Vandag was Diensdag. Die dag was baia lekker! I enjoyed walking around after, afternoon classes and greeting many people on the road. There are just those days when you can say, "I'm so happy to be in Namibia!" When, despite the many challenges, you can attest to the fact that you fit right in! You can greet someone and make small conversation in Afrikaans, you become accustomed to the common remarks and can behave similarly, you are aware of certain personality traits of Namibians – eliminating some confusion, you don't stick out as much on arrival to a place. This evening there was a knock on the door… "It's Luis!" shouted the man with complete confidence, as if we should know him. Jillian, do you know a Luis? "No" Who's Luis? Should I open the door? I open the first door and of course it would be a micro-wave delivery man at 8pm. "No, sorry, wrong address!"
Deep into a lengthy lecture this morning with a few of my students about purpose and informing them that they need to desire their own education. If they are doing their work for Ouma, Teacher Anna, Teacher Jillian, or Auntie; they will not complete it. Each student has to want to want to get his education. For example, if Auntie says, "you can have a chocolate bar if you clean your room," will you clean it?
"YES!"
"Why?"
"Because I want the chocolate, Ms. Anna."
"What if your brother dropped 12 eggs and wiped them all over the floor?"
"I would do whatever it takes to clean that room because I want the chocolate."
"What if you were not offered chocolate? Would you want to do such a good job cleaning your room?"
"No!"
"Ok, well what's your chocolate? What's that something you love to keep you interested in your education?...please tell me, I'm waiting."
"Well, Ms. Anna, what does 'Education' mean?" Oh, wow, great question. I guess I have to start again.
"I don't even think chocolate would keep me interested in school for that long. I would get sick of it!"
I don't know why I thought symbolism would work with very literal brains, but it was an honest mistake on my part. Working here in Arandis has aided in my understanding of how invaluable education is and how irrelevant it is to, much of the government in this country. On my way to Mummies Restaurant to greet a friend who works there, I ran into a ninth grade student who is suffering because her teachers have gone on strike and are lazy at school. They are not being taught anything in class; if they want to pass their exams, they have to go and find out the information on their own. Teachers are threatening not to mark the grade 12 exam papers, which would deter students from passing altogether. Ahh! What do you even say to a student who is going through this on a daily basis? Many students are just fooling around and the serious ones are getting understandably discouraged.
Back to the above story of our young students who lack the motivation to learn basic academics. What example are they getting from all outside influences? Why is it so hard to motivate these kids to challenge their minds and think outside the box of their current understanding? Everything around them says school is a joke; you won't ever amount to anything anyway. May they hear only the words of Christ; they are children of the King. They are fearfully and wonderfully made! He knows the number of the hair on their head; He knows their thoughts and every detail of their life before they were even born. (Psalm 139)
Now my thoughts are out – I can stop putting off preparing the end of year exam review for English! Yikes, two weeks left to the term and then it's decided, who moves onto the next grade. May each one reach his full-potential and study to the best of His ability; may God carry him the rest… Write one synonym for carry. Yes, good – Hold! Now use it in a sentence written in the past tense with two common nouns and one proper noun…
Stop typing and get to work, MS ANNA!
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