le 5 decembre (le matin/ the morning):
- I am legitimately cold... I did not see this one coming. I just never actually expected to be cold in Africa.
- With the cold, the dying of plant life with the start of the dry season, and the burning of things, it's really starting to feel like fall! Here we come Halloween! ...
- On the walk to school there was a woman raking leaves. After school, as a result, there were several leaf piles. You can't tell me it's not fall!!?!?!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
le 2 decembre (a chameleon)
le 2 decembre:
- I've always thought myself to be somewhat of a chameleon, able to blend in to any environment in which I find myself. I easily adapt to cultures and customs, like a chameleon chaning the color of its skin to blend into its surroundings. But I now realise that I naively thought by changing the color of my skin to blend in with the grass that I was becoming the grass. In fact, I rest chameleon and do not become grass.
Now that I find myself in an environment where the color of my skin automatically and instatnly define me as different, as a chameleon and not as grass, although initially disapointed and frustrated, I now embrace and celebrate that I'm a chameleon and can live in the grass without being a blad among them. I'm a white American, and like the color white, I'm made up of many colors.
- I've always thought myself to be somewhat of a chameleon, able to blend in to any environment in which I find myself. I easily adapt to cultures and customs, like a chameleon chaning the color of its skin to blend into its surroundings. But I now realise that I naively thought by changing the color of my skin to blend in with the grass that I was becoming the grass. In fact, I rest chameleon and do not become grass.
Now that I find myself in an environment where the color of my skin automatically and instatnly define me as different, as a chameleon and not as grass, although initially disapointed and frustrated, I now embrace and celebrate that I'm a chameleon and can live in the grass without being a blad among them. I'm a white American, and like the color white, I'm made up of many colors.
Monday, December 3, 2012
le 19 et 20 novembre (mobilize the people)
le 19 et 20 novembre:
- Abdoulaye is owrking on writing now. And he can write, but for the moment, only in Arabic. This kid has drive no matter what anyone else here says! All along his arm and leg he practiced writing the alphabet. Also he has a great smile! :)
- Found out that Julie, our country director (Corps de la Paix), is coming Tuesday to observe my classes. Because everything in my village is on an everyone-needs-to-know basis, I promptly informed the cheif, who's currently in Conakry, of her arrival. He swiftly informed the Proviseur who informed the Math teacher to inform Maire Bobo to inform everyone at every prayer time at the Mosque and to inform Maire Dian (the Mayor of Madina-Telico, a neighboring district) so that we'd have a mobilization of people to greet her. My village is awesome! As my Proviseur says, "C'est une communaute vivant! (This is a lively community!)" Tigi tigi! ("truly" -Pular)
- Received a text of a short notice arrival... Julie came at night instead of in the morning. And all though I was happy to welcome her. No one and nothing was prepared. So I took her to see the Proviseur and informed her that preparation for a big welcome party for her was in full swing. En route we ran into the Imam who insisted that she come back again tomorrow morning, as initially intended. That's my village!
Next day:
- Julie came back. So i had to abandon my class of course to greet her. She was well welcomed even if it wasn't the big party that my village wanted to have (she was pressed for time - she planned to come last night en lieu of this morning). But she recieved the cola nuts wrapped in leaves and more bananas than you could imagine, and a bottle of water. We took pictures with everyone there.
Imam; villager; Maire Dian; villager (en haut et 2 en bas); Maire Bobo; le Proviseur; moi; You;
After she left and I returned to my class my students asked if that was my wife who came to visit me... haha nope. Not married. They of course asked why, and I told them I hadn't yet found the "madamoiselle parfaite pour moi" En tous cas, after school I saw my Proviseur on his way home carrying a chicken and some other things. Apparently elders kept coming after Julie had left with more gifts for her. They also told he she was the mother of our school and so she had to come back to see her children, but that she had to notify them at least a week in advance.
Love my village!
- Abdoulaye is owrking on writing now. And he can write, but for the moment, only in Arabic. This kid has drive no matter what anyone else here says! All along his arm and leg he practiced writing the alphabet. Also he has a great smile! :)
- Found out that Julie, our country director (Corps de la Paix), is coming Tuesday to observe my classes. Because everything in my village is on an everyone-needs-to-know basis, I promptly informed the cheif, who's currently in Conakry, of her arrival. He swiftly informed the Proviseur who informed the Math teacher to inform Maire Bobo to inform everyone at every prayer time at the Mosque and to inform Maire Dian (the Mayor of Madina-Telico, a neighboring district) so that we'd have a mobilization of people to greet her. My village is awesome! As my Proviseur says, "C'est une communaute vivant! (This is a lively community!)" Tigi tigi! ("truly" -Pular)
- Received a text of a short notice arrival... Julie came at night instead of in the morning. And all though I was happy to welcome her. No one and nothing was prepared. So I took her to see the Proviseur and informed her that preparation for a big welcome party for her was in full swing. En route we ran into the Imam who insisted that she come back again tomorrow morning, as initially intended. That's my village!
