Over the years I have learned alot through my work with children but if I could name one of the most important things to remember it would be this: You must celebrate the little moments to appreciate the big moments.
I have been working really hard on this reading room at my primary school. Between ordering books, receiving donations, cleaning and preparing resources I have been up to my head in work. My counterpart and myself have been wandering the school attempting to find anything we could put in our room to make it kid friendly. Its been a fun little treasure hunt we have embarked on and it lead to some big winners today. We found two old tables that were the perfect height for our little readers, a teachers table with plenty of room to work and the BIG treasure, an old gymnastics mat that will now be in our new reading area. It was piled under tons of books and filled with dirt but I was determined to clean it up and make it work.
After unloading the new books I received from Darien Book Aid (thanks guys!) and rearranging the room, I really felt like the area was starting to take shape but was still worried about if the kids would really enjoy this "nontraditional" set up. This is where the beauty of my job comes into play...
The lunch bell rings and I felt like I was back in the Midwest on a farm herding cows. In a matter of two minutes I had 20 children in my little room jumping up and down ecstatic at all the new stuff. They were like children in a candy store, admiring the new pictures on the walls, the new books and furniture lining the walls. After settling them down I got myself caught up in helping a student with her math. I look up a few minutes later and nearly burst into tears. I saw four children at the easel with magnetic letters making word families I had just taught them moments before; I saw three children admiring the new books I brought in while trying to determine which to read first; I saw 6 kids with their shoes off lounging on the new reading mat peacefully reading books to themselves; and a group of girls quietly coloring pictures as they smile from ear to ear. I was truly in awe as I watched kids chose to come to my room instead of running around the school like mad men for an hour.
It's these small moments that make me cherish what I'm doing and realize just the gift I have been given.
This truly is "The hardest job you'll ever love"
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
PBC Presentation and Camera Hijack
Did you know that high school boys are STILL immature, giggly and disrespectful to authority? no way right? well...I learned the hard way today.
Myself and another volunteer designed a workshop for secondary students on "Building Healthy Relationships" in hopes of raising awareness about domestic violence. Grenada and most of the Caribbean isn't well known for their healthy relationships, with violence and infidelity deeply rooted into the culture. It is going to take a drastic social movement and shifting in thinking for the rates of domestic violence, rape, incest, etc to decrease, but with each workshop and awareness drive we hope to begin that shift in thinking. We are here to bring about change right?
Today we introduced the Power and Control wheel to the students, gave them scenarios and had discussion about what they felt were the proper ways to express themselves in relationships. It was shocking to hear high school boys truly believe that hitting their significant other was absolutely acceptable because "they deserved it" and "thats just what you do". It was tough to swallow, but I tried my hardest to keep an open mind to the cultural differences while explaining the correct actions in relationships. It was a true test of my ability to bite my tongue.
After my tongue was bleeding from biting it for an hour (kidding), I rushed to my primary school to see my sweet innocent little angels in the 1st and 2nd grade. They seemed to be more out of control then usual, so I decided to have a bit of a "do whatever" day in the reading room. We played ABC memory and I read them two story books. They LOVED it. I worked with 4 children who are struggling readers. At lunch time the children swarmed my classroom as usual, wanting to color. I thought "ok, whatever, as long as they are having fun". At the end of the hour long lunch (i know what your thinking, an hour lunch is ridiculous), I had glitter EVERYWHERE, seven cards that read "Happy Teachers Bay" (still working on the difference in B's and D's) and books spread out across the floor. Thankfully, I'm the non traditional teacher that gets to send kids back to their normal classes when the bells rings. THANK GOD!
Oh yea....And they got ahold of my camera also. They LOVE taking pictures for themselves. Here is the aftermath. I love my life.
Myself and another volunteer designed a workshop for secondary students on "Building Healthy Relationships" in hopes of raising awareness about domestic violence. Grenada and most of the Caribbean isn't well known for their healthy relationships, with violence and infidelity deeply rooted into the culture. It is going to take a drastic social movement and shifting in thinking for the rates of domestic violence, rape, incest, etc to decrease, but with each workshop and awareness drive we hope to begin that shift in thinking. We are here to bring about change right?
Today we introduced the Power and Control wheel to the students, gave them scenarios and had discussion about what they felt were the proper ways to express themselves in relationships. It was shocking to hear high school boys truly believe that hitting their significant other was absolutely acceptable because "they deserved it" and "thats just what you do". It was tough to swallow, but I tried my hardest to keep an open mind to the cultural differences while explaining the correct actions in relationships. It was a true test of my ability to bite my tongue.
