Primary here is kindergarten through 8th grade, so that accounts for the 900 kids that are on campus. It is a full school house and it has the basics: rooms and shared desks. The staff is short by about a third so the 40 kids per class is really closer to 50+. So yes, a few more hands are in order! There are no books in the hands of students; lesson is written on the board. Paper is supplied by the school in small exercise books. There is a real strictness which keeps the whole place from running amok. There was a certain fascination with my white-ness in the first days....Bery in my class kept trying to rub the color from one of us! I took the Special Ed unit which is only a few students and now that we are at the end of the second week, we are starting to like each other.....I was definitely the substitute teacher at first, but took the room in hand and now I am catching on....but please keep in mind, that the kids in my room have some challenges, not the least of which is an English-speaking teacher! I am getting good at pictures and repetition. The kids wear uniforms, but don't confuse that with they look alike. The uniforms are in various states of disrepair, dirty, fit, buttons/not...feet may be bare or not! Interestingly all girls have short hair and so the best way to tell the girls from the boys is the dress/trousers!
Many have asked what to send and that is a tougher question than you might imagine. In my room, I bought some pencils to have on hand and a big eraser....all gone in moments. There is a search and destroy element that makes it hard to keep anything on hand.My Paul will eat anything, including the wooden alphabet letters......you get the idea. Please keep the thought as I may catch on to perks, but that is a work in progress.
The word on the street is that tomorrow, Friday February 5, is moving day...our house is very nice and spacious so will share details when we arrive!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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Happy Moving Day! Hope all went well. Am looking forward to hearing about your new quarters. Sounds like you have a few plates in the air to keep spinning. Miss you. Hanner
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of new houses in the Morse fam these days...from Dallas to Kakamega!! We are thinking of you this weekend cozy in your new house...can't wait to hear all about it! Lots of love and keep the updates coming....Rebecca and Tyler
ReplyDeletewill look forward to reading more...you are an inspiration!
ReplyDeletexox
kathy and tom
You really are having an amazing experience. Could I send you some school supplies or $ for them. While tutoring reading haveI realized the importance of sharp pencils and erasers. Los Angeles is catching up with our rainfall and we are missing the sun and warmer days here. Thanks for keeping us up to date with your life there. We miss you. Anne Green
ReplyDeleteLove your notes from Kenya. Let me know when I can send some school supplies and how many students in your class (or classes). I'm keeping busy with planning the 50th anniversary of RHUMC, family stuff and seeing all the Oscar nominated movies - so shallow compared to your adventure, but I will live vicariously through you. Stay healthy and keep the notes coming.
ReplyDeleteLove and God bless,
Maureen
YOu have certainly made progress, Rox. I am relieved to hear your student didn't rub off your whiteness - we like you as is. And it sounds like you have some fun characters to hang with. Could this be a book in the making? I am Miss April so start considering book selections. (Perhaps the first choice was too incendiary for local censors?) YOur new digs sould great - enjoy your new home!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Suzanne