Day #1 down

8/10/11

Whoever had the brilliant idea of starting elementary school at 7:10am needs to be taken out back and beaten! My alarm woke me from a somewhat restless sleep (still getting used to all the random apartment noises) at 5:00 this morning, and after snoozing only twice (good for me!), I stumbled out of bed. The chilly temperature snapped me awake long enough to turn the hot water on and step into the shower, where I stayed for quiet awhile because the idea of stepping back out into my cold apartment made me shiver despite the steam! Yes, it gets cold in S.Africa!

I gave myself plenty of time to get ready, have a good breakfast – egg sandwich, of course, write Chelsea a good luck card for her first day as an official teacher (which I stuck on the left side window of her car thinking she’d see it when she opened the door, completely forgetting we drive on the right side here!), and make it to school by 6:45am. No carpooling this morning; the Borgo ladies drove separately, so it was a quiet 12-minute drive. I used the time to mentally prepare for what was, undoubtedly, going to be my most unique first day to date.

Unique it was! Let me start defending this adjective by sharing with you my class list:

Marius (England), Mafalda (Portugal – no English), Njogu (Washington, DC), Daniele (SAfrica), Aviv (Israel), Sochan(Korea), Thomas (Norway), Hope (Japan/America), YoonJae (Korea), Chenika (SAfrica), Mitchell (Florida), Minyoung (SKorea – no English), Sofie(Germany), Esha (Pakistan), and Valeria(Argentina). These students have more cultural awareness in their lunch boxes than I do in my whole self!

In asking what they did over their holidays, one student shared the name of a place he visited – I had to ask him where it was because I’d never EVER heard of it. Another shared with me that in one month he would be leaving to go to the American International School of such and such (I can’t remember the name he gave), which is in the capital city of Bangladesh. One day in my new classroom, and I can see with so much more clarity just how little diversity there really is in New Hampshire!

Two students were absent today, which left me with only 13 students. They found their voices as the day wore on, but from the moment they walked into the classroom they were completely silent. In my head I was begging them to speak! Minyoung, who speaks almost no English, bowed to me to say good morning. One little boy sat at his table group and read a book while he waited for me to begin the morning (school doesn’t officially start until 7:40am, so the kids trickled in this morning beginning at 7:10). A few parents stayed for a short period to make sure their little one was settled, wished me luck – made me feel very welcomed – and then left to go on their way for the day.

In the US, my students would be talking to each other, playing with anything they could turn into a toy, and asking questions left and right about what to expect. As I turned back to the class after shutting the door behind the last parent to leave, I saw thirteen little bodies turned toward me, sitting silently, waiting for direction. Showtime!

It was truly a great day! In no way am I fooled into thinking that only American students test the waters or push the boundaries, but I can already tell that the classroom presence of an International student is going to be different than that of a traditional public school cherub! Proof: Chenika says to me as we are lining up for Spanish, “Ms. Akerman(we corrected that quickly), when can you give us hard work?” Apparently my Responsive Classroom approach of community building and low stress activities is not challenging enough for some. J

The end of the day came quickly due mainly to the fact that every Wednesday we follow an early dismissal schedule so that we can use the afternoon for professional development. The final hurdle was going to be getting the students onto the appropriate busses. 80% of the 850 students at AISJ ride busses home, so you can imagine how hectic the car park is at 1:30pm. Now, imagine this car park is surrounded by shattered brick, hundreds of SAfrican construction workers dressed in blue jumpsuits carrying slabs of tile, in large quantities, on their heads, and orange caution fencing stretched around the whole perimeter. Sounds hectic, huh?! Well, save a few crying first graders and some anxious cries of “I can’t find my bus!” the whole dismissal went fairly well! Except for Minyoung.

Without the ability to communicate in full sentences with each other, I managed to learn from Minyoung that her mother would be waiting for her at the playground. Well, she wasn’t. So, after a phone call in Korean that made absolutely no sense to me and some makeshift sign language, I was able to deduce that mom would be at the playground soon. Sure enough, fifteen minutes (of complete silence because we couldn't communicate) after the last of the 40 something busses had left the car park, Minyoung’s mom came walking up the sidewalk to gather her daughter. With a bow and a thank you, Minyoung and mom were off. My first day was complete!

