Where's GranEllen?

Sheesh, it is Friday and I just realized that I didn’t post anything last Sunday, Monday or even Tuesday. I didn’t even think about it which is a function of how busy and distracted I’ve been.

School is winding down with all the learners taking exams. No lesson planning, no teaching, some marking but most of my learners will take exams for my subjects next week. However, I had 2 PCVs stay Friday night with me, 2 bicyclists from Argentina stayed Saturday and Sunday night, and 3 PCVs came last night for dinner (we all shopped and prepped together) and 2 of them spent the night. It’s been a busy week with learning support (ie. tutoring) on days/nights I wasn’t busy and socializing otherwise.

Today was a tough day. I was monitoring an 8th grade math exam. There are strict rules, which I communicated and reiterated, about not sharing calculators, pens, erasers, etc during the exam. If you need something, you should raise your hand and possibly the teacher can help. Before the exam started, one learner asked if he could borrow a calculator since he forgot his at home. After asking around with no success, I said no. Another learner offered to share with him and I repeated, ‘no’. I understood the desire to help but it is not allowed, period. Later, I noticed the boy without a calculator had one, as he reached to return it to the boy who had offered it. I took the calculator away and neither of them had it for the remainder of the exam – the time was about half over. The ‘helper’ boy cried off and on the remainder of the exam; fortunately he finally started working on the paper again but he wasted precious time.

The learners rely heavily on their calculators and don’t know basic arithmetic. Actually, the most difficult problem included taking a square root of 144 (12*12) but most of it was just simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I felt really bad for the crying boy since he is a good, kind learner and was only trying to help. However, it was no surprise the other boy came unprepared and it is better for him to learn a hard lesson about being prepared now. Also, if this were an external exam which they will have in 9th and 12th grade, this behaviour would result in a zero for both of them because the exams would have been confiscated and not marked. It was a natural consequence of them not following my instructions but it did not make me feel good.

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

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Last Tuesday I was invited to the Peace Corps training center to be a panelist for a session about Harassment at Group 50’s Pre-service Training. We had a similar, helpful session during our training, so I was happy to participate as an older or sometimes called “mature” volunteer. The panel talks about all kinds of harassment – racial, sexual, gender, political, age – that a volunteer may experience during service in Namibia. We each talked about our personal experiences, techniques we use to avoid or minimize harassment, and coping skills/resources we use if we are harassed.

When I was first invited, I thought “I haven’t experienced any harassment here. What can I bring to this panel?” Over the next couple weeks, as I paid more attention and thought about it, I realized that I have dealt with harassment. I don’t believe I have to deal with it as much as some of the younger, especially female, volunteers, but it is part of my experience.

For the most part, Namibians, across all ethnic groups, are respectful of their elders, so I benefit from this. However, as an American, many Namibians assume that I am rich, so I am asked regularly by strangers and friends for money or something from the US – old phones. I got so tired of being pursued by street merchants every time I went for a walk that I finally stopped, told them that I will be here 2 years and I don’t want them following me every time I walk by. It definitely helped.

No one has asked me to have their baby like the younger PCVs, male and female, but I’ve had  men who say I should marry them and take them to America. It is laughable to me, but the younger ones get some serious harassment over this that is not to laugh off. Many young women, not just PCVs, are harassed daily with catcalls, inappropriate language and gestures. It is a male dominated culture and historically women were not allowed to demand respect. This is changing as more women are getting educated and more financially independent.

We are discouraged from talking politics, American or Namibian politics. Not true, we can talk politics, but we are discouraged from judging, from arguing or expressing strong opinions. As individuals we have our opinions, but as PCVs we are neutral. We are not to attend political rallies or demonstrations since some could associate a PCV as representing the opinion of the US government. I don’t typically think of this as harassment, but there are times when people try to engage in these conversations inappropriately.

During this visit, I also met the latest group of education volunteers in Namibia. They will swear in this week, almost exactly a year from my Group 48’s swearing in ceremony. One of their ‘mature’ volunteers served in Sierra Leone in the 80s (I think that’s right) and she ‘knew’ me through my blog. How about that! I met another young woman from Mobile, Alabama, my Mom’s birthplace, who will be coming to my town, Otjiwarongo. She will teach English at the primary school. It is always nice to meet other PCVs because we rely on each other, even if we have not met in person. It’s like “one for all and all for one”.

