped up charges). Well to think about it though, when faced with a political situation of that nature, it makes you appreciate the U.S's political situation. I mean, even in the U.S. you aren't ever completely free from peer pressure against speaking out, or being unpopular, or political financial ruin, BUT all those things really beat out being stuck in an Ethiopian jail. I mean if you think the jails in the 1st world countries aren't great, I 20 times over bet they beat the jails in countries where the good people have trouble getting fed.
Nevertheless New Years was great, and it was great to be around such cool people and be able to laugh and dance on the beach. And tiki torches flaring with beach music in the background, and I was thinking, this is the life.
So there you have it. Wish me luck at school, I'll need it!
As always Love
Sarah
Also, am down for the count with some form of sickness so heres hoping it clears up within the next day or so. Let the trials and tribulations of the new year begin!
Well in anycase spent the New Years on the beach, and that was spectacular at least. The beaches are beautiful! Really they are. When you are just sitting talking to friends you can't help but think, man, its all worth it. This rocks. Yup and we (other PCV's and myself) as the night wore on, got to talking to a couple who were just taking a vacation from Ethiopia. He is doing some internship with the UN and she works with an NGO (Non-governmental organization *supposedly!*) in the area. In anycase, it was very enlightening and partly just because I've been hearing so much in the news *God Bless the BBC!* about Ethiopia invading Somalia, and so I got to talk to an American couple about what its like to live there. They said they live north so they don't see the war there but they were saying too, the poverty in Tanzania, is nothing like the soul-sucking poverty just a few countries away. By the way, it is somewhat odd to realize you are only seperated from a place like Somalia *a country where I've only heard horror stories of war and starvation* by not that far. So I can only imagine what its like for the couple in Ethiopia. Ethiopia itself not being the land of oppurtunity either (apparently the opposition group to the president has been in jail for a good year now on trumped up charges). Well to think about it though, when faced with a political situation of that nature, it makes you appreciate the U.S's political situation. I mean, even in the U.S. you aren't ever completely free from peer pressure against speaking out, or being unpopular, or political financial ruin, BUT all those things really beat out being stuck in an Ethiopian jail. I mean if you think the jails in the 1st world countries aren't great, I 20 times over bet they beat the jails in countries where the good people have trouble getting fed.
Nevertheless New Years was great, and it was great to be around such cool people and be able to laugh and dance on the beach. And tiki torches flaring with beach music in the background, and I was thinking, this is the life.
So there you have it. Wish me luck at school, I'll need it!
As always Love
Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
