Period 1 – Four learners come in to ask me for information on “passion killing.” They want to know the advantages and disadvantages. ??? I really don’t know what to say. Apparently it was for an English assignment, so we discussed what a passion killing is, disadvantages (although they still wanted to know some advantages), methods of prevention, and consequences. So random.

Period 2-3 – Another teacher is supposed to be teaching in my classroom. His class arrives, but no teacher. Finally, twenty minutes in, some learners come to tell me that the teacher is not coming, but they have some notes for the class to copy and some tests to give back. Pretty upset at the teacher, but okay. Then the learner starts announcing everyone’s test scores at the front of the class. “Whoa! What are you doing?”

“Sir said I must read everyone’s scores.”

“Okay, no, we’re not doing that, just give people back their tests.”

The other learner who was writing notes on the board sits down. She has written six lines. “Where are the other notes?”

“That’s all miss.”

“For the whole double period?”

“Yes miss.”

Grrr…I spent the rest of the double period separating fighting boys, trying to get people to return stolen belongings, and asking everyone to stay quiet.

Add that to the fact that the bells didn’t ring on time so my classes were always late, and the fact that the printer is STILL out of ink a month after it ran out. Not a good day at school.

This past weekend I was invited to go camping on a nearby farm called Ghaub with some people from church (Dylan was also invited, but opted to stay home and get some work done). I haven't been camping very many times in my life so it's always an interesting experience.

One of the highlights, although a rather scary one, was going into an undeveloped cave network - no paths, no electric lights installed, no handrails. Just a hard hat and headlamp and a local guide. I've always been fascinated by caves and wondered what it would be like to go in one without all the modern conveniences. Now I have an idea!

I almost turned back at the very beginning because it just looked like we were climbing into a deep dark hole in the rocks - and they were closing the gate behind us, locking us in. Somehow I made myself not think about what I was doing, and took some deep breaths, and made it in. It was unlike most caves I've been in - most of the ones I've seen before are nice and cool inside; this one got hotter as you went down, and there was less oxygen as you went down too. Eventually we were all panting even though we were mostly just sliding down slopes.

At one point the guide showed us a candle they keep down there to measure the oxygen. He didn't light it, just told us that it burns if there's enough oxygen. Then he started walking on and left it behind. "Aren't we taking the candle?" "Oh no, sometimes it goes out." ?!!!

Once we got to the lowest point of that particular network of tunnels, the way was blocked by a lake filling the lower tunnels. Two of the guys we were with were convinced they had to touch the water to see what it was like. Next thing I know, one of them had climbed down and jumped in! I thought they were completely crazy and was not at all tempted to follow. Anyway, they made it out okay and seemed glad they'd done it.

The sad thing was, most of the formations inside the cave were dead. Unfortunately, when there aren't paths or handrails, you have to grab whatever you can to help climb/lower yourself down, and as soon as stalactites or stalagmites are touched, they stop growing. Definitely not the most beautiful cave I've been in, but good for the spelunking experience. =)

Going up was much easier than going down - the air got cooler and easier to breathe as we went. Still we were all pretty wiped out when we reached the exit. The guide offered to take us into other tunnel networks (there are 2.5 kilometers of them!) but we passed.

The rest of the camping trip was more relaxing. We had some rain, for which we were grateful because this rainy season has been extremely dry. We cooked and ate way too much meat (the Namibian staple), went swimming, and enjoyed talking. Although I have to admit most of the time I was lost in a sea of Afrikaans. Glad I got to explore some more of the triangle though! (The triangle is the area between Tsumeb, Grootfontein, and Otavi.)

Dylan and I were talking recently about how being a teacher is similar to being a student in many ways. Enjoying a long summer break, then gearing up to go back to school by buying new supplies, looking forward to seeing friends from last year, finding out what your class schedule will look like… It’s so easy to fit into this groove since it’s what we’ve done most of our lives! 

I do think teachers have more work than students (though some students may disagree with me =). All the planning and marking takes a lot of time and teaching itself requires a surprising amount of energy! This past week was my first full week of classes, which coincided with a full week of athletics and a bad cold, so it was pretty crazy. Dylan had it worse, if anything, with extra classes after school and then athletics!

Athletics, I should remind you, is basically mandatory track and field for the whole school. Minus the field part since we have no equipment. While I support the idea of getting the kids to be active and be involved in something after school, I don’t really agree with making them all run laps and sprints around a dirt track for two hours in mid-day Namibian heat. Especially when I have to do it with them, as one of the few teachers who is capable of running more than a few hundred meters. On the bright side, this has earned me a reputation for being very athletic, which I don’t think I’ve ever had before. =) And I got to work on my tan. And it’s a short season – next week we’ll have our school competition and that’ll be the end of athletics for the term. 

As for classes, I’m continuing to teach the three English classes I had last year who are now in 9th grade, as well as a new 8thgrade class which is also my register (homeroom) class. I didn’t have a register class last year, and it comes with a lot more responsibilities, like being in charge of their report cards and collecting school fees and such. On the other hand, it theoretically gives me a chance to really get to know the kids. We have an hour long register period every day, so as long as I’m not in a meeting (unlike every day last week), I spend that hour with my kids. 

When we started the year we were in a bit of a panic because we were told that all the eighth and ninth grade classes were going to have 40+ kids. Originally there were supposed to be 43 in my register class! Fortunately these claims turned out to be an exaggeration in most cases – my classes actually range from 25 to 39 learners. It’s amazing how much more I can get done with the class of 25!

Although it still seems to me like we have a long time left here (10 months!), from the first day of school people were asking me when I was leaving, telling me they’d miss me, or asking if I would extend to stay another year. It does feel different to be on this side of our Christmas holiday – now we’re experiencing lasts. Last first day of school, last athletics training, last rainy season, etc. And it’s already February! I think the year will go very quickly.

We have some prayer requests looking at the year ahead – so grateful we have so many praying friends & family! First, pray for the kid we’re teaching. They’re the ones we interact with most and whose lives we may be changing or influencing without even knowing it. Especially my register class kids – pray that anyone who is in need will feel able to ask me for help or advice and that I’d know what to do or say next! I want to be able to love these kids and be a role model for them.

Second, pray that we’d find ways to work with our Namibian counterparts. I know I’ve requested this before, but somehow it never gets easier. This year it’s more important than ever that we work cooperatively with people who will be here after we’re gone, or else many of the things that we put a lot of work into starting and running may fall apart as soon as we go. In particular, Reading Club for me and Additional Mathematics for Dylan. These are both things that require a teacher to commit extra time outside of their normal work, which most Namibian teachers are not willing to do. Also, all our learners will be taught by Namibians next year for their all-important 10thgrade exams, and they’ll have a better chance if we have been working with the Namibian teachers so everyone’s on the same page.

I guess the obvious request is to pray for whatever we’re doing next, but that seems so far away still. For now, we want to stay focused on being here and teaching and building the relationships we’ve begun in the past year. We don’t want to check out too early by dreaming of where we could be in 2014, though it’s tempting. So pray that we’ll make the most of this opportunity to be where we are, as it’ll probably never come again.

Thanks for following along and happy February!