Next day:
- Julie came back. So i had to abandon my class of course to greet her. She was well welcomed even if it wasn't the big party that my village wanted to have (she was pressed for time - she planned to come last night en lieu of this morning). But she recieved the cola nuts wrapped in leaves and more bananas than you could imagine, and a bottle of water. We took pictures with everyone there.
After she left and I returned to my class my students asked if that was my wife who came to visit me... haha nope. Not married. They of course asked why, and I told them I hadn't yet found the "madamoiselle parfaite pour moi" En tous cas, after school I saw my Proviseur on his way home carrying a chicken and some other things. Apparently elders kept coming after Julie had left with more gifts for her. They also told he she was the mother of our school and so she had to come back to see her children, but that she had to notify them at least a week in advance.
Love my village!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
le 16 novembre (the Ole ear and Abdoulaye)
le 16 novembre:
- I'm lying in bed reposing "un peu" after school, listening to the Friday call to prayer, and I can't help but think "mmm... a little under pitch..." - Thanks St. Olaf.
- My heart breaks for my bud Abdoulaye. Today he came over for his French revision, and while we were learning some new verbs, some girls (some of his peers that go to school) came by and taunted him because he doesn't go to school and is trying to learn French now and also because of some skin blemish he has on his forhead. I should have done more but it's hard to know how to defend a kid in a language you don't know. After they left and we continued, two consecutive women (one who never went to school but knows a little French and the other who's a French tearcher "au college") came by and both said "he knows nothing." "Is he learning anything?" Yes! In fact, I'm very proud of how much he knows in just a handful of informal lessons! He can't yet rea but he knows/ understands over 50 words and can count to 100 easily (!) - in only a handful of leassons! He really wants to learn and he's very smart! Unfortunately he still doesn't have the French and I don't have the Pular yet to tell him that... How do you counsel a kid you can't communicate with? Not only that, but also today a petit had stepped on his had and so it was super swollen and he couldn't make a fist. Since words lacked, I did my best to show him I cared with my actions: continued the lesson in spite of what others had said, offered him fruit, and simply took the time to sit with him and be his friend.
- I've never been so interested in ants and termites, but wow they are incredible! Emense societies each member doing its part with all its strength and boy do they have strenght and determination. I feel physically weak and weak willed watching an ant pull something over 4x its size vertically up a wall (!), fall, and just get right back after it. And they fiercely defend their community - if you walk in their path they will attack with a furry! A lot to be learned from these tiny creatures - and I for one have so much respect!
Here's to you, ants!
- I'm lying in bed reposing "un peu" after school, listening to the Friday call to prayer, and I can't help but think "mmm... a little under pitch..." - Thanks St. Olaf.
- My heart breaks for my bud Abdoulaye. Today he came over for his French revision, and while we were learning some new verbs, some girls (some of his peers that go to school) came by and taunted him because he doesn't go to school and is trying to learn French now and also because of some skin blemish he has on his forhead. I should have done more but it's hard to know how to defend a kid in a language you don't know. After they left and we continued, two consecutive women (one who never went to school but knows a little French and the other who's a French tearcher "au college") came by and both said "he knows nothing." "Is he learning anything?" Yes! In fact, I'm very proud of how much he knows in just a handful of informal lessons! He can't yet rea but he knows/ understands over 50 words and can count to 100 easily (!) - in only a handful of leassons! He really wants to learn and he's very smart! Unfortunately he still doesn't have the French and I don't have the Pular yet to tell him that... How do you counsel a kid you can't communicate with? Not only that, but also today a petit had stepped on his had and so it was super swollen and he couldn't make a fist. Since words lacked, I did my best to show him I cared with my actions: continued the lesson in spite of what others had said, offered him fruit, and simply took the time to sit with him and be his friend.
- I've never been so interested in ants and termites, but wow they are incredible! Emense societies each member doing its part with all its strength and boy do they have strenght and determination. I feel physically weak and weak willed watching an ant pull something over 4x its size vertically up a wall (!), fall, and just get right back after it. And they fiercely defend their community - if you walk in their path they will attack with a furry! A lot to be learned from these tiny creatures - and I for one have so much respect!
Here's to you, ants!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
le 15 novembre (teacher talk)
le 15 novembre:
- In general, I had a really great day today. In the middle of my 12eme SS math class, it all of a sudden struck me, I'm a teacher. I'm an educator. Je suis un enseignant. J'enseigne en francais. Wow! I've got a rapport with my students and they're learning.
