School Daze

Originally distributed March 2010

These days, instead of roaming the bush with wildlife I’m roaming the suburbs with wild children. We’re halfway through the 1^st of three terms already and I’ve gotten to know who to keep an eye on and who excels. They make themselves known very quickly. It is pretty hectic trying to remember names and who’s in what grade or what class when you’ve got 158 students spread among 8 classes and two schools. Luckily I remember faces well, so at least I recognize them even if I can’t remember what grade they’re in or what school they go to.

They seem to be having fun with the activities so far, and learning along the way. And I’m enjoying myself in the process. When they get to go outside, I get to go outside. When they get to play in the stream, I get to play in the stream. So it’s cool. Plus, the principal at one of the schools told me this week I’ve converted one of the teachers who was against the idea in the beginning. I don’t know which teacher it is, but that doesn’t matter. Just knowing I’ve converted someone is exciting! The teachers have told me they’re learning as well and some of them are incorporating my vocab words into their spelling tests. Yay! Poor kids though. Who can spell “non-point source pollution” or “riparian area”? Have you heard of these terms before? Ask my students and see if they can tell you.

Michele, my roommate, is a doctor at the Baylor Clinic in Mbabane, which specializes in pediatric HIV/AIDS. She’s also very social and good at organizing activities. A few doctors from the US hosted a moustache party when they were here a few years ago. Now back in the US, they were hosting a party/ fundraiser to raise money for kids in need of special surgeries and things. So last weekend she hosted a concurrent moustache/big hair party/fundraiser at our place. Guys were requested to start growing their moustaches several weeks in advance so they could successfully compete for “best moustache” prizes. And since women can’t generally grow moustaches, they were encouraged to go for big hair and 80’s garb, or whatever they could pull together. The results were amusing.