After my tongue was bleeding from biting it for an hour (kidding), I rushed to my primary school to see my sweet innocent little angels in the 1st and 2nd grade. They seemed to be more out of control then usual, so I decided to have a bit of a "do whatever" day in the reading room. We played ABC memory and I read them two story books. They LOVED it. I worked with 4 children who are struggling readers. At lunch time the children swarmed my classroom as usual, wanting to color. I thought "ok, whatever, as long as they are having fun". At the end of the hour long lunch (i know what your thinking, an hour lunch is ridiculous), I had glitter EVERYWHERE, seven cards that read "Happy Teachers Bay" (still working on the difference in B's and D's) and books spread out across the floor. Thankfully, I'm the non traditional teacher that gets to send kids back to their normal classes when the bells rings. THANK GOD!
Oh yea....And they got ahold of my camera also. They LOVE taking pictures for themselves. Here is the aftermath. I love my life.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Down for the Count
I have risen from the dead...officially. I returned to work today after a short illness that hasn't been identified. Last Wednesday I was sitting at my desk at work and all of a suddenly started feeling really bad. Thankfully the bus was running fast that day and I got home in plenty of time to puke by breakfast up. I spent the rest of the day asleep in bed while I shivered a 102 degree temperature. At first I was convinced that it was the water, as we have had so much rain and I got lazy with boiling my water. But then after looking up the symptoms of Dengue Fever, its a good chance that's actually what I had. I spent Wed-Fri in bed with a fever, chills, aches and of course plenty of puking. Thankfully I started to feel semi normal Saturday. I'm kind of anti-doctors, especially here, so my stubborn self didn't dare go near the place. BUT, good news is...I'm back to full health and ready to see my school children tomorrow!!!
Thank you everyone who sent their well wishes during my sickness, you are much appreciated!
Thank you everyone who sent their well wishes during my sickness, you are much appreciated!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Teacher Mack? Its got a ring to it...
Coming into the Peace Corps I had been warned about the importance of keeping an open mind to ANY situation that you are exposed to. Today, I learned just that. For quite some time now, primary school has been asking me to do some literacy work with students. I'm thinking some pull out small groups work, reading books, etc. I've never been a teacher before and DON'T plan on being one. I love my teacher friends, but it's not my calling and something I'm just not talented at I suppose.
So I walk into school today and was approached by three teachers who had a "surprise". What is the surprise you ask? This...
Yep, you see right. I received MY OWN classroom. Now if that isn't scary I'm not sure what is. It may not look like a classic American classroom, but its MINE and i LOVEEEEEEE it. Its a converted hallway that used to be the lunch room? Not quite sure how this 6 ft wide area was a lunch room, but I didn't ask questions. I have fallen in love with this area and can't wait to turn it into a non traditional literacy room. I'm going to try and find a rug or carpet to make a little reading area so the kids can get out of their desks and lounge around while reading. Its not often that kids are allowed to be, well, kids. School is very structured and "sit in your seat" kind of organization.
My project now has' been making resources (ie: letter cards, games, sight words), decorating the "area" and making it kid friendly. I hope to get some funding for paint so that we can paint kid friendly stuff on the walls with the help of an artistic volunteer.
It's strange to think my excitement is growing by the day considering I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING!!! haha. I have been searching the internet for just about everything literacy related for K-3 graders. For some reason typing in "how to teach" into google doesn't bring up any helpful resources. hmmm? ha. But regardless, I'm so excited to give these students an opportunity for one-on-one help in reading. So many students in Grenada make it all the way through secondary school never being able to read. It's a sad reality we are trying to combat at a young age so that students graduate able to read and prepared for the future.
As the Peace Corps motto says...."The hardest job you'll ever love"
So I walk into school today and was approached by three teachers who had a "surprise". What is the surprise you ask? This...
Yep, you see right. I received MY OWN classroom. Now if that isn't scary I'm not sure what is. It may not look like a classic American classroom, but its MINE and i LOVEEEEEEE it. Its a converted hallway that used to be the lunch room? Not quite sure how this 6 ft wide area was a lunch room, but I didn't ask questions. I have fallen in love with this area and can't wait to turn it into a non traditional literacy room. I'm going to try and find a rug or carpet to make a little reading area so the kids can get out of their desks and lounge around while reading. Its not often that kids are allowed to be, well, kids. School is very structured and "sit in your seat" kind of organization.
