Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tsunami!...or lack there of...
Marci and I went to church this morning on Ebeye and on our long walk back to Gugeegue we were joined by our fellow volunteer Morgan who heard there was a tsunami warning. We couldnt help but laugh because we literally had the ocean 5 feet to our right, the lagoon 5 feet to our left, and nothing but road in front of and behind us (we were walking between islands). So if a tsunami were to come we were pretty much in the worst shape possible without even a tree to hold onto. For anyone who was worried, supposedly because of the continental shelf here or some other scientific reason, if a tsunami were ever to arrive here it would be broken up before hitting. There is no warning or evacuation protocol, there is nowhere to evacuate to when everything around you is water or flat land. There was no tsunami today, just some wind we are very greatful for to break up the hot weather! No worries here.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Ew, Lice!
Lice are extremely common here, and without making a constant effort not to get them, you are pretty much doomed. All the children sit around picking through each other's hair to find the little suckers. The people here all wear little pick combs in their hair, which aid in the constant de-licing process. While I thought the picking of the hair was for the purpose of de-licing, I realized otherwise today.
While trying to prepare my class for their Science test tomorrow, I saw one girl picking lice out of another girl's hair (normal). What I had not seen before is that the girl who was getting "de-liced" then picked up the lice, put it in her mouth, chewed it and spit it out. I really try to be culturally sensitive, but there was no way my face was hiding a look of disgust. After, a 3rd girl picked up a few lice, and brought them over to me trying to put them in my hair. I grabbed her quickly, wanting to keep my lice-free hair as it is. Assuming the girl was just trying to agitate me (she is a constant trouble maker), I didn't think much of it until I saw the girls putting lice in a boys hair. They then explained they want to keep lice in their hair to continue entertaining themselves with the process of picking them out- and that when they pick them out they like to crush them with their fingers, or in their mouth. My class can be great at times: kind, funny, and smart; but I would not say this is one of their best qualities, as I will continue to keep my head nowhere near theirs.
While trying to prepare my class for their Science test tomorrow, I saw one girl picking lice out of another girl's hair (normal). What I had not seen before is that the girl who was getting "de-liced" then picked up the lice, put it in her mouth, chewed it and spit it out. I really try to be culturally sensitive, but there was no way my face was hiding a look of disgust. After, a 3rd girl picked up a few lice, and brought them over to me trying to put them in my hair. I grabbed her quickly, wanting to keep my lice-free hair as it is. Assuming the girl was just trying to agitate me (she is a constant trouble maker), I didn't think much of it until I saw the girls putting lice in a boys hair. They then explained they want to keep lice in their hair to continue entertaining themselves with the process of picking them out- and that when they pick them out they like to crush them with their fingers, or in their mouth. My class can be great at times: kind, funny, and smart; but I would not say this is one of their best qualities, as I will continue to keep my head nowhere near theirs.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Photo Update
Stitch guarding the front door
Adriel and Grace live next door, their mom (Savoki) teaches at the high school. Adriel likes to sneak out of his house to come knock on our door. Some high school girls dyed his hair without Savoki knowing... hence the blonde. His hair has since been shaved and he is now bald.
This is in Gugeegue, there is always trash around everywhere. When people finish something, they throw it out the window, or there are just piles of trash around. Lots of vehicles are just left on the side of the road. It's hard because the only "dump" is in dumptown in Ebeye, which is just a matter of consolidating where they throw the trash- its still just in piles.
We finally got some rain. This is outside my classroom- apparently rain also means no school...
Dumptown in Ebeye, which also serves as the softball field.
We're usually pretty low on water, it's definitely not the rainy season!
The high school from our front door:
Around Gugeegue:
(lagoon side)
WW2 wreck
(Ocean side)
Adriel and Grace live next door, their mom (Savoki) teaches at the high school. Adriel likes to sneak out of his house to come knock on our door. Some high school girls dyed his hair without Savoki knowing... hence the blonde. His hair has since been shaved and he is now bald.
