The second week of school, a slim, nervous boy came up to me outside of the staff room. He asked me to proof-read a letter he was sending to the school board in request for a scholarship. He could barely look me in the eye, and scampered away once I said yes.
I sat down in the staff room and opened the letter, ready to correct a few things and give back before I left for the day. I was completely unprepared for the contents. The letter explained, in detail, how Eric had lost his entire family in December 2009, only a few months before I read it. He had been with his Grandfather, preparing for an anniversary party. The rest of his family was at home. Apparently the rains were quite bad, and they caused a mud retaining wall to collapse on top of his house, killing his entire family. That was why he asked for a scholarship. His grandparents could look after him during the holidays, but there was no money for his education. This was my introduction to Eric.
In addition to a truly heartbreaking story, Eric is also one my hardest working students. He asks for English books, makes lists of words he doesn’t know and is the first to raise his hand in class. He wasn’t able to get a scholarship from the school board, but he was able to be part of the Kurera Fund set up by Claire, the previous WorldTeach volunteer at my school. Even though Eric’s schooling is taken care of, he has asked me for a few things through out the year (after I offered). Last semester, he asked for toothpaste, soap, and notebooks. He also asked if I could copy an old math manual from Senior 6 so he could practice his math. Everything about him makes me want to help him more.
This semester, he asked for toothpaste etc and then, in a very low and hushed voice, asked if I could possibly afford to help him get new school shoes. I looked down and he was wearing flip flops, not the sturdy leather shoes most boys wear. Yes, I can afford to help him buy shoes. On Saturday, he came over to my house to get the money for the shoes (He is also good to keeping it a secret and not bragging to peeps that I help him which would result in a flurry of requests). While my house, his nervousness was palpable. He fidgeted, grabbing his pants and looked down when he talked to me. Occasionally, he would glance up and smile at me, but his smiles always seem sad. We talked about next year, and I said I would make sure that his schooling was paid for through next year and leave him with some money for supplies. After asking for my help with ICT (Me: What’s wrong with your ICT teacher? Eric: There is a lot he doesn’t know) he confessed that he had a big thing to ask. Apparently, he is a very good singer and had written some songs. He wanted my help (money) to record. I don’t know if it was his clear anxiety about next year when I am gone or me just being a sucker, but I said yes. He knew all the details, exactly how much it would cost and asked me to come with him so they would take him seriously. I said yes on the condition that he go to University even if his music took off and limited it to 2 songs (40 K each, like $80).
What makes me most sad about Eric is that he seems to understand how bad his situation is. Many of my neighborhood gang have fairly “bleak” futures by USA standards, but they seem to have a relaxed joie du vivre that I have never seen in Eric. He knows that the years ahead will be hard and that even if he makes it through secondary school and gets into University, the road is not necessarily smooth. I am thankful that he at least has some extended family to return to during breaks. even if they cannot help him financially, they hopefully supply some love and emotional support. If there is any semblance of justice in the world, I have to believe that good things will come to a person as sweet and motivated as him.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Eric
Blocked
I am feeling blog blocked. I have been trying to write every night but exhaustion seems to take over and I can’t seem to translate my days into any reasonable cohesive stories. I blame month 3 of the dry season. Its been 3 months with no rain and Nyanza is hot, dry and dusty. Besides the freakish “cold” weather while my mom was here, the temperature has been consistently in the upper 80’s and sunny. I know that doesn’t sound too bad to many New Yorkers, but we do not have the benefit of escaping to air conditioning here. Since I got back from break- the winds have increased, creating fun dust storms. It’s pretty much impossible to feel clean. I did rinse last night and shower this morning and still feel okay but I have only been outside once for a few minutes.
Today during I.C.T. I caught 2 kids trying to look at porn. Silly boys! The connection is way too slow!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Give and Get is Here!
Monday, August 23, 2010
A rookie mistake
In a fit of inspiration I decided that for the third term, I would combat late-year ennui by letting each of my classes pick what we would focus on. I gave them three choices, Current Events, US History, and Grammar. I naively thought that they would want Current Events and US History as that is what they had been the most enthusiastic about thus far.
For the previous terms, I taught roughly the same lesson to both sections of 4 & 5 and a variation on the theme to Senior 6. It did not cross my mind that each class would choose a different focus. There is absolutely no one to blame but myself. I simply did not anticipate that Senior 5 MCB would choose Grammar with Current Events being a close second and that Senior 5 PCM would choose “All.” Senior 4 MCB chose US History but Senior 4 PCM chose Current Events. Senior 6 PCM also chose Current Events, but they refuse to write anything down and thus the class needs to be debate and speaking focused- whereas Senior 4 needs to work on writing and is too huge to have a majority of debate/speaking.
Today, I said there no such tense as “past progressive.” There is.
Ooops.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thanks Dude
A colleague just asked for my help chaperoning kids in the computer (it is my free period) then dropped off 58 kids and didn’t come himself. He also told them they had 2 hours, yet I have to teach in 20 minutes. Thanks a lot.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Nyanza Facts of Life
According to me, here are some facts of life in Nyanza
1. 3 months without rain means unpaved roads become very dusty.
2. A bucket and/or solar shower will not make one feel as clean as a hot shower in a nice hotel.
3. Children love wheels. If they do not have matchbox cars, they will invent their own with an old bike tire and a stick.
4. If one buys running shoes a half size too small, running in the heat is even less enjoyable.
5. Teaching proper grammar to students is challenging when ones own grasp of the rules is shaky at best. (“Why? Uhh, because that way is right, I think”)
6. Using pretty colored, good quality pens from the US is actually pretty exciting.
7. The sight of a two-year-old girl in a dirty nightgown with a shaved head and a big smile holding out her arms for a hug is one of the most uplifting sights ever.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I lost my pinky toenail!
8 months into my adventure and I am officially New York/ Familysick. I miss my city and my family. I was mildly afraid after so much togetherness I would collapse into loneliness. But so far, my return to my little house in my village has been good. Kids are thrilled I am back (Belle Filles holds out her arms for a hug whenever she sees me), My house seems calm and relaxing not lonely, and school is still abuzz over how great my mom is. Only bad thing- My pinky toenail fell offf last night!
