The First Day for School... Or Was It?

The first day of school was surely to be a train wreck waiting to happen. In fact, the day began before the sun ever had any inclination of arising. Awake at 11:00 PM after going to bed at an early 7:00 and still feeling the immediate effects of jetlag, I laid in bed staring up into the apex of my mosquito net. An invincible blockade for some, a weightless in-the-way nuisance for others, but an important piece of material for the sustainability of health. The locals fear the seeming inevitable mosquito buzzing through the night. Transporting its malaria virus from one to another like a child who’s good at catching his or her friends in the popular playground game ‘Tag’. I could sense the frustrations of the mosquito as it flew full force back and forth into the net, in hopes of a Sunday night Delicacy. After all, good looking men do have some of the sweetest tasting blood around. I began to feel safe, protected by my new found friend, when all of a sudden the buzzing sound grew to a larger choir. There was more than just one. Wide awake, I began to cringe. Multiple times, I checked the only possible entrances. If just one snuck in, doomsday could be upon me. After minutes of tirelessly worrying, and with a growing sense of faith, I relaxed my muscles down against the warm cotton sheets and waited for any sort of sleepiness to kick in. I would have to wait until 4:00 am the next day. When I did finally manage to drift asleep, the rest didn’t last long for I was up before I knew it to begin the first day.

Now into my third day of only cold water in the shower, the memory of shivering pains were engrained within my head. Oh how I wished for even a luke warm dunk of the noggin. Further more, I have regretted taking every steaming hot shower for granted. After a quick rinse, soap, and rinse again of the hair, I was outta there like a chicken on caffeine…What? Bounding through the curtain for my towel I was certain that the relief of warmth was well on its way. And it was.

The trip to the school classroom took place an hour before school was to commence, 7:00. Finishing touches on the week’s lesson plans as well as last minute tidying up became a top priority for me. All day Sunday, Trent and I spent a larger portion in the internet café/printing office/photocopying business Biltel. Page by page we instructed the copy man on what to replicate.

Students arrived early for their first day, like most of us all did. The atmosphere was quiet, tense with uncertainty and anticipation. I was first to break the short silence. “Good morning and welcome to your first day of school.” Before long, all seven students were comfortably seated at their desks. A short devotional was given as well as the layout for the rules and guidelines of the classroom. From many failed attempts before, I was not going to let disobedient behavior slide right by enforcement. Especially within the first week. The rules were fair and just. Stressing the importance of RESPECT seemed to go over well too. Each student fully understood the power behind achieving this simple task. It was like they had had the opportunity to see it’s power working in their lives all around them. For now, it was a chance to catch my breath and move on with the first day’s schoolwork.

The school uses a curriculum called A Beka. Based out of Pensacola Florida, the American system has posed no real noticeable issues with the culture and society influenced by British rule. Perhaps one of the greatest blessings that I have not fully appreciated yet is the self-teaching mechanism built into the curriculum. With in-text explanations along with sufficient examples, the need to prepare, understand, and present is not necessary-for the most part. Who remembers how to do long division with remainders and all that jazz? I own a Ti-89. Forget it. Hahaha. For now, I will continue to assist the puzzled with the answer key in hand and my brain for what ever it’s worth.