Back in School

It’s been almost 7 years since I was in high school. I’d forgotten how silly kids could be, and how fast their minds and vocabulary grow.  Even though the roles are now reversed and I am no longer the student, I have to admit that I was a little nervous about being the new kid. Sure when the Head Teacher announced that I was from America, everyone went nuts. But what will happen once the glitz of it all fades away. Although I am working in the schools, I am not a formal teacher. I don’t want these kids to see me as someone who stands in front of the classroom and punishes them if they act up. I want these kids to see me as someone who they can come to and talk to—someone who they know will listen and accept them for who they are.

So far everyone has been great. The teachers are all very friendly and willing to help. We have a good number of teachers here who are in their 20’s, so I’ve made some friends who have helped me around the community and given me an alternative to staring at the walls in my house or watching Modern Family over and over. They even got me to play some soccer. Some of the guy teachers play on the field behind the primary school and invited me to come by. They say I did a great job….. but come on, have you ever seen me kick a ball?!

One of the great things I love about this place is the hospitality and everyone’s willingness to help me out. I have the maintenance guys coming over to put nails in walls and hang up curtains, the woodshop guys building me furniture and fixing my shoes, the agriculture people helping me attend to my garden, the ladies bringing me free produce, and everyone’s collective concern for my mosquito bites that have over taken my body.

A difference that I see here amongst the children is the size of them. There are grown men in Form 2 (Grade 9). Many factors determine why students are older than some yet in the same grade. I always find myself asking them how old they are. I think the oldest ones we have here are 22. Then there are the little ones. Some of the boys in Form 1 (8^th Grade) are so stinking cute! But I have to keep my eye out for these boys; they will try and charm the pants off of you. I was talking to one teacher when this little Form 1 walks by and gives me this sly wink. I laughed at the teacher, and he said I had to watch out for that one—“he’s naughty”. Lol

One of the things I enjoy is the morning assembly; before the bell rings the kids line up and begin a song of worship. Then they say the Lord’s Prayer. I like seeing them all together wearing their green and white. In Africa, the students wear uniforms to school. This is part of their school fees and is also one of the reasons they stop attending school; parents can’t always afford all the school fees for all of their children.

The primary kids are also something special—they make me feel like a rock star! As soon as I walk in the gate, a flood of children run towards me.  “ASANDA! ASANDA!” they yell. I haven’t done any work with these kids yet, but I do come to visit them and let them know I am around. You should see their sad faces when I tell them I am not their teacher. Nevertheless, during their break I play with them in the court yard. Heads up—never tell a group of 100 children to “run to the tree and back”—you may have casualties. My innocent game of Simon Says quickly turned into a scene from Hunger Games. 

In order to save my job, and maybe a kids life, I told them to teach me a game instead. I LOVE THEIR GAMES! Almost all of them involve dancing and shaking your booty. Yesterday was “Open Day” were the parents came in…. I know I had a few of the adults in seams when they saw me amongst the kids acting like their own children. Then they played a game where the boys ran across the field doing back flips! OMG THEY ARE SO GOOD! I was half afraid and half astonished by all the back tucks they were doing! It is a sight to be seen. One day I will get my video camera out so my viewers at home can watch.

I guess it is something unheard of when I tell them I don’t have children. When I am sitting in the classroom with all the little girls, they ask if I can be their new mom. I said yes, they are all my children! Then as they continued to braid and play with my hair, they fought over who would be child number 1,2,3,4……