Time Flies, But Getting To Keetmanshoop Is Hard
Next Thursday Is the Science Fair competition in Keetmanshoop. (Which Lisa is the Faculty Advisor for) That is if they get a ride. Ahh the joys of life with little transport. As of Friday the powers that be had not been able to arrange for a ride for the 11 Science Fair and 9 Debate Team members to Keetmanshoop. They said they'd try over the weekend - and that Lisa should check back on Monday. Swell. Getting 20 people 90 miles is like getting them to the moon sometimes (sorry all those clips on TV of the moon and the late Walter Cronkite are on my mind).
The Learners work so hard for both Science Fair and Debate and may end up not being able to compete at the next level, all for lack of any kind of transportation. It may be tough to arrange sometimes here in the states - but if push comes to shove usually a bunch of parents can arrange to drive kids wherever they need to get - or they can fundraise for bus costs etc. In Namibia 1) almost none of the parents have any sort of car, 2) there are no buses to rent/hire/whatever you want to call it, and 3) there is no private or public transportation going between Aroab and Keetmanshoop. The one bus line that went through was eliminated 5 or 6 years ago.
Now things may work out for them - I'll know more next weekend - but I keep dwelling on these things because even I tend to forget how different things have been for Lisa. Here we tend to complain that it's inconvenient, or expensive, or that we have to wait for a ride, or have to run errands for others (or ourselves - we are big on complaining here I notice). But most of us can if it's important arrange to get 90 miles to somewhere - again paying with our time, money, energy, or patience. Lisa's learners may not have that opportunity - and in lives studded with things they don't have access to - that would be a shame.
Other Thoughts on Namibia
It's interesting how much more difficult Sara (World Teach teacher) finds working in Namibia vs. China. The ways teachers are viewed and the ways students are treated are very different - and Sara is trying to come up with ways to change how Namibia teaches and learns. Lisa sees a lot of herself in Sara - at least in how Lisa viewed things nearly 2 years ago when she was just stating out. In China there is a lot more respect for teachers and students are expected to keep in line. As a country they are working on incorporating more creative thought in the process, and while there certainly are issues they have to deal with, classroom discipline isn't a major problem.
It's quite a challenge to move (or even influence) an already set up vast bureaucracy even a small distance. You have to start wherever you are, working within the system, trying to help wherever you can however you can. All without giving up.
The trick is to keep working within a system without becoming so frustrated that you stop your effort. That's harder than people give credence to. Considering she had no background in teaching I think Lisa is holding her own quite well in this regard. But it's challenging and coming home in December/January looks better and better to her!
Thank you all for those copies of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I think teaching that unit has been wonderful for both the learners and for Lisa. And knowing that the books will remain in the school for other teachers to use in the future has been a great joy for Lisa.
David in Keetmanshoop applied to work for another year and he just heard his application was accepted. I think Lisa sort of wishes she could stay on too - but 27 months is a long time to be in Africa. Also David is retired and is on his second "tour of duty" in the Peace Corps - the first having occurred in the 60's.
Odds and Ends
It looks like the Peace Corps End of Service Training session will be in September - after the third term starts. It would have been nice if they could have scheduled it during the break between terms - thus giving them more time on break in Windhoek - but life didn't work that way. And since the whole country is on the same schedule - it will affect all the teachers and their schools. Ahh well. Some things are universal. GRIN
Till Next Week - May Summer weather treat you well -
Susan Rothman
