Day 5: First Day of School

22 June, 2010 (This is how we write it on the chalkboard at school)
6am is when we wake up every morning. I've been going to bed much earlier since I've been here. Part of it, I'm sure, is jet lag, but a lot of it is just exhaustion from walking all over.

I forgot to mention that last night I took a bucket shower...in the dark. Hadn't showered in 4 days, so I was desperate for a shower. I couldn't wait until the water came back on, whenever that would be. It wasn't bad actually, except for the fact that you could accidentally step in the toilet. Luckily I didn't though.

So I walked with Hollie and Teresa to the school. The walk there is so pleasant because everyone says "hello" and "how are you?" Of course, you get some strange looks as a muzungu, but once you break the ice with a friendly greeting all seems to go smoothly. All the kids wave and scream and yell "muzungu! muzungu!" and "see you." It still amazes me that almost all the kids are willing to say "hello" to a complete stranger, and the kids in my class back home have known me for 9 months and some of them don't say a word to me, even if I greet them first.

As soon as we got to the school the kids from Hollie and Teresa's class ran out and hugged all of us. A few of them grabbed me by the hand and insisted that I come into the classroom with them. After I was there for a few minutes, Teacher Susan came to fetch me and take me to P1 and P2 classroom. Both classes are in the same room and the children face opposite directions. It gets a bit distracting at times, especially when we are reading things off the board or one side is having more fun than the other. First, I taught the P2 class about plants, which I know nothing about. They did an exercise at the end, which seemed completely pointless to me because I don't think they understood the material. The class took a break and I taught math and "science" (a.k.a. who is in a family) to the P1 class. I don't think they understood the material that time either. Everything seems to be basically memorization, hopefully they are actually understanding what is being said.

Next, they had lunch and Holly, Teresa, and I got to eat lunch at the headmaster's home which is on the school/orphanage campus. They made us potatoes, which were absolutely AMAZING and avocodoes and juice. Best thing I've had so far, although rolexes (food, not the watch) were pretty good as well.

After lunch I continued the lesson and then we worked on some English. The kids went home after that and one of them walked about 1/8 of the way with us before breaking off to go to his home.

There are 2 sisters (twins, I think) in the P1 class who are absolutely adorable.

Names I learned today:
Ddamba (P1 class)
Teacher Susan (self explanatory)
Peter (a guy that works at the school. I can't remember what he does)

That's it for today!