Life is good.
- I have a constant internal struggle between my pedagogic ideals and values. I have a very liberal/ laissez-faire approach to teaching. Ideally, I would create an atmosphere in which all my students would want to be there, learn, create, and explore. Motivation and drive would come from them and I would simply navigate. But that's an ideal and can at times not be the reality of the matter. But I still have a responsibility to these kids, even if they don't want to learn.
Sticking point one/Tough question #1:
If a student doesn't want to learn or doesn't want to try, should I make them? It's his or her own life and it's his or her own choice, n'est-ce pas? But if he or she doesn't have the foresight to realize that it's in his or her best interest to learn and succeed, does it then become my responsibility to make him or her learn? My goal is to impact people's lives for the better (against their will or not?) and that is the job.
Sticking point two:
I don't like negative incentivising, but if a student doesn't have the drive to be the best or at least be competitive, but instead, simply just get by, then positive incentivising doesn't work too well. de plus, penalizing is the norm here. If I don't penalize students, there will be those who won't have respect in the classroom (as I'm starting to see).
Tough question #2:
How do you penalize someone while still giving them the greatest access to success? Kicking a student out is a hindrance to learning - but if the student is hindering the learning of others is it justified - (yes, but make up that time with the student later?).
- I constantly wonder what I must do to have the biggest impact and in what domain - where is the biggest need or what's the most important issue. I'm currently leaning towards education and that that is the most important aspect of life as well as the best route to effect other domains. If I settle on education the question becomes, how can I have the biggest impact or how can I impact the most people within the realm of education? Qu'est-ce qu'il faut faire?
- In general, I had a really great day today. In the middle of my 12eme SS math class, it all of a sudden struck me, I'm a teacher. I'm an educator. Je suis un enseignant. J'enseigne en francais. Wow! I've got a rapport with my students and they're learning.
Life is good.
- I have a constant internal struggle between my pedagogic ideals and values. I have a very liberal/ laissez-faire approach to teaching. Ideally, I would create an atmosphere in which all my students would want to be there, learn, create, and explore. Motivation and drive would come from them and I would simply navigate. But that's an ideal and can at times not be the reality of the matter. But I still have a responsibility to these kids, even if they don't want to learn.
Sticking point one/Tough question #1:
If a student doesn't want to learn or doesn't want to try, should I make them? It's his or her own life and it's his or her own choice, n'est-ce pas? But if he or she doesn't have the foresight to realize that it's in his or her best interest to learn and succeed, does it then become my responsibility to make him or her learn? My goal is to impact people's lives for the better (against their will or not?) and that is the job.
Sticking point two:
I don't like negative incentivising, but if a student doesn't have the drive to be the best or at least be competitive, but instead, simply just get by, then positive incentivising doesn't work too well. de plus, penalizing is the norm here. If I don't penalize students, there will be those who won't have respect in the classroom (as I'm starting to see).
Tough question #2:
How do you penalize someone while still giving them the greatest access to success? Kicking a student out is a hindrance to learning - but if the student is hindering the learning of others is it justified - (yes, but make up that time with the student later?).
- I constantly wonder what I must do to have the biggest impact and in what domain - where is the biggest need or what's the most important issue. I'm currently leaning towards education and that that is the most important aspect of life as well as the best route to effect other domains. If I settle on education the question becomes, how can I have the biggest impact or how can I impact the most people within the realm of education? Qu'est-ce qu'il faut faire?
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
le 13 novembre (la pluie)
le 13 novembre:
- There's nothing quite like hearing the power and might of the inevitable rain as it crashes down on the mountain and the valley bellow, and watching its approach in anticipation jusqu'a l'instant qu'il est partout et il tappe dur!
- There's nothing quite like hearing the power and might of the inevitable rain as it crashes down on the mountain and the valley bellow, and watching its approach in anticipation jusqu'a l'instant qu'il est partout et il tappe dur!
le 2 novembre (a good day of repose)
le 2 novembre:
- Last night I dreamt that I lived/ worked in a construction compound, and upon waking up (within the dream) I started singing "It's been a hard day's night, and I've been workin' like a dog" and repeating just that line over and over. This then turned into a big musical number, with all the hundred or so other compound-mates joining in. And because of its ridged construction compound nature it was a very rough and tough dance, but including pirouettes. So good! Also the notables in the dream include the following: Dan Mark, Aly Ahrens, and Michael Jeffrey. Odd assortment, but still awesome!
- Went for a walk last night, a night-walk, which was awesome! Not being able to see the ground makes even walking an adventure! Then I came back and watched the lightning on the mountain for half an hour to an hour. Slow paced living.
