First Week/National Women's Day

We finished our first week a day early!

Yesterday, Friday August 9^th,  we had the day off because it was a national holiday in South Africa- National Women’s Day! It honors the role of women and commemorates the day in 1956 when over 50,000 women staged a March outside the prime minister’s office in protest against Apartheid laws.

In honor of this day, some of the teachers at our school planned a tea party for the 6^th and 7^th grade girls on Thursday afternoon. The primary (elementary) schools in South Africa start at grade R (Kindergarten) and go all the way to grade 7.  Everyone remembers how difficult the middle school years can be and this tea party was all about celebrating the older girls. It encouraged them to be leaders at home and school as well as respect themselves and their peers. There was a guest speaker who shared about finding beauty from within, and it was sweet to see how well the girls responded to her.

Rachel and I volunteered to help set-up and serve the girls as a way to get involved with the school. Since we work with younger children, it was nice to sit down and talk to students who could hold open and honest conversations. They were the first people to say how much they liked our accents! I felt cool…because I have an accent!!! One of the students asked us why America didn’t have a Women’s Day.  I think I made up an irrelevant answer (oops) but what I should have said was, “You’re right-that’s crazy! I’ll talk to President Obama and see what I can do.” WOO! Girl Power! Am I right?

Needless to say, we were grateful that the other teachers included us in the celebration!

Serving the girls tea

The girls learning a dance

Some fun highlights from teaching this week:

•  My students are rather rambunctious but genuinely love me and feel bad when they behave poorly (which was a lot this week). One of my students got sent to his seat while I was reading a story because he was fighting with another student. Later he came up to me, unsolicited, and said “Ms. Harney, Ma’am, I am so sorry for being naughty on the mat (carpet), will you please forgive me?” I think it was the most genuine apology I have ever received. He is the same student who tells the class to behave so he can learn from me. I think we will be good friends ;)
• Rachel gets love letters like it is her job. I am not joking. She walks in her classroom and the children come running with their newest drawing for her! Here are just a few of the beauties she has received:

The first one says: Every time I see you my heart pumps 15 times and the second: I am a man with eyes for you haha

• The children love to play with our hair, rub our backs and feet. As odd as it sounds, they genuinely enjoy it. They always ask, “Ma’am can I rub your feet first?” or “Ma’am can I get one minute to rub your back?” At one point while I was reading a story to the class, I had four children rubbing my back, two playing with my hair, three rubbing my feet, and one holding my free hand! I was a sight to see! I just wanted to burst out laughing. 

We spent a lot of time this past week observing our classes and working with small groups. We hope to start planning and implementing lessons soon.

Rachel and I are both helping to coach soccer in addition to our teaching. It is allowing us to meet more students and get involved with the school community. We are learning a lot! My P.E. lesson was a bust... We threw around a ball and did some jumping jacks. I will know better for next time.

We joined a church community group last week. We are very excited about it and loved the Wednesday night gathering. It is called Covenant Grace Church and the members there are very welcoming and hospitable.

http://www.covenantgracechurch.co.za/

We are thinking of you all and hope you are doing well! Can't wait to write about week 2! Here we go!

Love,

Casey