The pictures are from my ‘hike’ to the training center. We got a flat tire and before our driver got the jack out of the trunk, 2 cars pulled in behind us and all the men came to help. The tire was changed, and we were back on the road in 15 minutes. Such kindness.

All for now with all my love,

Ellen

Today is day 5 of our 7-day cycle. It is my busiest day where I teach 7 of the 8 school periods. I have 5^th period free, yay! This is the day my poor Math 11 class is with me for periods 1,2, and 3 – that is 3 consecutive periods. There are 3 Math 11 teachers and we all have the same schedule for these classes, so we schedule tests on this day when possible. We can spend the first period reviewing the topic(s) and then administer the test in periods 2-3. Today is not a test day since we had one last week. We will complete the trigonometry unit and then  the ‘Check Your Progress’ at the end of the unit. The trig unit is not very extensive, covering tangent, sine, and cosine and how they can be used to determine lengths and size of angles in right triangles.

Our term schedule changed due to upcoming national elections on Nov 27. The Ministry of Education decided they want all schools closed before then since so many are polling places.  This shifted the exam start dates by 2.5 weeks (earlier) and now we are struggling to update our lesson plans accordingly. The remaining units are not very extensive but still a lot to cover by the end of October. The other units we will cover this term are statistics, probability, transformations, and vectors. Yikes!

And that is just Math 11. I have 8th and 9th grade physical science and 8th grade computer studies to also adjust.

On a positive note, we had a rain shower yesterday and it was glorious. I can’t remember the last time it rained in Otjiwarongo. I think it has rained twice in the year I have been here but not for long, not consecutive days, and within an hour there was no evidence of it. I hope this year will be different and will put an end to the years of drought.

Here are some updated photos of my room. No major changes but a glimpse of my world.

All for now with all my love,

Ellen

We finally had a week with no significant changes to our schedule. However, I missed some school due to being sick. I don’t feel too bad, but I developed a cold or maybe it is allergies. Lately, whatever I get seems to settle into my chest and I wind up with a lingering cough. On day 3 of our 7-day schedule, I only teach in the afternoon, so I took the morning off. I was still coughing pretty bad the next day and my principal threatened to call Peace Corps if I didn’t take care of myself. I told him I was following the medical manual, taking and doing what is recommended, I had no fever, and I sound worse than I feel. He said, “Do I need to call Paulina? (my PC supervisor) Go to the doctor or I will call her.” I called Dr. Nathan, one of our wonderful Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMO) and after talking, he prescribed me some stronger medicine. He laughed as I told him about my principal and wished more principals were like mine.  I took the next day, Friday, off completely and have mostly rested this weekend. I AM taking care of myself. I AM very loved and supported here.

I have 2 small fruits growing on my 2 zucchini plants and lots of flowers, so I am excited. My cucumber and beets are looking good and I look forward to harvesting them. My primary goal for my garden when I started was to have lettuce, mixed greens, and fresh herbs. I’ve had my best luck with them and now I am finally having success with some other produce. I still haven’t been able to get tomato or peppers seeds to germinate but I will keep trying. I would hate to rely on my garden for sustenance, but it is fun to walk outside and snip off fresh herbs and greens.  

I went to a last minute workshop after school one day this week which was very helpful and good. The Africa Codes Week workshop is to encourage teachers to use and teach their learners how to code using a free software called Scratch. It was very timely for me because this is what we are teaching our learners in my Computer Studies class. I have taught myself a little but hadn’t found the time to really sit with it. This workshop provided all the tools I need to help my learners. Yay!

