First Day=Success

Well we got an extra day off...yesterday due to Eid (the end of Ramadan). I am quite thankful for this as it was nice to sleep in one more day and get things ready for today. We officially had power from 18:00 on Monday to sometime this morning....I was getting spoiled I think! It was hard to believe it was on for that long at one time. Yesterday afternoon I was feeling a bit drowsy from my allergy medicine (my allergies by the way have been going crazy due to all of the dust!) and tried to resist taking a nap but fell asleep reading anyways....this made sleeping last night quite difficult. I was already nervous, anxious, excited for our first day and add not really tired to that= bad combination! I finally fell asleep around 1 or 1:30 and was up every hour and finally got up at 6....thats an early morning after such a long summer holiday!

We had a bit of craziness when it came to getting to school today. There was a bit of confusion as to who all was getting picked up by the driver so a few wrong turns and one very bad traffic jam we arrive at school with a few minutes to spare before orientation started! It was great to finally meet everyone especially the other grade 1 teacher, our assistants, and the primary school coordinator. Everyone at DIA made me feel very welcome and I know this is going to be a great experience. I did feel a bit bad though because my assistant was prepared to help me put my classroom together today but oops! Most of it was already done. I was not prepared to have extra hands this week helping. I guess  it will teach me that I do not always have to have things prepared way in advance :) It did give me some time to get use to the server and look at the curriculum map and such.

The day was also spent filling out lots of paper work. I was so confused and a lot of times  had to ask what specifically they were asking for. Then the NSSF (National Social Security Fund) form was in Swahili luckily there were some people to translate and then they found an example in English! All in all it was a very successful day. I will admit though that at the end of the day today I was sitting my classroom and dazed off.....it is hard to believe that I finally have received my degree and have my own classroom and that it is half way around the world from my home! I was a bit overwhelmed with all the information we were provided with today so still taking it all in. I look forward to returning on Monday and meeting my students on Wednesday!

Tonight has been very uneventful. I have relaxed done some reading and looked through one of the teachers manuals to become more familiar with the curriculum. Tomorrow and Sunday I also plan on relaxing and maybe getting out and exploring some more of Dar.

I think that is all for now :)

Lots of Power!!!

Well I have officially had power for over 48 hours!! I kinda had forgotten what it was like to have power consistently. I still find myself sitting in the dark because I forget that the power is on this evening. Or lighting a candle when I shower at night just in case the power goes off.....don't want to be stuck in the shower without light!

Today has been a pretty good day and a relaxing day. I slept in again which means that when Friday morning comes I am going to have a bit of trouble getting up at 6 and being out the door before 7:30 but it will all come back to me ....at least I hope! Today I finished my third book in a week. Probably more reading than I have done since high school that has not been from a textbook! It feels good to get to read whatever I want in my spare time :-)

Hard to believe that today marks 2 weeks since I left NKY! Feels like just yesterday and I know that once school starts that the days will fly by even more quickly. I am happy to announce that my Rooster friend was back to himself today......Crowing away a majority of the day. I was able to even take a short nap this afternoon so I guess you could say that I am getting a bit use to the background noise of my apartment ;-)

Other than that not much happened today!

Lazy Tuesday!

Another good day here in Dar. I am finally sleeping through the night...wooohooo! I always heard that it takes a day for each hour of time difference so that would have been 7 days so I am pretty much on track. I am grateful that I am finally catching up on sleep before school starts. I got the call today that Eid (The end of Ramadan) will take place on Thursday so we will not start school until Friday. I was a little bummed as I am ready to get started and get a routine established. I think I might go and work in my classroom a bit tomorrow to help get a bit of a routine down.

Today I have not done much. Spent most of the morning reading and then this afternoon I looked at some of the teacher manuals to just look over the content a bit before starting the school year. I must say that today was a bit of a quiet day and I only heard my Rooster friend once or twice.....I am a bit worried about him but did enjoy the peace and quiet :-)

Another surprise today the power has been on since 6 pm last night!!! Woohoo!! I have enjoyed having the power on for over 24 hours instead of it being out for 24 hours :) We will see what the next 24 hours brings.....

