First teaching week

My first experience teaching the young ones (6-7 y) today. Interesting! They don’t understand a lot of English, so I’m becoming very good at singing silly songs and doing clapping games. I love the art lessons! It is becoming clear that the children are NOT used to using their creativity and independent thought in school (picture our schools 50-100 years ago), so the challenge will be to “defrost” them a little and getting them to believe in their own thoughts and ideas.

My principle started first day in school reading out a letter from the Chief of Mohale’s Hoek pleading the pupils to stay away from drinking and unhealthy living. (Same guy that was pissed when he came to our house) She also told the teachers not to use corporal punishment, something very common here BUT actually illegal. Already seen a few slaps, and the stick is out most of the time! As adults, so children…I have had to lay down the rule in my classes… any child that hits, beats or kicks another will not be taught by me!

So far our experience with the wildlife of Africa has encountered the Wild Life of crawling insects in our rooms. The problem has become more serious as the week has passed. First Danielle and me got covered in rashes, something we though was an allergic reaction to new bacterias, but then Rachel and Catherine got them too. We were told by the doctor it was bed bugs! …and yes we had to admit we had seen a few crawling creatures. So, we got the house fumigated, but it didn’t seem to work. Things were still crawling around. Then our South African lock fitter came to the house. He stated that the little darlings were not bed bugs but animal lice!!!!!!!!!!! … and that we should get ourselves out of this house as soon as possible! Our organization has now moved us into the posh… and only… hotel in town, while our house and all our belongings are thoroughly poisoned and washed, the walls painted and carpets rinsed!

In the weekend we are going to Maseru to watch England-Wales playing rugby and shop for new bedding and mattresses and hopefully in the start of next week we’ll be back on track again. The very good thing that’s come out of this week is that we’ve met a bunch of very kind, helpful and reliable people, so we feel very safe and looked after. We’ve also had a chance to hang out by a pool, get a sun tan and eat lovely foodJ.

So don’t worry about us back home! We are in good spirit and are looking forward to new (but hopefully less crawly) adventures.

Miss you all!

Arriving Mohale’s Hoek

We arrived to our house in Mohale’s Hoek during one of the many torrential rainstorms here. Under the thunder and lightning we ran with all our bags and suitcases, while our drivers/helpers were having a nap in the front seat of the combi (minibus type car). Great, big house, and all fine after Me Lineo, our Lesotho-Wales Link representative, talked our landlady out of having her sister living in our garage!

Our neighborhood is very welcoming. Colleagues, neighbors and pupils are all looking out for us and we are not often left alone in the house… or when we go shopping. We’ve got many new friends, especially round dinner time, but people are also very good at sharing and are opening their homes for us any time.

A few days ago we had the Chief himself coming to meet us. Very comic, as he’d obviously had a good few drinks before coming and didn’t make too much senseJ.
The first day in town we were taken straight to the District Administrators office (picture a scene from “The Last King of Scotland”), as well as the police station and a meeting in the District Education Office. All to the benefit of our safety! And safe we feel, especially after receiving 4 emergency numbers to the police, in case we can’t get through on one of them…

The first week in school has been painfully slow, as the teachers don’t do their planning before the children arrive. This meaning the children are left to themselves a lot of the time. I’ve spent the week observing different classes, trying to learn the teacher’s names (with little luck so far… Me Moroahae, Me Matumelo, Me Mararararhaholololol… you get the idea…)

A little action satisfaction Thursday morning, as the Honorable Minister of Education herself decides to pay our school a visit. Teachers and pupils clean franticly, only to hear a few hours later that she will not come until the next day!?!! TIA (this is Africa).

Tomorrow I will start teaching. English in Standard 1 and Art in all classes. I am excited to see how the children will react to me, as so far they giggle shyly and don’t dear looking me in the eyes.

Until next time. Sala hantle! Go well.