Saturday, February 22, 2014
Photos P'tit...
Photos from my favorite drive through Bois Neuf to my favorite part of the coast here, Montruis and my favorite little beach with a drive of palm trees, our new track, sunsets, crazy days in PSB, Sports Week at the school PSA vs PSB, Valentine's Day and Lynn Nora's 4th birthday (her mom is a pediatrician so she hooked it up!), "Gregorie's" the little roadside shop near our school where Alexandra and I spent a Friday afternoon, our hike up a little summit behind Pont Leocan, complete with temple/eglise and great views of the campus...
Time Flies When You're...
I can't believe it's already the end of February. In education, whenever you pine, and I mean really lust after an upcoming vacation, you feel like a weakling once the date approaches and look back and realized you survived; maybe with a few lacerations, sprains and bruises, but you're still breathing.
That's how I feel two months after Christmas break and as our Carnival vacation approaches. We're so lucky to have this week off, although it probably doesn't come close to the 'vacation' time the east coast has seen because of Snowpocalypse Deux.
Our class has dealt with a replacement for Venine, who has been superb, I've discovered a few more little mountains in the area, have taken FULL advantage of the new track and field (great space for yoga!), Genevieve has been making mad cocktails at Taino on Saturday nights and I've spent a lot of time on iTunes movies and now, as a must, Kindle. Bye, bye paper and pencil, hello travel-friendly.
The light at the end of our PSB tunnel these two months is the end of a pretty hard-fought battle with two of our kids. What's so difficult about teaching this age, or any age really, in Haiti is the discoveries made about their little personal lives. I've had similar disciplinary cases in the States and I thought back to how I dealt with those and how they were as well to struggle through and how we achieved success in the end. And I realized, we had parents on board. Which really leads me to believe that education begins at home. Tumultuous home life and early maternal deprivation can happen in any economical situation and in any city. I can probably tell the tale of students in my class to many educators in the US who deal with children from similar backgrounds and they would share my frustration and discouragement. The difficulty as a teacher is when you learn about these hardships these babies are facing and figuring out how to constructively discipline them when they are creating a tornado in your classroom. Unfortunately these kids are often met with violence at home as a disciplinary measure. So our nice chats and second or third chances or cozy hugs and forgiveness don't really dig in deep to their reasoning or empathy. They must be so confused.
I have to say though, we have spent two days in class without these two and it was night and day. We had normal disciplinary problems, but the 24 children who were left responded favorably to our explanations and were really happier in the classroom without the constant worry of what the other two were doing. Just like myself and my co-teacher. We were free to teach and express joy in their accomplishments and have fun. I'm sure any teacher can relate who has had a difficult child in their classroom, unfortunately all your energy and love and patience goes to one kid instead of your class. And unfortunately you cannot give all attention one place, it has to go to the majority.
I'm not sure what will be decided in the end but I hope for the rest of our class it is a decision that will benefit them in the end.
Until then, here are some videos I have had such pleasure watching over and over:
Esther reciting the days of the week poem in French
Lorvens and his band in all their glory. These kids have amazing beat at 3.
"Baby Bumble Bee" by Gloria
Mardi Gras in St Marc. The beginning of the parade which happens every Sunday in town leading up to the Carnival on March 3, 4, 5.
Manny, can never get enough. Happy Birthday to me!
I can't remember what we were 'supposed' to be making with the play dough, but this was much more creative and entertaining.
PSB Pep Rally for our school-wide Sport Week. We battled it out against PSA.
PSB Tug of War during Sport Week.
That's how I feel two months after Christmas break and as our Carnival vacation approaches. We're so lucky to have this week off, although it probably doesn't come close to the 'vacation' time the east coast has seen because of Snowpocalypse Deux.
Our class has dealt with a replacement for Venine, who has been superb, I've discovered a few more little mountains in the area, have taken FULL advantage of the new track and field (great space for yoga!), Genevieve has been making mad cocktails at Taino on Saturday nights and I've spent a lot of time on iTunes movies and now, as a must, Kindle. Bye, bye paper and pencil, hello travel-friendly.