I think that is all for now :)

Uneventful Weekend

Oops kinda let the weekend slip away without posting anything.  For the most part the past few days have been pretty uneventful. On Friday I went in to my classroom to work again! As we were on our way to find a taxi there is a woman standing there talking to another woman who is just holding a live chicken by its neck and the chicken is just hanging there not making a fuss or anything....I know these are things that I will eventually get use to but I was a bit shocked to see because to me it is not normal but here it is.

I had another successful day in my classroom. I spent a majority of the day getting organized and putting "worksheets" and such into folders to hang in my file cabinet so they are ready to use when I need them. I also worked on my wall where my classroom procedures and behaviour plans will go. Also on Friday I got us to school without the help of someone from the school and a new driver...that is another reason my day was so successful! I am finally able to notice landmarks and get around to places that are near my apartment or the school :-)

Upon returning home we still had power woohoo! It went out for the evening but that was okay it was nice to have it during the day. I spent most of the afternoon reading my Nook and enjoying the sunlight and of course some lovely background noise from my Rooster friend. Who by the way does not just crow in the morning but typically all day long :-( 

Saturday morning we invited our friend, Sam, over. We met Sam on our flight over here. He is from Maryland but works for the University of Minnesota. He is the current country manager for Tanzania and is here for a year to help improve the blood collections for the blood banks here. I made pancakes Shannon, Sam and myself. We then found a taxi and went to Slipway...Sam had never been before. It was good weather and we all had a good time. I even bought a new book for my classroom. There is a cute little bookshop at Slipway that I will be visiting quite frequently I think :-)

Saturday night Shannon and I enjoyed playing our last game of Phase 10 and we even got to play by the actual light and not candle light since we had power :)

I talked to Karrlee for the first time Saturday since I left. She was excited to talk to me. It definitely made my day better until she said ....." I miss you can you please come home now" Totally broke my heart :( I fought back the tears though and told her I will be soon enough and I will bring Santa with me lol. When my mom asked for the phone back she cried and fought her... I know it will get easier but I sure do miss her! I put our picture from last Christmas on my desk along with a picture of her and I at my graduation party:) I know her smiling face will help me through those rough days as it already has!
Sunday was a sad day. I actually slept in until around 9:30...that's a lot with all of the noises around here :) I then got up helped Shannon get ready and we left for the airport around noon. She left with only 2 bags (she came with 3) so I am interested to see how much those 2 bags weighed. The trip home for the airport was very long between 1 1/2 hours and 2 hours due to traffic. I just put in my headphones and enjoyed some music. My first night alone was not too bad. I actually slept quite well. Only woke up once at 5 am due to the mosque prayer service which I wake up to each morning. Then I put in my headphone and went right back to sleep.

Today has been a mixture of laziness and productiveness. I spent most of the morning on the balcony reading my Nook and enjoying some hot herbal tea. Then this afternoon I clean a good portion of the apartment. It gets so dirty due to the windows being open and living on a dirt road. I sure will be happy when I get maid hired. I know it will be difficult to clean so often once school gets into full swing but for now it works out.

The teacher that replaces Shannon arrives tomorrow. I look forward to meeting her and her possibly being my new roommate.

I think that is all I have to update on now!

Another Successful Day :-)

Today I had an early start to my day so that I could get lots accomplished in my class! It was a good day and the time flies by. I thought I had a lot of time but the day just flew by and it was time to leave. Shannon and I did get a lot accomplished. I could not imagine how little I would get done without her help. It is great to have an extra set of hands and eyes and ideas :) I will go back again tomorrow to get some more done but my classroom is finally looking more like a classroom! I am stuck on a few things though. I want to have a "procedures wall" On that wall will be my classroom procedures and I am also using a behaviour number line. For ex: all of the students will start on 0 and if they get praised by me or another teacher they will get to move their clip to a positive number (it goes up to 4) but if they break a classroom procedure they will have to move their clip to a negative number (it goes down to -4) I will list what each number means following the school's system for the negative number but also include what they will receive for being on each positive number. I am looking for a title for this wall but am stuck.....any ideas?!? I am also stuck on another part of my classroom. I am using the bulletin board by my desk as a "communication/ news" board. Below the the board is where the students will turn in work to one tray and I will also put work that I have given feedback on in another tray. On the bulletin board I was hoping to put news from the class such as field trip permission slips, extra copies of homework, upcoming events for the classroom and DIA, etc. I am looking for a catchy title for this board......any suggestions?!? All in all the room is coming together and I am excited to meet my students for the first time!!! I am also excited to meet my assistant and look forward to working with her :)

