Sunday, April 22, 2007

An Afternoon

After resting at home-- maybe I'll snack if there were slim pickings at school, maybe I'll read or journal or listen to music or just watch the time pass-- I walk back to school.  As I said, it's a short walk but it is hot enough of late that I'm usually
sweating by the time I reach school-- even when I carry an umbrella to provide myself with shade for coolness and anti-tanning purposes (it does not work terrible well as I get hot and seem to be tanning in any case, which would be exciting if I weren't in a country where whitening products are sold rather than self-tanning lotion).  The bell rings as I arrive (or close to my arrival) and I go to class.  My afternoons generally have a class, a recess, and an office hour unless some special event occurs (a teacher's volleyball game or a monk coming to teach about morality).  
All the teachers stay at school for a half hour or so after the final bell while we wait for parents to come and retrieve their kids or for extra courses to begin.  It seems like every teacher teaches in the evening and possibly on the weekends to add to their paychecks.  Nita is a private school and the teachers are paid better than at a public school, so I hear, but everyone still wants to supplement their incomes.  Understandably, since even with the supplement I haven't heard of a teacher making any more than $70 per month (my monthly stipend through MCC is $66). Most make less.  I do not teach extra hours. When I first came, it seemed like doing anything extra would be the end of me as adjusting took
all of my energy.  Now I could perhaps do more, but am still happy to go home and shower and sit by a fan.
My evenings are not terribly exciting, but I enjoy them.  I will either stay home to read or think about lessons or do other solitary time-passing activities and to eat with my host family (or before or after them, if our schedules are off), or I will get on my motorbike and head into town.  I try to spend most of my nights at home, but it is nice to get away for a swim (getting in a pool is magical after a hot day) and then yoga, or a study of Corinthians.  Occassionally, I'll visit or have dinner with friends.  Regardless, I try to cool down-- a cold shower or wet pajamas-- and get into bed around 10 pm (give or take an hour) so I'm ready for the next day.
There's a picture of my week.  Perhaps in time I can give you an idea of my weekends.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Just Another Day

So I haven't had many typical days lately.  In late March, my parents came for a week to see where I am and go someplace new with me.  In the beginning of April, a friend who I met while studying abroad in Uganda (Helen from the UK) came to visit for three lovely days.  Then Annalise Nordtvedt, who also studied in Uganda and at Seattle Pacific, came for about ten days.  And now there is a holiday for Lao New Year.  I will share these stories soon, I hope.  
But for now, I wanted to explain an average weekday in my world.
7:00-- I wake up.  I used to get up early to run or walk or stretch, at least a couple of days a week.  Now I am too lazy or tired or its too hot or a combination of all of those things or something else.  I think we all know how it is to not want to get up to exercise, right?  I sometimes shower, if I've had a hot and restless night (it's always a hot night, although someone advised me that falling asleep with a wet sheet or tshirt or head can help dramatically, so now I can fall asleep a little easier, but only restlessness makes a shower necessary).
I do getting ready-ish things that seem to make time go too quickly.  I drink tea or coffee (I do like it now, although generally weaker and sweeter than a true coffee drinker might do), eat rice or a baguette with shredded papaya, mystery meats, and various sauces (actually quite nice), and head to school a minute or two late, as a general rule.
8:00-- The school bell rings and class begins... or will within the next ten minutes.  Unless it is Monday in which case we'll do flag raising and exercises (touch your toes sorts of things; the vice principal tried to switch it to a cardiovascular dance routine but it didn't work out... yet).  I either go to class or have free time in the teacher's office/library.  If I go to class, a co-teacher (Toy)  and I try to figure out if either person has anything planned.  If so (sometimes I have a game or worksheet or he has a game or song), we try it out.  Often times, the class becomes chaotic if we don't stick to rote teaching, but I still think that it is worth a try.  I think I said a while ago that I switched to smaller groups to teach.  That caused much confusion and I'm back in the classroom with all 30-50ish students, deciding on a day to day basis whether I'm up for playing a game with all 40 kids or whether
it might be wise to just write the lesson on the board today.
10ish-- Recess time.  The kids yell joyously and run into the school yard, which doesn't have much more than a dirt yard, a volleyball court, and some trees.  Many buy snacks to eat.  Others play games, in spite of the heat, although when it is truly hot, they'll play more in the shade.  The boys seem to have many games involving marbles.  The girls have long bands made of connected rubber bands that they do jumping tricks with that I never have nor ever will be able to do.  Sometimes what seems to be tag also appears, in various forms (on one leg or what have you).  Some eat then play or vice versa.
10:15-- Another class session begins (the sessions are 1 hour and 45 minutes, give or take).  I teach or rest.  If I do have office hours, it means that I'm hanging out with whatever other teachers also have a break.  If the teacher speaks English, we chat in English.  If they don't, we
exchange a few words in Lao or many words, depending on how patient and eager they are to communicate.  With some people, I feel like we could converse about anything, even though
my vocabulary is admittedly small.  With others, I feel the smallness of my language skills.  I'm not sure what makes the difference.  If we don't chat together, teachers flip through old magazines or the library books (mostly in English, which is nice for me but not for most people who use the library unless they just like pictures).  Sometimes I'll write a letter or in my journal.
12:00-- Time for lunch.  I do like the other teachers do and eat with the students, as in all the students put their food out to share together
and we share too.  I've gotten to try an enormous variety of Lao foods this way, some I'd rather not have but didn't know any better.  Most lunches I'll just have sticky rice and various grilled meats, maybe a bite of noodle soup.  Sounds strange, maybe, but it is lovely and communal and I haven't yet gotten sick from it or of it.  It would be perfect if I could not just eat with the students but chat with them while I'm doing it.  Still, I enjoy this time.  Then, I go home (a very short walk away) to rest for an hour or so.
  I've got to go.  I'll give you the afternoon routine later.  Peace, Renee