The light at the end of our PSB tunnel these two months is the end of a pretty hard-fought battle with two of our kids. What's so difficult about teaching this age, or any age really, in Haiti is the discoveries made about their little personal lives. I've had similar disciplinary cases in the States and I thought back to how I dealt with those and how they were as well to struggle through and how we achieved success in the end. And I realized, we had parents on board. Which really leads me to believe that education begins at home. Tumultuous home life and early maternal deprivation can happen in any economical situation and in any city. I can probably tell the tale of students in my class to many educators in the US who deal with children from similar backgrounds and they would share my frustration and discouragement. The difficulty as a teacher is when you learn about these hardships these babies are facing and figuring out how to constructively discipline them when they are creating a tornado in your classroom. Unfortunately these kids are often met with violence at home as a disciplinary measure. So our nice chats and second or third chances or cozy hugs and forgiveness don't really dig in deep to their reasoning or empathy. They must be so confused.
I have to say though, we have spent two days in class without these two and it was night and day. We had normal disciplinary problems, but the 24 children who were left responded favorably to our explanations and were really happier in the classroom without the constant worry of what the other two were doing. Just like myself and my co-teacher. We were free to teach and express joy in their accomplishments and have fun. I'm sure any teacher can relate who has had a difficult child in their classroom, unfortunately all your energy and love and patience goes to one kid instead of your class. And unfortunately you cannot give all attention one place, it has to go to the majority.
I'm not sure what will be decided in the end but I hope for the rest of our class it is a decision that will benefit them in the end.
Until then, here are some videos I have had such pleasure watching over and over:
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Painting the Roses Red...
My first full week back in Haiti has been a blur. It's hard to believe that only last week I landed, after three long days of travel through the Polar Vortex, back in 90 degree dusty, breezy weather.
The thing I noticed the most about Haiti while I was back in the States was just how happy Haitians are. I think we believe we are coming to 'help' these 'poor' Haitians, but in the end, such is the cliche, they help us; by showing us just how simple happiness can be.
It was enlightening to be surrounded by things and conveniences and quantities and wealth in the US and still feel a gap. Then, to return to Haiti in the heat and filth and want, and feel a sort of sigh of comfort and fullness. Because, all around you, no matter what your idea of poverty or injustice or third world is, Haitians are blossoming with cheerfulness and gratitude. When you ask a Haitian if they slept well or had a good weekend or if they are having a good day, they answer yes, by the grace of God, and they mean it. Because in Haiti, that's all you have. If you're hungry you can't run out at 2am to Wal-Mart or call Chinese take-out or run down to the market for that ice cream you're dying to have while watching your favorite show. In Haiti you can't always turn the light on when you hear a noise in the dark or jump in the shower when you feel hot or dirty or brush your teeth as the water flows down the drain or flush your toilet. If you're sick maybe you don't have transportation to a doctor or especially money to pay him. You want to go to school but your family doesn't have money for the school or for your shoes or uniform. So, yes, by the grace of God Haitians do make it through another day and are endlessly grateful for it.
Great + attitude = Gratitude. Another thing I felt wanting while home in the US. I was thirsty to visit Whole Foods and just feel the comfort of being able to step into a clean store and find everything my heart desired at my finger tips. However, this time when I visited, what I felt was nearly a disgust. A disgust at the piles of food that were not being eaten, stacks of produce, shelves of boxes of food, all sitting, waiting for a well-fed customer to take it home and put it on another shelf until maybe it was consumed. I even saw unhappy clients complaining about the lack of an item or the unavailability of a product; imagine, the bag of chips you wanted are sold out! It was preposterous and above everything, no one was grateful, everything was assumed to continue as it was and forevermore. How I missed the simple gratefulness of Haiti.
Today I just finished helping to paint the basketball court on the new soccer field at the school. It was such an amazing therapy to paint a floor on a large surface with adults, with quiet adults, and not have anyone (26 anyones) saying my name or pulling on my clothes or spilling things or hitting each other or asking questions or for me to look at something. I was alone, in the sun, on a field, with a brush. For most of the morning I thought about just going there instead of to my classroom and slowly changing purposes here. Of course, construction would have its bad days too and I'm sure negative aspects. But for today, it was a plausible escape.
