School was to end on Friday August 6, so I planned my trip to South Africa accordingly....silly me. There was a national referendum on Wednesday August 4, so the first change in school closing dates was to Tuesday August 3. But why not take the whole week? So closing was called for Friday July 30.
As the last week of school started, I asked Timothy (head of Special Unit) if I could invite my kids' mamas for a visit to share with them what I teach and why. There was much back and forth and we finally settled on Wednesday July 28 at 11am. Timothy prepared the necessary official school invitation on Tuesday and I sent it home with the kids.
Wednesday dawned and the mamas arrived on time, by African standards (within one hour of the specified time). I am not sure they knew what to make of an open house-type event, but they were cordial and friendly. They all speak good English and I had met 2 of the 3 ladies before. They had a chance to play Memory or Go Fish with their child. I gave them one of their child's work papers to review. We shared lemonade and cookies (known here as juice - pronounce jew-ees - and biscuits) and ended the visit with the kids' favorite dance, the Hokey Pokey. Everyone got into it. I was glad to have them visit at school; Timothy handed out the report cards and that was the end of Term 2, Wednesday July 28.
Tomorrow I am off to Nairobi and Saturday, on to Cape Town. It will be special to visit a country that my parents loved and visited many times over the years. I will also get a chance to drive the Garden Route, hike in Drakensburg, do some game viewing from a lodge with glass-walled rooms, and finish up in Cape Town visiting South African friends, Anta and Gavin Gerhardi. Tune in after September 1st when I will blog again, upon my return to Kakamega and Term 3.
As the last week of school started, I asked Timothy (head of Special Unit) if I could invite my kids' mamas for a visit to share with them what I teach and why. There was much back and forth and we finally settled on Wednesday July 28 at 11am. Timothy prepared the necessary official school invitation on Tuesday and I sent it home with the kids.
Wednesday dawned and the mamas arrived on time, by African standards (within one hour of the specified time). I am not sure they knew what to make of an open house-type event, but they were cordial and friendly. They all speak good English and I had met 2 of the 3 ladies before. They had a chance to play Memory or Go Fish with their child. I gave them one of their child's work papers to review. We shared lemonade and cookies (known here as juice - pronounce jew-ees - and biscuits) and ended the visit with the kids' favorite dance, the Hokey Pokey. Everyone got into it. I was glad to have them visit at school; Timothy handed out the report cards and that was the end of Term 2, Wednesday July 28.
Tomorrow I am off to Nairobi and Saturday, on to Cape Town. It will be special to visit a country that my parents loved and visited many times over the years. I will also get a chance to drive the Garden Route, hike in Drakensburg, do some game viewing from a lodge with glass-walled rooms, and finish up in Cape Town visiting South African friends, Anta and Gavin Gerhardi. Tune in after September 1st when I will blog again, upon my return to Kakamega and Term 3.
Your open house was a great idea, I bet the kids' parents just loved getting to check out the classroom and the teacher! Have a wonderful break - I hope it is both relaxing and full of adventures!! Skype you when you're back...can't wait to hear all about it! xxxx Rebecca
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