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Musanze, RW.10, Rwanda
Monday, Monday….
Aside from the fact that I woke up with a cold and we had no water, it was a great day! I laid in bed sniffling for a while and texted Clementine about the water. She called to say she’d remind the head cook Patrice to turn it back on and it was flowing within minutes.
I had no teaching today until the teachers’ class at 4:30 pm. I spent a few hours in the teachers’ lounge flipping through my books and gathering ideas for the immediate future of Senior 4 classes. I asked Gilbert, the teacher who was scheduled to lead tonight’s teacher discussion class, if he was prepared and what his topic was. He responded that he wasn’t and he had no idea. I told him I also had nothing prepared and that it’s HIS class, not mine. He said, “I am veryvery busy with many things!” I said, “Me too!” and I went back to my notebook. Not going to teach Monday nights, period! After that I spent a while chatting about African authors with one of the new student teachers. There are several books that I want to find and read. That sounds easier than it is. There are no bookstores. Anywhere. At all. I wish I’d had this conversation before I went to Kampala.
After lunch with the teachers I went to my room and took a nap in an effort to fight my cold. As usual, it was less than refreshing. I hate napping during the day when I have things to do later in the afternoon. I wake up groggy and fuzzy and I can’t shake that feeling. On the other hand, when I have a cold I sit around feeling like crap and wanting to put my head on the table so I might as well nap anyway. I can’t believe I didn’t bring any cold medicine with me.
At 4:30 pm I went to the teachers’ lounge to see if we were actually having our discussion class! Most of them were buzzing around in their white lab coats having just finished teaching, stuffing papers into their assigned drawers, talking and laughing in Kinyarwanda and generally ignoring the fact that we had class. I stood among them without saying anything, waiting to see what would happen. After just a short time Bosco announced, “It is time for English class!” One of teachers came to me with his jacket on and apologized for the fact that he would miss class. I told him he needed to apologize to Gilbert, not me. He went over to Gilbert and repeated himself. A few of the other teachers and I made our way to the classroom…others followed us…and others just disappeared. In the end we had exactly half – 10 people, including Gilbert, Sister Florence and our Director of Studies.
I am happy to say that the first class was a HUGE SUCCESS! I sat at a student desk among the teachers and waited with them. Gilbert, who was completely unprepared a few hours before, stood up and wrote on the board “Topic: Man and Religion.” He then proceeded to explain in excellent English that there are two types of men (sigh, he meant people) in the world – those who believe in God and subscribe to a religion, and those who do not. He gave a long presentation on the man (sigh, person) who does not believe in God or religion. He argued that that man is happier, freer and has “interior peace” because he doesn’t concern himself with commandments or rules of any church, etc. He talked about science and how it and technology will save us rather than God (he is a biology teacher). After a well-constructed and clear presentation, he opened the floor for discussion by saying “And now I invite you to challenge me with another view.” The teachers immediately started raising their hands with questions about, and challenges to, Gilbert’s opinion. It was so exciting for me to see the lively discussion that I nearly had goose bumps! A few of us had questions and comments throughout the discussion, and eventually Gilbert asked for a contribution from those who sat quietly listening. I thought that was great, as everyone said at least one thing. I was so happy Sister Florence was there so give her perspective which was so polar opposite of Gilbert’s. In fact, just about everyone disagreed with Gilbert to some extent, which didn’t surprise me in this very Catholic country. Gilbert was the surprise. I loved it!
The discussion took some strange twists and turns, and a few times Gilbert said, “Now I continue to be confused” and we all laughed. But the important thing is that everyone talked, in English, the entire time. At the end I got up to correct a few mistakes I had heard repeatedly (we commit sin, we don’t make sin….we have a conscience, not a conscious) and I congratulated Gilbert on an excellent presentation and discussion facilitation. I told the other teachers this was a great example of how the class should go. I think everyone enjoyed it and there was NO work on my part! Voila!
I know they might not all go so smoothly or be as lively, but that’s really up to the teacher facilitating. On the way out, Charles approached me and asked if he could format his class to be presentation – discussion – presentation – discussion. So, I think many of the classes will be great.
The rest of the night was spent blowing my nose, drinking tea and lesson planning for tomorrow. Oh, and trying not to scratch some new itchy spots that have cropped up very suddenly. I thought that I got bitten on my legs and one spot on my arm on Saturday while sitting at a bakery having tea, but now some of those spots don’t look like bites at all. They have a gross blistery-pus look to them that unfortunately resembles what my fellow volunteer up the road had on her wrist and hands a few months ago. It was some sort of Rwandan version of poison ivy. It was awful for her and took ages to subside. I’m hoping this isn’t that, and if it is that it doesn’t spread.
I must say that I love Rwanda….but my skin doesn’t!
from: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gypsygirlri/2/1273001834/tpod.html
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