My project now has' been making resources (ie: letter cards, games, sight words), decorating the "area" and making it kid friendly. I hope to get some funding for paint so that we can paint kid friendly stuff on the walls with the help of an artistic volunteer.
It's strange to think my excitement is growing by the day considering I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING!!! haha. I have been searching the internet for just about everything literacy related for K-3 graders. For some reason typing in "how to teach" into google doesn't bring up any helpful resources. hmmm? ha. But regardless, I'm so excited to give these students an opportunity for one-on-one help in reading. So many students in Grenada make it all the way through secondary school never being able to read. It's a sad reality we are trying to combat at a young age so that students graduate able to read and prepared for the future.
As the Peace Corps motto says...."The hardest job you'll ever love"
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Breaking Rules
I have a confession...
I broke a culture norm today. ohhhhhhhhhh!!!!! busted me!
Let me explain first. I worked at my primary school today and man was it a hectic day. I was testing students reading levels all day, a task that is very repetitive and exhausting. I promised myself that I had to pay my electric bill today, as it was due 2 days ago (they aren't big on paying on time here). I couldn't just go to town to pay a bill and that only, so I squeezed in my weekly roti lunch. As I was eating it started to rain which isn't unusual for rainy season in the tropics. As I waited on the rain to pass I kept glancing at my watch to notice the time ticking away towards 3pm. Grenlec, the electricity company here in Grenada has an office in town and it strictly closes at 3pm. The last time I looked down at my walk before leaving the roti shop it was 2:40pm, I had 20 minutes to go a little bit of a ways.
I braved the last sprinkles coming from the sky and started my journey to the electric company. Now that I have been here a six months I have learned a few short cuts to avoid hills, creepy men and vendors. There is one downfall to this particular short cut; I have to walk through a tunnel that allows one way traffic and pedestrians. Scary? Kind of, but its worth it to bypass the hills, creepy men and vendors. As I walk through the tunnel and notice no one is coming towards me the other way, as usually is, and I wonder why until I put two and two together and realize the other end of the tunnel is completely flooded. Here were my two options:
1. Break cultural norms by hiking up my britches and wading through the ankle deep water.
2. Turn around and walk the quarter of a mile detour through the city.
Disclaimer: Grenadians HATE rain. I hear repeatedly "We arent scared of guns, but we are scared to death of rain".
Which would you take? Be the strange white girl walking through a tunnel with her pants hiked up, dress shoes still on while trying to make it to the electric company with 5 minutes to spare? Or would you turn around and take the detour with the potential of not paying your bill that's already two days late?
Well if you chose number 1 you win a prize, because that's EXACTLY what I did. After a few strange stares from locals, one guy that said "you crazy white girl", and some giggles from children I was through the tunnel and on my way to Grenlec. Thankfully I made it with 5 minutes to spare, wet shoes and all. SUCCESS!!!!
After that event I thought it just couldn't get any better, but man was I wrong. Let me highlight a few of the "wow" moments of the day:
1. I had a girl puke in my class this morning right after talking about if you feel sick to always just run outside, NEVER sit at your desk and puke on yourself. We are still working on listening skills.
2. While waiting on the bus at the terminal I was observing people walking by and noticed a man with nothing but his boxer brief underwear on, walking down the middle of the road then stopping, raising his hands in the air in the middle of traffic, screaming something and then wrote the word STOP on the concrete, spelled STOPP!
3. I broke a bowl in the sink this evening while washing dishes. It cut me in a complete circle shape on my finger. Weird?
Always an eventful day in Grenada...
I broke a culture norm today. ohhhhhhhhhh!!!!! busted me!
Let me explain first. I worked at my primary school today and man was it a hectic day. I was testing students reading levels all day, a task that is very repetitive and exhausting. I promised myself that I had to pay my electric bill today, as it was due 2 days ago (they aren't big on paying on time here). I couldn't just go to town to pay a bill and that only, so I squeezed in my weekly roti lunch. As I was eating it started to rain which isn't unusual for rainy season in the tropics. As I waited on the rain to pass I kept glancing at my watch to notice the time ticking away towards 3pm. Grenlec, the electricity company here in Grenada has an office in town and it strictly closes at 3pm. The last time I looked down at my walk before leaving the roti shop it was 2:40pm, I had 20 minutes to go a little bit of a ways.
