Halloween is almost here, and it is not something people here celebrate or care very much about. There are plenty of other holidays! The Peacecorps three goals have inspired us, however. The first, is to help the community you are in. The second is to spread understanding of American culture, and the third is something about better relations. We are taking the second goal to heart because if you understand Halloween, you understand the West! Or at least, America.
This being a small island, there is not much surplus to make a costume out of. Every scrap of fabric has a use, and to go buy something new, or even to buy paper, is expensive. We can dress as a Tourist with my big hat and sunscreen, or perhaps a cat with some black eyeliner. The form 4s are learning of Western culture, so the teacher has given us permission to do something that embodies Halloween. But what? If you could cut Halloween into a 40 minute class period, what would you do?
We could do face painting with eyeliner, or a mummy-making competition with toilet paper. We could buy candy and have them run through the other classrooms throwing candy out, though that may be a too-accurate look into American culture.
While here, we have quickly been inflicted by some of the pain that we no doubt had inflicted on our teachers in school. Grading papers has been a frustrating and often humorous exercise. Ryan asked the question “What did you like about the story we just read? What did you not like?” about half answered correctly and the other half told me that they like to play football, eat nsima, swim and they dislike drinking beer, doing homework and bugs. Close but not quite. A student responded to the Question “Give an example from the book” with “English book”- an example of a book. I suppose they are taking these tests in a foreign language. One student answered all the questions, but gave answers from a book that we wont be reading until April. Ryan had a talk to him about paying attention in class and asked him to return the teachers copy that his answers were copied from word for word.
We are slowly getting accustomed to life here, and trying to think of a project to help the school. Joanna made a lunch program, but what could we do? We were brainstorming and came up with a scholarship idea for top students, or purchasing books. During Friday morning announcements, there was another man in the line up in a suit. He informed the school he would be paying half the school fees of the top 8 students! Turns out he is a politician, and in the Thank you speech the head teacher said “we didn’t vote for you last time, but perhaps this time we will!”
The Bishop is here for the week, and it has been fascinating to talk and listen to him. It is clear how he rose to his position, as soon as he arrived he began solving problems. The team he leaves here seems very good, but he is a one man team that accomplishes just as much. We learn he is a bit of a jokester as well. Cassidy wanted to use the vanilla she had lent us, and so came to the Bishops house forgetting that we had moved. Outside sat a small group of people, including a man who introduced himself as the Bishops cook and apologized that the bishop was inside asleep. They sat talking about her time there, and he ended up saying if she does not get into medical school that the church could donate her some land and she could open a resort. When she left, her friend explained that was the Bishop himself the whole time! She had met him previously and so was very embarrassed. He laughed through his retelling of the story, it sounds like the most fun he has had all week.
He said as well that he had no idea we had made it, as we came here very independently and his team did not tell him. We did not know there was another way, though apparently people usually get picked up at the airport and get a ride straight to Mzuzu, with help getting on the ferry as well which would have been extremely helpful.
We also got to talking about construction projects on the island. Ryan quickly volunteered to help in whatever way he could. The two main projects coming up will be a renovation of the Bishops house and Guest house and refurbishing an existing out of service water system. Both projects are set to get underway as early as November!
Friday was a very exciting day, Sasha had a Chemistry class with a cool experiment. Sasha had a double period (an hour and a half) and so wrote a few questions to solidify their understanding in bonding, which of course took far too long. It seemed that as soon as the students were understanding, she had to get pushy with time which is always a tragedy. She wrote a sugar molecule and the complicated equation on the board, and sent two students to collect the supplies from the office. Ryan and Justice appeared to help, and as half the students were out of the classroom the English teacher came up to say there was an assembly, cutting her class 20 minutes short. She told him they would be there in two minutes, the students have been looking forward to this (which was a lie, they really didn’t seem to care). With that, the rest of the form 2 students walked by the form 3 classroom (who had misbehaved so did not do the experiment). She pulled on the gloves, put on the sunglasses, and prepared to pour the sulfuric acid into the soda bottle of sugar. Look up the experiment on youtube, it looks very cool! The bottle started warming, and then turning black. It started to bubble and rise, releasing a burned sugar stench. One by one students touched the outside of the bottle, pulling back at the heat. Justice gave another short explanation, saying there is no test on this, it is just to show that Chemistry is fun and this was a privilege. The students smiled and clapped, and with that we went to the assembly.
We sat in the shade, the teachers in a line. A man in red fidgeted in his seat, playing with the sticks and rocks on the ground. The English teacher (who is allergic to charisma) explained this is a symbolic handing over of books. The fidgeting man was asked gave a short explanation, and quickly sat back down. He asked for a photographer, and a student with one shoe on took the phone. Someone produced a few new books, and asked the head boy and girl to come down. The head boy was absent, so he asked any of the prefects to come down, as is the case in most of our classes, still no one came down. Alright, any boy come down. Eventually someone did, and they proceeded to take some photos. The English teacher gave a thank you speech, saying be sure to use them and not leave them in backpacks, and that this was very nice but we need plenty more so keep us in mind when it comes to giving out more things. The man got up and said anyone stealing a book will be immediately dismissed from the school. And with that, we had two full crates of new books! The assembly was over lunch and so the next class was cancelled. Luckily neither of us had classes, but it was infuriating for the teachers that did to learn their class was cancelled at the same time as the students.
You cannot do something here and hope for a proper Thank you. You also cannot expect a please. To say please is begging. Cassidy has heard it once in the months she has been here, and that was by a woman begging the immigration officer to let her visit Mozambique even though she had only half the required money. Without going, her livelihood would be on the line and her family may not eat that month. After awhile, he did let her go.
Shortly after the assembly Ryan inquired if he would be teaching at study circles this afternoon the English teacher considered it and said that he would. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after the last period there is an hour dedicated to additional study of either Sciences, Humanities or Language. Ryan was faced with the daunting task of teaching an hour long Friday afternoon class to a bunch of hot and tired students that just want to leave. Ryan wasn’t really looking forward to the experience either. While attempting to plan a review session he decided to do something a little different. When the bell rang (an actual brass bell) there were about half the students and a few more trickled in from outside. He started unpacking his large bag to fierce indifference. The students watched with mild interest. Ryan pulled out a package of Monsta Crème biscuits and the atmosphere changed instantly. There was an uproar of excitement. Then came the handful of chocolate caramels. The class was out of hand. In the now very awake classroom Ryan set up his projector and opened up the game of Jeopardy he had created for review. The competition was fierce and everyone seemed very eager to learn all of the sudden. The first place team in a surprise twist did not chose a goodie, but rather selected a bonus point on their end of term exam. I’m not actually sure if we are allowed to do that, but I suppose we will find out. The second and third place team happily left with their biscuits, sweeties drastically happier faces. Several even stuck around after class for some additional tutoring!
Ticket to Anywhere 