Teachin has started

What has happened lately? I have moved away from my observation period in the classrooms and have started teaching in the classrooms as a co-teacher. I have found this to be quite enjoyable because after observing for so long and remaining silent it is quite enjoyable to speak to the students. The observation period was effective and essential because had I just jumped into teaching I would be out of breath trying to speak my mind. Rather, I have been able to priortize what I believe to be some important aspects of teaching here and have chosen to start with these areas in the schools. One issue I am engaging in is getting the teachers to show up and another is being positive (and by being positive I mean not hitting the students). My main objective is to implement learner centered methodologies into the classroom, and while this will be my focus, there are some building blocks that need to be laid as well. The students and teachers currently view being wrong as a failure as opposed to being apart of the learning process. Therefore, classroom participation is minimal and held to a very few kids. I am trying to be overly positive and encouraging in the classroom to get the students comfortable with me and eachother to increase the participation. It's a slow process that I think is working, however we'll hopefully see the differences with time.

I visited our clinic to help pass out Anti-Retro Virals (ARVs help prolong life) to people living with HIV. This, like most of the things I do here, I just sort of fell upon one day, and before you know it, I was trying to give my strongest, hardest, most positive and healing thoughts to a dozen or so of 1 to 5 year olds. Granted, there were mainly adults and my wishes went out to them, but I was not expecting to see little children. Some kids had looks of discontentment that belonged to people ten times their age.

The job here is tough. They did say that this is "the toughest job you'll ever love" but I like to think of it as "the toughest job you'll sometimes like". I am learning new things though. The situations seem hopeless at times, however, the resilience in the children inspire me unexpectedly everyday. They laugh, dance, sing, and play all in the face of hunger, coldness (it's winter here now), sickness, and abuse. When I witness this first hand, I can't help but think how crazy of a world this is, how crazy it is that I am here, but most importantly how crazy it would be if I were anywhere else.

The pictures are of a district track meet (that's the high jump you're seeing, and I got to sleep next to 12 teachers, a goat, and 3 chickens in a classroom for 3 nights for this event), and the other is of Chimusanya and Luangwa High School Futbol Teams (I am in the back row 2nd from the right).

Letter

My family is meeting for a reuinion in Colorado this weekend and I have written them a letter. So, to save me some time, I have copied the letter I have written below. I mention family (it's a family reunion), however I consider my friends part of my family as well. If you're not sure you're my friend, go ahead and assume you are until told otherwise. The pics here are my futbol (soccer) team headin to a game and the knuckle heads I live with or near huntin' for mice aka dinner.

Helloooo everyone. Thank you for coming. I'm glad you all were able to make it on such short notice and are now wondering why I have called you here today. As you can see, I am unable to attend due to some unforeseen circumstances, but have sent my worthy counterpart instead to speak on my behalf. Please listen closely. First and foremost, I miss you and love you all. The back pack that I carry everywhere says Fort Collins, Colorado on it (thank you Alpine Arts) so I am constantly reminded of family and the wonderful times we have had together. For example, there was... willing it to snow one clear night so school was cancelled the next day, playing golf with Uncle Tony, playing cowboys and indians in the mud during a downpour, taking batting practice at the Field of Dreams, whitewater rafting the Colorado River, and Whirly Ball... need I say more. Being so far removed from these places and times have given me a much deeper appreciation for these memories and I find it a very fulfilling past time just trying to think of them. I am very fortunate to have so many wonderful thoughts and I have my family to thank for that. The other night a breeze came into hut, through my mosquito net, and across my face. I was instantly taken to a room on the second story of a house on a corner in Iowa. In that room I was lying on a well used bed, to say the least, and I was tucked into some heavy quilts with just my face exposed. The bedroom window was open and the window by the staircase was open allowing a cool breeze after a warm summer day to pass over my face. Maybe that breeze started there and has just found its way here to find me again. Maybe not. Regardless, the breeze carried with it a reminder that we are energy and are always connected. Sometimes it is something we can't see that reminds us of that. So, in light of being reminded, let me remind you of some important lessons you may have forgotten. They are as follows:
1. The limbs of a Papaya tree are much weaker than they look.
2. You can fall out of a Papaya tree and still live to tell the dangers of fetching papaya.
3. When there are no mirrors, you always look good.
4. Electricity and running water are not overrated.
5. Peanuts taste better when you dig them up yourself.
6. You don't eat as many peanuts when you dig them up yourself.
7. Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. This way you're a mile away when you criticize them, and you have their shoes.
and finally and most importantly
8. There is no fairy godmother that appears when you pick up field mice and bop them on the head.

In conclusion, may these lessons remind us of how we are always together. We are one. We are one team. We are Jodi's team. Utanti Village in the town of Chimusanya in the district of Chongwe in the province of Lusaka in the country of Zambia in the continent of Africa on the planet Earth is on your team. We feel your pain. We hear your laughter.
I love you all.

Grant