One of the Haitians who was painting with me asked why so many of the younger teachers at the school were single. I tried to explain that most of us don't live here and won't so it's silly to begin relationships oh, and the mere fact that the teaching profession is usually 1000% female and we live on a compound in Haiti doesn't help. He said my argument was weak. So I tried to convince him that for women it's difficult to choose between family and work and so we are still deciding here. I don't know if he took that or not but a little later, as we were painting in the afternoon sun he said, "So I guess you like to work, that is your choice."
Thank you philosophical genius for ruining my unthoughtful day of painting and non-self-reflection.
A small slideshow of the week: the airport at Port-au-Prince, what you walk out into upon arrival, five new kittens at the school (= someone is getting neutered), projector is working!, school uniform research, new baskets and 'cuvettes' from the market in our classroom, everyone LOVES to play 'marchand', Venine's baby Glory, craziness in the classroom ensues, our work on Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you see?, and painting the field.
Next vacation, end of February....countdown.
The thing I noticed the most about Haiti while I was back in the States was just how happy Haitians are. I think we believe we are coming to 'help' these 'poor' Haitians, but in the end, such is the cliche, they help us; by showing us just how simple happiness can be.
It was enlightening to be surrounded by things and conveniences and quantities and wealth in the US and still feel a gap. Then, to return to Haiti in the heat and filth and want, and feel a sort of sigh of comfort and fullness. Because, all around you, no matter what your idea of poverty or injustice or third world is, Haitians are blossoming with cheerfulness and gratitude. When you ask a Haitian if they slept well or had a good weekend or if they are having a good day, they answer yes, by the grace of God, and they mean it. Because in Haiti, that's all you have. If you're hungry you can't run out at 2am to Wal-Mart or call Chinese take-out or run down to the market for that ice cream you're dying to have while watching your favorite show. In Haiti you can't always turn the light on when you hear a noise in the dark or jump in the shower when you feel hot or dirty or brush your teeth as the water flows down the drain or flush your toilet. If you're sick maybe you don't have transportation to a doctor or especially money to pay him. You want to go to school but your family doesn't have money for the school or for your shoes or uniform. So, yes, by the grace of God Haitians do make it through another day and are endlessly grateful for it.
Great + attitude = Gratitude. Another thing I felt wanting while home in the US. I was thirsty to visit Whole Foods and just feel the comfort of being able to step into a clean store and find everything my heart desired at my finger tips. However, this time when I visited, what I felt was nearly a disgust. A disgust at the piles of food that were not being eaten, stacks of produce, shelves of boxes of food, all sitting, waiting for a well-fed customer to take it home and put it on another shelf until maybe it was consumed. I even saw unhappy clients complaining about the lack of an item or the unavailability of a product; imagine, the bag of chips you wanted are sold out! It was preposterous and above everything, no one was grateful, everything was assumed to continue as it was and forevermore. How I missed the simple gratefulness of Haiti.
Today I just finished helping to paint the basketball court on the new soccer field at the school. It was such an amazing therapy to paint a floor on a large surface with adults, with quiet adults, and not have anyone (26 anyones) saying my name or pulling on my clothes or spilling things or hitting each other or asking questions or for me to look at something. I was alone, in the sun, on a field, with a brush. For most of the morning I thought about just going there instead of to my classroom and slowly changing purposes here. Of course, construction would have its bad days too and I'm sure negative aspects. But for today, it was a plausible escape.
One of the Haitians who was painting with me asked why so many of the younger teachers at the school were single. I tried to explain that most of us don't live here and won't so it's silly to begin relationships oh, and the mere fact that the teaching profession is usually 1000% female and we live on a compound in Haiti doesn't help. He said my argument was weak. So I tried to convince him that for women it's difficult to choose between family and work and so we are still deciding here. I don't know if he took that or not but a little later, as we were painting in the afternoon sun he said, "So I guess you like to work, that is your choice."
Thank you philosophical genius for ruining my unthoughtful day of painting and non-self-reflection.
A small slideshow of the week: the airport at Port-au-Prince, what you walk out into upon arrival, five new kittens at the school (= someone is getting neutered), projector is working!, school uniform research, new baskets and 'cuvettes' from the market in our classroom, everyone LOVES to play 'marchand', Venine's baby Glory, craziness in the classroom ensues, our work on Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you see?, and painting the field.
Next vacation, end of February....countdown.
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