I braved the last sprinkles coming from the sky and started my journey to the electric company. Now that I have been here a six months I have learned a few short cuts to avoid hills, creepy men and vendors. There is one downfall to this particular short cut; I have to walk through a tunnel that allows one way traffic and pedestrians. Scary? Kind of, but its worth it to bypass the hills, creepy men and vendors. As I walk through the tunnel and notice no one is coming towards me the other way, as usually is, and I wonder why until I put two and two together and realize the other end of the tunnel is completely flooded. Here were my two options:
1. Break cultural norms by hiking up my britches and wading through the ankle deep water.
2. Turn around and walk the quarter of a mile detour through the city.
Disclaimer: Grenadians HATE rain. I hear repeatedly "We arent scared of guns, but we are scared to death of rain".
Which would you take? Be the strange white girl walking through a tunnel with her pants hiked up, dress shoes still on while trying to make it to the electric company with 5 minutes to spare? Or would you turn around and take the detour with the potential of not paying your bill that's already two days late?
Well if you chose number 1 you win a prize, because that's EXACTLY what I did. After a few strange stares from locals, one guy that said "you crazy white girl", and some giggles from children I was through the tunnel and on my way to Grenlec. Thankfully I made it with 5 minutes to spare, wet shoes and all. SUCCESS!!!!
After that event I thought it just couldn't get any better, but man was I wrong. Let me highlight a few of the "wow" moments of the day:
1. I had a girl puke in my class this morning right after talking about if you feel sick to always just run outside, NEVER sit at your desk and puke on yourself. We are still working on listening skills.
2. While waiting on the bus at the terminal I was observing people walking by and noticed a man with nothing but his boxer brief underwear on, walking down the middle of the road then stopping, raising his hands in the air in the middle of traffic, screaming something and then wrote the word STOP on the concrete, spelled STOPP!
3. I broke a bowl in the sink this evening while washing dishes. It cut me in a complete circle shape on my finger. Weird?
Always an eventful day in Grenada...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Visitor #2 and School Starts!
Excuse my lack of updates for all of you religious followers of mine. My life has been crazy hectic since I last checked in and I hope this post makes up for all of that lost time.
One of my best friends Ali came to visit me ALLLLLL the way from Topeka, Kansas Sept 1st-7th. It was the perfect time and I was so happy to show a best friend Caribbean culture. We spent her first day at the beach of course, enjoying the beautiful weather, sand in all the places you don't want it and the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. I don't get to see the ocean as much as I would like because I'm so busy with work, so anytime I can break away for a day of relaxation I just right on it. I introduced her to roti's, which are a burrito like thing with veggies, curry and chicken. We made sure to do a little hiking and man was it exhausting. The other volunteers informed me it was a short hike, maybe 45 minutes or so. LIARS!!!! That damn hike took nearly 2 hours, 4 total. It might of been because I'm not in the shape they are, but one of the other volunteers even said it was hard. Note to self: never listen to skinny Peace Corps Volunteers!
Sadly, Ali's time here is over and now its time for me to get back to focusing on work. School started here on the 6th of September and I was so excited to see my new students. I went in over the break with Ali and handed out school supplies to grateful teachers and heard many many thank you's, so for anyone who has donated to my school, THANK YOU! My classroom teacher was so grateful and excited to get to use all the supplies. She just kept smiling and saying we were going to do this and this and this. It was a great feeling. The relationship between my counterpart teacher and myself has dramatically increased since last school term and its making me feel really good about the work I'm doing. Over summer break she called multiple times and even got to meet my family while they were here. This year is going to be a great year and I'm really excited about the things to come at St. Pauls Primary School.
Work at GNOW has slowed down a bit after completing my project proposal for UNIFEM, so I was really excited to get into school mode. With the international economy being so terrible, the NGO's are struggling more then ever to sustain projects and keep the doors open. This makes our job as development workers even harder because in order to promote new ideas and projects you have to have some funding available. That funding is drying up in the region and making my work even more hard. I hope in the coming months as tourist season kicks back in gear Grenada can get back on its feet and the cash flow will increase.
That's all for now. I promise to be better about updating this from now on. I will have some good things coming since school is back in session. Stay tuned...
One of my best friends Ali came to visit me ALLLLLL the way from Topeka, Kansas Sept 1st-7th. It was the perfect time and I was so happy to show a best friend Caribbean culture. We spent her first day at the beach of course, enjoying the beautiful weather, sand in all the places you don't want it and the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. I don't get to see the ocean as much as I would like because I'm so busy with work, so anytime I can break away for a day of relaxation I just right on it. I introduced her to roti's, which are a burrito like thing with veggies, curry and chicken. We made sure to do a little hiking and man was it exhausting. The other volunteers informed me it was a short hike, maybe 45 minutes or so. LIARS!!!! That damn hike took nearly 2 hours, 4 total. It might of been because I'm not in the shape they are, but one of the other volunteers even said it was hard. Note to self: never listen to skinny Peace Corps Volunteers!
