This week was great. One day I was in a classroom teaching shapes (1st grade?), and one day I was in a classroom with slightly older kids, playing hangman. I really enjoyed being with the slightly older kids (5th grade?), because, unlike the little kids, we didn't have to entertain them, and I found myself genuinely laughing at their jokes. There was one boy in particular who was definitely the class clown, and introduced all his classmates in funny voices. It was interesting to see the cultural differences, but at the same time notice all the dynamics that also characterize an American classroom when the real teacher isn't there.
A different day a couple of us went to the daycare (which was really hard to find), and spent the morning walking around with adorable babies. We asked their names, and one of them didn't have a name, because she was new there. I found that pretty unsettling.
We found a couple of swing seats lying in the grass, and strung them up on the freshly painted swingset (which did not have any swings on it until now). It was great to see Thomas, a little boy with huge eyes, be the first to test it out. I'm not sure any of them went back to class after that.
Saturday was my group leader Leanne's birthday, so on Friday night we went out. First we went to a restaurant (where I had a very good chocolate milkshake), and then we went out to a club to dance. It took forever to get there (there were many complications along the way), but when we finally got there it was really fun. My host brother was there (thankfully), but one of the other girl's host brother left, so everyone (8 people) came back to my house to sleep. By the time we actually went to bed it was about 5:00 am, so we actually didn't sleep much. Luckily we had the weekend to rest.
In other important news, I've discovered fried plantains. They look like bananas and taste a little like sweet potato fries. Yum yum yum!
"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million"
Mmmm - fried plantains. You're making my mouth water!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Kelewele? It's spicy fried plantains!
Hi, Ann! Your mom sent me the link to your blog today, on which I clicked immediately and have now hungrily devoured your posts. Hm-m-m, why the metaphor? Oh yes, your many rhapsodic comments on the cuisine. I'm glad you're eating well. Your Ghanian sojourn sounds like a worldview-changing experience; your work at the orphanage sounds bittersweet indeed. I will be eager to hear about the specific cultural similarities and differences in the school room and elsewhere. Roeper gossip? I don't know much, as I am up north for the summer, but I can tell you, if you don't already know that George has resigned, citing age and his desire to write more than he has been able while teaching.Pat Lawrence is the new registrar (and the old Art History teacher; Anna, Taylor, and Isabelle have visited me at the cottage, and while they were in residence here, Joey Locasio and Gus, who were staying nearby, came for the day. It's not Ghana, heaven knows, but it is a getaway. I'm reading a good book about Shakespeare's lang. right now, as well as preparing for the Literary Theory class in the fall. I don't want summer to end, but I do very much want to see all of you. AP Eng is going to be, as the children say, epic. Appropriately, we will start with "The Rape of the Lock," a mock epic. Kiss those babies for me. Love, Mary Kay
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