Attending A Baby Shower

A Hairy Afternoon

Spoke with Lisa yesterday - we called mid-afternoon her time and she asked us to call back in a 1/2 hour since some of her friends were working on her hair. We said sure - hung up and wondered "Hair?" "Our Lisa?" When we called back we found out what was cooking.

One of the teachers at her school was having a baby shower last night - and Lisa was invited. Friends from the Hostel who were going wanted to fix up her hair etc. She let them but was not exactly happy about it. She did it just for good cultural relations not because she enjoyed having her hair fussed over - her idea of getting gussied up is to take her pony tail out and comb her hair straight down. Period. No point to anything else. So she was a bit grumpy when we called that second time.

She went through the whole process to support the teacher who was having the shower since many of the teachers refused to attend seeing that said teacher was unmarried and such things are frowned upon strongly in her community. She wanted to show her acceptance of the situation - hoping that if the PC volunteer was willing to accept the teacher's situation others might too. We'll see how it goes.

 

The Shower

The shower itself wasn't what she expected - the Mom-to-be didn't open the presents, and there weren't any games or similar party activities at all. Everyone mostly talked - in Afrikaans - with a little conversation in English about politics in the US. As Lisa put it - it was nice, but long, and it got very cold. No one has heat! She didn't get home till nearly 10pm - late for a Peace Corps Volunteer!

Another social situation she managed to get through in Namibia. She did mention that after all this she'll be much better at putting up with the necessary small talk that goes on at conferences, meetings at work etc. since at least everyone will be talking in English! Every cloud has that silver lining! (grin)

 

The Inspectors Came At Last

The local Keetmanshoop level education inspectors visited this past week. They observed everyone including Lisa and while they seemed very nice, they were chock full of suggestions.As Lisa put it simply - "They expect the teachers to do everything" (Gee where have I heard that before?)

Lisa also decided the simple solution would be to have 1 or 2 classroom aids for each teacher - a rather useful concept for most teachers in most schools except for that pesky thing called cost! Some of the recommendations were as follows;

1) Everything the learners do should be corrected fully as to how complete it is, spelling, grammar, etc. That includes everything done in class, for HW, as a group effort, posters, classroom notes tests, papers etc.

2)Every lesson for the entire year should be written out at the very start of the year so that preparations can be made by the teachers in advance for projects - ie. when composting is to be covered in the weeks before the students should bring in garbage to compost and observe the results (Lisa loved this one and hopes to try it out next year)

3)Every science lesson should have hands on components since kids learn best that way. And the science kits should be used. Lisa asked "What science kits?" many of the other teachers asked "What science kits" the department head said - "We have some somewhere". "And we have teaching guides somewhere". Everyone then went "Really? - let's find them" And since many were not complete or were totally empty - Lisa thought it would be a good idea to get them all together and catalog the materials so the teachers would know what was available to be signed out etc. That may become an extra job for her (GRIN). No good suggestion goes unpunished. . . (GRIN GRIN GRIN)

4)All teaching, learner responses, teacher explanations, etc should be done in English. Teachers should not slip into Afrikaans to explain things the learners don't understand. Lisa has no problem with that one!

So - many of the suggestions were good ones - they just involve more time, personnel, money, and materials than the school has. Experience helps turn lemons into lemonade - but it takes magic to turn 1/2 an old lemon peel into a sweet beverage. Here's to Magic! Lisa says she'll try to make a few changes to her teaching that seem possible and go from there. At least the other teachers in her school want to make improvements and that's rarer than it should be! Good Luck to them all!

Oh - just a note - It seemed that half the Keetmanshoop Science Team knows Waldo - Lisa's Peace Corps Boss!

 

Other School News

Exams formally start next Tuesday - though a few have been taken already -  Lisa tried a version of "write down 3 nice things about everybody in class" since she didn't have enough paper - so she had them go around and tell each person 3 nice things. It was amazing how many used "You are beautiful" or "You are nice" but it seemed to make everyone a bit happier and thus calmed for at least 1 class period!

