Friday, March 16, 2007
March 10
Last week was my turn to supervise silent study, which is from 4-5 and 7:15-9 every day. I lucked out having it this week. The counselor (just a local politician) made a surprise visit and spoke to the learners from 4 to 8 on Monday while I sat in the staff room and marked (graded papers). When they were released at 8, they had to fetch their now cold dinner and report to silent study by 8:30, so I only had 30 minutes to supervise. Because this weekend was a home weekend, there was no silent study Thursday afternoon (because they needed to clean the campus) or Friday.
I witnessed some discipline during my silent study. I am going to report these facts objectively. Kneeling is a common punishment because "it is painful" (pronounced pain-i-ful). One teacher punished about 20 of my learners during silent study for the way they behaved in his class. He divided them into groups of 4 or 5 and made them kneel in front of the four 8th and 9th grade classes and explained to the 8th graders (who were busy taking an exam) that this is what happens when you misbehave in his class. They kneeled between one half and a full hour.
One staff member threw his set of keys at a learner (I am unsure why), then called him as he was running off to fetch the keys. After the keys hit the learners, they landed in a soapy puddle, so the learner first had to go wipe them off before returning them.
After hearing of a learner who slapped another learner, a teacher called the perpetrator and victim to his class after school. He then instructed the victim to slap the perpetrator, which he did. This caused the two brothers of the original perp to "beat" the original victim. When summoned to the principal's office by the management team and involved teacher to be "heard" and told of their ensuing suspension, they raised the objection that a teacher should not be involved in perpetuating violence. Their objection fell on deaf ears, and the boys ended up walking out of the "meeting" in anger.
My behavioral expectations are lax, respectively. One evening during silent study I was in one of the 9th grade classrooms helping some learners with their homework while a learner made a noise on his cell phone. I ignored it, then a few minutes later it happened again. So I got up and went to the boy who I thought had it. He denied it and told me he didn't know who had it. So I told the class they wouldn't be dismissed at 9, but would stay until I had the phone. Of course they all knew who had it (as did I), but no would rat him out. At 9:10, after most of the learners spent the past ten minutes screaming in my face to let them leave (in which I returned a blank stare), I let them leave. Soon after, two girls ratted the boy out and I pulled him back into the room. I explained I could care less that he had a phone and that if he had given it to me I would have given it back to him at 9, but instead he lied to me, which really made me angry. So I made him clean the classroom (a joke punishment that is just sweeping and erasing the board) for the next two nights and told him if I caught him lying to me again I'd give him a more serious punishment (like weeding).
Jimmy, the best basketball player at ELCIN (other than Mr. Scott), is organizing a league. There are three teams; he and I are on the same team, which is honestly going to be less fun because we will dominate. The team not playing (the third wheel) is in charge of officiating. Games are going to be Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The other day I was trying to explain to Jimmy how popular basketball was in the U.S. I told him about the rec center at MU, college basketball, and the NBA. He asked me if anyone from my college went to the NBA. Some of them, I said, but it is rare. "You're one of them?" he asked presumably.
That reminds me of another ridiculous question I've been asked several times about America by intelligent Namibians: Is racism over?
This week we were finally able to access the internet in my principal's office. It is anything but consistent, we were successful only one in five attempts, but at least he paid the Telecom bill. We are considering getting the internet at our house, if we can get the Namibian rate, which is 6 times cheaper than the foreigner rate.
March 12
I finally got some answers from the woman wanting the sewing machines. There are five people in her group, and they will meet once a week. They will have electricity. The supplies they need are sewing threads, a tape measure, scissors, threads and designs. They don't know the cost of the materials; the selling price will be determined by the production cost. They would like "2 knitting machines, 2 sewing machines for hard materials and 2 sewing machines for soft or simple materials." Knitting is with hooks and sewing with seems, whatever that means. They would like to make bed sheets, blankets, jerseys (?), and saris (an Indian type garment). I read an interesting article in a TIME recently about micro financing – which is giving really small loans to very poor people in under developed countries. The thought was that "these people" would not pay loans back, but in fact, they have turned out to be just as financially responsible (if not more because in many cases they are afraid of the public stigma of not repaying) as more affluent people. The idea is that the loan will cover the startup costs of a small, sustainable business. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin said this in the most recent GQ South Africa: "Often it's just that small amount of money that can get you off the ground. While traveling to Africa a woman approached me and asked me for $300 for a sewing machine because she believed she could create ten jobs. I gave her the money and three months later she gave it back having established a viable business. Not a unique idea but she was sure she had an idea and could make it pay." That made me more optimistic. It would be nice to reuse some one's old machines, but maybe it would be more cost effective to purchase machines here? I'm sure shipping would be outrageous. Thoughts? Ideas? Questions?
