Right now there about 50+ female students living in the old school blocks within our school grounds. The girls are from all four Forms and each week there are more and more moving in. I've been told that soon there may be close to 100 residing within the two rooms!
It makes sense for them to be living at the school as many live very far away. As of now we do not have a feeding program at the school nor do we have rooms that are in my opinion fit to be lived in. The girls sleep on mats and blankets they've brought from home and many do not have mosquito nets or other things they need. They usually arrive with a suitcase full of their belongings and clothing for the term.
As I said we don't yet have a feeding program at my school so after classes the girls take turns finding vegetables or cooking foods they've brought from home the weekend before. Not only do they have to find the food they wish to cook but they also have to worry about acquiring firewood as well. They do all of their cooking behind the building in a small room which has been built for their use.
Nonetheless they're happy and they're safe, residing within the walls of Gwangwa. I know this because I spend many of my evenings chatting with them, sharing nsima and answering questions about their classes and other topics. After dinner, the majority of the girls spend their time studying in the classrooms, reviewing the day's lessons and working on any assignments they may have been given.
It's great that they're at the school. This means they're not at home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of their many brothers and sisters. They're not walking back and forth across long distances each and every day and they're not being approached or propositioned by the men they may pass on their way.
They're at school. They're studying. They're sharing. They're learning from one another and they're working together.
I'm glad they're at the school but the conditions are certainly less than ideal. Many Community Day Secondary Schools have been able to raise funds for dormitories and actual kitchens so the girls can worry less about how they're living and more about their studies. I'm looking into how I can help these girls get the things they need. I'll keep on keeping you informed.
I've also uploaded a few pictures of the girls and the rooms I've been describing so you can get a better for feel for what I've been talking about.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Things I've Learned in the Last Month...
- Having a refrigerator is essential to eating left-overs. No matter how well you re-heat something, if not refrigerated you will regret it later. (Trust me on this one.)
- I can ride my bike much further and for much longer than I ever thought I’d be able to.
- Spaghetti noodles with brown sugar is a really delicious snack, especially when you have prepared it for a room full of smiling little kids.
- Peanut butter is FANTASTIC and definitely worth splurging for in Lilongwe to take back to your village.
- Teaching is a very tiring job, especially when you have many different classes and literally hundreds of students.
- Having clean hair is an amazing feeling.
- You should not give your cell phone number out to people who give you rides into town.
- My students want things that I’ve always taken for granted and never truly appreciated like good teachers, books, assignments, tests, and answers to their questions.
- When a child shows that she/he really understands what you’ve been teaching him/her, all of your previous frustrations disappear.
- Crocs are the best shoes ever.
- It’s okay to ask for and accept help. I can’t do everything and it’s okay to allow others to fetch my water, share their meal with me, start my fire, etc. when I’ve been busy at school all day.
- I have great site mates!
Love and Good Thoughts!
Kelly
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Lilongwe for the Day
No I’m not skipping out on school today on purpose. It seems I’ve had a little parasitic friend named Giardia periodically reaping havoc on my intestinal tract. A common occurrence among volunteers and those living in Malawi, I probably picked it up from something I ate at the market or at someone’s house. No worries, one dose of antibiotics and I’ll be bacteria free!
Not much more to say. I’ve been keeping busy with netball practice, lesson planning, Debate Team, keeping track of my very highly utilized school library, coloring with my kids, visiting the self-boarders at the school, and chatting with my very friendly neighbors.
I’ll be back in town sometime over the next few weeks. I’d been trying to plan a weekend with some other volunteers, but my unexpected netball games have pushed that back just a bit.
In other news, my cousins Nicole and Jennifer have booked their flights for a visit late next month! They’ll be here for a week from the 22nd-28th of March!
I can’t wait and am already making plans for them to meet my students and friends, see the Lake, and visit one of the National Parks!
So exciting!
Thanks for all the letters, packages, emails, and comments on my blog I’ve been receiving!
Love and Good Thoughts,
Kelly
Not much more to say. I’ve been keeping busy with netball practice, lesson planning, Debate Team, keeping track of my very highly utilized school library, coloring with my kids, visiting the self-boarders at the school, and chatting with my very friendly neighbors.
I’ll be back in town sometime over the next few weeks. I’d been trying to plan a weekend with some other volunteers, but my unexpected netball games have pushed that back just a bit.
In other news, my cousins Nicole and Jennifer have booked their flights for a visit late next month! They’ll be here for a week from the 22nd-28th of March!
I can’t wait and am already making plans for them to meet my students and friends, see the Lake, and visit one of the National Parks!
So exciting!
Thanks for all the letters, packages, emails, and comments on my blog I’ve been receiving!
Love and Good Thoughts,
Kelly
Form 3 Photo Shoot
Upon finding out that I’d be in town the next day to pick up something from the medical office, I figured I had better get a few pictures of some of my students. My Form 3’s, to whom I teach English, Biology, and Life Skills, had a prep period today which we used for a little photo shoot. I can’t tell you how much these kids love having their pictures taken. I can’t wait to develop these and allow them to take them home.
