I know, I know, I know, this blog has gone by the wayside. I've never been able to keep a journal in my life, and my Peace Corps experience has been no exception. But with the new school year starting up, I'm feeling like it's time for a fresh start, so we'll try this again.
A few people have asked me what a day in my life is like, so today, 15/9/2014, I will describe my day in way more detail than anyone ever cared to know.
I wake up at 5:18. Not sure if it's the roosters, the neighbour sweeping, or just the fact that it's getting light earlier and earlier these days, but it's time to get up anyways. I try to be quiet while sneeking out to the chim because my friend is still sleeping. She crashed at my place last night after mural painting at the health center all day yesterday. The chim is a squat-down pit latrine in my backyard, and when I go out I find my makeshift cover for it is broken. I'll have to find a replacement. When I get back to the house, I put a metal bucket of water on the hot plate for my bath and go back to bed as I wait. As I start to drift back to sleep, Travis the dog bursts through the door (the latch is broken, so he is liable to do this unless I lock the deadbolt). Like it or not, my friend has clearly been woken up now, so I get up too.
I haven't washed my hair in several days, and I will have students for the first time this year, so I add more water to my bucket and head out for my bafa (in a separate structure in my yard). When I wash my hair I bring a cup out with me to pour water over my head, but I still manage to bathe with about 5L of water.
After I'm dressed we make tea and cereal and chat until it's time for school. At 7 I peak out the window to check if the other teachers are there yet, and decide we can hang out a bit longer. By 7:15 it is time to go, so my friend heads out to the road to get a minibus home while I go to my staff meeting.
The Monday morning caucus starts with a prayer and ends much later than it should. While waiting for the teachers, one of the student religious clubs starts the assembly with some amazing singing. It is my favorite part of Monday mornings. After the morning announcements and the national anthem, it is time for class.
Almost. I have to wait for the students to clear the extra desks and chairs that are piled up in their classroom. Travis is hanging out at school, so I take him home and lock him inside while I wait.
The Form 3's are quiet. I had determined to be a more animated teacher and set up a more interactive classroom atmosphere this year, but I am quickly reminded why I fell into the Malawian teaching style last year. I will win them over; they just need to get used to me. I try not to cover much new content as only about a quarter of the students have reported for school so far.
After class I plan for my afternoon period. Same class, but physical science instead of biology. In the staff room I am approached by the senior teacher. "Lola, we have a problem with the class allocation for form 1. Our teachers have left and we have not received new teachers yet. Can you take this English literature?"
"Literature?! Why not biology or physical science?"
"Ahh these other guys will take those, but our English teacher is so overloaded."
"Okayyyy, as long as it's only temporary."
"Yes, of course! It's temporary! "
...Right.
I'm secretly happy to take it. My Form 1 Literature class was my most tedious last year, but also my most improved.
I join the other teachers under the mango tree to read my book. I haven't been reading as much lately, since I aquired a ton of movies annd shows to watch on my computer over the holiday, but I'm trying to get back into it.
The borehole (water pump) near my house broke over the weekend and I am thrilled to see people out there working on it. When they finish, one of the other teachers tells me there is water and I am thrilled! I try to express my enthusiasm with a 'yay! Ndikusangalala!' (I am happy) but it sounds weak compared to how excited I really am. I know too many people who's boreholes were not fixable, or there was no money to fix them, and I didn't expect mine to be fixed so soon. I suppose it was a priority because it is for the school, but I felt like it was done just for me.
My second class goes better than the first...maybe they will be a good class. I think I had too high of expectations for their first period of the day on their first day back from a long holiday. Teaching is definitely not my passion, but I'm feeling good about this year. When I leave, the form 2s call me over. They don't have a teacher at the moment and want to chat. It would seem they like me a lot better when I am not making them work.
I head home and grab some lunch (an apple I got in town this weekend and more cereal), then chug some water and lay down because hot season is starting and I have a dehydration headache. After a little Facebook and Candy Crush it's time to pump up my bike tire and go to town.
First stop it the post office where my BIRTHDAY PACKAGE awaits! Thanks Mom and Dad! Then I do a little grocery shopping and head home to bask in the glory of skittles and shirts that smell like America. :)
The rest of my day will be spent watching a movie, planning tomorrow's classes, doing household chores (sweeping, getting water, ect.) and cooking dinner. I am very grateful for all the hours I spent badgering my mom in the kitchen; I actually cook pretty good food for myself most nights. Then I'll go to bed by 7:30 to escape the mosquitoes and read for an hour or so until I fall asleep.
Hopefully I didn't bore you too much (or you stopped reading), but if you did find it boring and read through it anyway, you've got a pretty accurate depiction of my life. Sometimes there's a little excitement, but for the most part life is slow and steady here.
Maybe some day soon I will write another post...or post the ones I have already typed up and decided against sharing.
Ciao!