March 15
I am really missing the start of the tournament, which should tip off about two hours from now. I have always said today and tomorrow are the best days of the year, with the weekend a close third and fourth. No Mizzou this year. SMS? I mean, Missouri State… Without even seeing a bracket or a game this year, I don't have the expertise to pick winners like in the past (Syracuse, Maryland in November, and North Carolina a year and a half before). However, my final four is Ohio St., Wisconsin, Florida and Texas. LSU (without Tyrus Thomas – by the way, how's he doing in the league?), Kansas (Mario Chalmers will miss a wide open lay-up after cherry-picking in the final minutes, then commit a stupid foul, effectively blowing the game they led by 7 shortly after half time), Michigan State and UCLA will be upset in the first or second round. Duke will fall one game short of the final four.
Yesterday was our first league game. It only differed from previous games in the way we determined each team's basket. After the jump ball (which I easily won), there was seemingly mass confusion. Remember my days at the Boys Club I was sure that this was due to the players not knowing which direction they were going. I was yelling at my teammates to go toward "our" basket while silently laughing at the opponents who were shooting at both baskets (I was too confused to move from where I landed after the jump ball). When the opposition finally scored on our basket, I made sure to point out to the ref that those were our points. Only then did they bother to explain to me that whoever scored first on either goal consequently selected their team's goal. After my team dominated game one, we started over (so I'm not sure if it actually counted for a league game, or which game was official), got off to a 0-8 start with Jimmy and me on the bench, them came back in the final minutes to secure victory. At least that game was a challenge.
That reminds me of a play my dad thought up when he coached us back in the day. After half time, when our team would throw in the ball from half court, three of the players would line up on the wrong side, the defense following them. We'd throw in the ball to the lone player in the backcourt (actually the frontcourt) who would then have an uncontested lay-up. Worked every time.
I have yet to write about the president's visit last weekend. It was…uneventful, I guess. It was hot, for sure. He arrived via helicopter, which was a surprise, but seemed logical in hindsight. Air Force One was parked in soccer field between our house and the soccer field he spoke at (the pilot or guard was asleep in the shade when we walked home, anyone could have come up to the copter from the other side). They closed down part of a road, I'm not sure why, though, because the rerouted traffic was closer to the podium then the road. Maybe they just heard you are supposed to do that. There was also an armed guard patrolling the main intersection and also one guarding a random path, who appeared to be giving some kids the third degree as we walked by, waved, and took his picture.
It's good to know that we don't have the only uniformed president. He asked if my school still existed (and I seem to be the only one puzzled by this). In Bush-esq form, he declared that we were in Mpungu (a small, dinky village 30 km away). His "speech" was really just a political rally for his SWAPO party comrades running in the upcoming town officer's election. SWAPO has been "campaigning" heavily for the past six weeks, mainly by shouting from a bullhorn while driving around in a crowded truck adorned with red, blue, and green flags and scarves (they all wear the coloured scarves, hats and shirts), honking and driving recklessly. SWAPO comrades must find this entertaining, because it is certainly unnecessary given their 80 to 90 percent majority in the country and region.
I'm too tired to write anymore. Lindsey is going to try to use the internet tonight at the Finnish missionary's home.
Friday, March 09, 2007
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Feb 19
Today and Friday I had my eighth graders make paper air planes. I couldn't believe that activity was in the book, and I sure wasn't going to pass it up. We have not moved on from observations and estimations, so I was able to work it in easily. They weren't interested in making minor adjustments to their airplanes in between practice throws, so the educational aspect went right down the drain. However, the competition was still fun. I drew an arena for each event (airtime, distance and accuracy) on the basketball court with chalk. Some of the airplanes were really good. I had prizes of a coke, candy bar, and pad of paper for the three events. To my surprise the pad of paper was the first chosen in both classes, followed by the coke. I'm going to have them compare their estimations to their results in the next class, so maybe that will feel a little more like school.
Friday we had a braai (bbq) at our house for our fellow teachers, local friends, and close volunteers. We bought a goat and made pasta salad and fat cakes (deep fried rolls). It was a little nerve racking trying to acquire the goat and grill, but it all came together at the end. Some learners from Lindsey's school butchered the goat. I helped two of Lindsey's friends wrap the intestines around pieces of the stomach, which is cooked in a pot (both handles of "the good pot"burned off while on the grill). The learners took the head and hoofs (which is customary for the butcher). I was hoping to try it; they say that is the best part. Guess I'll have to learn how to clean a goat first. We probably fed around 30 people and didn't even use the whole goat. I think the teachers at my school were surprised I was able to throw such a good braai.
The president didn't show up for the third Saturday in a row. Two ministry officials did, though, and apparently that is a precursor to the head honcho coming. I think he may come Independence Weekend, because that is when the election for town council will be held. That is a five day weekend, though, and I think we're going to try to go to Mahongo Game Park, the one we missed out on when we went to Divundu. This coming weekend is the first when we won't be in town or receiving any guests. We are really looking forward to it.
Last weekend we traveled to Rundu to celebrate the volunteers with February birthday's in the Kavango. I suggested a return to the Omashare Lodge, and it was amazing again. While we ate dinner on the porch, we watched a storm come in from Angola. It poured for hours. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because what happened next wasvery fun. Our entire dinner party went for a late night swim in the downpour. The water was warm, but the bullet rain freezing. Eventually the water level was even with the ground (due to rain, people, and cannonballs). Quite an unforgettable experience.
