When I woke up this morning I thought there was a dead mouse next to my pillow, laying sprawled out, crotch to the wind...
I screamed, picked up my pillow threw it over the mouse, and fell face first outta my bed into my mosquito net... i started shimmy crawling all over the floor having a mini panic attack...
After mustering up enough courage I checked under my pillow.
...it was my flashlight.
I laughed...but knees still hurt. from the fall!
Peace, Love and not sleeping with dead animals!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Between Black outs
Blackouts= no electricity, sometimes for hours, sometimes for minutes...sometimes for days.Either way they really do control what happens in my life...
well not control, maybe just take away a few of my smiles...especially at night when the fan goes off...the fan of which I have to tuck into my mosquito net with me, otherwise I do not feel a thing in the 90++++++ degree heat.
One good thing about blackouts in my mosquito net however, is it forces me to entertain myself, and I am getting REALLLY good at finger shadow puppets..seriously..you should see my jelly fish.
Its rainy season, which means massive amounts of mosquitoes, tons of puddles that leave me up to my knees in mud by the time I get to work, but still the sun peaks its way out to heat up my skin on my 40 minute walk to work in the morning.
Car horns blast past, almost as loud as the rum shop music at night, and cars slow down to "sip" and greet me with "gud mawnings!"and "alright" and awkward exchanges of words.
Today I was told , by a self proclaimed "Roti-Man" ,that he would make me as much Roti as I wanted if i gave him my number and was his friend...he also promised me "many other nice things." It was a hard decision to say no, being a fat kid and all. :)but I managed to get away with an empty stomach and an phone that does not ring ever 3 minutes.
As I walk on my eyes take me to the sky...I love the way the coconut trees look against blue, but the trenches by my feet quickly remind me of the poverty surrounding...and the cows diarrhea(sp??) on my feet and legs pretty much make me want to not be a vegetarian anymore....
When I get to school an overwhelming feeling encompasses my mind. There is much to do!!! But where to start?!?!?
Well, for starters: The inclusion certification program for the Department of Ed is on its way into creation!!!!!!!!!!!!!...I went to Georgetown last week, to see a module in a different program, and it gave me a good idea as to what I want to accomplish throughout this year long training for Region 6 primary school teachers along with the VSO! so OWOWOW :)
Other than work, The morning paper this week consists of a woman being pushed out of a car by her husband and ran over, graphic pictures to follow. At the clinic a girl who was gang raped and pregnant, is being forced to marry one of her rapists by her father, so the charges will be dropped...my neighbors cousin died yesterday from drunk driving a moped and hitting a cow....this is Guyana?
Things I miss this week:
family, beer, friends, wine, living without so many insects, and understanding people when we talk
Things I love this week:
hammock time!(i hung mine up this week, i officially moved in last Wednesday), no copyright laws=iron man 2 up in my house!! OWOWO, kids saying funnnnny funnny things, eating popcorn for dinner...and breakfast.
Peace love and Massive amounts of mosquitoes!
well not control, maybe just take away a few of my smiles...especially at night when the fan goes off...the fan of which I have to tuck into my mosquito net with me, otherwise I do not feel a thing in the 90++++++ degree heat.
One good thing about blackouts in my mosquito net however, is it forces me to entertain myself, and I am getting REALLLY good at finger shadow puppets..seriously..you should see my jelly fish.
Its rainy season, which means massive amounts of mosquitoes, tons of puddles that leave me up to my knees in mud by the time I get to work, but still the sun peaks its way out to heat up my skin on my 40 minute walk to work in the morning.
Car horns blast past, almost as loud as the rum shop music at night, and cars slow down to "sip" and greet me with "gud mawnings!"and "alright" and awkward exchanges of words.
Today I was told , by a self proclaimed "Roti-Man" ,that he would make me as much Roti as I wanted if i gave him my number and was his friend...he also promised me "many other nice things." It was a hard decision to say no, being a fat kid and all. :)but I managed to get away with an empty stomach and an phone that does not ring ever 3 minutes.
As I walk on my eyes take me to the sky...I love the way the coconut trees look against blue, but the trenches by my feet quickly remind me of the poverty surrounding...and the cows diarrhea(sp??) on my feet and legs pretty much make me want to not be a vegetarian anymore....
When I get to school an overwhelming feeling encompasses my mind. There is much to do!!! But where to start?!?!?
