So last night I decided that I was done feeling sorry for myself for having no running water and living in conditions that I’m not used to. I was sitting in my room listening to sad music as I’m sure a lot of us do when we’re sad and I was thinking about how I’m in this building alone and all of my colleagues and their kids are next door to me. I was sad that they all know each other and I am the outsider here. Then I thought to myself “Chelsea, it’s not going to change unless you do something about it”. So I picked up some of the bubbles I had brought with me for the kids and I walked next door and sat with the kids and blew bubbles for them. I made fast friends with this 3 year old Julia who was fascinated. She was a tough egg to crack at first but by the end of the night she wanted to come home with me and cried to her mother when I said I had to leave.
It’s interesting getting to know the little kids here because they all speak Oshiwambo and practically no English. This is where the human language comes in. Smiles are my best tools to get the kids to understand where I’m coming from. Julia keeps dabbling on in her native language and laughing constantly. I think after a few days of sitting and listening to the people speak here I can almost understand without knowing the language. There’s something about facial expression and tone that can transcend language barriers.
Today I woke up feeling much better and it was my second day at the school. I haven’t taught anything yet but I made a point to walk into my 8th grade classrooms and introduce myself and drag them out of the room to play some games with me. I know that everyone warns to start off strict and I hear them loud and clear but I think that some ice breaker games never hurt anyone. As I was playing a hand game with my 8A class we saw something quite strange unfolding around us. Some of the older learners were carrying someone on a chair while most of the staff followed behind. After a bit I decided to go ask the staff what was going on. Apparently one of the teachers here was preaching to the learners about how Jesus was within him and carrying on about bible study instead of the subject he was intended to teach.
I followed some of the teachers to the main gate where this man was sitting in his chair and tapping his hand saying that it was what Jesus had commanded him to do. When one of the teachers asked him about me standing there he said that my skin color did not matter and that we were all mere flesh. He then said that I didn’t matter to him and no one did. We were all sinners and should repent before it was too late. I was a little overwhelmed with this all happening so once I heard that they were calling to get him taken to a larger hospital in the area I left and went to my other section of learners to keep playing games.
At the end of the day I finally got my schedule for teaching so that I know where I should be and when. This makes tomorrow my official first day of not wandering around like a lost puppy. Speaking of puppies, I think I’m going to get one for my house! I’m so excited about this idea and I have a teacher who has offered to take him/her at the end of the year when I leave. I really want a dog to have as a companion here and to share some of the lonely nights with. Who doesn’t like to cuddle up to a furry little puppy at the end of the day?
That’s about all I have the energy for as of now. I will update soon. Until then…
Peace and Love,
Chelsea
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