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Yesterday we taught the P4 Class about the water cycle. Mrs. VanMeter would have been proud because we had the perfect set for introducing our lesson plan: the monsoon that took place on Monday Night. We asked the students about the weather the night before and explained the water cycle on the board. The P4 Class is generally very unresponsive so it makes it difficult to tell if they are understanding the lesson. When we received blank stares after asking what precipitation was, we decided to try a different approach. We had the students repeat a simple definition for the three terms and once they could re-tell it to us we had them draw the water cycle. I was really excited at the end of class because we drew the water cycle on the board and had the students volunteer to write in the missing terms. Everyone in the class raised their hands! It was very exciting!
Mizungu: means white person in Ruturro. It isn't meant in a derrogatory way, just more as a statement.
My students in Nursery Baby discovered this word today... or at least came to the realization that I was in fact white because when I went out to recess today they all flocked around me and started chanting Mizungu and grabbing my arm so I would play with them. It was kind of funny> I just laughed and said it back to them which they seemed to think was hilarious. Then I played tag with them. I also climbed to the top of their slide until about forty other students decided to come up there with me on the platform and it became just a tad squished. Then I had to manuever my way down the slide by sliding down half standing and going backwards. Their slide is about a foot wide and definitely not made for someone with hips. Today my class used the dry erase boards we brought for the first time. They absolutely loved them and the best part about it was the fact that it kept them so focused and on task. We practiced writing the letter a. Many of my students don't know how to hold their pencil or position their pencil
Sometimes when we are running people will shout Mizungu at us. Yesterday when I was running we passed this group of little kids. Sometimes the little children along the road will run behind us giggling for one or two minutes before going back home. There were about four or five little children, no older than 2 or 3, and they all shouted Mizungu at me and were jumping up and down and waving, etc.. So on way back to the convent I ran over to them to say hi. One little boy grabbed my hand and leg and was trying to take me home with him. I told them I had to go, but when I left they were all cheering as if they had won the lottery. It's interesting because when I'm running people are always shouting Webale... which means thank you. I never understand why they are thanking me or why the kids get so excited, but the sisters say that to some people here it's a huge deal to touch a white person. It makes you feel appreciated, yet I almost feel guilty because I'm not so special that they should feel honored to touch my hand. Being surrounded by people who find such happiness in the simplest things definitely makes you stop and think about what is important in your own life.
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