This is in Gugeegue, there is always trash around everywhere. When people finish something, they throw it out the window, or there are just piles of trash around. Lots of vehicles are just left on the side of the road. It's hard because the only "dump" is in dumptown in Ebeye, which is just a matter of consolidating where they throw the trash- its still just in piles.
We finally got some rain. This is outside my classroom- apparently rain also means no school...
Dumptown in Ebeye, which also serves as the softball field.
At school:
Some kids in Ebeye outside the hospital:
Savoki and Adriel at the end of a long Liberation Day:
Wine!
After starting to make wine almost a month ago, it was finally ready to bottle 2 nights ago! Morgan and I helped Terry bottle it. Afterwards, we all (Morgan, Andrea, Terry, their son Sebastian and I) went out to the hut on the water to see if our wine making skills were any good. The wine actually tasted great, and there are now 30 bottles to last us until the next batch is ready!
Terry with the first bottle:
Morgan and I bottling:
Watching the sunset
Sebastian Attacks
Andrea and Terry
Sebastian
Terry with the first bottle:
Morgan and I bottling:
Watching the sunset
Sebastian Attacks
Andrea and Terry
Sebastian
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Liberation Day and lots of happenings
The past few weeks have been full of lots of events. A fellow volunteer had a quick hospital stay, which introduced us to the country's healthcare system. For $17 a day for a non-citizen, the hospital will cover whatever needs to be done- x-rays, surgery, they will send you to the capital or Hawaii for anything they can't do. While the limited expense is amazing, the comfort and resources are certainly not the same, as you have to bring your own bedding and rooms are shared between 5 and most have guests spending the night.
I had strep throat or something like it, and finally went to the hospital for antibiotics last week. My doctor's visit did not include taking my temperature or looking at my throat; so how they knew I had strep other than me asking, I have no idea. Healthcare here is certainly different, though it has its benefits.
Morgan and I went one Sunday to the Kwajelein military base, which requires a ride from Ebeye to Gugeegue and then a quick ferry ride over. To go to the base, you have to have a sponsor which Morgan already had from past months. The base was like a little bubble of America- Burger King, Subway, a cleared beach that you could actually wear a bathing suit on. We went just for the afternoon to do laundry, take hot showers, and make calls etc., but for being so close to us it certainly is a whole other world. Our sponsor was nice enough to make us up some salad goods to bring home, as fresh fruits and vegetables are really hard to find here (the base gets shipments often but only workers on the base can buy them). The day was relaxing except that when we got back to Ebeye, our ride didn't show so we had to wait in dumptown to hitch one... it started raining and we had all our clean laundry with us- it took 2 hours to find a ride!
School is going well. My students have found it entertaining that I occassionally show up at their houses now when they don't come to school. Making house visits has also showed me a new side of Ebeye, the living conditions, and family life. It has also made me realize that there are many absences that occur because the parents keep the students from going to school. One mother told me as I showed up at her house to get her son that the boy was "lazy" and not good enough for school. Shocked, I explained he is great at school and very smart.... when he shows up. As hannah montana, jonas brothers, and high school musical have hit it big here, my students have been beside themselves with a rumor circulation around Ebeye that Troy (Zac Efron) has died. They continually make me check the internet to reassure them that he is well and alive.
Around Gugeegue the water levels have gone down and some beautiful beaches have appeared. We had a tv in our apartment with a dvd player, and our neighbor just got an antenna. After thinking we broke the tv trying to hook it up to the antenna, we finally got it up and working and now have 6 tv stations from the military base. They arent any exact channels from back home just a mish mosh of news and random shows. It's nice to keep up though.
