Category: Peace Corps-year2

After being so busy these past months, things are winding down at school. The 12^th graders will be done with their final exams later this week, the 10 and 11^th graders start their exams tomorrow and are no longer attending regular classes. The 8 and 9^th graders will attend classes this week and then they will be assigned to their exam classroom. From then until the end of the term (November 15) they will gather in their exam classroom every day to study and take their exams. Teachers will rotate into the classrooms for invigilation – either to distribute/monitor their exams or to monitor them as they study. Any and all teachers will be assigned for invigilation, not necessarily one of their subject teachers. Basically, the learners on their own for studying from November 4-15. I really don’t understand why they do things like this. I have asked, and it is believed to be the best system for making learners responsible for their studies. I don’t know many teenagers that have the discipline or intellectual maturity to study independently and effectively from 7:30-13:10 every day and on some days to also have a 1.5 – 2 hour exam. I don’t remember my exam time being this way but that was ”a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” (Star Wars folks) .

I also recently learned that the 9^th grade Physical Science term 3 exam which covers the entire year will be their term 3 grade and then combined with term 1 and 2 grades to make their final annual grade. This means that the CASS marks (Continual Assessment marks), i.e. the tests, practicals, topic tasks that have been completed and recorded for term 3 don’t apply to their Term 3 mark. Again, I don’t understand this but when a learner asked me about it, I looked it up in the national syllabus and discovered this is how it is done.  I will double check with my counterpart, but I suspect I am reading the syllabus correctly.

On a lighter note, the younger learners at the hostel had a Matric Farewell party for the senior girls who will not return next year. They did comedy skits, special songs and dances, and the staff helped them with beautiful decorations and a braai (BBQ). It was a grand event and lots of fun. I have included some photos.

All for now with all my love,

Ellen

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A simple memory to carry from my housemates. I bought a pair of cheap flip-flops back in March from the little outside market near the ‘mall’. I was walking to the location for a Peace Corps gathering, thought I might spend the night but only had my walking shoes. I don’t know my shoe size in Namibia (still don’t) so the vendor handed me a pair, said they should fit, and I bought them for about @20$N (less than 2$US).

They were tolerable but more than an inch, or about 5cm as they would say here, too long. They bugged me.

Fast forward to September, about 6 months later. They bugged me so much that I finally decided to cut them to size. I used my box-cutter and cut them perfectly to my size. I was very pleased with how the cuts were made, they looked natural and no one would know, and best of all they now felt good on my feet.

Later that day I walked out of my bedroom, headed to the bathroom and Martha (Blessing’s nanny) says, “Ellen, why you cut your shoes?” Number 1, I was so disappointed she could tell immediately that I cut my flip-flops and Number 2, how do I explain it? I told her they were too big and bothered me. She laughed and said, “So you cut them?” She cracked up and thought this was hysterical. “Why not buy another pair and give these away?” “Why did you buy them too big?” These were all things I had asked myself but cutting them seemed the simplest thing to do and I am frugal.

Then Ester (Blessing’s mom) came home, immediately observed my flip-flops saying, “Ellen, did you cut your shoes?” Again, when I said yes, she laughed, had the same questions. Martha recounted her observation early in the day and they both laughed and could not believe that I would cut my shoes to fit.

I love my cut off flip-flops. I only wear them at home. Weeks later, Martha and Ester still love teasing me about them, they are a regular source of laughter as they each recall when they noticed and their disbelief that I cut my shoes. I laugh with them and it feels good.

All for now with all my love, Ellen