Day 1 of volunteering – Today was our first day of school. On our way in, we were greeted by Cromwell (the principal) who was on his way out. He stopped to welcome us and give us instructions for the day. None of these instructions were followed, though we tried our best. All of us were separated into classrooms as the day began. During the first break of the day, the teachers met with us to welcome us, give thanks and information about our new place of work. They were grateful for our presence and concerned for the state of their understaffed school.
With that, we were off to teach and learn. The classrooms were a bit of everything I expected and nothing at all what I expected. The children were friendly, playful, eager, bold, pleasant and in need of all our attention. At 1:45 were saved by the bell. Not long after leaving the children at school came to us again at the guesthouse. More and more children came with smiles and questions to be tutored and build friendships. We worked on debate, algebra, and most importantly, jumping rope (even reading a book about Barack Obama whom the children asked to learn about). We finished the night with a great meal of chicken, veggies, and ground maize, and a glance at the vast, beautiful night sky.
With that, we were off to teach and learn. The classrooms were a bit of everything I expected and nothing at all what I expected. The children were friendly, playful, eager, bold, pleasant and in need of all our attention. At 1:45 were saved by the bell. Not long after leaving the children at school came to us again at the guesthouse. More and more children came with smiles and questions to be tutored and build friendships. We worked on debate, algebra, and most importantly, jumping rope (even reading a book about Barack Obama whom the children asked to learn about). We finished the night with a great meal of chicken, veggies, and ground maize, and a glance at the vast, beautiful night sky.
Message of the Day: “A human being is a part of the whole called by us ‘the universe’. A part limited in time and space. [S]he experiences [her]self, her thoughts and feelings as separate from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affections for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this person by widening the circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty”. Albert Einstein.
By Jackie
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