Well, for starters: The inclusion certification program for the Department of Ed is on its way into creation!!!!!!!!!!!!!...I went to Georgetown last week, to see a module in a different program, and it gave me a good idea as to what I want to accomplish throughout this year long training for Region 6 primary school teachers along with the VSO! so OWOWOW :)
Other than work, The morning paper this week consists of a woman being pushed out of a car by her husband and ran over, graphic pictures to follow. At the clinic a girl who was gang raped and pregnant, is being forced to marry one of her rapists by her father, so the charges will be dropped...my neighbors cousin died yesterday from drunk driving a moped and hitting a cow....this is Guyana?
Things I miss this week:
family, beer, friends, wine, living without so many insects, and understanding people when we talk
Things I love this week:
hammock time!(i hung mine up this week, i officially moved in last Wednesday), no copyright laws=iron man 2 up in my house!! OWOWO, kids saying funnnnny funnny things, eating popcorn for dinner...and breakfast.
Peace love and Massive amounts of mosquitoes!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
Its a bit different walking into a school, where kids sharpen their pencils with razor blades, teachers walk in 20 mins late, and learning for the day consists of copying words from the board...but make sure you use your ruler to have straight lines?!?
I feel as if they are going through the motions, but no real learning is being done. Sorry to be so negative, but Today/this week so far has been a bit frustrating.
Its getting harder and harder for me to not say anything to the Principal It's Wednesday, and she has been at work for a total of 3 hours). Its hard to feel motivated in a school, when the leader of the school doesn't even seem to care...let alone any of the teachers....:(
I finally mustered up enough courage , and talked to 3 out of the 5 teachers today about how they were feeling, and it seems as if this school has been taking a hit since the old headmistress left.( The old headmistress was phenomenal I hear, very professional, and cared so much about the learning happening in the school!)
Its hard for me to pick my spot because there are so many things to do be done, and I don't know where to start. But after talking with the teachers today, and finding out their frustrations, I definitely feel like my first goal is to get things back on track. As well as make sure the kids learning is the teachers number one priority. I'm taking it one day at at time, realizing I just have to do what I can, with what I have.
Its hard when teachers are absent though(even when they are at school too and when they aren't, its not as if they leave lesson plans or anything of that sort), and my main focus can't be the support of the teachers, but teaching itself. Teaching is my favorite thing ever, but when I'm supposed to be observing a classroom, and then one of the teachers tells me what subject they are to work on, and then leaves the school for hours, expecting me to teach it, its a bit different. Especially when its my 2nd day in the room ,and I have no idea what the students know.
Today this is what happened, I went through and did a counting and basic addition lesson with them, and after 10 mins I realized that the kids cant recognize their numbers yet. ---something that would have been good to know before beginning.
Which I guess is how it is here. But I mean, in the lesson books that the ministry would see(if they ever came to check on the school(that's a whole different story) says they are learning addition and subtraction and regrouping and all this stuff....which is bullshit...blah..sorry to complain, its just such a frustrating situation. And its not so fun feeling like no one else cares, not the department of education, not the headmistress, not some of the teachers. Just because its a school for "special needs" shouldn't change the fact that its not worthy of a high standard of education, and it definitely doesn't mean that the kids at the school are any less important, because they are, and they are magnificent, and really the only reason I can smile during any of this, is because of them.
Whew....i just hold close to the special moments of today and be grateful for them, the kids that pass me on the street saying "Happy Friday" even though its Wednesday, just because that was the first thing I had ever said to them, and they love it!
The kids at the orphanage who say the silliest things and just want to hold onto you and never let you go, and the kids at the school who greet me with smiles and hugs and laughter in the mornings, which makes me want to work harder for them.
And every night I go to bed thinking that tomorrow I will work harder...tomorrow will be better, tomorrow we'll get further, tomorrow things will change for the better.
I hope tomorrow becomes today....soon enough!
Peace, Love and Razorblades!
I feel as if they are going through the motions, but no real learning is being done. Sorry to be so negative, but Today/this week so far has been a bit frustrating.
Its getting harder and harder for me to not say anything to the Principal It's Wednesday, and she has been at work for a total of 3 hours). Its hard to feel motivated in a school, when the leader of the school doesn't even seem to care...let alone any of the teachers....:(
I finally mustered up enough courage , and talked to 3 out of the 5 teachers today about how they were feeling, and it seems as if this school has been taking a hit since the old headmistress left.( The old headmistress was phenomenal I hear, very professional, and cared so much about the learning happening in the school!)
