Harry Butthole Pussy Potter

Hello internet!

How goes life? I hope everything is fine and dandy.

We are nearing the end of term 2 here. Exams started and all that is left for me to do is mark entirely too many projects/tests/papers and pray that my learners pass their exams. I’m keeping my fingers crossed these next two weeks. Though, I must say…being on the teacher end of exams is quite different. If I had my choice, I think I’d rather be on the teacher-side, at least until the marking comes.

I must say, this term has been much better than I really had hoped for. There will always be those challenges and frustrations that you can’t escape, but I’ve really enjoyed, if not most, then a good part of this term. Teaching isn’t always my cup of tea, but the interactions with the learners and staff members was well worth it.

My run is always a highlight of the day. On days when I’m alone, the sunset and peaceful time to myself keeps me in balance. At least a few times a week someone will join me, usually for a few hundred meters. Most often the little ones tag alone. They laugh and have a good time with it. It is hard not to smile when you have a pack of rugrats running after you, having a good time. Once, I had this brand new cow join me for a little ways. Can’t tell you how amusing that was. I will say one thing, cows smell like cows, no matter what continent they live, eat and poop on.

Why did I title my entry after Harry Potter, you ask? (if anyone can tell what the title is quoted from, 10,000 points for you). Well, I re-read number 6 in anticipation of the last book, even if I can’t read it for several months. But also, it was my daily escape from reality this week. This week was kind of rough and an hour with Harry was more enjoyable than an hour of pointless worry. So, I got to thinking if I were an animagus (sp?) what would I be? I can’t say just yet, but it would be something good and preferably blue.

My club has started and I think by next term we will be moving along. I don’t know if it will do any good, but at least it is a place for the learners to relax and have a little fun.

Funny learner moment: The smallest boy I teach, Jeremiah, (he is grade 8 and about the size of a five year old) tried to erase my chalk board the other day….he couldn’t reach half way to the top. He kept jumping with the duster, and just couldn’t make it. He was trying to help and it was real sweet. He has taken to doing this little dance walk whenever he gets walks into/out of/around class.

Take Care blog fans,
-abby

help me one dollar

hello blog fans! a special hello to sister and holly's boy!!!

how are things on your side of the web? i hope all is well. these past few weeks have been great and these past few weeks sucked. i feel like i am really connecting and making a difference to some learners. if i don't teach them anything, at least i am a postive and steady factor in their lives. that is enough to keep me smiling everyday. i also silenced an entire class several times this past week with one stern reprimand. i can't tell you how empowering that felt to little quiet me. :)

at times, it is tough being a woman here. especially a small woman. most times, i just deal with the proposals and attention and demeaning comments/attitudes, but it gets trying. this past week i've had a lot of namibian men moments. it is enough to make a girl avoid all contact with men here. but i don't. i keep things very vanilla boys here and it works with the guys with are "friends". friends is in quotes because women and men don't really become friends like they do it the states. it just doesn't happen.

ending the blog on a happy note. one month from now i will be sunning myself on the beaches of durban :). i'm really looking forward to everything about this trip. i'm visiting evan. i've got a great traveling group (a bit big, but meh...it will make the 2 day bus ride more interesting). curry. sand. and vacation. what could be better?!

take care blog fans

-abby

p.s. "help me one dollar" is the standard i see a white person, white people give us stuff, calling i hear at least 10 times a week. sometimes more.

There's a Snake in my Boots...

heeeeelllllllllooooooo internet,

i haven't exactly been a diligent blogger. i'd like to say, that will change....but probably not. i apologize blogger fans.

Life here is the same as it usually is. get up, walk to school, teach and hope these learners understand at least half of the words leaving my mouth, come home, run, watch a cheesie soap with the roomies, sleep and repeat. yet, i'm still finding something if not entirely interesting, at least amusing everyday. being able to amuse yourself with the simple stuff....big asset in peace corps. often times, it is the run that saves the day. little kids join along for a bit. they laugh and last about 200m, but is a refreshing 200m. amazing that having happy people around for a few minutes will do to the mood.

last week on my run, i saw this baby goat (called a kid, i think). baby goats are so cute. loud, but cute. he was so lost and scared. crying for his mom, running around in this little circle. kind sad, but quite touching. i had to stop. mom was no where i could see, so i said an "awwww" and continued. i'm pretty sure that adorable baby goat is no more. i saw a dog stalking just around the bend. that might make me kind of cold hearted, seeing a helpless animal and running along, even after i saw that dog....but such is life here. animals get eaten. even the cute ones. sorry baby goat. i'm a bitch.

ending on something positive....i'm starting this "club". i'll give more details when i know for certain that it will materialize in all its glory. but, basically, i'm trying to encourage/build self-esteem/maybe impart some great abby-wisdom. there's more to it, details to follow. but, basically, kids (especially OVCs...the members of my little army, i mean club) are beaten in every possible way here. i figured i could do something about it, so i'm going to try. see, i'm not a complete bitch.

i hope all's well in your corner of the world. :)