I decided not to go to the fields today because I wanted to organize the curriculum a bit and see what I can do without internet access. Turns out a bunch. When I do have the internet at my finger tips I tend to throw information together so I can get as much as possible down in the limited time that I have. So, when I come back on a day like today and have a look at it it is a hodge-podge of all the information I need but in no cohesive order. Today, I organize. I want this thing to be done!
Then, I realize I have come to Day 21 of the program. That is 5 months in to what was intended to be a 6 month program. I was thinking that I was just about finishing up, but I have only hit 14 of the 30 intended topics. Dropping topics isn’t an option, they are all topics requested by the community or lack in their publicly provided textbooks. Cutting days shorter to fit two topics in one day could be an option, but I feel like that would make everything feel rushed and I worry the kids wouldn’t retain anything.
So, what is the next option? Extend it to a 10 month program? Yeah, that could be. That will keep me or any other volunteers that use this syllabus very busy, but that might be a good thing. That means I would need to start the program immediately so that it can be repeated with another instructor before I bounce. That also wouldn’t give me any vacation days except for weekends which worries me because it takes a good day to get anywhere from here. Another option is to extend the sessions to two hours instead of one, but that depends on the kids attention spans and interest. Another option is to combine more ages together. Right now I have them broken by grade with two grades coming per evening which will give me about 20 kids a day (I am guessing on attendance rates). If I combine 3 grades per day that would give me Fridays off. This could be an option as well so I have a day to prepare for the coming week.
I think the solution is to just get it started and see what happens, how things fall together, what can be removed and what needs to be altered.
Honestly, my biggest concerns are the big art projects that require drying overnight before the kids can continue. That could delay everything.
Standing back and looking at the program as a whole with each day’s syllabus designed I don’t feel exasperated or tired or like it hasn’t turned out like I expected. I feel proud of it, and can’t wait to get started! I know a lot will change, and a lot depends on the kids, but I have built a great base to get myself (and maybe other volunteers) started. Every time I work on the program I feel refreshed and energized. I love this project and have thrown my whole self into it.
This evening I gave myself a spongebath (rare, I know) and headed to the municipality to schedule a meeting with the new mayor. All cleaned up and dressed in descent clothes for the first time in a few days I headed to the secretary’s desk. As all of the “administration” has turned over with the elections these are all new people to me, and not the people who invited me to live in Madrigal as a Peace Corps rep. So, there was potential there for things to go very, very badly. I was nervous to say the least. But, in common Madrigalenian fashion the secretary welcomed me with open arms with a smile on her face and we scheduled my presentation/meeting with the mayor and all his new councilfolk in three weeks.
On the way back there were actually nurses stationed in the health post and I was able to introduce myself (to this third set of nurses since I have been here, it is a huge pain in my side that it changes every 2-3months) and get them on board for the dentists that are coming in two weeks.
What a surprisingly successful day. Content, I will sleep early and well tonight.
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