Day 072 - Practice School is Over!

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well! I can't believe it's September already, starting of fall season for many of my friends in the US. It doesn't feel like Sept to me at all because there is no season change here between August to Sept. It is still rainy and hot! There is only 2 seasons, rainy and dry.

I've heard bits of pieces of the flood in New Orleans. Terrible news. My world shortwave radio broke a few weeks ago on me, plus I was so busy with practice school, I didn't have the means or time to keep up with the world outside of my town. I will have to buy a new one in Conakry. I hope the situation will get better soon. My Guinean brother asked me today, why does US being the world number #1 superpower still is asking for aid? I haven't been able to respond (partly due to language, but I do enjoy talking to him about politics with my broken French, and why I left all the riches in US to come to Guinee.)

Practice school is finally over. "Alah Tantu"! That's Susu phrase meaning "grace to God". I had fun, but oh boy it was so much work. I had the luck of teaching 7th and 8th graders for 2 hours a day for 2 weeks alternatively. Let's just say my voice is kind dead each day after teaching. The attention span of 7th and 8th graders is much shorter and they are still kids, so unless I keep them copying lesson the whole two hours which I hate to do, I have to shout to tell them to be quite throughout the lesson. I also had the luck of teaching the 7th grader the difference of weight vs. mass, a concept that even an adult American easily get confused. And the luck of teaching current and voltage to 8th graders, explaining to them that current is due to movement of electrons. Have I lost you yet? My dad will be proud, cos I am actually starting to like these electricities stuff that I hated so much when I was in college. One day, I made a mistake to get 7th grader measure their own body dimensions to lead into teaching the concept of volume, some kids didn't like to do it, others were talking a lot while waiting for their turn, things got so bad that the PCV trainer who observed me had to kick out 4 students just to scare them off. After that I decided to do less or smaller activities in these classes, so they don't get too loose and out of hand. I like my class to be lively and full of demonstrations and activities, but with younger kids I had to tame things down, keep them busy copying down lessons (they don't talk much when they are writing). Another thing I find funny in teaching is that the teachers love to call on kids just to read off the definitionsof things during class, and all the kids love to get a chance to read out loud in class, more chance to speak. Also they don't get a lot of attentions in general (too many kids at home perhaps), they love to read out loud or answer questions even if they have no idea what was asked. Don't remember if I sa id why I have to write out definitions and stuff, because most kids don't have textbooks, so I am their sole source of information. It is really sad how little resources these kids have here, I really shouldn't be so hard on them. (sigh) I really need to come up with a lot of strategies for teaching for the next year when I get to my site.

Speaking of getting the my site, we should all swear in as official Peace Corps Volunteers next wednesday given that we will all pass the final language interview. Which I don't think would be a problem for anyone. Woohoo! I can't wait! My Guinean mom gave me some beautiful fabric and we had a set of top and skirt made for me in guinean style for the swear in ceremony. I quite like their fashion here, it follow the similar philosophy like the traditional chinese Qipao that is so fitted, that it accentuates the woman's body, except there is no slit and it is a 2-piece. Also, I only wear shorts indoors now. I will even put on long pants when I go outside to dump some trash. I feel very naked when my knees are exposed.

I am eager to go to my site and start my actual service. We are meeting with our principal for a couple of days to plan out our school year and whatever secondary projects we would like to do, and if you know me, you know my eyes are bigger than my stomach. So I am asking you to gather any ideas you can find on the internet and send them with letters, like toastmaster clubs, after school clubs ideas, summer camp ideas, activities that will help me to enrich their school life and keep things interesting for them and without their knowing they are learning something (both related to school subject matter or lift in general). Your help is greatly appreciated!

I had a lot more to write, lots of little details, but I don't have the time or dough right now. So I will write more next time (I know Chao must rolling his eyes right now).

Thinking of all of you a lot!

Bonnie