Its hard for me to pick my spot because there are so many things to do be done, and I don't know where to start. But after talking with the teachers today, and finding out their frustrations, I definitely feel like my first goal is to get things back on track. As well as make sure the kids learning is the teachers number one priority. I'm taking it one day at at time, realizing I just have to do what I can, with what I have.
Its hard when teachers are absent though(even when they are at school too and when they aren't, its not as if they leave lesson plans or anything of that sort), and my main focus can't be the support of the teachers, but teaching itself. Teaching is my favorite thing ever, but when I'm supposed to be observing a classroom, and then one of the teachers tells me what subject they are to work on, and then leaves the school for hours, expecting me to teach it, its a bit different. Especially when its my 2nd day in the room ,and I have no idea what the students know.
Today this is what happened, I went through and did a counting and basic addition lesson with them, and after 10 mins I realized that the kids cant recognize their numbers yet. ---something that would have been good to know before beginning.
Which I guess is how it is here. But I mean, in the lesson books that the ministry would see(if they ever came to check on the school(that's a whole different story) says they are learning addition and subtraction and regrouping and all this stuff....which is bullshit...blah..sorry to complain, its just such a frustrating situation. And its not so fun feeling like no one else cares, not the department of education, not the headmistress, not some of the teachers. Just because its a school for "special needs" shouldn't change the fact that its not worthy of a high standard of education, and it definitely doesn't mean that the kids at the school are any less important, because they are, and they are magnificent, and really the only reason I can smile during any of this, is because of them.
Whew....i just hold close to the special moments of today and be grateful for them, the kids that pass me on the street saying "Happy Friday" even though its Wednesday, just because that was the first thing I had ever said to them, and they love it!
The kids at the orphanage who say the silliest things and just want to hold onto you and never let you go, and the kids at the school who greet me with smiles and hugs and laughter in the mornings, which makes me want to work harder for them.
And every night I go to bed thinking that tomorrow I will work harder...tomorrow will be better, tomorrow we'll get further, tomorrow things will change for the better.
I hope tomorrow becomes today....soon enough!
Peace, Love and Razorblades!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Happy Mothers Day
Today I had my students make Mothers Day cards.
one kid wrote this in a heart shaped, nicely colored card
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the dog,slut.
Now, At first glance, I thought the 12 year old was calling his mom a slut, but then I realized they really do have a dog named slut..apparently his grandma named it.
I'm not sure which is worse.
Anyways, Happy Mothers day to all the wonderful mothers I know! especially(my own La Mamba, grandmas, momma dork, and my sister :) )) I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCHO!!
Peace, Love and Sluts!
one kid wrote this in a heart shaped, nicely colored card
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the dog,slut.
Now, At first glance, I thought the 12 year old was calling his mom a slut, but then I realized they really do have a dog named slut..apparently his grandma named it.
I'm not sure which is worse.
Anyways, Happy Mothers day to all the wonderful mothers I know! especially(my own La Mamba, grandmas, momma dork, and my sister :) )) I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCHO!!
Peace, Love and Sluts!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
My OFFICIAL new Address :)
Jillian Johnson, PCV
I.D.C.E
22 Strand Street,
New Amsterdam, Berbice
Guyana
South America
:) XOXOXOXO
I.D.C.E
22 Strand Street,
New Amsterdam, Berbice
Guyana
South America
:) XOXOXOXO
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Welcome Home :)----to a bed with two heart shaped mirrors in the headboard???
I was called Fat girl 6 times today.
:) I moved into the bottom of a house yesterday....it has two bedrooms, fully equipped with a bed frame with two heart shaped mirrors in the headboard, seriously. This is not what I expected to be sleeping in, in Guyana, but I'm pretty sure it was meant to be.....Icall it my lovers room. (pretty much I only have love for bug repellent spray and sunscreen though at this point)
I cleaned it all out(with help of two awesome women that I work with) and now the place is "clean"/I haven't seen a tarantula yet, but God knows the day is coming.I have a few rat friends, i don't know how to kick em out, so i let them live with me.
Its a beautiful house, that I am excited to make a home. I am so lucky to have all that I have.
On another note, I just got done teaching....and I'm exhausted!
I'm not fluent in sign language yet, and lets just say its a little difficult to teach 13 deaf students that are at various learning and grade levels...who don't know sign either!
I love it though...so mucho! and I just found out that I'm going to be creating an inclusive education program here for the entire region 6 of Guyana along with a VSO!(hopefully if the proposal goes through, then i'll start working on the curriculum, budget, and project implementation planning for the 2 year project!!)