 

Odds and Ends

Lisa finished her 40th book since January. She had trouble explaining the different Soccer competition levels in the US - since her cousin was playing in the Long Island division of the Empire State Games this weekend - and  today they play later on for the Gold I believe! Wish them Luck! This morning her Church had Communion - which isn't offered often - so it was a very big occasion!

And prayers would be welcome for one of Lisa's Great-Aunts who died Friday night after a challenging few months. May she rest in Peace.

 

Susan Rothman

Congratulations Are Due

A Great Week for Awards!

The 6th Graders from Lisa's school won the next level Spelling Bee in Aroab. The beat a local private school (one where most learners go on to HS and beyond - and some have traveled to Italy, and they have spiffy new uniforms and they were bragging about their situation etc) and will be going on to the next level of competition in Keetmanshoop. As one of the Judges - Lisa got a beautiful pen and pencil set! None of these were her students since she teaches grades 8 and 9, but nevertheless she was very very proud of them! Lots of excitement in her school over this.

I gather her school took the competition very seriously and worked very very hard - and they're reaping the rewards of their effort! The winners received 2 books each, the losers 1 book. Aroab is really pushing literacy and reading -  Other rewards included food - always a popular choice since the learners are almost always hungry!

The next level Science Fair Competition was held and several learners received Bronze and Gold medals! Lisa had 1 Gold and 1 Bronze from among her learners! These winners go on to the Nationals. Again she was so very proud! Seeing the kids excited about learning and anything school related is great!

Beyond the joy of having winners the school administrators hope that these awards will encourage the district to put a science lab in her school. I gather the district has some funding to set up a few labs and they want to position them in schools where they'll be actually used to best advantage and not forgotten or vandalized - cross your fingers that her school gets one!

And still another success - her friend Erna's son is in the finals for Volleyball! (Erna works in the Hostel next door)

As a teacher Lisa is thrilled at all the different areas (Spelling, Science, Sports) the kids have achieved success in- it sets a good example to all the others that they can succeed in so many different ways depending on their individual skills!

 

More School and Community News 

Tonight at the Community House there will be a talent show - she'll try to make it but the start time is so iffy - as are most start times in Namibia - I told her to look at it this way - instead of thinking about it as X will start at Y on the dot like a class, or a TV show - she should think of their answers about when things will start more like "Dinner will start around X" - a lot more flexibility in when things actually start. She liked my example - said it would make her less frustrated when a 6pm start becomes an 8pm one instead! This seems to be Namibia wide - in fact Africa wide - this flexible view of time. Tough for Americans to fit in with. Of course after 2 years and getting used to this time flow - coming home will be even more of an adjustment for the PC Volunteers - since most bosses work on US time not African time (GRIN).

Next week the Economics Competition sponsored by the Bank of Namibia will be held in Keetmanshoop - Lisa isn't sure her school will do as well in that one. But just getting to that level is nice.

Yesterday in honor of Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday the Namibian TV channel had a montage on his life - when Lisa first turned it on in class she was afraid he had died then she realized it was in honor of his birthday - so she had the whole class sing "Happy Birthday" to him - she thinks her learners thought she was a bit odd (OK totally nuts) for asking them to do that - but it was still fun, and they got into it.

There is one week of classes, and 3 of review and finals ahead of her then another term will be done! Then a 3 week break which will include having to trek up to Windhoek for a Peace Corps dental exam. Transportation is such a bear she really isn't looking forward to it at all - she'll enjoy being in Windhoek but getting there and back is not fun. And she doesn't think anyone from her neck of the desert will be heading up there around the same time. Oh well.

 

A Fight

A fight broke out in her classroom this week - a real knock down drag out one - where she had to pull the kids apart and send someone to the office who came and helped sort out what had happened. As she put it so well - "It's not how I want to hug my kids!"

 

Very Very Sad News

This morning there was a sports day at her school - and one of the busses bringing kids to it from another School was in a terrible accident and 2 learners were killed. They had a moment of prayer before the games began - but then they went on. Not sure how many others were injured. Lisa noted that while there was appropriate sadness - it was taken more in stride than it would have been taken in America. It's much more common there - sadly. 