This week we had Liberation Day, which celebrates Kwajalein atoll's liberation from the Japanese by America. Each atoll has a different liberation day. The holiday is mainly focused around the schools. Wednesday we had "field day" which was a running competition between all the schools at the beach in Ebeye (there was supposed to be tug of war, muscial chairs etc. but it didnt happen). Of course, this one day took lots of preparation, so last Friday had no classes for practice (practice took 1 hour), Monday was a half day (so the one runner that was decided from each grade could practice for 10 minutes), Tuesday was no school, Wednesday was no school and was a parade of all the schools followed by the real competition for field day. No one from my class qualified to run at field day, so very few showed.
All the elementary students in green waiting for the parade to start with our float:
A few of my 5th graders:
There was also a Liberation Day 6 mile race from Guegeegue (the island I live on) to Ebeye. My roommate Morgan had been training for it, and when I found out you got paid $10 or so just for partipating, I decided I might as well walk it. About 50 or so men participated and maybe 15 women. While I hate to run and can't remember the last time I did, my competitive nature took over and my "walk" turned into a run and I placed 3rd for the women, winning $100! Morgan placed first and won $200, so we both came home happy.
Morgan and I at home after the race:
Today is Thursday, the day after Liberation Day and we were supposed to have school. I arrived at 8:00 and by 8:30 I only had 3 students. According the principal, a private school had announced no school, and all the children took it as a general no school announcement. By 9:00 we sent the few kids who showed in all grades home (though mine stayed to play games) and cancelled school. I was excited to go home early and was really sore still, but then I found a teacher meeting was scheduled for 1pm, despite school being over by 9. After 2 and a half hours of waiting around, I found out the meeting was cancelled. Though I've gotten used to it, the lack of communication and efficiency here can still be frustrating. I did finally make it home by 1, which is making for a nice afternoon.
Morgan and I have been helping our neighbors, Andrea and Terry (they have a 3 year old son, Sebastian) make wine over the past few weeks and today is finally the bottling day, so if all goes well we'll be drinking some tonight!
I had strep throat or something like it, and finally went to the hospital for antibiotics last week. My doctor's visit did not include taking my temperature or looking at my throat; so how they knew I had strep other than me asking, I have no idea. Healthcare here is certainly different, though it has its benefits.
Morgan and I went one Sunday to the Kwajelein military base, which requires a ride from Ebeye to Gugeegue and then a quick ferry ride over. To go to the base, you have to have a sponsor which Morgan already had from past months. The base was like a little bubble of America- Burger King, Subway, a cleared beach that you could actually wear a bathing suit on. We went just for the afternoon to do laundry, take hot showers, and make calls etc., but for being so close to us it certainly is a whole other world. Our sponsor was nice enough to make us up some salad goods to bring home, as fresh fruits and vegetables are really hard to find here (the base gets shipments often but only workers on the base can buy them). The day was relaxing except that when we got back to Ebeye, our ride didn't show so we had to wait in dumptown to hitch one... it started raining and we had all our clean laundry with us- it took 2 hours to find a ride!
School is going well. My students have found it entertaining that I occassionally show up at their houses now when they don't come to school. Making house visits has also showed me a new side of Ebeye, the living conditions, and family life. It has also made me realize that there are many absences that occur because the parents keep the students from going to school. One mother told me as I showed up at her house to get her son that the boy was "lazy" and not good enough for school. Shocked, I explained he is great at school and very smart.... when he shows up. As hannah montana, jonas brothers, and high school musical have hit it big here, my students have been beside themselves with a rumor circulation around Ebeye that Troy (Zac Efron) has died. They continually make me check the internet to reassure them that he is well and alive.
Around Gugeegue the water levels have gone down and some beautiful beaches have appeared. We had a tv in our apartment with a dvd player, and our neighbor just got an antenna. After thinking we broke the tv trying to hook it up to the antenna, we finally got it up and working and now have 6 tv stations from the military base. They arent any exact channels from back home just a mish mosh of news and random shows. It's nice to keep up though.
