Friday, November 14, 2008

Written Nov. 11

Study program:
Some of you know that for a long time I have been contemplating how I would start a structured study program for the children in the compound. Well, we started the program about three weeks ago. We have had to make some adjustments to the routines, but the program is well underway! The children are motivated to study and I am able to assist them in their trouble areas with one-on-one time, especially with English and reading. Just by studying with them (Andy helps Fatou M. with economics mainly), in which we ask them to work hard in a different, more complex way, than what is demanded at their schools, is making a difference in their learning already.
Even though they are not extrinsically motivated we have had the ability to reward them for their efforts (thanks to some donations from family) by providing small rewards. They earn the rewards by coming to do study work. When they do this they earn points and at certain levels they can attain a reward based on their points. The thing is because of their sharing culture, no matter who gets what reward, they all share it anyhow!
Case in point
The other day Alhagie was completely excited to achieve the 10 point mark. He looked in the box and squirmed with excitement. After digging through and reviewing the choices he said he would be right back and went outside to confer with our host mother what he should get. He came back inside and choose four packets of juice that you add to water.
Andy was sitting on the porch talking to the children that were waiting for their turn (they get a rock with a painted number on it and go and get the next person after their turn). Alhagie rushed back to tell Andy that he had given one to Ara (our neightbor), one to Ndea (our host mom) one to Sanussei (our host dad) and the kids all shared one.
Though Andy and I were a little afraid they would not like them he let us know he did and when Jalika looked in the prize box, she pointed out with a frown that there was no more juice!
Well, just in the fact that Ndea has been encouraging MoLamin to “go study!” in the evening, Alhagie and Alieu have made progress in reading and all the children are experiencing new ways of learning! (rather than their listening to lectures, or memorizing a text, in a language they understand very little of)


Random notes: This morning on my way to the corner near our house to catch a gelley to the nursery school a horrible thing happened. There were two dogs wandering around the road and one of them got squarely hit by a speeding vehicle.
I was watching it aimlessly wander around the road, I looked at the other dog, and that’s when I heard the horrible sound of car making contact with a body. I looked at saw the dog squirming on its back and howling in pain. After a few seconds of that, he tried to get up, his leg was clearly broken, he then ran crazily ran off the road and down a dirt side road with the other dog following. What bothered me most was of all the people standing around the road when it happened; I was the only one that looked like something bad had happened. It made me even more upset to hear the young men chuckle to themselves about the situation then move on in their conversation.
Now I realize that attitudes towards animals are different here, but I don’t think they even thought of the possibility and danger of the situation because it could have easily been a child that was hit because of reckless, uncaring, speeding drivers.
Because I am currently in the process of getting ready to apply for jobs in the states as a teacher I have been reading texts on teaching more vigorously. I am having these bad thoughts that I have somehow “absorbed” the teaching practices of people I have worked with here. This is because their style of teaching, treatment of students, and school system is the antithesis of what we strive for in the states. Because I am working within the school system here and now as a volunteer, I have to find a difficult balance between helping the educators themselves improve their work and still recognize cultural differences that I cannot encourage them to change. Some days I think it would be easier to say, “here, let me see your class, I will show you…” and then take it over for a few weeks. But that is not the solution and even though I know it, it sometimes enters my mind.
When I am sitting in classrooms where teachers are directly insulting children that sit idle for hours on end, I squirm. I think I will take a huge breath of relief when I see classrooms in America again. It may even bring tears to my eyes when I see the beautiful sight of colorful, thoughtfully designed classrooms that have enough desks and chairs for students and so much more! And I may even get hysterical at watching a teacher and students interact with a deliberate focus on positive learning experiences and environments.
Somehow, I think the more teacher articles, books, etc. I read about from an American perspective the more it will help me keep the “bad” thoughts and influences of working within a deformed school system at bay.
On that note, I will be leaving Sunday for a week long trek to the furthest region in the country to do student teacher observations! Wish me good luck!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

election fever

Since moving to The Gambia in June 2007 locals have asked, “which do you support?” referring to the top two presidential candidates. I always paused and wondered to myself, what do they care? Why would it matter to them? A local businessman opened a new stationary store about 6 months ago. He proudly displayed his stores sign out front, “Barack Obama stationary and bookstore”. As he sits outside he enthusiastically waves to us and shouts out “Obama!” as we zoom by on our bikes.
Election day finally came and the questions got more concise, “You support Obama right? And admonishing us, “Borry. Obama is the best one!”. I still played my cards close and reminded them there were more than two candidates and we would wait for all the information before deciding.
Jalika and Adja were over one day and I showed them the ballot we received in the mail. I showed them the top runners names and all the other peoples names in the presidential race. It was unique for them to see a U.S. presidential ballot and to realize that we could vote even though we weren’t even in our country.
On the day of the election we made plans to go in the evening to an embassy workers house so we could pull an all-nighter to watch it all unfold on CNN in real time.
I packed my bag before going to work and after work stood on the side of the road until I got a car to town.
The whole ride there sitting among the people that were so interested and pushing for me to vote for Obama, I had an unwelcomed, though slightly absurd thought…How will these people react to us as Americans if we collectively vote for McCain to be the next president?
As results came in slowly at first in which McCain was showing more support, I think the collective PC volunteer population had theset thoughts. They were expressed by some later after the results became clear, as “Wheew! Now we don’t have to evacuate the country!”
After more than 24 hours without sleep our gelley ride back to Brikama at 6:30 am was surreal, with Andy’s head precariously wobbling back and forth.
We entered the compound to see the usual morning bustle around the tap. As we approached we heard the women talking about the election, the word Obama as usual, jutting out from the conversation in Mandinka. They turned around to see us and I proclaimed the winner to which our host mother excitedly exclaimed, throwing her arms up over her head, “Obama wins!”
We stumbled through a backwards morning routine that was the usual night time routine. Taking showers, brushing teeth, closing doors. Then fell into a fitful sleep due to the normal daytime heat.
Awakening in the late afternoon we had to look at the pictures from the night before to assure ourselves it was all really real.
We don’t have to evacuate after all!