Downfall of today....I have been a bit sick. As most of you know I am scheduled to get my wisdom teeth out over winter break. Unfortunately one of them is hurting which I knew was always a possibility after seeing the dentist and oral surgeon prior to my departure. I spent the afternoon resting up and am taking it easy. I hope to be on the mend very soon! Other than that today has been good. Power was off again today for about 15 hours but I was at school and resting most of the day so it was not bad at all.

Look forward to hearing some suggestions for catchy titles!

Link to the pictures :     http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.784111826828.2245465.37710699&l=20147a3382&type=1

Thoughts Pondering.....

Today I will make another entry... I have been here almost a week now and have been gone from NKY for a week today. It has been a week of ups and downs.....adjustments, changes, life changing experiences..... It has definitely been hard at times and I was not sure if this is where I should be but then that changed. On Monday I got to see my classroom and I was overwhelmed with joy. I know that I want to teach more than anything and walking into my classroom Monday reassured me with that. Also this week my roommate has shared her doubts and my joy and excitement has confirmed her doubts for being in the classroom. I have been a bit down today since I know that my travel buddy and roommate will soon be departing but then I received a forward email from my Aunt Daisy and Uncle Jerry. It was: 

Two Choices

What  would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look  for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it  anyway. My question is: Would you have made the  same choice?
 
At  a fundraising dinner for a school that serves  children with learning disabilities, the father  of one of the students delivered a speech that  would never be forgotten by all who attended.  After extolling the school and  its

Dedicated staff, he offered a  question:

'When not interfered with by  outside influences, everything nature does, is  done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay,  cannot learn things as other children do. He  cannot understand things as other children  do.

Where  is the natural order of things in my  son?'

The  audience was stilled by the  query.

The father continued. 'I  believe that when a child like Shay, who was  mentally and physically disabled comes into the  world, an opportunity to realize true human  nature presents itself, and it comes in the way  other people treat that child.'

Then he  told the following story:

Shay  and I had walked past a park where some boys  Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do  you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most  of the boys would not want someone like Shay on  their team, but as a fatherIalso  understood that if my son were allowed to play,  it would give him a much-needed sense of  belonging and some confidence to be accepted by  others in spite of his  handicaps.

I approached one of  the boys on the field and asked (not expecting  much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around  for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs  and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he  can be on our team and we'll try to put him in  to bat in the ninth  inning..'

Shay struggled over to  the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on  a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my  eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy  at my son being accepted.

In the bottom  of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few  runs but was still behind by three.

In  the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove  and played in the right field. Even though no  hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic  just to be in the game and on the field,  grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from  the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth  inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now,  with two outs and the bases loaded, the  potential winning run was on base and Shay was  scheduled to be next at bat.

At  this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give  away their chance to win the  game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the  bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but  impossible because Shay didn't even know how to  hold the bat properly, much less connect with  the ball.

However, as Shay  stepped up to the

Plate, the pitcher,  recognizing that the other team was putting  winning aside for this moment in Shay's life,  moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly  so Shay could at least make contact.

The  first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and  missed.

The pitcher again took a few  steps forward to toss the ball softly towards  Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at  the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back  to the pitcher.

The game would  now be over.

The pitcher picked up the  soft grounder and could have easily thrown the  ball to the first baseman.

Shay would  have been out and that would have been the end  of the game.

Instead, the pitcher  threw the ball right over the first baseman's  head, out of reach of all team  mates.

Everyone from the stands and both  teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to  first!

Run to first!'

Never in his  life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it  to first base.

He scampered down the  baseline, wide-eyed and  startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run  to second, run to second!'

Catching his  breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second,  gleaming and struggling to make it to the  base.

By the time Shay rounded towards  second base, the right fielder had the ball ..  The smallest guy on their team who now had his  first chance to be the hero for his  team.

