January 12, 2009 A Tour of the Mission

Today we awoke to pounding rain. I broke out my mud boots. Am I ever glad that Fr. Phillip told me we'd need them. They provide a bit of traction in addition to keeping my feet dry, and that really helps navigating around the buildings here.

In mid morning, John D. took us on the beginning of our tour of the Namitembo schools. We met the heads of the primary and secondary schools and then sat down in Standard One and Standard Two to watch the teachers teaching. In Standard Two, equivalent to second grade, I counted about 60 children sitting on the concrete floor in a room a lot smaller than my former Kindergarten room. There are black chalkboards in front and back, and that is it. The teacher was working with them on Maths (they spell it with an s at the end of the word). She put frames on the board, inserted some of the numerals between 0 and 10 and then asked them to fill in the blanks. As each one gave a correct answer the class clapped once. Then various individuals were called to come up and print the letters on the board. The children were completely attentive, even the five or six boys sitting in the back, leaning against the wall.

In Standard One it was the beginning of their second week of school, ever, since the school year runs from January to December. There were 78 little kids sitting on the floor learning how to hold a pencil. Most had stubby pencils , others used sticks, nobody had a new pencil. A few had exercise books, though many had not brought them because of the pounding rain earlier. Next the teacher demonstrated how to make a vertical line from top to bottom and then a horizontal one from left to right. They traced lines in the air because most didn't have the books. She asked a few to come do it on the board. John made the point that she is committed to call on girls as well as boys.

As we left the rooms, I couldn't help thinnking about visiting Carolyn in the comfortable, beautiful Kindergarten room at ASB last week. What a contrast. However, that Standard One teacher has more energy than our whole K-Team together, and she is committed, and caring and really knows how to teach and to handle that big group. Those kids have her and that is huge.

Next we went to the nearly completed daycare center building. Sarah, the volunteer from England who arrived a week ago, is painting murals on the walls. This will accomodate infants in the "creche," and one to five year olds in three other rooms, with a nice grassy courtyard in the middle. There will be a kitchen, office and a lovely entry area. This new project was funded by Ubwino Wa Amayi, a group in Blantyre, who support women's needs. They'll be having a two week Montessori training for potential teachers, beginning next Monday. Then six people will be hired as teachers and it will open. The goal is to provide childcare for women who have dropped out of school, now have children, and could come back and finish if their children were cared for.

Then we went to the Trade School. Second year students came back today and first year students will start in a couple of weeks. I was delighted to see all the treadle sewing machines in the Tailoring Department. The instructor, told me that in first year they do a "home project" such as curtains, and a baby set. In second year they make a suit. She didn't know what a quilt is, or at least she didn't know that word. I am resolved to remedy that. She wants us to have an afternoon sewing group, so I'm anxious to find a fabric store. I know, I know. Some of you can't believe this fabric junky is carrying on in Malawi.

Next we went to the woodworking classroom. Chet was amazed at the quality of joinery in the student projects that had been done with only hand tools, since the place does not yet have electricity. He will go tomorrow to sit in on a theory class and then spend time in the next few days lending a hand as the students work on projects.

After lunch, a teacher from the secondary school came to our house for a private Chichewa class. She is an excellent teacher. Today we learned the vowel sounds, the consonants and how consonants are put together to form syllables and syllables form words. We are walking around muttering "Muli bwanji" tonight.

It's 9:15 p.m. here, 11:19 a.m. on the US west coast. I am hoping I can sleep past 3 a.m. tonight. Jet lag is wicked. Usiku wabwino (good night).