I’m laying in bed right now ready to crash. It is incredible how much energy the first day of school can zap from you. I’m wrapped dressed in sweats and a hoodie, wrapped in two blankets and listening to iTunes while I type this post in Word before posting on my blog (have to do all I can to limit internest usage!). I have pressed mute about 10 times because I continue to hear noises that freak me out and need to confirm there is no one breaking into my apartment (I look forward to the day I’m not paranoid so much!). As soon as I shut my light out, I know I’ll find sleep quickly. I’m in South Africa – a fact I keep finding myself in awe of every day – and despite the paranoia, the chilly temperatures, the lack of internet – I am where I need to be. This year is going to be incredible (I hope), and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me. I just wish it didn’t have to start at 5:30 every morning!

Night Before The First Day

My Borgo ladies (the five of us newbies live in a complex called Borgo De Felice) and I gathered at Chelsea’s for dinner tonight. Of course we are all broke from apartment shopping, so dinner was a potluck of rice, beans, and salad….and WINE! Chelsea, my friend from NH, will begin her very first year as a PE teacher at the Middle School (I'm super impressed by her courage and maturity!). Meghan, from North Carolina, will be teaching Spanish for the upper elementary classes. Sam, the Texan, will be joining me on the fourth grade team. Evelyn, our NYC girl, will be spending her days with the little, little ones – PreK. 

We all gathered around Chelsea’s dining room table and talked shop for a bit. Sam left early because as Ev and I pulled out our computers to get some work done, she felt super unproductive and needed to go back to work at her place. Meghan dispersed key advice to me on how to handle the two students in my classroom who will come to me speaking very little to NO English. As Evelyn and I pounded away on our keyboards, Chelsea transferred movies and tv shows she has stored on her hard drive to mine! (very excited about this since I do not own a TV yet!) Throughout the evening, we all found many opportunities to rag on Chelsea for the fact that as a PE teacher she has virtually NO prep work! As she does with everything in life, Chelsea took every joke in stride and with a smile on her face.

Sitting at Chels’ table tonight, I realized how lucky I am to already have such a great support system developing here in SA. Often times, our conversations turn to educational topics and I am happy knowing I am around adults who I can relate with. To balance this, many times our conversations revolve around wine, beer, going out, and boys – which helps remind us all there is more to life than work! I know, with all my heart, these girls are going to be good for me. Especially as I prepare for my first day of school – a time in my life that is always weighted down by my nerves.

I can remember almost every “night before school starts” throughout my (short) teaching career. All of them have included tears ignited by anxiety. What if I can’t handle them? What if something happens I can’t respond to? What will they be like? Will they listen to me? My mum says she remembers similar fears from her teaching days, and I know my colleagues all experience those beginning of the year jitters. As I embark on this new world of teaching in Jo’Burg, I find myself in the same anxious position. However, the one difference is that tonight I haven’t shed a single tear. I don’t know what this means, or if they’ll come as soon as I close the cover of my computer, but I do know that tomorrow marks a new beginning for me in my career. Similar to a roller coaster cresting the first hill, after tomorrow, there is no turning back…I will never be the same, and I can’t wait to find out how this international experience changes me. 

First Run

Sunday, August 7th

Early morning runs are not my thing when the alarm screams at me, but as soon as I’m out the door and moving I love them! This morning I hit the road for my first run in South Africa. It is still winter here, so the temperature was a bit chilly. I dressed in a long sleeve and my running capris (which allowed me to see just how badly I need my shipment to arrive so I can finally shave my legs!! (I’m too cheap to buy a new razor when I know one is coming!)) and met a woman named Tanya who was my tour guide for the morning. Tanya is the Literacy Coach at AISJ and lives in the same complex as me. It sounds cheesy, but as we began running I felt so happy to be back on track! I haven’t run in over two and a half weeks! I worried about the effect of the elevation, but was ready to feel my lungs scream.

We ran through an adjacent complex beginning with a steep downhill. This meant only one thing – there would be a steep uphill in my near future! Well, I was right – there were a few steep uphills, and by steep…I mean STEEP! In addition to climbing these “mountains,” we ran alongside a pretty little river, some incredibly gorgeous homes (which are insanely large), and many crazy squawking birds.