During our 40 minute photo shoot filled with laughter, ridiculous poses, and lots of “Please Madame Kelly, Please! Me next! Take my picture! Me next!” one of my students said “Madame Kelly, I think you love us all very much, don’t you?” I think I do.
Enjoy the pictures!
During our 40 minute photo shoot filled with laughter, ridiculous poses, and lots of “Please Madame Kelly, Please! Me next! Take my picture! Me next!” one of my students said “Madame Kelly, I think you love us all very much, don’t you?” I think I do.
Enjoy the pictures!
Netball Tournament
To be completely honest, I’d never even heard of netball before coming to Malawi. That is before being told that I would be the Sports Mistress and in charge of our girl’s netball team. Fortunately the girls are fabulous players and require little in terms of skills coaching. I may not have known much about netball before, but I sure have learned a lot over the past few weeks!
We’d been holding netball and football (soccer) practices after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and decided to enter our girl’s netball team into a tournament in Ntchisi District called the Presidential Cup. From what I’ve gathered, the President of Malawi is trying to encourage sports and after school activities throughout the country and has created these tournaments, prize money included in many areas.
We paid our affiliation fee of MK500 (~$3.57) and before we knew it were scheduled to play the very next weekend. This of course lead to some serious, every day, after school practices, though it’s difficult to keep students too late after school because they haven’t had time to go home for lunch.
After petitioning for funding, I was granted money from our school’s tiny budget to take 15 players by minibus to Ntchisi Boma, about 40km for the games this past Saturday. We also organized lunch, bringing two large buckets full of rice and beans which had been cooked the morning before.
We arrived at the field a few hours early and the girls were able to wander around the Boma, go to the market, visit friends and family, etc. I walked around with the two other teachers who had come to watch the games, Mr. Kaunda and the Sports Master, Mr. Gama.
Our first game was against another CDSS team called Mphere; my girls played really well but unfortunately lost by one basket. The best way I can think of to describe netball is to say it’s like basketball but without the dribbling, you have to keep passing the ball and can be penalized for taking steps without doing so. Like I said we lost by one basket, with a score of 12 to 11. I think had it not been our very first game, we definitely would have won. We’ll certainly beat Mphere next time we meet.
The second game started about an hour or so later and we faced a community team called the Ntchisi Police. The best way I can describe this team is to share with you what my girls said to me on the court a few minutes before the game. “Madame Kelly,” they said, “We can’t play this team. We’re afraid! They’re too big!” They weren’t worried for nothing; these women were not high school aged girls. They were big, muscular, well practiced players. I was equally afraid for my girls but told them not to worry and just to try their best.
They were absolutely awesome! I can’t even tell you how excited I was for them! I was keeping score on the sidelines, jumping and shouting “Inde!” (“Yes!”) throughout the entire game. They played so well! This was a seriously good team and I was so impressed by how skillfully my girls from Gwangwa were able to shoot, pass, and keep the ball away from them.
In the end, we lost the game but it doesn’t matter because we put up a really great fight. We’re scheduled to play in another game this weekend against an equally good team, but I think after another week of practice we should be able to play even better this coming Saturday. Who knows maybe we’ll even win!
Check out the pictures of my girls at the tournament. There aren’t many as I didn’t want to bring too much attention to myself and my other players on the sidelines by having a camera, but I think you’ll be able to get a feel for the court and players.
We’d been holding netball and football (soccer) practices after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and decided to enter our girl’s netball team into a tournament in Ntchisi District called the Presidential Cup. From what I’ve gathered, the President of Malawi is trying to encourage sports and after school activities throughout the country and has created these tournaments, prize money included in many areas.
We paid our affiliation fee of MK500 (~$3.57) and before we knew it were scheduled to play the very next weekend. This of course lead to some serious, every day, after school practices, though it’s difficult to keep students too late after school because they haven’t had time to go home for lunch.
After petitioning for funding, I was granted money from our school’s tiny budget to take 15 players by minibus to Ntchisi Boma, about 40km for the games this past Saturday. We also organized lunch, bringing two large buckets full of rice and beans which had been cooked the morning before.
We arrived at the field a few hours early and the girls were able to wander around the Boma, go to the market, visit friends and family, etc. I walked around with the two other teachers who had come to watch the games, Mr. Kaunda and the Sports Master, Mr. Gama.
Our first game was against another CDSS team called Mphere; my girls played really well but unfortunately lost by one basket. The best way I can think of to describe netball is to say it’s like basketball but without the dribbling, you have to keep passing the ball and can be penalized for taking steps without doing so. Like I said we lost by one basket, with a score of 12 to 11. I think had it not been our very first game, we definitely would have won. We’ll certainly beat Mphere next time we meet.