 

Interesting Info

One of Erna's sons works at the Post Office - I wonder if that's why Lisa has (Knock On Wood) had such good luck mail wise? Speaking of mail - Thank You "Aunt Ali" for the children's books, Granola bars (she was out so they were a treat!) and other goodies including the most important item of all  - M&Ms (GRIN). I just realized that not once did she mention how cold it was - maybe she's just getting used to it - or it wasn't below 0 C this week (grin)

Till next week, take care one and all!

 

Susan Rothman

A Quiet Week

With the 9th Graders Away it Was A Slow Week

And slow weeks that are freezing cold lend themselves to lots of reading, staying warm and toasty in bed - the one warm place in her home! The school is warmer - so teaching has it's advantages during the cold season. She doesn't think she should be able to see her breath inside most of the time! Her Dad checked the weather reports on line and at least in Keetmanshoop (90 miles west of her) things are supposed to get warmer this week! Hitting the 70"s F for highs. That will be most welcome.

 

Updated Tales Of Lisa the Librarian

Many of you have been very kind and have sent Lisa all sorts of books - some for the youngest learners, some for her middle school ones, and some just for her and the adults she knows there. She reads them herself, then reads the ones that are appropriate either at the Hostel next door, or in her classes at School, (often several times each) then she adds them to the Library they fit into best - at the Hostel, at the School, or in the Town Library. So she's at the point where if it's a book and "if you send it she can use it". Somewhere, with one group or another. 

The kids from the Hostel seem to come by to visit a lot! They like borrowing books from her and just chatting. The 3rd graders in particular seem excited when they can read some of her Easy or Picture English books all by themselves to Lisa. Makes Lisa feel like she's accomplishing something too!

She's very pleased that her community seems so engaged in books and reading - she's not sure how much of the enthusiasm is to "impress the Peace Corps Volunteer", to get out of doing other less pleasant tasks, or out of sheer boredom vs a deep passion for literature - but she'll take whatever she can get in terms of their reading! Each week when we call she really seems to be getting more excited about it. Of course she started out with a great passion for reading - but with the lack of entertainment options it's blossomed even more. Not as much excitement for teaching is developing - but she's managing.

 

Her Own Reading

Lisa has been reading lots of magazines we sent her (Scientific American, Discover, The Atlantic, etc.) Several have covered the die off the honey bees are experiencing and that reminded her how much she misses access to everyday newspapers and TV reports about what's going on in the world. She's also been savoring Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. In general our whole family enjoys his writing but this book in particular has really grabbed her and she's developing potential career plans as she reads it. (Yeah thinking about a job after Peace Corps!!! - sorry that was a Mommy's reaction -GRIN-)

She's decided that she's interested in a job where she facilitates the understanding of math and science from the raw info journal reports or facts in general, to the layman in useful, fun and creative ways. That last sentence is all mine based on about 20 minutes of our phone call to her today (GRIN) - right now she's excited about maybe writing about science, creating books or study kits on scientific themes, speaking on it, or making presentations about it in museums, science centers, and maybe even schools (GRIN)

Right now teaching it straight isn't that appealing to her. Nothing like being in a classroom day in and day out to make one hesitate about going into teaching as a career. (sigh - but the benefits, time off, security of not being a freelancer - sorry my Mommy side keeps bursting through today)

 

Learning the Joys of Solar Heating First Hand

She's learning how door and window placement can make a big difference in terms of how much heat gets into and is retained by a building. As she lies in bed huddled under the covers she watches the sun through her small high windows and wishes they faced more southwest than northeast. But as I reminded her - the very factors that refuse to warm her place up now keep it much cooler when the hot summer months come. (Because when it's HOT it's HOT!!!) It's an excellent mental problem to try and work out the optimal placement of windows etc to keep it reasonably cool in summer yet add a bit more warmth in winter. Actually the idea of putting the house on a moving platform so it can be rotated and moved in and out of the shade of the Hostel is a lovely if impractical idea. Getting proper electricity into the place comes first. Then . . . .  who knows! (GRIN)

 

Odds and Ends

She only lost power a few times this week so she's been able to enjoy hot meals, and lots of hot tea and hot chocolate that has been sent by kind friends and family. Grandma's package with a long shirt and books among other things was most welcome.

