Mama Tara and Term 3

This week Term 3 is ending, and boy has it been “interesting.”
As you know, I live with Poughie, another local teacher, and up until this term her 15 year old son has been away at boarding school. However, this term he stayed with us and commuted. Thus, throughout term 3, I have heard the daily call of “Mama Tara…” As in “Mama Tara, can I have 50 rand ($7) for a field trip tomorrow?” (Yes, if you rake the leaves in the yard, sweep and polish the stoop, and wash my car.) “Mama Tara, can I borrow your car?” (You are 15, have NO license and NO insurance, so uh… NO!!) Having had a few pseudo-parenting experiences, I salute those of you who have raised teenagers or are going to (good luck)!
Term 3 brought on new teaching challenges too. I took on the grade 12s which has been quite difficult. They are suffering from major senioritis and yet have to take matric exams. The trial exams were pretty dismal; I only hope they will attend classes in October before the November final exams begin. (I have been told that seeing them in October is unlikely though. So not only are they not attending class, they spend their time forgetting anything they did learn, with the conclusion being failing (not progressing) marks. I have to be hopeful though.) On the flip side, my grade 10s and 11s are showing nice improvement. Over 80% of students are passing my class, most with a 40 or above (my goal for the term), and a few above 70 (yeah!). I did have a setback with the grade 11 research papers (essentially most of the papers were entirely “quotes”!), but I really think they have little to no practice in writing research papers or formal essays, especially in English and about Science. If only I had more time with them…
If only… If only has been a bit of a theme this term. If only the school had a couple of laptops, if only we had a library (or even access to one), if only class wasn’t cancelled AGAIN for a meeting, if only the washing machine would not flood the house, if only it wasn’t so windy and dusty, if only my apartment building in NYC wasn’t sold, if only…
Despite the ups and downs, term 3 had some great moments… handing back passing exams to grade 10s and 11s and watching them share their marks smiling proudly, going to Kruger Park (finally!), getting beautiful Zulu beads in KZN, Women’s Day ride and friendship, Sports Day braii and jiving, dressing in school uniform for fund raiser, swimming at Bela Bela, tasting new wines (Roodeberg vineyard is new fav), learning a little Sepedi from my learners and co-workers [who are very appreciative and supportive even with my mistakes, like when I called to the principal in Sepedi, “Good morning , chicken of the school” (chicken and head sound very similar, oops)], SMSing (texting) my fellow Fulbrighters (who have certainly heard a lot from me this term, talk about squeaky wheel – thanks all!), really using the lab equipment to make lessons, learning and teaching more fun for all, and even going to or driving my car to all but 1 province (Northern Province, you are last on my list, but I will get there), and so much more …
With the end of term 3 (I am over halfway done my marking), I will be off with fellow Fulbrighter, Aminah, to Victoria Falls for a nice break and some R&R. More later all…

De Beers

Cullinan Diamond Mine, home of the world's largest diamond. A couple of weeks ago, I took my grade 11 learners to the mine for a trip (mining is part of the physical science curriculum). It was a really nice day and it was pretty interesting to see a working mine (though we couldn't go down in the mine, bummer). My learners asked great questions and the guides said they were the best school group that they had had in ages. (my learners rock!) We saw the whole process and learned about kimberlite, a soft type of rock where diamonds are found (named after the town in SA, Kimberly). We learned that the Cullinan Diamond (the largest) had been used as a paperweight for a while in the office, until someone realized that even though is was unusually big, it could be a diamond. This was back in the early 1900s. A great day.

Death cases

Most of my blogs have been upbeat... ok , alarmingly positive. And mostly my experience has been amazing. However, life comes with ups and downs. Last week, two different teachers here each lost their brother, and there was also another teacher who had an unveiling of a tombstone for one of her family members as well. A few of us spent several hours travelling to the family homes and visiting with the teachers for a while. Funerals are such a regular occurance here, some people I know have a funeral to go to almost every weekend. Many of you may be thinking of HIV/AIDS, but I honestly do not know -- people here rarely mention (at least to me) if someone has died of AIDS, though sometimes they will hold up 3 fingers, and this signifies that the person died of AIDS.