All for now with all my love,

Ellen

I don’t know how we will complete teaching our syllabi because there seems to be a distraction every day this term. Well, maybe not every day but a couple days per week so far. One week, it was due to awards ceremonies/assemblies for academics and another day for sports. Another week, we had assemblies for talks by the Ministry of Safety about substance abuse and the dangers of driving under the influence. Another day was a motivational presentation by the Ministry of Education to encourage learners to work hard and do well for Namibia. We had an assembly to acknowledge and to protest violence towards women – this was part of a national campaign. Another day we had a longer register period, so teachers and learners could complete the census forms. All these are valid and meaningful activities, but we are lucky to get one day notice and often not even that. It is so hard to stick to a lesson plan when there are so many last-minute disruptions. There is no use in getting frustrated, mad, or stressing over it but that is easier said than done. I just do the best I can and keep learning how to adjust or wing it.

The big event for this week was Friday night’s Matric Farewell. I went to one last year for my host family’s daughter in Okahandja but could only watch them enter the event. This year, as a teacher, I was able to go inside for the dinner. This event is somewhat like our Prom, but it is a fancy dinner, not so much a dance. It is only for the graduating 12th graders and they are not allowed to bring dates from other classes or schools. The 11th graders sponsor, organize, and serve at the event with help from their class sponsor teachers. They literally put out a red carpet on a raised platform for the matriculants (graduates) to walk into the event, complete with adulation from the crowd, photographers, and loud music.

All for now with all my love,
Ellen

I met young Pastor Gerson several months ago through my friend, the matrone. After getting to know me a little, he invited me to present some sessions about decision making and goal setting for his School Leavers Camp. The camp was this weekend and I had lots of fun getting to know a new group of young adults. Even better than me having fun, several of the young people told me they learned some new things from my sessions and that I gave them some things to think about. They all told me they loved me and I must see them again. I want to make that happen.

As I keep learning in Africa, nothing was what I was expecting but it all worked out anyway. Pastor Gerson said I could make a slide show since a projector would be available. I prepared one, but I also made a hardcopy of the slides and another with the slides and notes. It’s a good thing because there was no projector.

I was to be picked up Friday in a mini- van from a local private school. I was picked up, 1.5 hours late, in a bakkie (a pickup truck) that was filled with a weekend’s worth of food and gear. Somehow, we managed to pack six young adults among all the gear for a 70km ride to the Okawaka Guest Farm. I envisioned grounds like Waterberg (I camped there in March) with a dark, star-filled sky at night. The guest farm has beautiful grounds and land, but we set up our tents in the yard of Ms A. She lives in the workers homestead where there are multiple families with children and chickens running around. It was fun, but unexpected.

After the bakkie was unloaded of its people and gear, it made another 40km trip to Okakarara to pick up the remaining young adults to complete our camp of nineteen campers. While that was happening, the youth at hand started the fire and preparing dinner. They all worked together so nicely, singing, making jokes, getting it done with no complaints.

I thought it would be a group of twenty 12th graders, but there was an 8th grader, a 10th grader and an 11th grader, about eight 12th graders, and the rest are in 1-3yr programs following secondary school. Some of that group only completed 10th grade and then started their programs. I don’t understand the details, the programs are not college or university, so I assume it is along the lines of a trade school. One is doing computer technician, several are business administration, and others are agriculture. The younger ones were related to the older ones and including them was necessary for the older ones to attend. Pastor Gerson must be very flexible to reach his flock.

Throughout the weekend, if I tried to do something for myself like make a cup of tea, someone would say, “Sit Miss, I will make it for you” or if I tried to wash the mug, “Sit Miss, I want to wash it for you.” I kept trying but they kept catching me and telling me ‘Sit Miss’.

On Saturday we took a three-hour hike to the top of little Waterberg and back. It was strenuous, especially in the hot Namibian sun, but definitely worth it! Getting to the top, seeing the beauty, sharing the tough journey with others, was a very special time.

The idea from my sessions that seemed to stick the most was teaching them how to make their goals specific, measurable, and time-bound and also to write them down and to share it with someone. They really resonated with the idea that goals that are written down and shared are more likely to be achieved.

All for now with all my love,
Ellen

First week of school is complete and I think it will be a good term. I did a little reset in that I am making them line up outside the door, quietly. If they start talking, not getting to task in a timely fashion then I make them all go back outside, be quiet, and try again. I repeat this until they know I am serious about not talking unless it is time to talk. It’s not perfect yet, but after the first week, the class is listening much better.