The cold weather is wrecking havoc with her hands - washing in cold water really dries them out - we plan to slip a few pair of rubber gloves in our next box to her. Not having hot water (unless she heats a pot of it on her hot plate) makes things challenging. But at least she doesn't have to walk to a river or water hole and carry back everything she needs to drink or clean with. Some PC Volunteers do. There are pluses and minuses to everything in life!

In 2 or 3 weeks exams start - and another term will be ending - hard to believe. Two down 4 to go! At some point between terms Lisa will have to go to Windhoek for a Peace Corps dental exam - they try to group them so the dentist can get to everyone in a short amount of time. They do try and keep the volunteers healthy! My mommy side approves. That's about it for now I'll update you all next week. 

 

Susan Rothman

Happy 4th of July (a day late)

Fridays are often fun days!

Yesterday was a Marketing Day at the school. Sort of an all day Carnival with great activities and different groups selling stuff for the school's development fund. Since she didn't have a group of kids to organize or watch she was able to wander around and simply have fun enjoying absolutely everything.

She rode a horse (none of the other teachers did - they said they were too frightened to try it) though it was a challenge to get up on it! Then she climbed a pole till she was knocked down by pillows tossed at her. She had her face painted, sang, danced, and ate a lot! I gather there was great food everywhere! One nice thing about not spending money  (since there is usually very little to buy in her town) is that she had plenty (by local standards) and was able to try anything she wanted to. And all on "School Time" I think both the learners and teachers would agree that this would be a great way to spend most Fridays! (grin)

 

TV Beats Reading - Better Luck Next Week!!!

Last night the TV room was open at the hostel and the majority of kids preferred watching TV to listening to Lisa read. Some listened but storytime just wasn't as big a hit as in previous weeks - oh well -  But as long as there are at least a fistful of kids she'll read to them! I think after a long fun day of activity they weren't up to concentrating hard enough to understand the English stories. TV is easier to listen to, both here and in Namibia.

 

Speaking of Reading and Writing and other Stuff at Home

Lisa finished reading Gulliver's Travels and The Merry Wives of Windsor - I believe that was book 33 since January. Today she expects to finish a short Science Fiction novel - all in one day - she says reading a whole book in one day refreshes her! As readers ourselves her Dad and I understand completely! And she finished filling one of those black and white composition books with Journal entries - about 200 pages- . She's on Journal number 2. She's impressed that she's written more in her Journal in less than a year than she had in the previous 23 years (GRIN)!

One of Lisa's Learners (Claudia) has a Mom who often prepares a small breakfast ( a few meatballs, a meat-roll, etc) for some of the teacher's and Lisa has been included on the list for a while - this morning she returned several of the empty containers from these treats and was rewarded with a brief donkey cart ride. Much fun for a few block jaunt!

 

School

Next week the 9th graders are off on field trips so she has 20 class periods vs 36 and while the Educational Ministry folks from Keetmanshoop were supposed to come and evaluate the school - that's been postponed so instead of having to explain everything she's been doing, and how and why  she's been doing it that way she gets a lighter more peaceful week. That's really nice since it won't be long before she has killer weeks of finals prep and correcting of exams. The quite before the storm (GRIN). The Education people will eventually come but she now has more time to figure out what they'll want to know.

 

It's REALLY cold in Aroab.

According to a posting I read about Namibia's weather a cold front is moving up from South Africa and the temperatures will be around zero C overnight to a high of 15 C - you guys can do the math (grin) but in any case it's cold! Lisa doesn't have a thermometer but she does testify that it's icy indoors and out. It's hard to remember how cold she is when it's so hot here! And remember she has no heat  in her home - burrrr.

 

Mail

She wants me to thank Debbie Battista, and Laurie Steven and Rachel for their mail this week! Every piece of mail is wonderful and most welcome!

 

That's all for now - Take Care One and All!

Susan Rothman