The Second Term

The second term has begun. Holiday was great, and I have some pictures to post. Kunene Region is grand, but i am so lazy in keeping up with this website that it seems like ages ago. We saw some animals and Epupa Falls, which is completelty amazing. We aslo hit a donkey on our way up there. They really don't move out of the way when you honk at them. Combined with another that a colleague and I hit just the other day, and the first many months ago when I first arrived at site, that is three donkeys that I have had a close encounter with. Quite a pace that we are setting here.

Yesterday we picked a soccer team from the school. It was extremely tough because all the boys in the school want to play on the soccer team. It's more glamourous than a high school football team in Louisiana. We only have uniforms for 15. I didn't have to be the bad guy though, another teacher took that responsibility. We have a competition at the cluster tomorrow. We have to take the girls netball team with us too, so that menas 24 people in the back of one rickety pickup. I'll take photos. 2 to 1 says we dont make it. Netball is like really old fashioned basketball, perfect for the bush where sand and rocks get in theway of most physical activities. Its two hoops, with no backboards and the girls cannot dribble or run with the ball. I'm not really sure of all the rules, and frankly i dont think anyone else is either. It looks like a lot of fun.

On Wednesday I also had the privelage to travel with Omukandu Cultural Troupe to compete in the cluster competition. This is basically select learners getting dressed in semitraditional clothing and dancing. They also carry traditional props and what not. I'm not sure what the criteria are for such a thing to be judged, but we were the only ones that showed so we get to go to Ongwediva on the 30th of June. I am the official photographer, so i am getting schlepped along too i think.

My library is coming along well. Two saturdays ago I had a bunch of learners come and help me to clean it out, and try to organize some things. They were gung ho at first. We took out almost everything and swept and dusted and organized. I made popcorn and we listend to the radio. I ended up having too many show up though, and we didnt really have enough work to go around. Half of my magazines ended up dissappearing, and i don't even know how many books. Lesson Learned.

AIDS awareness week is next week. I am planning to buy red ribbon and sell it for 25 cents. Some say it will work, others say no. We will see. We have other activities planned. The principal seems to think that they love to do dramas and skits. I dont see that, but we might try it.

Otherwise, everyything is good. I am tired, and I could use a cheeseburger or two, but the work is shaping up and i think that I am part of the team now instead of an enigma. The secret with the learners was the stars. There was an ongoing debate whether secondary learners would like to recieve little silver star stickers for a job well done. I said no way, but some of the other volunteers said it was amzing the way that it worked. I tried it. They went nuts. If I need someone to read alound in English class....pose your question with the words "For a star". I have kids that raise their hand that don't even speak English, someone has to translate the question for them. It beats the alternative.