He could have thrown the ball to  the second-baseman for the tag, but he  understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too,  intentionally threw the ball high and far over  the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward  third base deliriously as the runners ahead of  him circled the bases toward  home.

All were screaming, 'Shay,  Shay, Shay, all the Way  Shay' 
Shay reached third base  because the opposing shortstop ran to help him  by turning him in the direction of third base,  and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to  third!'

As Shay rounded third,  the boys from both teams, and the spectators,  were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home!  Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on  the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit  the grand slam and won the game for his  team

'That day', said the father  softly with tears now rolling down his face,  'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece  of true love and humanity into this  world'.

Shay didn't make it to  another summer. He died that winter, having  never forgotten being the hero and making me so  happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother  tearfully embrace her little hero of the  day!


We  all have thousands of opportunities every single  day to help realize the 'natural order of  things.'

So many seemingly trivial  interactions between two people present us with  a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark  of love and humanity or do we pass up those  opportunities and leave the world a little bit  colder in the process?



A wise man  once said every society is judged by how it  treats it's least fortunate amongst  them.



You now have two  choices:

1. Delete

2.  Forward

May your day, be a Shay  Day.
MAY  GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO
DECIDES  TO PASS THIS ON IN
MEMORY  OF SHAY.............. 

 This email came at the perfect time. I absolutely love being here in Dar but the past couple of days have been a bit rough due to the extended power rations and finding out that Shannon is going home on Sunday and just plain missing my family and friends. After reading this email it again reminded me that I am here for a purpose....not only to be an educator but also to be a learner. To not only teach my students what is inside of our textbooks but also to teach them about the world around them and the people living in our world. I have traveled half way around the world to my classroom and to follow my dreams. I am constantly asked why I did not want to teach in KY but the truth is simple I needed something more. I now have embarked on my journey and am getting many little reminders along the way on why I should be here. I am here to make a difference and touch the lives of the students that I teach and the people that I meet. 

At graduation I spoke about change, making a difference etc... and at that time I inspired myself. I know I have spoken of this before but sometimes I have to remember my own words and let them inspire me. 

So I know at times the road with be rough but teaching is not a walk in the park (and neither is living in Tanzania lol). You must put 100% into it not only for your students but also for yourself. When the times get tough I have someone who can make me smile no matter how bad things are....Karrlee. I will never forget as I was saying my goodbyes last week and it came time to tell Karrlee "see you later" .... I promised myself I would not cry but as soon as I picked her up the tears just started coming. She finally realized that I was crying and was so confused. She then realized that I was leaving and that was why I was crying.... Yesterday my mom knew I was down so she told me that Karrlee saw an airplane the other day and waved hi to me. It is amazing how one person can change your world so much! I truly do have a wonderful family and support system and without them I would not be following my dreams here in Dar!

Successful Day in my Classroom!

Today has been a great day overall!! I finally got to go into my classroom and get to work. There was a lot more supplies then I thought so I spent most of the day going through the supplies and sorting it out...kinda taking an inventory of what I have, what I brought and what I need to get. I also was able to put up a few things like a number line and a cute alphabet strip that I found online.  I also put a few things on my desk to make it a bit more like mine :) I also took a copy of some of the textbooks that I will use during the first term of the school year! Shannon came with me and was a great help today!

Which leads me to my next topic. Today Shannon made a final decision to move back to the states. I knew that she was contemplating it but made the final decision today, sat down with the director and booked her flight home. I am very sad to see her go but totally support her decision. I want her to be happy and follow her heart. She will leave Sunday afternoon.

There have still been some issues with the power and it has been going out quite frequently which is a bit frustrating but trying to make the best out of it! Thankfully now I can go to the school during the day (they have a back-up generator) and get a lot accomplished when the power is out here in the apartment. Last night Shannon and I had our first experience with hand-washing our clothes...what an experience that was!! Our maid has not been hired yet but I look forward to that day because I am not exactly sure what I am doing! But again it makes me realize how blessed we are back home! It is definitely the small things back home that would be considered a luxury here.

Here is a link to view more pictures:    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.784111826828.2245465.37710699&l=20147a3382&type=1

I think that is all for today!