Feb 25
This was the first weekend we didn't go anywhere or have any house guests. It was really nice to sleep in our own bed, relax, and not do much of anything (I upset Lindsey in Scrabble last night). We have been expanding our food options. Yesterday we made our own pizza crust and sauce for a delicious veggie pizza. This morning we made tortillas for breakfast burritos and then I made a loaf of beer bread with cheese, onions, and garlic. It is still cooling, but I can tellfrom the smell that it is going to be tasty.
This week in the afternoons I went back to school to play volleyball. The learners have been challenging the teachers. Some of the learners are really good. Two of the teachers are really good. Not me, I am good in the front but awful in the back. Friday a former learner was there who used to play on the national team (a lot of learners fromELCIN have been selected for national teams in the past, but they no longer participate in athletics because the parents complained). The basketball is very flat, but I am planning to buy one in Rundu the next time I'm there or in Windhoek in April. I even had fun playing with a flat ball for about 15 minutes. Basketball is just far superior to all other sports. Can't believe it's almost March…
The internet café "forgot to pay the bill" so who knows when I'll be able to post this. We are going to inquire about getting internet at our house next time we are in Rundu. I think that it's got to be cheaper than the internet café in the long run. Even if it's not at least it will be reliable. Apparently the modem at ELCIN has been busted for over a year, so I don't see that getting fixed any time soon.
My ninth grade math classes have been dragging on (ratios) so tomorrow I'm trying a hands-on activity where they'll build shapes out of matches. I had an interesting (to me) experience in my eighth grade math class. We are getting to the point (powers) where order or operations is becoming important (it was the first thing in the book, but I skipped it then). The acronym in the book and I've seen students using is BODMAS, for brackets, of, division, multiply, addition and subtraction. I was as shocked (probably more) as you are to see "of." "Of" means multiply! (Think one half of ten as ½ x 10 = 5) Of course the book has no explanations or even examples using "of." I was unsure of what my learners understood "of" to mean in this sense. After having them give examples for each letter of BODMAS, I realized they held the same definition of "of" as I did (not sure if that was good or bad). I took a moment to explain the necessity of order of operations and why they should be universal. They didn't believe that I had not heard of BODMAS before, so I showedthem Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction – but surely if you're still reading you are familiar with this) quickly explaining the terminology of brackets and parenthesis and showing that multiplication and division could be flipped. We had just covered power/idiocies so they knew what I meant once I gave an example of exponents. They never saw the problem with BODMAS though, even though what they understood "of" to mean was obviously the same as multiplication. Luckily, the day before I had them write out exponentexamples in words (e.g. "2 to the power of 5) so I quickly wrote three or four and circled the word "of." I think I might have them change "of" to "power of" in their books. I am outraged at BODMAS. It is so ridiculous how bad the text books are. It doesn't really affect me, but most teachers teach directly from the book. I mean directly.
I think I took the bread out of the oven too early, but it is sure tasty.
Feb 28.
Dear Mikey, Matt, Jimbo, Phil and Paul-
I've played basketball twice now. The learners are much better than I thought, but I still dominated. Monday I only played for about ten minutes, but it was the first time since Grootfontein, so nothing could have been better. The game was incredibly fast paced. Today learners took turns being referee. It took a while to get used to them blowing the whistle after every basket (there was even a jump ball and half time). There were only three fouls called, two of them on me; both really weak calls. One I knocked the learner down, but only because I blocked him sooooo bad. It was all ball, really. They once caught me for not being out of bounds to throw in the ball after a basket. They also refused to call any fouls in my favor, but it didn't stop my team from dominating, we won 70 to mid-40 something. I would tell you approximations of my personal stats, but you wouldn't believe them. I ALWAYS play well when there is no one there to vouch for me (Like the time I dunked to win the game). There were probably 30 or 40 bystanders that stood around the court. Every time I humiliated a learner by blocking his shot (many times), crossed over or spun move thru traffic (I swear), vigorously snagged a rebound (many, many times), swished a three (only once), or behind-the-back passed (you know it) I was either cheered or the learner I disgraced was ridiculed. It was great.
They play very weak zone and haven't heard of cutting or picks. Some were barefoot, some in flip-flops, some slip on sandal/shoes, one pair of Timberlands and only a few pair of tennis shoes – thus "steps" were rarely called. I am thankful my ankle has healed in the months I had off. I wish I would have brought my bball shoes instead of my hiking books.-PG
We are inquiring to getting the internet here at our house. By the time I am able to post this, who knows? maybe we'll have it. One more thing: last night, in Scrabble, after losing the lead by letting Lindsey add an "s" to my "queen" for the triple letter, I came back after 10+ minutes of deliberating to find "face" on the end of "pit" to make "pita" also for the triple letter and win on my last move of the game!
