Settling In

So I am now officially a volunteer! Swore in the other day and left the comforts of Okahandja for my permanent site at Coblenz. Unfortunately, I still won’t be teaching until January, the wait is killing me. When I do get a chance to jump on the internet I like reading up on all the teacher updates from my UCI friends. I would like to be able to add some conversation about the struggles of teaching and vent a little as well, I feel like I’m missing out!

So for the next six weeks I am supposed to establish myself here in Coblenz, observe some classes, and keep myself busy. After those six weeks the school year ends and I get to go to the beach. Its hot as hell and I can’t think of a longer period of time where I wasn’t in the water. I have about a month break so I will be able to make up for all of this  inland living. 

I hope to get a lot of planning done during this down time. I sort of know what subjects I will be teaching, although nothing is ever certain. Teaching is mostly done out of their textbooks which aren’t bad in themselves. Its that teachers do not do any planning really, they just go through the textbook and students are expected to memorize everything. The classes are really boring, but the students do really well for what they are given. If classrooms were run like this in the states the kids would revolt and start throwing things. 

My secondary project is looking like its going to be helping the other teachers develop teaching strategies and some better habits. There are many issues in accomplishing this but I figure I got two years. We’ll see how it develops.

Saw a herd of giraffes the other day driving on the highway and next weekend there is a good chance I will be camping in Etosha national park, google that one.