So today was my first day working in the schools, and let me tell you it was hectic! My host mother and I arrived late to the staff meeting (ironic and meant to be since I am always last in everything), only to be ushered through the school with tons of questions. Students here are much more curious and fascinated than students back home when it comes to visitors.
The class periods today consisted of 40 minute sessions. Every day, timetables (schedules) are different. I can only best compare it to a block schedule in the United States, and even that is not a perfect correlation. For the first half of the day, I was ushered around and introduced to staff and classes. The second half of the day, I got thrown into the mix immediately. After lunch, I was headed to one of my mentor teacher's classes when I was greeted by her and asked if I could run the class so she could coordinate the first cross country meet ever held at the school. Thus, implementation strategy part one kicked in - keep the kids occupied with a cultural question and answer forum.
While a little overwhelmed, it was fascinating to hear of perceptions and opinions of the students. I can not express how many times I was asked if I had ever seen or met a celebrity in person. I'm not sure why, but I found this fascinating that they associate America primarily with celebrities. Additionally, students were often very intrigued as to how Cape Town was similiar to the United States, whether between food, landscape, lifestyle, etc. I also inquired this of them a great deal. I found it particularly striking that every student here answered that a steak gatsby was their favorite food here. I must try it, apparently. Literally, every student answered that.
As period 6 rolled into period 7... I ran out of cultural muster and had to revert to the old standby... Heads Up Seven Up to keep the class under control. It didn't work so well. Maybe after being thrown into the Lion's Den today (babysitting), I will come prepared with a lesson or two regarding the U.S. or parallels between aspects of the U.S. and South Africa. Beyond this, one main point of discussion today was also accents. Apparently they like mine a great deal, and they discovered I have a hard time tuning myself into theirs as I had to confirm multiple times what was being asked of me. Their English is fine; my lack of hearing however does not help while trying to decipher the accent... haha! Ohh Karen... Ít was most interesting to learn they are familiar with a U.S. accent, from all the TV shows and American movies they watch here. Thus, it is much easier for them to decipher me, than it is for me to.
After school, I had to hang around a while to help take times for a cross country meet. This was absolutely pure chaos, as the route was not planned until the end of the school day and lanes for various age groups were set up so close together. We also did not have the greatest method of taking/recording times. On the whole, I would guess it was very different than an Americn CC meet. However, it was great to see all the different schools and kids represented there. I was very grateful to get home at 6:30- after what seemed to be the longest day ever. Overall, a very interesting day for day 1!
Tomorrow, I get to chaperone a Jazz field trip. We shall see how day two proceeds...
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