I wish my bird-loving grandmother had been with me – the calls were like nothing I’d ever heard!  There were cute little black and white ones which walked along the grass chatting with each other in a peaceful call, and then there were these ugly, brown ones with long beaks and wide tails. Apparently these birds are called Lories (which is a name I don’t want to associate with annoying brown birds) and their call reminds me very much of a mix between a crow and an owl. Unfortunately, Lories can be found hanging out in the cutaway space between my two bathrooms (this is outdoors – not inside my apartment). Every morning, their obnoxious cackling hoots can be heard loud and clear.

On the way back to my apartment after my run, I heard a new bird call. I almost thought it was a parrot because it’s call mimicked a baby’s cry almost perfectly! I never saw the actual owner of this cry, but I am going to assume it wasn’t a parrot! J Either way, as I opened my door to the apartment with the sun shining brightly above me, I was smiling because my first run reminded me that I’m in a whole new world. I’m looking forward to exploring this world in my sneakers! (don’t worry mum & dad – I’ll be safe; I promise!)

Amazing People

People often tell me or write to me how proud they are of me for going on this adventure. I’ve been told I’m brave. I appreciate all of these comments and titles, and I do feel brave and proud of myself. However, I know in my heart, I would never have been able to commit to this life changing experience, and I will never get through it without the support of my amazing family and friends.

I didn’t need to move to South Africa. I have a wonderful home, supportive family, live-in best friend, an incredibly strong group of friends, and a successful job in New Hampshire. BUT – I did move. I knew I needed this experience in my life. I doubted the decision even before I made it, but every step of the way I have been supported and I have felt loved. It is this love and support from my family and friends that reminds me every day just how lucky I am. I can move 8000 miles away for a couple of years and know that my home - my people J - will always be “there” to welcome me back.

My friends have made sure to tell me how much I will be missed and how jealous they are of my experience. They hide notes in my packed luggage so I’ll find it when I unpack. They remind me that even when I’m sad about what I’m missing, I am gaining so much through my unique experiences here. Many of them have even booked tickets (very expensive tickets) to come visit! They write me messages just to tell me they are thinking of me. I don’t know how I ever got so lucky!

My family has never ceased to amaze me. My brother wrote me an incredibly sweet and motivating letter. He told me he was proud of me – those words settled deep in my heart. My parents have gone to the moon and back for me to make sure I am as safe as I can be, know how loved I am, and feel how proud of me they are. They remind me that this is a once in a lifetime experience and to do everything I can to make it memorable – even if it means I come home having saved no money! They have spent their days buying things and making friends with FedEx to ensure I have everything I need here. Even though I don’t see their faces over Skype (video uses WAY TOO MUCH internet here), I know they are smiling and sending me every ounce of love they can. I truly have the most remarkable parents in the world.

Lastly, there’s Lori. She has been my rock. She may be 8000 miles away, but she has been by my side with every step I have taken since the moment I entered the turnstile at JFK airport alone. She has sent me inspirational quotes, she has asked me about my day on Skype, she has reminded me that I can do this. She inspires me even when I’m not hearing her voice or reading her words. Simply knowing she believes in me gives me everything I need to make every moment of the next two years count. Lori is my world. She is everything I need. (well, I guess a man wouldn’t hurt …but I can get by for a bit ;) ) I go to bed every night and wake up every morning wishing she were just across the hall from me, but I know she is there for me in my heart.

So, as sappy as this post is – it has to be written. You all need to know just how grateful I am for everything. Life is good, and I thank you all for your part in making it that way. 

Beware of Construction

In my interview for this position, Andy (our director) mentioned that the school was in the beginning stages of a 5Year Plan. He described with great enthusiasm the amazing changes the campus would be going through over this time period to expand and increase its capabilities. The campus he envisioned sounded beautiful, and I was excited to see it for myself.

