I would first like to start off by saying Happy belated Independence Day, Happy 21st birthday to my dear little sister with big responsibilities, and a very Happy 43rd birthday to my amazing Mother. The summer months are always a happy thing in my family as my siblings birthdays are in June and July, my mothers is in July, and mine follows in tow the following month to wrap up the summer. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there to celebrate with you all, especially Leslie on her big 2-1, but Jonny is checked into Moz and on his adventure.
Yeah so the internet is finally back in action in my community and it's the talk of the town, well the internet and the newly paving stoned streets! (we now have 2 streets that are all laid by hand...oh the exciting on-goings of Chibuto!) Finally the end of the second trimester has come and now it's time for the tri-annual debate over grades. Now that I have one done, I am much more prepared for this and not at all nervous. I've gone to great lengths to make this as smooth as possible as well as taking care to do everything so it only needs to be done once and thus not spending an extra 15 hours at the school. That means that I can have some down time like all of my students. Speaking of which...my students are at a much different level than most of my colleagues students, or so it seems by m y observations. More than once I was asked “ Oooooo teacha! What are you doing for the break?!” because apparently I am expected to have some extravagant travel plans as an American teacher. So I responded that I was simply staying put in Chibuto with some possible trips to Xai Xai on business, and wouldn't you know they were absolutely appalled by my apparently mundane response! Which of course I was appalled at the fact that they were appalled at me for staying in town...now here are 15-18 year olds telling me of their plans of a refreshing and relaxing holiday in Maputo (the dually chic Gazan getaway and capital city of Moz) and I was staying in town. I was befuddled because I was truly (as were they) expectant that the exact opposite was to occur. It's little surprises and pleasant realities like that are some of the best moments I have here. It made me appreciate my site and my location more because I am positive that this is a rarity among the general Mozambican 9th grade population.
While on the topic of school and my job I should tell you all that the First Annual Chibuto Science Fair was held the 28th of June and it went off with a hitch! I am very excited to say that it was a good time for all involved and a great experience for my students, the public that came to view the projects, the school direction, and myself. In the end I had four participants that did projects on which type of soil was best for a high yield of black eyed beans to a description and model of
the function and role of the diaphragm in respiration. They had time to explain their posters to the public in a general viewing session then each one got in front of about 30 people and explained their posters again. At the end they fielded questions from the judges which consisted of a physicist, biologist, and chemist. Words cant express how proud I was of them for doing this. They had to think critically and go through the steps and repercussions of cause and effect. Now this might seem like a fairly rudimentary thing for kids in America but that's because the art of critical thinking/cause and effect is instilled and taught to us from a very young age. Here, they aren't taught these intellectual skills and thus don't know how to formally critically think in an educational setting. They also had to publicly speak, all for the first time. Again this is something just not done here. I think its pretty fair to say that this is something that would be and is very difficult for any high schooler no mater of country of origin. For these and a myriad of other reasons I am so proud of my students here! I have two boys going to participate at the regional level to compete against all the other winners from 15 other secondary and professional schools at the end of July (in 2 weeks!). Let's hope Chibuto can get to the National level...Go Chibutian Shining Stars/Estrelas Brilhadas!! (yes, that would be our mascot...the shining stars, fun!)
This past weekend a vast majority of the Southern Mozambican volunteers gathered to celebrate our nations independence on the beaches of Xai Xai. It was a nice and relaxing time with all 17 of us there. It was good to see some people I havent seen in a few months and just a good time to get away before stressful grade debates occur. I must say that my two favorite times over the weekend occurred while I was in bed. The first was when I woke up, rolled over, and the doors were open to the veranda where there was a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean coupled with a gentle warm saline breeze. The second involved hanging out in the same bed with Sharonda, Katie, and Megan just shooting the breeze while waiting for the Advil that never came. Nothing refreshes you like a weekend at the beach! I'm thinking that I may need to get a house in the Hamptons or on the Cape when I get back in country just to satiate my weekend excursion palliate. Try it, you'll see what I mean.
I will make it official here so if you miss it, well it's not my fault! Thanks to my amazing and dear parents...I'll be home from December 2nd to January 5th! I have a tentative schedule that allows me to spend time in the 518, 585, and Long Island/NYC. I am so excited to get home and see people and have them see me because lets get serious for a hot minute, I look damn good! OK now that I got that arrogant tid-bit out of the way, if you want to get together while I'm home, I would loving nothing more than to meet up. Any who, enjoy the rest of July and the next time you'll probably hear from me is mid-August.
Now that I am looking to the future I would just like to say that I am very sorry that I will not be present at the wedding of two of my very special and amazing friends, Matt and Meg, August 16th. You guys don't know how much I want to be there to celebrate their special day. I'll be toasting to them all weekend long...it's already in my planner.
With that I will sign out and say goodbye. Miss you all and t-minus 5.5 months!!
- Jon