The second game started about an hour or so later and we faced a community team called the Ntchisi Police. The best way I can describe this team is to share with you what my girls said to me on the court a few minutes before the game. “Madame Kelly,” they said, “We can’t play this team. We’re afraid! They’re too big!” They weren’t worried for nothing; these women were not high school aged girls. They were big, muscular, well practiced players. I was equally afraid for my girls but told them not to worry and just to try their best.
They were absolutely awesome! I can’t even tell you how excited I was for them! I was keeping score on the sidelines, jumping and shouting “Inde!” (“Yes!”) throughout the entire game. They played so well! This was a seriously good team and I was so impressed by how skillfully my girls from Gwangwa were able to shoot, pass, and keep the ball away from them.
In the end, we lost the game but it doesn’t matter because we put up a really great fight. We’re scheduled to play in another game this weekend against an equally good team, but I think after another week of practice we should be able to play even better this coming Saturday. Who knows maybe we’ll even win!
Check out the pictures of my girls at the tournament. There aren’t many as I didn’t want to bring too much attention to myself and my other players on the sidelines by having a camera, but I think you’ll be able to get a feel for the court and players.
Mbewa
I may be an entire ocean away, but I’ve still heard that my mom’s been spreading word of my recent, unexpected house guest. I suppose that means it makes for a good story and should be shared with everyone who hasn’t heard.
I woke up at about 2:30am a few Saturdays ago to the sound of rustling somewhere in my house. I decided the noise was coming from my sitting room, outside my bedroom door, but couldn’t quite figure out what it was. It didn’t sound like a person and I’ve always felt safe in my house, especially with my watchman outside, but nonetheless I was a bit nervous to get up and see what it was.
After a few minutes, I decided to emerge from my mosquito net, lit a candle and went to investigate. I’m not really sure why I chose a candle over my headlamp or a flashlight, but considering it was 2:30am I’ll excuse my lack of thought.
Anyway, after lighting my candle, I ventured into my sitting room, following the strange sound. Not only did I continue to hear the rustling but I was shocked to see an empty plastic rice bag moving across my floor!
Upon my entering the room, the bag stopped… and that’s when I saw him.
His long tail and nasty little face were quite visible through the clear plastic bag.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I’m not afraid of mice or bugs or anything like that, but still I didn’t grab the bag. Instead I unlocked my back door and found my watchman standing there, obviously wondering why I was up and what was going on. I looked at him frantically and said only “mbewa” the Chichewan word for mouse.
Well I’m sure he thinks I’m quite ridiculous. Mice are common house problems in Malawi and even more commonly eaten as roasted, side-dishes. Nonetheless, he entered my house, picked up the bag and escorted my unwelcome visitor outside.
Like me, you’re probably wondering what happened to the mouse. Unfortunately I was too embarrassed to bring it up in the morning, so we’ll never know for sure. It’s quite possible that he escaped, maybe even before my watchman was able to take him outside. Perhaps he’s still living in my house, looking for granola bar wrappers and dropped crumbs. But if I had to guess, I’d say the most likely fate of my little friend was death… by roasting.
I may have been shocked to find him, but I’d bet he turned out to be a tasty, late-night snack for my watchman.
I woke up at about 2:30am a few Saturdays ago to the sound of rustling somewhere in my house. I decided the noise was coming from my sitting room, outside my bedroom door, but couldn’t quite figure out what it was. It didn’t sound like a person and I’ve always felt safe in my house, especially with my watchman outside, but nonetheless I was a bit nervous to get up and see what it was.
After a few minutes, I decided to emerge from my mosquito net, lit a candle and went to investigate. I’m not really sure why I chose a candle over my headlamp or a flashlight, but considering it was 2:30am I’ll excuse my lack of thought.
Anyway, after lighting my candle, I ventured into my sitting room, following the strange sound. Not only did I continue to hear the rustling but I was shocked to see an empty plastic rice bag moving across my floor!
Upon my entering the room, the bag stopped… and that’s when I saw him.
His long tail and nasty little face were quite visible through the clear plastic bag.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I’m not afraid of mice or bugs or anything like that, but still I didn’t grab the bag. Instead I unlocked my back door and found my watchman standing there, obviously wondering why I was up and what was going on. I looked at him frantically and said only “mbewa” the Chichewan word for mouse.
Well I’m sure he thinks I’m quite ridiculous. Mice are common house problems in Malawi and even more commonly eaten as roasted, side-dishes. Nonetheless, he entered my house, picked up the bag and escorted my unwelcome visitor outside.
Like me, you’re probably wondering what happened to the mouse. Unfortunately I was too embarrassed to bring it up in the morning, so we’ll never know for sure. It’s quite possible that he escaped, maybe even before my watchman was able to take him outside. Perhaps he’s still living in my house, looking for granola bar wrappers and dropped crumbs. But if I had to guess, I’d say the most likely fate of my little friend was death… by roasting.
I may have been shocked to find him, but I’d bet he turned out to be a tasty, late-night snack for my watchman.
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