Gonna learn 'em some good English

Over the past two weeks, we have been practicum teaching at a local primary school.  These two weeks have been extremely beneficial and informative but also completely exhausting.  I would attend my Afan Oromo language class from 8am-12, go home for lunch with my host family, teach and/or observe teaching from 1:30-3:30, then lesson plan and prepare teaching materials for the following day in the evening.  We taught English classes for grades 2-5.  It was a lot of fun but very challenging.  The students were generally eager to learn and to participate in class.  Classroom management and instruction was especially difficult in the lower grades where I could only communicate in English, and these students know very little English.  In the beginning, it was difficult to prepare lessons without really knowing the levels of the students in each grade. 

As the two weeks went on, I learned that even if I thought I was speaking slowly and clearly, it probably wasn't clear enough for these students for whom English is their second or possibly third language.  Speaking slowly is certainly something I can appreciate myself as I struggle to understand people who talk to me in rapid-fire Amharic or Afan Oromo.  I also learned the importance of modeling and demonstrating the behaviors I wanted the students to perform.  Classrooms in Ethiopia are generally teacher-focused. The teacher stands at the front of the class and lectures for 40 minutes while the students copy from the board into their exercise books.  There is also a lot of memorization and not a lot of independent thought.  For example, during the first week of practicum, we co-taught. My teaching partner, Joe and I taught a 4th grade class where we brought in a map of Ethiopia, a map of the U.S., and a map of the world.  We wanted to teach the students some words to describe directions.  We focused on near and far from and some different landmarks in our town of Sagure.  Joe and I had each drawn a map of the town, labeling our homes, and our intention was for the students to draw their homes and neighborhoods.  Every student in the class ended up copying our maps rather than creating their own.  We could not figure out how to communicate to them they were not to copy ours, but make their own.

These two weeks of teaching has absolutely given me a new appreciation for all teachers, especially those who teach in a foreign language and for those who teach with tattered, ineffective textbooks, limited training, and few resources.

So there are some really cool things about this experience so far, learning a new language is exciting and challenging.  Observing a new culture is interesting.  Meeting really awesome fellow Peace Corps volunteers has been a blessing.  There are also a lot of things that really suck about this experience.  Missing family and friends is tough.  Dreaming about American food that I can't have is a bummer.  Being eaten alive by fleas and/or bedbugs is pretty gross.  Not being able to leave my house without feeling like a zoo attraction with people calling out to me, stopping what they're doing to just stare as I walk by, kids throwing rocks supposedly to get my attention-- that's all exhausting.  All of that being said, one thing that is sure to make any day better is getting mail from home!  A simple card, letter or package from home just brings a smile to my face and brightens a tough day.  I have new address in Ambo, so you can send things there from now on.  P.O. Box 406  Ambo, Ethiopia
Trust me, cards and letters are enough, but if you're so inclined to send a package here are some suggestions:
1. Flat rate boxes from the post office are probably the most cost-effective way to go.  The small boxes ship for about $17, the medium for $35, and the large for $60.
2. You can send up to 20 lbs. for the flat rate, so pack those boxes full in order to get your moneys worth!
3. Don't waste space with a lot of paper or bubble wrap unless you are sending something very breakable.
4. Don't send anything too expensive- there is a chance it may not make it to me.  So far, though I have been receiving mail without any problems.
5. Make sure the post office stamps 'Airmail'
6. Send post cards in envelopes, otherwise they'll probably be stolen before they make it to me.
Some package suggestions:
Yummy snacks- not all junk food though (just some! :))
Small bottles of hand sanitizer
Baby wipes
Crystal light
Anything that can be cooked by just adding water- pasta, oatmeal, etc
magazines/a new book
cds/ dvds
anything else you think I might like!

I should be able to post some pics once I have my own internet connection in a few weeks, so stay tuned!

Home Stay

I have been living with my host family for the past 2 ½ weeks in a town called Sagure.  Prior to meeting our host families, the Peace Corps performed a home-stay skit for all of us volunteers to prepare us for meeting our families.  As with most Peace Corps precautions, I believe that their intent was to scare the crap out of us.  The skit showcased a “typical” Ethiopian family, very nice and accommodating, but a bit overbearing by American standards.  For example, they showed the host family hand-feeding the volunteer (a common practice and sign of affection), they washed her feet, and literally tucked her into bed.  They spoke very fast in Amharic, and the volunteer just looked completely lost and overwhelmed.  As I sat watching this production, the voice inside my head was screaming “No!!! Don’t make me go!”

Fortunately, I have been pleasantly surprised by my host family experience thus far.  They are extremely kind and helpful.  They have hosted 2 volunteers in the past, and I feel very lucky that those girls probably “broke them in” for me.  My host dad is named Melese, my mom is Welela, and they have 4 children.  My sisters, Wodest is 15 years old and Eyerusalem is 14, and my brothers, Dawit is 12 and Hailesilassie is 9.  It took me about a week to get those names down!  And I’m still not confident that I pronounce them correctly!  It is a very odd and awkward feeling to be living in a stranger’s home, but this family has certainly tried to make me feel at home.   My host dad and sisters speak English quite well, so communication has been fairly easy.

 One of the first nights in my new home, as I was sitting in the living room with my family, feeling a bit shy and out of place, my host dad asked me, “Are you scared of you family in America?”   Huh? I was so confused.  Surely I must be missing something.  Does he mean do I miss my family? Am I scared for my family?  I asked him back to clarify, “Am I scared of my family? Afraid?” “Yes.” He replied.  “No, I’m not scared of my family,” I said back.  “Good.” He said. “Then you should not be scared of this family. You are part of our family now.  As long as you are in Ethiopia, you are my daughter.  You are the same to me as Wodest and Eyerusalem.”  Wow! I was so amazed.  What a kind and generous sentiment!  It brought tears to my eyes for sure.

Speaking of tears, every day here is an emotional roller coaster.  I am in either language, cultural, or technical training all day Monday through Friday and half days on Saturday.  At the end of each day, I am mentally and emotionally drained.  I can spontaneously start crying for no apparent reason.  My brain has been working in over-drive trying to absorb as much of this crazy and confusing new language as possible.  Although, I have just switched languages from Amharic to Affan Oromo and so far, it seems a bit easier to understand.  Plus I am the only student in my language class, which definitely forces me to work harder.

So what have the big adjustments been so far???  Well, the food for one is um, interesting.  We eat injera morning, noon, and night at my house.  In case you haven’t had injera, it is a staple in the Ethiopian diet.  The only food I can think of to compare it to is maybe a very thin, spongy, slightly sour pancake.  They use it to put their food on and also to scoop it up and eat with instead of silverware.  It is an acquired taste.  I was choking it down the first week, but now it’s not too bad.  Although, there is a lack of variety in food choices, so I am looking forward to cooking for myself.  I would l kill someone for some gold fever wings right about now!! 

 Another major adjustment is all things bathroom related.  Showering, going to the bathroom, even washing my hands or face takes at least twice as long as it would with running water.  I don’t even want to confess how infrequently I have bathed in the past couple of weeks!  It’s just too much work to get up super early, squat in a bucket, and attempt to get clean with a pitcher of cold water.  Don’t even get me started on the toilet situation, or no toilet situation!  Let’s just say it’s pretty gross and leave it at that.

 

This weekend, I will be traveling to my permanent site where I will live for the next two years after training.  The town is called Ambo, and I will spend one week there, just getting familiarized with things.  I am very excited to check it out and start meeting new people.  Hopefully I will be able to update you all on my adventures in Ambo, depending on internet availability.

Nagaan taa’aa!