Work

One of the great things about Peace Corps is that when it comes to work, we have a lot of flexibility and independence in what we choose to focus on. While there are many goals for each sector, what we do daily is really up to us as volunteers (and our communities of course). And for that I am very grateful. I haven’t mentioned much in the way of work lately, mostly because travel and sickness have really prevented me from getting much of anything done this term. I’m still teaching my grade 7 English classes which thus far are actually going better than last term. I have a better idea of what level the kids are at, what they need from me for the class to run smoothly, and what works as incentives to keep their little mouths closed, their hands to themselves, and their booties in their chairs when I or others are speaking. Despite the progress I’ve made as far as classroom management goes, however, I haven’t been feeling anywhere near effective as a teacher. The language barrier is a big impediment to their learning as is the fact that my methods are so, so far off what they’re used to or what they are likely to ever experience in the rest of their K-12 education. They are used to their routines (i.e. being told exactly what and when to do and think at all times) and that I could care less if they take notes in their class workbooks, their scribblers, or on a page really shakes things up. Rather than simplifying or easing their learning process, my indifference to the (to me) minute nuances of classroom logistics merely represents a greater learning curve. Yes, I would love to really teach them to think for themselves and to develop critical thinking skills in the classroom and daily life, but in order to do that no English would ever be taught. One of my volunteer friends recently commented that we’d need an entire class just to teach kids to think for themselves. Not to mention this is kind of the opposite of what the other teachers expect from the students. Thus, I have come to the conclusion that my efforts can really be better spent on something other than classroom teaching in the coming terms. And personally, I have a feeling that I will be a lot happier without the stress of teaching.

I have a lot of ideas in mind of what I’d like to focus on next term, but one thing I’ve learned from the past term and a half is that what I envision will be very different from the wants and needs of my principals and teachers. In theory, I’d like to continue to work on literacy with the students at the primary school. But I’m still battling with teachers who want me to take over their entire class while they drink tea, refusing to comprehend the difference between me teaching 4 kids vs. 40. But yeah, we’ll get there.

I stopped by the clinic in a neighboring village a few weeks ago to talk to the head nurse there about volunteering. I was a little nervous they wouldn’t want me but the nursing sisters were all super nice and friendly and happy to have me. I’ve been interested in getting involved in healthcare for sometime now (Stateside and here) but just haven’t had the right opportunity. So volunteering at the clinic occasionally will really be for me more than anyone else. The first time I went they had me helping with the measles vaccination campaign which was really a lot of fun. The tangible nature of the work and the immediate and direct evidence of a job well done is a very refreshing thing to an education volunteer. I said I’d be back once a week but of course I had to go and get sick and I didn’t think hacking up a lung all over people with already weakened immune systems would be a good idea.

Anyway, that’s that for work for now. I definitely have some things in mind for once I’m free of my teaching commitment so I’ll let you all know how that works out. But before that happens we mustn’t forget the flurry that is the 2010 FIFA World Cup, at the forefront of many South Africans’ minds. Just over a month to go!