Fast forward six months and I find myself standing on the AISJ campus. It is beautiful with its open courtyards, landscaped lawns, and sprawling buildings. Of course, in order to see these things, you have to be able to look past the piles of torn down stone walls, open ditches in the middle of pathways, the frames of new buildings, the lovely hum of jackhammers splitting stone, the chime of copious hammers slamming nails, and the clouds of stone dust filling the air around every corner. J

Now, don’t get me wrong – I am not upset that the campus is in shambles. I truly believe that once all of the construction is done, this campus will be incredible. However, it is hard not to stand somewhere amongst the whole “mess” and not laugh. School starts on Wednesday, August 10^th, and there are an abundance of construction workers drilling, hammering, carrying stone slabs on their heads, or sometimes even napping next to a picnic table in the courtyard.

I am incredibly impressed with the calm demeanor of all those in charge despite the fact that our campus is not even close to being finished. Even more than this, I am inspired by the adaptability of those teachers in the elementary school who as of today (8/6) still don’t have a classroom! The 3 Kindergarten classes are creating three classrooms within the confines of the library! The positive attitude these teachers and a handful of others who don’t have classrooms is motivational! It reminds me that it doesn’t matter what the room looks like – just the learning and community that takes place inside the 4 walls.

I’m one of the lucky ones down in the Elementary portion of campus – I have a classroom. It is a great size, furnished with desk space and chairs for my 15 students and lots of supplies! We have spent about three days in our rooms attempting to set up and arrive at that state all of us teachers dream of – “ready for day #1.” In the states, I take my time preparing. I have been spoiled, in that I have always had a full month to set up my classroom. Therefore, this fast track to the first day of school has increased my stress level just a bit! BUT – every time I find myself getting a little overwhelmed, I remember that I actually have a classroom to set up . . . it could be worse! 

Soccer Practice (8/3)

I consider myself somewhat of a jock. With most sports I attempt, I can find success in some way or another. My genes have provided me with some coordination, a great cardio vascular system, and a level of energy that supports increased activity. For years I have spent my Monday nights releasing this energy on the field hockey field as part of a co-ed recreational league. I have always loved those hours on the turf.

Now, I find myself in a country obsessed with soccer. Immediately after signing my contract I went into withdrawals imagining a life without field hockey. I packed and shipped my field hockey stick, knowing full well the only real purpose it would serve down here in the land of soccer would be as a weapon to leave by my bed. Although I don’t plan on giving up hope that somewhere I’ll find a league to join down here, I decided the only way to fulfill my need for team sports would be to jump on the bandwagon.

Chelsea, my incredibly motivated and energized travel companion/friend found a soccer team that was in need of players. In an approach to step even further outside my comfort zone and to meet new people, I agreed to join Chelsea and our new friend Beth at a practice this past Wednesday night. Three things scared me: #1 - I haven’t exercised in over two and a half weeks! #2 – My hair elastics are packed in one of my boxes that has yet to arrive in Johannesburg, and we all know how much I sweat!! And finally #3 – I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PLAY SOCCER!

Well, after an hour and a half practice which consisted of laps, sprints, drills, and some 4V4 scrimmaging, I have to report that I didn’t do all that bad! I still MUCH prefer field hockey, but it was such a wonderful experience to join a group of local South Africans and play as a team. Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays, and I definitely think I’ll go back! Why not?! I just hope I don’t break an ankle trying to dribble the damn ball – I’m not ready to experience the South African health care system.

One of the neatest experiences of the evening occurred while we were gathering our things to leave. Beth pointed to the black night and said, “Hey – look at the moon!”  It was a crescent moon, but the exciting part was that the crescent was not facing sideways. It was on the bottom of the moon – almost as if it were the smile drawn on the moon. This was one of those moments where you realize life is different. I found myself confirming my world was upside down. It made me smile.

A Culturally Full Day (7/30)

One of our orientation events was to travel to an African Craft Market called Rosebank Market. This is a HUGE market with crafts, art, food, spices, and so much more! In some ways it resembled a large flee market, but in other ways it was like nothing I have seen before! Aside from driving on the opposite side of the road and car, this trip to Rosebank was incredibly cultural and truly enjoyable!

Walking in to the first “stall,” Chelsea and I immediately started smiling and saying “this is cool!” Everywhere you turned there were African masks, sculptures, beaded jewelry, and so much more. A man approached us immediately, “You my first customers. I give you a good deal!” Time to barter! Chelsea’s first purchase was a African mask keychain – only half the price the man asked for!  We were feeling pretty confident in our bargaining skills!