This week we had Liberation Day, which celebrates Kwajalein atoll's liberation from the Japanese by America. Each atoll has a different liberation day. The holiday is mainly focused around the schools. Wednesday we had "field day" which was a running competition between all the schools at the beach in Ebeye (there was supposed to be tug of war, muscial chairs etc. but it didnt happen). Of course, this one day took lots of preparation, so last Friday had no classes for practice (practice took 1 hour), Monday was a half day (so the one runner that was decided from each grade could practice for 10 minutes), Tuesday was no school, Wednesday was no school and was a parade of all the schools followed by the real competition for field day. No one from my class qualified to run at field day, so very few showed.
All the elementary students in green waiting for the parade to start with our float:
A few of my 5th graders:
There was also a Liberation Day 6 mile race from Guegeegue (the island I live on) to Ebeye. My roommate Morgan had been training for it, and when I found out you got paid $10 or so just for partipating, I decided I might as well walk it. About 50 or so men participated and maybe 15 women. While I hate to run and can't remember the last time I did, my competitive nature took over and my "walk" turned into a run and I placed 3rd for the women, winning $100! Morgan placed first and won $200, so we both came home happy.
Morgan and I at home after the race:
Today is Thursday, the day after Liberation Day and we were supposed to have school. I arrived at 8:00 and by 8:30 I only had 3 students. According the principal, a private school had announced no school, and all the children took it as a general no school announcement. By 9:00 we sent the few kids who showed in all grades home (though mine stayed to play games) and cancelled school. I was excited to go home early and was really sore still, but then I found a teacher meeting was scheduled for 1pm, despite school being over by 9. After 2 and a half hours of waiting around, I found out the meeting was cancelled. Though I've gotten used to it, the lack of communication and efficiency here can still be frustrating. I did finally make it home by 1, which is making for a nice afternoon.
Morgan and I have been helping our neighbors, Andrea and Terry (they have a 3 year old son, Sebastian) make wine over the past few weeks and today is finally the bottling day, so if all goes well we'll be drinking some tonight!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Paradise Found
Sorry for the long pause in writing, the internet is not dependable and can be out for days at a time, as well as occassionally the phone lines.
A couple weekends ago, some volunteers at the Seventh Day adventist school in Ebeye invited my roommate Morgan and I to join them to go to Pikej, an island that is two past Gugeegue, and can only be arrived at by boat (they had arranged a boat ride). I was certainly glad we joined them! The island was the quintissential paradise, and everything I had been missing. White sand beaches, palm trees, turquoise waters. It looked like one of the "relax"posters or a screensaver. Only one family lives on the island, and while we were there, three of us managed to walk a ways down the beach where we happened upon that family, who invited us to join them to have some coconut milk (a taste I have still not become accustomed to). After a short visit, we walked back through the island paths back to the beach. We spent the day snorkeling (I later found out this island is even more prominent for sharks than others, so I am very thankful I didn't see any) and running into some "yachties" as they are called (people sailing through the Marshall Islands) and a few people from the base who were on Pikej for the day as well. The guys managed to catch quite a few good sized fish that we cooked right up, and we returned to Gugeegue ready to start the week.
Pictures for all my blogs to come later.... when I have fast internet which may be never
A couple weekends ago, some volunteers at the Seventh Day adventist school in Ebeye invited my roommate Morgan and I to join them to go to Pikej, an island that is two past Gugeegue, and can only be arrived at by boat (they had arranged a boat ride). I was certainly glad we joined them! The island was the quintissential paradise, and everything I had been missing. White sand beaches, palm trees, turquoise waters. It looked like one of the "relax"posters or a screensaver. Only one family lives on the island, and while we were there, three of us managed to walk a ways down the beach where we happened upon that family, who invited us to join them to have some coconut milk (a taste I have still not become accustomed to). After a short visit, we walked back through the island paths back to the beach. We spent the day snorkeling (I later found out this island is even more prominent for sharks than others, so I am very thankful I didn't see any) and running into some "yachties" as they are called (people sailing through the Marshall Islands) and a few people from the base who were on Pikej for the day as well. The guys managed to catch quite a few good sized fish that we cooked right up, and we returned to Gugeegue ready to start the week.
