Time to update again, more than just pictures this time
since I’m borrowing Andrea’s computer and her keyboard actually works.
Orientation is drawing to a close. Last week we had many teacher training
sessions on everything from classroom management to first day tips to planning
long term units or semester long projects. The sheer volume of information was
overwhelming and tiring, but it’s given me some confidence for the coming year.
This weeks sessions have been focused more on culture, including a talk about
fa’afafine’s, a visit to the national museum, and learning some basic weaving.
In addition to all of that, we squeezed in nine (or should I say iva) Samoan
language classes taught to us by a pair of Mormon Missionaries. The language is
full of vowels, and lots of words mean many things, but the basic structures
are pretty simple, and I think if I keep at it I could learn a fair bit of
Samoan while I’m here.
As if that weren’t enough, we’ve given three teaching
practicum’s in as many weeks. The first one was in a group of 5, so it was
pretty relaxed and fairly silly, our group made folded paper frogs. The second
was in pairs, so me and one of the Sara’s did a science lesson about convergent
plate boundaries. It was fun and involved a game and the two of us running into
each other a few times, we had pillows for cushioning though. The last one was
a solo lesson, and was supposed to be about a half hour in front of mostly
Samoan students. However, when the day came only three students showed up, and
we had been split into three classrooms. So my lesson on contour maps was given
to David, a rising junior at Tafuna, and a bunch of the other volunteers, and
the 30-40 minute lesson I’d planned took only 20 minutes instead. Overall the
lessons helped me get a little more comfortable in front of a classroom, but
since I’ve been living with the other vols, it’s not quite real life only
teaching to them.
Last weekend, Jessica and I made an early morning trek over
to Faga’itua to meet with one of our vice principals, Elvis. He’s interviewing
for head principal and I hope he gets it. Faga’itua High School is a small
campus for less than 500 students from all over the East side of Tutuila (the
big island). The smallest high school, and also the most far removed, it lacks
the resources of some of the bigger schools like Samoana (right in town) or
Tafuna (the biggest high school right by the airport). The science equipment is
especially sparse, so I will have to be pretty resourceful and creative in the
coming year. I also found out that, as of now, I’ll only be teaching Chemistry
and one section of Freshmen general science. I know I’m capable and, according
to Elvis, will probably be the most well versed science teacher at Faga’itua,
but it’s a little sad that I’m not gonna be teaching what I’m really passionate
about. There’s a new teacher coming in with Jessica and I though, and a new
Science Department Head, so theres still hope I might be able to swap a section
of Chem or add a section of Earth and Space science to my schedule.
The village itself is small and slow paced, with beautiful
water and small mountains all around it. The two of us were also lucky enough
to meet our landlady, Masa, and got to see our house, which is big, clean, and
comfy. Each of us gets our own bathroom, a full kitchen with an oven and a big
fridge, and a ton of couches and other chairs. We have plenty of room for all
the other volunteers to visit and stay with us, so heres hoping all the
west-siders get their butts out to the east. I don’t think that will be a
problem though, since Saturday afternoon we all spent the day at Tisa’s
Barefoot Bar, an awesome dive right on a private beach with delicious pina
coladas and even better seafood. Tisa a native of Alega, and Candyman, a kiwi
who’s been in AmSam longer than I’ve been alive, run the place, which is a
local landmark and hosts the Pacific-wide Tattoo festival every October. It’s
definitely a spot I’d like to get to know better, and am glad it’s on my side
of the island.
We all move into our permanent placements this Saturday, and
it’s going to be weird to be away from all the volunteers, but also a bit nice
to get out of the close living quarters that are starting to get a little
grating. For the 10 going to the outer islands, Manu’a, it will probably be the
last time I see them until Christmas, unless we get lucky and make it there for
thanksgiving. The other 18 volunteers will be on the west side of Tutuila, so
I’ll be able to visit them, and probably will often just to escape the slow
pace of Faga’itua on the weekends
Island life is good so far, and I’m just looking forward to
it getting even better once school starts and I can really settle in. It won’t
be perfect, and there are still a few things I know I’m going to miss and will
be challenging to live without, but I have a feeling the positives will
outweigh those few negatives. Will post again soon, I hope.
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment