21 Feb: Potential

Finally some human biology. I taught movement and bones to Form III today. I asked Brayn to come to the class, and I had students label his skeleton with post-its. Some students told me they enjoyed the lesson. Nice.

My Form II class was cancelled because there is a blood drive today. Ive really been pushing this in my classes for a couple days, and of course Mr. Kisava had me say a few words to the student body before everything started. Im happy to say that many students are currently volunteering, whereas before they were extremely apprehensive.

The school has a new library. Its amazing. There are boxes of books stacked to the ceiling, and chairs and talbe to accommodate many students. There is one problem: the boxes are unopened. Its driving Brayn and me crazy. Perhaps the biggest problem in the school right now is a lack of resources, and here they are. There are textbooks from any and all subjects, from elementary to college level material. There are novels, religious books, any number of categories of nonfiction, and the only thing they need are shelves. And maybe a librarian. In any case, this library was overwhelming to see, especially after seeing the books that the students are currently using. This library needs to be operational as soon as possible.

We went to do some more work in the library when it began to rain. Brayn ran back to recover the solar battery and I stayed behind. The rain started coming down much harder. I had finished sorting when I noticed a young man and older woman seeking shelter beneath the overhang of the library roof so I invited them in. It turned out the they had just come from the dispensary and the woman had very sore feet. I got them a chair and they thanked me. I was stuck in the library for nearly an hour, and each time the rain would let up just enough to make a run for it, I was too apprehensive because of the mud. Also I have to lock the door behind me, and I cant force these people to leave (not just because its mean, but also I dont know how to say "get out" in Kiswahili). After shuffling a few more boxes around (I revealed a lizard after lifting one, and Im proud to not have earned the label of "the screaming wazungu"), and some reviewing of a genetics textbook, I was able to lock up and leave.

Since the ground was indeed mud-soaked, most of the rest of the day was dedicated to reading. Having consumed a solid portion of all three of my books, I decided to call this a productive day. I was also able to talk to Liz on our phone for ten minutes. Since Im feeling so much better, it was nice to talk to her about the trivial moments of daily life here, as opposed to the last call which seemed filled with desperation at the time.

I have come to enjoy exploring the chalkboards of empty classrooms in the evening. It gives me insight into what and how the students are studying and retaining. While on one of my evening gallivants, a student named Philimony came in and spoke with me. In his further studies he wants to pursue the sciences, and he told me that he and other students had been talking about how they had really enjoyed the lesson today. Due to my inability to describe so many of the experiences here, Ill just say that was really swell.

Ill put pictures in a separate post immediately above this one.

If this is your first time here, please be sure to read the first entry on this site. Thank you.