Pictures for all my blogs to come later.... when I have fast internet which may be never
School
After some debate as to where I was teaching, I finally started teaching 5th grade homeroom at the Ebeye elementary school. Ebeye is about a 30 minute drive from the island I live on, on a small bumpy dirt road. The small school van picks me up at 7:30 each morning.
After almost 4 weeks with this class, I'm still not sure if I'm seeing progress. I have 24 students, though usually only 20 show up, and even less return from lunch. I have a small classroom that doesnt have enough seats for all the students. I have countless discipline problems. I've never seen my entire class sitting and quiet at one time. I'm not sure if it is because I don't use any kind of physical punishment as is rumored most teachers do (though I have never witnessed), or simply because I'm nice to them so they think they can walk all over me. While no day goes perfectly, some go better than others. On a good day, I'm able to get through all my lessons with mild disruptions, having majority of the students sitting and half quiet and listening, have nothing stolen from my desk, and have only 5 students staying after class to write "I'm sorry Miss Liz, I will listen in class" 100 times.
On a bad day, the class is too wild to even sit down never mind be quiet. I can't even attempt a lesson. The whole class but one is on the board to stay after school. It makes me wonder sometimes what I'm doing here, wasting my time trying to teach these children who have no respect for me and don't care about learning. I've had to lock them in the classroom to step outside and take a few deep breaths to keep from going crazy. I have (as a last resort) had the principal come talk to the class.
I've tried positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, assortments of punishments and rewards, and on any given day any of them could work or not work. I have realized though that they do in fact like me, so I've learned not to take their poor behavior personally. Some days I'm constantly surprised with how well they do. Students will take the initiative to come to me to retake tests they've failed. The worst behaved boy will stay after school 2 hours voluntarily to help me clean. I have also become much more optimistic when I remind myself that they don't speak english, so getting them to do as much as they have done is success in itself. What I've realized is that it is in fact a bumpy road, the good days are great and the bad are horrible.
My class:
This is during recess so most of the class is outside, but there aren't even enough seats for everyone
After almost 4 weeks with this class, I'm still not sure if I'm seeing progress. I have 24 students, though usually only 20 show up, and even less return from lunch. I have a small classroom that doesnt have enough seats for all the students. I have countless discipline problems. I've never seen my entire class sitting and quiet at one time. I'm not sure if it is because I don't use any kind of physical punishment as is rumored most teachers do (though I have never witnessed), or simply because I'm nice to them so they think they can walk all over me. While no day goes perfectly, some go better than others. On a good day, I'm able to get through all my lessons with mild disruptions, having majority of the students sitting and half quiet and listening, have nothing stolen from my desk, and have only 5 students staying after class to write "I'm sorry Miss Liz, I will listen in class" 100 times.
On a bad day, the class is too wild to even sit down never mind be quiet. I can't even attempt a lesson. The whole class but one is on the board to stay after school. It makes me wonder sometimes what I'm doing here, wasting my time trying to teach these children who have no respect for me and don't care about learning. I've had to lock them in the classroom to step outside and take a few deep breaths to keep from going crazy. I have (as a last resort) had the principal come talk to the class.
I've tried positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, assortments of punishments and rewards, and on any given day any of them could work or not work. I have realized though that they do in fact like me, so I've learned not to take their poor behavior personally. Some days I'm constantly surprised with how well they do. Students will take the initiative to come to me to retake tests they've failed. The worst behaved boy will stay after school 2 hours voluntarily to help me clean. I have also become much more optimistic when I remind myself that they don't speak english, so getting them to do as much as they have done is success in itself. What I've realized is that it is in fact a bumpy road, the good days are great and the bad are horrible.
My class:
This is during recess so most of the class is outside, but there aren't even enough seats for everyone
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