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So...almost a month in and somehow it feels like I have been here for ages! My feet have permanently turned orange (i found out, much to my disappointment that it isnt a tan as it comes off when i give them a proper scrub!), I am beginning to crave Matooke, which is savoury mashed banana almost tasting like mashed potato, instead of McDonalds...although i can't seem to get away from the chocolate cravings! ...And i seem to be finally learning peoples names, after finally understanding that they say their surname first and I didnt have to learn lots of bizarre african tribal surnames!
Me and Becky are settleing to life here and beginning to come acustom to the habbits and ways of the people...like continous handshakes, saying 'how are you?' EVERY time you see someone whether it was 3 minutes ago or 3 days! The main highlight for me has definitely got to be teaching as although English Grammar has to be the most boring thing in the world the students always seem to be interested in what you are saying...either that or they are very good at pretending! I think the new slightly more energetic, imaginative style of teaching is something a bit different as 11 lessons a day of being taught at gets a bit boring as we found out after sitting in on some lessons! So games like Simon Says, ans 'Splat' have been massive hits and brought out some very interesting sides to the children! I am starting to learn alot more english grammar myself...although if anyone can tell me what a Gerrund phrase is i would be very grateful as i have to teach it and havent a clue!! I am having to become more imaginative when explaining words as after trying to think of many different ways to explain onomatopoeia to the children dropping a dictionary on the floor did a much better job! (although now everytime it comes to literature someone drops a book on the floor!)
On Thursday 16th we were lucky enough to go on the school tour to the west in which we passed Fort Portal and visited the strangely named 'Mountain of the Moon' University...which sounds much more exotic thatn Loughborough! We visited a cement factory, and some copper mines in Kasese which is situated in Mount Rwenzori. Although the trip was really good and very interesting the most contrasting aspect to english school trips definitely had to be the mode of transport!. We spent about 10 hours in a 'taxi' which is basically a mini bus which is meant to hold 14 people and held 21. Our journey was definitely eventful involving several near misses with cyclists and Boda Boda's (motorbikes) in which i pulled a muscle in my leg from trying to press the break pedal so many times. Our driver definitely had small man syndrome and a specific attatchment to his horn which was pressed every time we passed anything!
I wrote in my last entry about my rat problem which has now been sorted and i have made great friends with the cats! However the other night as i was getting into my bed i felt something move by my arm and a small white tail...and to my horror there was a LIZARD in my bed! ...so becky had the pleasure of letting it escape!
I have experienced some strange things whilst teaching and being around the school...firstly a dead parrot circulating my classroon apparently for an art project...although why that involved a boy stroking another boy round the neck with it i am not sure! In english grammar whilst studing adjectives and adverbs the students had to create a newspaper article or advert for a holiday which i have now made a display for...most of the students picked a football match or some kind of crime the strangest headline i received was 'Man Bonks Pavement' ...which although the student used extremely descriptive and graphic language they seemed to find no problem with such a strange healine explicitly descriding a fetish for plastic bin bags! (this is definitley the weirdest thing I have encountered!) The last point which is not quite so comical is the corporal punishment which unfortunately happens in the school. We had our first encounter of seeing some students being beaten which was one of the hardest things i have ever seen knowing that there was nothing i could do but it made me feel so angry and sick and not really knowing how to react. Although we could be missing something major the problems which the children are causing do not need to be delt with and this has definitely been the hardest thing to deal with.
So that is from me now...life goes on here teaching and eating is all we seem to do!!
I will hopefully write soon, i hope eveyone is well at home!
Love N xxxx
- comments
Patricia Great to read your blog Naomi. I am in total awe of you... think you are extremely brave and amazing!! I travelled on my own to Turkey for a weeks holiday... that was scary enough for me. Much love Pat xxx
Auntie Rach (!) OK so tried to understand a gerund phrase for you but gave up - sorry far too complicated!! Glad you doing ok and sounds like you having fun - boys think your orange feet very funny!!! Take care and will email you soon. BIG LOVE AND HUGS xxxxxxxxx
Tracey S Hi Naomi really enjoying reading your blogs so far they have made me smile, laugh out loud and now almost cry! Keep doing what your doing it sounds amazing fun and an experience that you will remember forever xxx
Jo So interesting to read your blogs! Never heard of a Gerrund phrase but a good definition on http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/gerunds.html ! Love and hugs xxx
Maddy A Gerund: a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you?. Sounds amazing Naomi, missing you lots, and looking forward to reading your next blog! Lots of love xxxx