A few stalls down I picked up a wooden mask with reds, greens, and browns decorating the solemn face. A sweet woman walked up to me, “You my first customer. I give you good deal.” (apparently it didn’t matter what time it was – we were everyone’s first customer!) The woman told me she had made these masks (which later struck me funny seeing as the same masks were in about 15 other stalls all over the market, but anyway…). She explained that these were Zulu masks. One was the female mask and the other the male. In this tribe, there is a tradition that occurs before a couple marries. According to this woman, the woman is taken into the mountains and hidden. Her future husband is then released to go find her. He can marry his partner when he finds her. Now, I don’t know if this is a load of crap fed to me by a woman hoping I’d spend R90 (90 rands = about $15) on her masks, or if it truly is tradition in the Zulu tribe. When internet doesn’t cost a bundle and I have time outside of setting up my classroom, I’ll google it! J Either way, I bought the masks. I had to. For those of you who were at my going away party, my father shared a Zulu farewell song with us, and it seemed only fitting my first African art be a pair of Zulu masks.

After meeting up with Meghan and Evelyn, I spent some more money on three beautiful canvas paintings. They have yet to be stretched on wood because I was too cheap to spend an extra 300 Rand. The artist was at this particular booth, and explained the meaning behind each of his paintings. I bought one that is a couple walking together which is about their partnership (I figure it might give me luck in that department!), one of the others was the silhouette of a woman carrying a water basket on her head– something I have always been fascinated by, and the last was three people dancing, which to me represents energy and happiness. All three are extremely colorful, and I hope will look great on my new walls.

Our day did not stop after we left Rosebank. All 20 of us “new hires” boarded the buses headed toward the township of Soweto (on the way we got to see Soccer City – where the World Cup was played – can’t wait to go to a game!). Soweto is a township in South Africa which has become quite a tourist spot. It is most famous for being the former home of Nelson Mandella, but is also home to many well known South Africans alive and deceased. We only were able to drive through the township because there was no time to get out of the buses, but there is another trip planned where we will be able to get out and tour the area (with a guide). As we drove along the streets, the bus was quiet. We were all looking out the windows completely engaged in the view. Aside from a small of amount of larger brick shacks, most of the homes were run down metal shacks. Most of the roads were dirt and filled with children running from house to house. There were clothes lines strung between homes completely occupying the entire “lawn.” In one backyard (and I use this term loosely because there was no grass), a little boy was kicking a soccer ball at the wall, and beneath his feet was a mound of broken rocks and some garbage. As we passed a small patch of grass behind a fence, we saw a group of young boys playing soccer. In one corner of what must have been the back of a family’s home, a little boy was playing amidst garbage strewn on the ground.

All that I have describe probably makes you cringe, be glad you don’t live like this, or worry for my safety; however, the reason I am writing this is because the feeling we all seemed to share while riding by was one of safety and comfort. It is hard to put into words what feeling emanated from within the metal fences that enclosed Soweto. The word that continued to pop into my mind was community. Everyone seemed happy. The kids were smiling, the neighbors were sitting together in their miniscule backyards, families were walking TOGETHER down the dirt roads. Although I will not travel here alone or at night, there was not a bit of worry in my mind as we drove through. In fact, I found myself smiling at how good life seemed to be for these people despite the outward appearance of their living quarters. Our guide (a woman from AISJ named Donnaselay (sp?)) shared with us that one of the reasons Soweto is so popular with tourists is because of all the famous people who have achieved great things and remained living in the township despite their success. “It’s their home.”

We ended our great day with a catered dinner at our Director’s house. Talk about a contrast to what we saw in Soweto. One of the shacks in Soweto would probably be the size of Andy’s dining room! His house, paid for by the school (well deserved I have to say) is ENORMOUS!! I’m already looking forward to the next staff party! I enjoyed this night because it was a great chance to mingle and get to know (better) the other new hires. I am really looking forward to my time with these people. Not only do many of them come from incredibly diverse backgrounds, but they are all fantastic people (upon first impression). I think I made a great decision coming here! Despite the loneliness at night when I can’t come home and tell anyone about my day, missing my other half, family, and friends – this experience is going to be one of the best challenges I have ever chosen to tackle!