Another Day, Another School

     Today, because our school was closed a group of us went with the Grand Valley students to their elementary school.  I started the day in the baby class, which was comprised of three and four year olds.  They were adorable, but it was a stressful class at the same time.  They had so much energy and they were difficult to control due to their lack of English.  We then had tea and after tea I went with another teacher to a Class Six English class.  It was a little boring, but it was still fun to see what English the students are learning and how they are learning it.  I then stayed in that class and was joined by a friend and we answered a bunch of questions that the students had for us.  My favorite was, “If I buy a television in Tanzania and bring it to America, will I get Tanzanian channels or American channels?”  What a creative question! The students were adorable and were so intrigued about our schools, hobbies, favorite foods, etc.  They also asked us if teachers in America use ‘the stick’, because corporal punishment is frequently used here in Tanzania.  The looks on their faces when we responded ‘no’ were priceless, and they all turned to their teacher with looks of astonishment.  That question was quickly followed up with ‘well how do the teachers punish students if they are bad?’. After some more questions we then taught them the Macarena…such an old dance, but boy did they love it! I stayed in that class for yet another period, and after some short science review they were left to do silent reading.  Instead of doing that we played games haha.  We played hangman for a while and then I introduced ‘silent ball’ to them…a perfect activity for today because Class Seven was in testing and everyone had to stay quiet. Overall my day at the new school was fun, but I missed my students soooo much! I continually thought I saw my students at recess but I had to keep reminding myself that I was no longer at Tetra Elementary. Every time I walk through the city I pray to see one of the kids, and I have only been away for a day! Haha—how am I ever going to leave the country?