I practically skipped away from the High School today. It is funny what a pair of high heels can do, I mean really. Everyday I live like I am camping, taking a flashlight to the latrine, washing dishes from boiled water, bathing on special occasions, you know. I was always amazed when I found out which of my students lived in the temporary refugee housing in Lima because somehow they always cleaned up to look the same as the kids in more economically average families. I was that kid today, slipping out of an adobe hut. After my pitiful baby wipe and sponge bath in my bedroom I styled my hair, put on make up and high heels, and headed to the high school for a meeting with all their professors.
It has become a pattern for the high schoolers to come to my room when they get back from their field work evening duties. This means every night around 6 or 7pm I have a bedroom full of curious kids that want homework help. At first it was just girls, but then when the boys started to come and sit on the only piece of furniture I have (my bed) with me for a couple hours each every evening things started to feel inappropriate. Because I have no other space to work in, this is our only option. It isn’t like this family I live with has a kitchen table we could meet at, we eat sitting on bricks or plywood slabs. Lord knows I can’t turn these kids away when they are being so active and attentive about learning. So we sit Indian style as they follow my finger and slowly read out loud. , “I need a space” rings over and over in my ears. These kids are so hungry and they have no resources to learn. I need a room where I can put books and give them access to computers. I need a table and chairs. I need a real space to do real work with them.
I calm my distracted head with the promise that it will come. “Be patient, all you have is time.”, and I head to the school to meet with all the High School teachers to discuss just that.
It is amazing how welcoming most of the professors are to me. If someone from a foreign country came to my classroom in the US and said, “I know you have been teaching for as long as I have been alive, but I am going to teach you how to do it better.” I would probably sock um in the face and spit on them as they fell to the ground. But these hospitable people welcome me. Somehow, I have chosen all of my words very carefully in this second language of mine and most of them don’t see me as intimidating or arrogant and have welcomed me into their classrooms. Or at the least, they listen when I talk because they see me as an interesting form of entertainment.
Today was my day to propose some of the ideas I have for the schools and for them to present to me their thoughts and interests. The principal, Gregorio, was incredibly professional and helpful in making sure that everyone was understood and felt comfortable. I think he has a sense of pride for bringing me (Peace Corps) here to his town and wanted to show me off a bit, but at the same time he didn’t want his teachers to feel intimidated and he balanced the entire meeting incredibly well. Amazingly, the teachers had read the curriculum outline I had proposed to them, and they had ideas for additions and questions about the themes like “healthy poop” and “safe sex”. I talked to them about wanting to encourage non-formal education in the classrooms and they looked at me blankly. I explained that means using games to teach and they laughed. It wasn’t until I went into the science behind it that their eyes grew wide and I finally got them on board. They all made up a schedule for me to come observe their classes in the week to come, and carried an energy of excitement. Knowing full well that I am coming to their rooms to see where the teaching methods lack, they are generally excited to have me there and show me what they do. I was almost shaking when I walked into the meeting knowing this was my first impression for everything, and practically floated out of the school due to their high energy and motivation. There were a couple teachers that didn’t seem to bite on the line I flung out in front of them, but they all at least continue to be curious and have welcomed me to come visit their classrooms.
I felt like myself today. Working with people. Talking about the brain, learning, and teaching. While I ADORE the earth and working with my hands, I am convinced that this work with people and language is why I exist. This balance between living with what the planet as to offer (instead of against it: Western style) and being a working professional is the bread and butter of what makes me happy. These canvas high heels fit me well today and took me where I needed to go.
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