- After this, being a monk wouldn't bee too hard. Not a lot to change...
- A great day of "repos" lifts the spirits! Woke up after an entertaining dream (see above) while sleeping until 6h10 (!), didn't have class to prepare for, but since I have the keys to the school I still had to go in. After opening up the school - doors, windows, and all - I spent class in the teachers' office doing work - which was nice and calm and a good place to work away from the house (finally). I also had the opportunity to talk with some of my students to get to know them a little bit more. I asked them such things as: what they would like to do after school, what they believed was the value of school, why they were there, who they were there for, and about their families. They really said some amazing things. They of course said they were there for themselves, but they also said that the importance of going to school included helping those who don't go to school and to help the future of their country and its people. They want to be doctors and mathematicians or even president! how awesome! However it did surprise me how long it took them to think of what it was that they wanted to be. then because the Proviseur had to leave early, he gave me more keys - the keys to "la direction" - his office. So I closed up all the school including lowering the flag, closing all the classrooms and windows and the teachers' office - tout et tout! Then did some peaceful reading, then ran about four miles. Upon return, I used my bench and some cinder blocks from around my house to lift weights! Exhausting but awesome! To feel like I have - or could have again- muscles, yes, feels good. I then ran another 2km into town to meet up with another teacher, for who knows what, but he decided he was too busy with other things, so sent me to buy myself some bread, and I returned home. I enjoyed a delicious Fanta impersonator, Fifa, that my host mom gave me!! Aw, so sweet - her and the drink. During that time of relaxing, my bud Abdoulaye came over for French lesson #2. He unfortunately doesn't go to school but he really does want to learn French. So we studied for about an hour- he's already picking up about 45 words! I'm very proud of him! :) ensuit, I finally took a shower - so refreshing! No matter how hot it is, that first gobelet of water is always cold! As soon as I stepped out of the shower I was greeted by an absolutely gorgeous sunset! - then a bunch of petits. Refreshed and feeling better prepared for the next two years!
- Last night I dreamt that I lived/ worked in a construction compound, and upon waking up (within the dream) I started singing "It's been a hard day's night, and I've been workin' like a dog" and repeating just that line over and over. This then turned into a big musical number, with all the hundred or so other compound-mates joining in. And because of its ridged construction compound nature it was a very rough and tough dance, but including pirouettes. So good! Also the notables in the dream include the following: Dan Mark, Aly Ahrens, and Michael Jeffrey. Odd assortment, but still awesome!
- Went for a walk last night, a night-walk, which was awesome! Not being able to see the ground makes even walking an adventure! Then I came back and watched the lightning on the mountain for half an hour to an hour. Slow paced living.
- After this, being a monk wouldn't bee too hard. Not a lot to change...
- A great day of "repos" lifts the spirits! Woke up after an entertaining dream (see above) while sleeping until 6h10 (!), didn't have class to prepare for, but since I have the keys to the school I still had to go in. After opening up the school - doors, windows, and all - I spent class in the teachers' office doing work - which was nice and calm and a good place to work away from the house (finally). I also had the opportunity to talk with some of my students to get to know them a little bit more. I asked them such things as: what they would like to do after school, what they believed was the value of school, why they were there, who they were there for, and about their families. They really said some amazing things. They of course said they were there for themselves, but they also said that the importance of going to school included helping those who don't go to school and to help the future of their country and its people. They want to be doctors and mathematicians or even president! how awesome! However it did surprise me how long it took them to think of what it was that they wanted to be. then because the Proviseur had to leave early, he gave me more keys - the keys to "la direction" - his office. So I closed up all the school including lowering the flag, closing all the classrooms and windows and the teachers' office - tout et tout! Then did some peaceful reading, then ran about four miles. Upon return, I used my bench and some cinder blocks from around my house to lift weights! Exhausting but awesome! To feel like I have - or could have again- muscles, yes, feels good. I then ran another 2km into town to meet up with another teacher, for who knows what, but he decided he was too busy with other things, so sent me to buy myself some bread, and I returned home. I enjoyed a delicious Fanta impersonator, Fifa, that my host mom gave me!! Aw, so sweet - her and the drink. During that time of relaxing, my bud Abdoulaye came over for French lesson #2. He unfortunately doesn't go to school but he really does want to learn French. So we studied for about an hour- he's already picking up about 45 words! I'm very proud of him! :) ensuit, I finally took a shower - so refreshing! No matter how hot it is, that first gobelet of water is always cold! As soon as I stepped out of the shower I was greeted by an absolutely gorgeous sunset! - then a bunch of petits. Refreshed and feeling better prepared for the next two years!
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