We also reviewed the class rules which are Three B’s: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Ready. These are very simple, but they cover most classroom behaviors. We reviewed these extensively and created consequences for them. Last term, the consequences followed the school policy of writing up transgressions with 3 earning the learner school detention. I could never tell if any of my learners served detention, so I changed the consequences this term to be more timely and in my control.

Now, if they are not respectful, to me, the class, themselves, whatever, they must write a minimum of a 100-word essay (my discretion for the length) about how they were disrespectful and how they can change their behavior. If they are not being responsible (eating in class, writing on the table, leaning in chairs, etc.), then they must clean countertops, sweep the floor, and other light classroom tasks during the break. If they are not ready (no textbook, paper, pen, homework) then it’s a waste of time so they must give up their own time with after school detention in my class. Obviously, there can be overlap in the violations such as not being ready is also not being responsible and ultimately not being respectful, but I am the teacher and have the final say!

Friday, I attended another fun event with my colleague Claudia and her family. She invited me to watch her children’s play to be performed at the “Old Age Home”, her term. It turned out to be so much fun! The home is run by the Lutheran Church and there are multiple Lutheran churches in Otjiwarongo. Claudia explained that they often use the retirement home as a site for fund raising, with the funds going to the church and to the home. Friday’s event included a lunch and a Braii (BBQ) dinner, live and recorded music, the play by the local German kindergarten, a bouncy fun house for the kids, a raffle, snacks, beer and wine throughout the day.

The short play was adorable with Claudia’s son outdoing himself as the ‘mean’ king and her younger daughter as one of the maids in waiting. The facility has a very open courtyard with a garden fountain, beautiful plantings and accessible to all. There were young and old and every age in between and it went on for hours. Claudia explained that it is difficult to transport the elders and they would have to leave early if it’s held at another location. This way, everyone can stay as little or as long as they want, and the elders help staff can enjoy it too. Simply lovely.

A highlight of the week was Monday’s Heroes’ Day Celebration. The day commemorates the Namibian War of Independence which started on August 26, 1966. Namibia won its independence on March 21, 1990. There are Heroes’ Day celebrations all throughout the country but the main one for this year was in my town, Otjiwarongo. The celebration included the President, Prime Minister, and many other government officials. There was a military parade complete with jet flybys and parachutists with country flags attached to their ankles. There were short special performances of 10 culture groups in their ethnic dress, music, and dances. Through it all, there was live music and dancing whenever there was a transition from one speaker to another or from one activity to another.

Adding to the excitement for me was that I had gotten to know some of the ethnic performers. Sixty men stayed at our hostel and 60 women stayed at the primary school hostel next door. They were here so they could practice their performance at the venue but also there were various meetings and parties throughout the weekend. I got to know some of the performances because they would practice on our grounds and often sit around a fire, talking, and singing in the evening. They were all gone by Tuesday morning, so my focus totally shifted to school.

Much of my time this week has been researching and reviewing more classroom management techniques and lesson planning. Half the battle of classroom management is simply being prepared with engaging lesson plans. I find this very difficult since 7 of the 8 periods are a strange 37 minutes with 6^th period as the exception with 44 minutes. This is not much time when it takes several minutes for the class to settle down, for me to provide the objective and leave time for a conclusion. The other challenge is not having the same classes each day. I can lecture and describe an activity for the next lesson, but it may be 2 days before I see them again and time will be needed for describing the activity again. I continue working on it and seek advice from other teachers. I am not alone with this challenge.

I reported to school Thursday and Friday and the learners start tomorrow. Reminder, this is not the start of a new school year, this is Term 3, the final term of the school year. It felt good seeing all my colleagues and finding out how my learners did on their final days of school and their final exams. I was gone longer than expected and I hoped they did the work I left them. It seems that my Math and Computer Studies classes did relatively well but many of the Physical Science learners did worse than they did the last 2 terms. This makes me sad because I realized after seeing the final exam that I did not cover all the material in the summaries and activities I provided. However, I also told them they were responsible for everything in the textbook and these were included there. I did the best I could.

All for now with all my love,

Ellen