Last week we were in the schools every
single day. Each one of those days, my teacher was not there. At
first, I was frustrated with this because I felt very used. As the
days went on, however, I started realizing how much more I could do
for these students by not yelling at them constantly and hurting
them. I could use my own ways to actually teach them something!
Each day, I was able to figure out
lessons to teach or small assessments to give. I didn't have many
supplies to use but I was always able to figure something out.
Throughout the week, I started finding out so many fun and
interesting things about many of my students.
My grade 8's are crazy. They worried me
a lot when I realized I was on my own. I did not see myself getting
them to listen to me. Not the case, however. They love a challenge!
Giving them tasks to do that put them in a race against each other
made them get their work done. I also learned that playing “Head's
Up 7 Up” is something you should NEVER play with them (they get a
little out of hand in that one...). You can tell they've
started to respect me not only as their teacher, but also as their
friend. It's weird to see how differently the students (or
'learners' as they are called here) act around those from GVSU and
the teachers that are typically there.
My grade 11's are fun, but we've had
our ups & downs. During one class on the human skeletal system,
one girl kept raising her hand and asking how easy a bone in your
finger can break. She then held up her hand showing 2 very crooked
fingers and explained to me that they became that way after a teacher
she once had beat her hand 10 times. “I can't move my fingers
back. Maybe they are broken. I hate looking at them” and then
proceeded to start sobbing. I was able to take her out into the
hallway, calm her down, talk to her and make sure that she was ok.
It's times like that when I want to get a plane to fit all of
Kayamandi High School and take them back to the states with me.
My I grade 12 class is incredible.
They are the smallest class I have (26) compared to my 2 grade 8's
(50 and 51), but I can see why. They are in high school still not
because they are forced to, but because they want to. For this
reason, they are constantly engaged in whatever discussion we're
having. I never had to ask for them to quiet down at all. They are
always asking questions and wanting to know more. I have a lot of
hope for them and I really believe they can and will achieve anything
they put their mind to! I even got a little concert from a few of
the girls. They are ALWAYS singing in between classes. I asked
anyone to sing a little for me. Two girls got up and sang a song in
Xhosa. I recorded it and then had one of the girls tell me what they
were singing about. It turns out that the song was all about
apartheid. The chorus they were singing said, “What did we do to
deserve this?”
After a long, but necessary school
week, the weekend was finally here! We had a jam-packed Saturday in
Cape Town. We arrived at the harbor before 9 am and took off on a
boat towards Robben Island soon after that. It was a very
foggy morning and we could hardly see around us. Despite this major
fact, we still saw about 200 dolphin swimming by us on the boat. It
was so amazing!
The
tour of Robben Island was pretty interesting. It started off with a
bus tour all around the island. I never knew that before housing
political prisoners like Nelson Mandela, it was a place for those
with leprosy! We got to see where the prisoners were able to talk
about politics (in the lime quarry cave during lunch break—the
guards would not go near there because it was also the quarry's
restroom). After the bus tour, we headed to the prison itself. Our
tour guide there had actually been a political prisoner himself. He
told us all about his experience there and then gave us a tour,
including Mandela's cell. It was a very informational tour and I'm
really glad we took it.
Sunday
was our first completely Free Day! Phoebe and the girls took us out
for lunch at a restaurant called Bodega. It was absolutely
delicious! I just love being with this family and I'm going to miss
them so much when we're gone. They have been so great at helping
Julie, Laura, and I feel welcome and comfortable. After lunch, my
roommates, Raiatea, Genevesa, and I all headed downtown to explore
more of the city and Botanical Gardens. It was a very relaxing and
enjoyable day!
Instead
of Kayamandi High School, I spent my last Monday in South Africa at
A. F. Louw Primary School. I watched Miss Lizzy in her 1st
grade classroom, Miss Katie in her 3rd,
Miss Laura in her 4th
grade and Miss Julie in her 5th
grade. As soon as I walked into Miss Laura's room, all the kids
stopped and stared. I seriously thought I had something gross on me.
Turns out, they had just learned about Pandora's box. There was a
black and white picture in the back of the room of Pandora having
pale skin and dark hair. They honestly believed that I was Pandora.
I totally took on this role! After they finished their assignment
they were able to ask me questions. They took this as a challenge to
quiz me to see if I really was her. “Pandora, who is your father?”
“Zeus, of course!” “Wow!” It was hysterical! One student
actually came up to pinch me and see if I was made of clay. When his
fingers pulled away and left a light patch of skin, he pointed and
shouted, “That's the clay! She is
Pandora!”
Both
yesterday and today, my teacher has been here. She put me to work
making her PowerPoints she can use after I'm gone. I told her that
was fine with me as long as I'm able to be in the classroom tomorrow
(Thursday), it being my last day. She seemed confused and a little
taken aback by this. I don't think it makes sense to her that I care
so much, especially only being with them for as little as I have
been.
So,
yes, tomorrow is my very last day at Kayamandi. After school, the
faculty will be throwing a braai for us right there at the school.
Should be an interesting time! I will definitely be sad to have to
say goodbye to my students. I really do hope that they can see and
believe in a better future for them. They have so much potential but
so so many of them do not have a support system that will reinforce
this fact. I hope that my time spent with them won't go past them
too fast.
This
last weekend in South Africa should be a good one! Besides laundry
and packing, we'll be eating dinner at Moyo (again!) on Friday, a
wine and cheese festival on Saturday, and Girl's Night!! on Saturday
with my roommates and the rest of the Van Reenen household! :)
Hopefully,
I'll be able to put up one more blog post before I leave. Hope all
is well back in the states!! Rock those finals, college students!!
More
Later!
AB
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