I would be an inclusive educator for the entire region, which means I would be training all of the principles(or teachers who wanted to participate) in this region on inclusive education practices and methodologies... i'd definitely see my work as sustainable if i did a project of this sort :) There isn't any training for special needs in the country...or child centered learning really. SO I am verrrry excited about this project!
FYI here is an example of a lesson done by a teacher at the school:
language:
Is use with the verb ing. Will tell us what action was done in the present. For example:
I is watching tv.
I is eating an apple
was use with teh verb ing. Will tell us what action was done in the pass. for example:
salima was watching tv. Salima did the action soomtime in the pass.
word for word that was written on the board and then the teacher told the kids to copy it as she sat down for the rest of the hours. these kids get two to three of these lessons a day.
Lets just say there is A LOT of work to get done, and I'm so excited to get started!
Other fun things that happend:
A man was cutting grass, took off his facemask, and stopped the machine only to yell at me : WOW, baby, WOW. You are sooo sweet looking, I want you as my wife.
Another man walked up to me and gave me the biggest flower plant thingy ever, and said, beautiful flower for a beautiful girl. It was nice, but then i had to walk around with it all day long=not so nice.
my phone wont stop VIBRATING...funny that that would be the problem that would happen to me.
It was pouring out and a group of dogs came running at me to attack me, i yelled "F*** YOU DOGS" as loud as I could and they all backed off.(i know its inappropriate language, but im even sure my dad would have broke out a cuss word at that point) then I stepped into a puddle and lost my flip flop.
I spoiled myself with vegetarian cheese this month, I'm not sure exactly what "vegetarian cheese" means here, and it doesn't taste nearly as good as anything Wisconsin, but man it made me smile :)
:) I moved into the bottom of a house yesterday....it has two bedrooms, fully equipped with a bed frame with two heart shaped mirrors in the headboard, seriously. This is not what I expected to be sleeping in, in Guyana, but I'm pretty sure it was meant to be.....Icall it my lovers room. (pretty much I only have love for bug repellent spray and sunscreen though at this point)
I cleaned it all out(with help of two awesome women that I work with) and now the place is "clean"/I haven't seen a tarantula yet, but God knows the day is coming.I have a few rat friends, i don't know how to kick em out, so i let them live with me.
Its a beautiful house, that I am excited to make a home. I am so lucky to have all that I have.
On another note, I just got done teaching....and I'm exhausted!
I'm not fluent in sign language yet, and lets just say its a little difficult to teach 13 deaf students that are at various learning and grade levels...who don't know sign either!
I love it though...so mucho! and I just found out that I'm going to be creating an inclusive education program here for the entire region 6 of Guyana along with a VSO!(hopefully if the proposal goes through, then i'll start working on the curriculum, budget, and project implementation planning for the 2 year project!!)
I would be an inclusive educator for the entire region, which means I would be training all of the principles(or teachers who wanted to participate) in this region on inclusive education practices and methodologies... i'd definitely see my work as sustainable if i did a project of this sort :) There isn't any training for special needs in the country...or child centered learning really. SO I am verrrry excited about this project!
FYI here is an example of a lesson done by a teacher at the school:
language:
Is use with the verb ing. Will tell us what action was done in the present. For example:
I is watching tv.
I is eating an apple
was use with teh verb ing. Will tell us what action was done in the pass. for example:
salima was watching tv. Salima did the action soomtime in the pass.
word for word that was written on the board and then the teacher told the kids to copy it as she sat down for the rest of the hours. these kids get two to three of these lessons a day.
Lets just say there is A LOT of work to get done, and I'm so excited to get started!
Other fun things that happend:
A man was cutting grass, took off his facemask, and stopped the machine only to yell at me : WOW, baby, WOW. You are sooo sweet looking, I want you as my wife.
Another man walked up to me and gave me the biggest flower plant thingy ever, and said, beautiful flower for a beautiful girl. It was nice, but then i had to walk around with it all day long=not so nice.
my phone wont stop VIBRATING...funny that that would be the problem that would happen to me.
It was pouring out and a group of dogs came running at me to attack me, i yelled "F*** YOU DOGS" as loud as I could and they all backed off.(i know its inappropriate language, but im even sure my dad would have broke out a cuss word at that point) then I stepped into a puddle and lost my flip flop.
I spoiled myself with vegetarian cheese this month, I'm not sure exactly what "vegetarian cheese" means here, and it doesn't taste nearly as good as anything Wisconsin, but man it made me smile :)
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