I see you.
My first school year has come to a close, and while I'm really looking forward to a break from work during the holiday season, I'm a little sad to see things end because I'm going to miss my students a lot. I've learned as much from them this year, if not more, than I feel they've learned from me. Additionally, due to budget cuts, the Vanuatu government is canceling center schools and instead turning them into primary schools. This means that instead of my school teaching years 1-8 it will not only teach years 1-6, which in turn means that I will have to discontinue my adolescent reproductive health classes because year 7 and 8 are just about the youngest you can start kids with those kind of lessons (especially here). I'm trying not to feel discouraged about this; I know that when one door closes another one opens. I suppose I'll have to find another way to spread the "no glove no love" mentality, and until then I've still got that water project and Green Club on my to-do list.
I've really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of my students. And as I mentioned before, youth empowerment has become a major concentration of mine. I know what it's like to feel like you're falling between the cracks, and I hope more than anything my students gained confidence in themselves as well as some savvy about the environment and their health in the process. Youth too often goes unnoticed, in any country, but they are, without a doubt, our future.
Photos from an after school swim...
Academic and leadership awards for students years 5-8
The graduating class, year 8
My little brother. he's embarrassed of me and won't smile for the camera. Just like a 'real' little brother, I think.
A 'thanks for the hard work' gift from the school committee- a brick of laplap (ground root crop with coconut milk on top) and a mat weaved out of trees.
Delicious.
Eatin' with the fam. My host papa is the chairman of both the dispensary and the school, so we partake in a lot of honorary laplap.
I've really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of my students. And as I mentioned before, youth empowerment has become a major concentration of mine. I know what it's like to feel like you're falling between the cracks, and I hope more than anything my students gained confidence in themselves as well as some savvy about the environment and their health in the process. Youth too often goes unnoticed, in any country, but they are, without a doubt, our future.
Photos from an after school swim...
Academic and leadership awards for students years 5-8
The graduating class, year 8
My little brother. he's embarrassed of me and won't smile for the camera. Just like a 'real' little brother, I think.
A 'thanks for the hard work' gift from the school committee- a brick of laplap (ground root crop with coconut milk on top) and a mat weaved out of trees.
Delicious.
Eatin' with the fam. My host papa is the chairman of both the dispensary and the school, so we partake in a lot of honorary laplap.
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