Spring Day!

(left pic, zulu beads I bought in KZN, middle pic spring day attire, right pic sports day, we won!)

Winter is finally over. The wind storms here are really stirring up the dust though. I travelled to KZN (Kwa Zulu Natal) to visit another US Fulbrighter's school in New Castle. The appearance of the school is much nicer than my school, yet the same problems are apparent. Learners bunking or dodging classes -- such a problem, especially now that we are in third term (they are tired of school) and now that Spring is in the air. While in KZN, I went to a small, local Nature Reserve where I saw Oribi (deer/antelope family, I assumed) roaming and running through the fields. It was so cool to see the group leaping through the air as they travelled through the savannah (plains?, field?, not sure which is more correct). Also, I bought some beautiful Zulu beads for me and my friends in Mpumalanga.
Yesterday was September 1st, Labor Day for you all, but Spring Day here. The staff and learners were dressed in bright colors (despite the cold snap in the morning) and after school as I drove home learners were "showering" each other with buckets of water and having a great time ushering in the spring season. Happy Spring Everyone!

School spirit!

(Left Mathepelo, one of my very own grade 10 learners won the Miss King Makhosonke contest)

The last few weeks have been filled with school spirit, as learners are in the middle of term three and face upcoming weeks filled with tests and national exams. The first big event was Sports Day. It was a lovely spring Saturday, as my friend Sma and I (we were the catering committee) arrived at school bright and early to chop and cook the biggest salads and pot of pap I have ever seen. Then by noon, the sporting events began: soccer, volleyball, netball, and debate (still not sure how that got added in). My personal favorite was netball which is kind of like basketball without the dribbling. In between matches, a few teachers and learners tried to teach me; let’s just say I will not be on the Olympic netball team anytime soon (I made one basket out of about 50 tries!) When the events were over the teachers from our school and the competing school had a braii (barbecue) with wine, beer, music and jiving. A really good time. I have a new favorite SA singer, Ringo and the song “All the Way from Soweto” was my favorite song of the day.
The following week, as a fundraiser for the 12th grade matric dance (prom), teachers, clerks, and cleaning staff, wore the school uniform for the day. It was so funny seeing everyone dressed like the kids; lots of pics were taken by kids and staff alike. The learners said we all looked so good, that we should wear the uniform everyday. Uh…no thanks. Lots of laughs though.

The week ended with a Women’s Day trip to Johannesburg. The combi we rented for the day was the best part, we sang and even danced a little to Ringo and Avatar DVD concert and chatted and laughed the whole ride, as we received SMS (text messages on our phones) from colleagues and friends sending empowering messages or thoughtful quotes about Women’s Day. Women’s Day is a national holiday, founded on the part women played in fighting apartheid. On this day in 1956 some 20,000 women marched to the Union [government] Buildings in Pretoria to protest against a law requiring black women to carry passes. This day is celebrated as a reminder of the contribution made by women to society, the achievements that have been made for women's rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face. The women I work with want to plan another women only trip, next time a retreat weekend.
Lastly, the school had another fundraiser/motivational event – Mr and Miss King Makhosonke Contest; basically, a beauty pageant. To keep the audience interested between events, other students performed: poetry (I was on the poetry committee), traditional dance, free-style rap, drama, gospel choir, cultural spear group, and more. Now, for a few laughs at the expense of teenagers everywhere… the question and answer portion of the beauty contest brought out the nerves in a couple of unfortunate learners… The question was "What is a major cause of pollution?” After several minutes of asking for the question to be repeated and stalling, she went to the microphone and replied, “A major cause of pollution is sexual harassment.” Poor thing, and in front of all her friends. One of the young men did not fare that well either. One of his questions was, “What is your favorite dish?” He stepped up and said, “Tupperware.” You gotta love kids! (Hope to have pics of me and staff in school uniforms soon!)