Sadly, Ali's time here is over and now its time for me to get back to focusing on work. School started here on the 6th of September and I was so excited to see my new students. I went in over the break with Ali and handed out school supplies to grateful teachers and heard many many thank you's, so for anyone who has donated to my school, THANK YOU! My classroom teacher was so grateful and excited to get to use all the supplies. She just kept smiling and saying we were going to do this and this and this. It was a great feeling. The relationship between my counterpart teacher and myself has dramatically increased since last school term and its making me feel really good about the work I'm doing. Over summer break she called multiple times and even got to meet my family while they were here. This year is going to be a great year and I'm really excited about the things to come at St. Pauls Primary School.
Work at GNOW has slowed down a bit after completing my project proposal for UNIFEM, so I was really excited to get into school mode. With the international economy being so terrible, the NGO's are struggling more then ever to sustain projects and keep the doors open. This makes our job as development workers even harder because in order to promote new ideas and projects you have to have some funding available. That funding is drying up in the region and making my work even more hard. I hope in the coming months as tourist season kicks back in gear Grenada can get back on its feet and the cash flow will increase.
That's all for now. I promise to be better about updating this from now on. I will have some good things coming since school is back in session. Stay tuned...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Grant Writing
I wish I had another funny story to tell you, but this had me excited and I felt it was time to share.
I started writing a grant for a project about a month ago for a domestic violence campaign. I'm not sure if any of you have written a grant but its not fun, its tedious and extremely time consuming. I was excited about the potential of this project if we were awarded the grant. Oh ya, that's the other part, the call for proposals were sent to over 50 people for an original project idea and only THREE organizations will be awarded 10,000 US dollars. I have a one in 16.666666666666 chance of receiving the grant that's taken me a month to write.
Not only was I consumed with writing this grant, I was also stressing over having my mom and aunt here in the middle of writing it. Thankfully I squeezed in work and play time, but only really procrastinated the completion. On Friday another volunteer and I were working on the grant when we started feeding off each others thoughts (we do this well) and realized we had multiple projects with no single big overlying idea. There are radio appearances, door to door campaigns, workshops, protests and community meetings. But no big idea to tie all of these strings together, so we started searching the internet for something big and BAM...This is the idea we are going to try to imitate here in small Grenada.
Awesome right? Grenada doesn't have a single building that's over 6 stories, so making that project 8 stories is impossible. We hope to downsize the faces a bit and make this project possible. I'm so excited to have the grant OFF of my hands and in the hands of UNIFEM, and I would be so ecstatic if we were awarded one of the grants. This project coincides with the 16 Days of Activism, related to stopping violence against women. Each year from November 25th to December 10th, countries all over the world commit to 16 days of activities related to ending violence against women. We hope to continue that tradition in Grenada this year.
Wish me luck!
Ps. My dear friend Ali arrives on island on WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I started writing a grant for a project about a month ago for a domestic violence campaign. I'm not sure if any of you have written a grant but its not fun, its tedious and extremely time consuming. I was excited about the potential of this project if we were awarded the grant. Oh ya, that's the other part, the call for proposals were sent to over 50 people for an original project idea and only THREE organizations will be awarded 10,000 US dollars. I have a one in 16.666666666666 chance of receiving the grant that's taken me a month to write.
Not only was I consumed with writing this grant, I was also stressing over having my mom and aunt here in the middle of writing it. Thankfully I squeezed in work and play time, but only really procrastinated the completion. On Friday another volunteer and I were working on the grant when we started feeding off each others thoughts (we do this well) and realized we had multiple projects with no single big overlying idea. There are radio appearances, door to door campaigns, workshops, protests and community meetings. But no big idea to tie all of these strings together, so we started searching the internet for something big and BAM...This is the idea we are going to try to imitate here in small Grenada.
Awesome right? Grenada doesn't have a single building that's over 6 stories, so making that project 8 stories is impossible. We hope to downsize the faces a bit and make this project possible. I'm so excited to have the grant OFF of my hands and in the hands of UNIFEM, and I would be so ecstatic if we were awarded one of the grants. This project coincides with the 16 Days of Activism, related to stopping violence against women. Each year from November 25th to December 10th, countries all over the world commit to 16 days of activities related to ending violence against women. We hope to continue that tradition in Grenada this year.
Wish me luck!
Ps. My dear friend Ali arrives on island on WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!
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