Looking Back on the Previous Term

Schools have finally closed for the second time this year and students are on a 3 week break, only to return mid-September for their final term. What I’ve realized so far is that just when you get the ball moving, you can’t for a moment get comfortable. Term 1 started out frustrating in a sense that it took a good month before the school actually started functioning. It seemed like every day the teachers had a meeting during school time, or that books hadn’t arrived, or my favorite- the class schedule changed every other day and no one knew when they had to teach. After a few weeks though, the school was functional; my clubs were taking off and my students were actually learning in my life skill classes. Before I knew it, the term was over and soon we would be starting the second term. I was very optimistic and couldn’t wait to see what new levels we would reach.

I couldn’t tell you how excited I was for our English Club to do new things. We just received 1,500 new books plus new furniture for our library, I had ideas to host debates with other schools, I wanted to publish 2 school newspapers in the term, and I was ready to kick start the drama team, and have a culture day at the school. Seriously, why wouldn’t this work? I had a crew who I thought seemed energetic and motivated, but what I’ve found out, was that when things really get hard, it tends to tests peoples commitment. I mean think about it… have you ever tried a new diet or exercise plan. The first week is great and you’re so excited. Then your body starts to ache because you are pushing it to new limits; the same thing happened here.

So what did I do? I had the vision, I had the plan, but getting other people on board was not easy. In fact- it was terrible. I provided multiple opportunities for people to pitch in, but after about the 4^th meeting that I held and no one showed up, I decided to hold off on the English club. Sometimes you just have to count your losses. Throughout the remainder of the term, I had students coming up to me asking when the newspaper was coming out and when this culture day was going to be. I had to explain to them that I was not going to be responsible for it, and that if they really want to see these things, they need to be a part of it too.  I really hope this was a wakeup call for some, and that in the final term students will want to pitch in.  I’ve have always said this since I got here- my PC service is what many other PCVs will experience in 10 years. I am living in a site that is already developed and has all the resources; my challenge is when I try and train the people on how to use them. They have a library, computers, and proper building structures- use them! If it’s going to be sustainable, they will have to work for it; less they will continue to have unused books, dusty computers, and empty buildings.

I know this final term of the year will be much more complicated trying to do any clubs due to the fact that basically any free time they have will be used for studying. Final exams are no joke here, that’s why I am also going to be taking on more tutoring sessions. So until I start term 3, I’ll continue to escape the heat at the club and sip my diet coke before school starts back up.