What an interesting first week in school. Life is hot, sweaty, and fast-paced here in the city. My roommate and I are determined to break our cycle of latte-ness so we leave our dorm in the morning at 6:30 and arrive at West Grove Primary School by 6:55. That's just enough time to grab a 50 cent cup of coffee and look over the timetable for the day before going to morning assembly. This first week here was spent visiting a variety of classrooms and grade-levels in order to learn about how their system works and think about what we would like to try and teach. Let me try and capture my observations in a few bullets: - Singaporean public school are much larger than ours. There are 1700 students at our elementary school. This means that lower primary classes have about 36 students and upper primary classes 40-44. All students wear uniforms.
- 7:20 to 1:30, with a 30 minute break. Students are in class for about 5 hours with a 30 minute break somewhere between 10:00 and 11:00.
- Singaporean teachers tend to teach one or two subjects to multiple classes. Each group of students belongs to one room and the teachers go to the students. The teachers that we are most closely shadowing both teacher English; one to 5th and 6th grade and the other to 3rd and 6th grade.This means that they teach several different English lessons throughout the day. However, we also shadow one teacher who teaches English, Math, and Science to the same group of 6th graders.
- School is conducted in English. The Singaporean population is a blend of people of Chinese, Malasian, and Indian descent. It was also a British colony for about 140 years. The unifying language between people is English but every student is required to take "Mother Tongue" class where they learn a second language that is prominent in the country. Our school offers Mandarin, Tamil, and Malay but parents may take their children elsewhere if they want them to study a different language.
- The students begin to enter an education track after 6th grade based on the PSLE. The PSLE, or the Primary School Leaving Examination, is a test set and scored by the government that all students must pass in order to move on to secondary school. They score on this examination also determines which type of secondary school they may attend. The top 44% students will score well enough to go on the "Express" track, which is 4 years of secondary school to prepare them for university. The next 44% will enter the "Normal Academic" track of five years of secondary school to prepare them for university. The bottom 12% will enter the "normal technical" track where students will filter more into the technical and applied sciences jobs. After secondary school there are junior colleges and then universities.
- Singapore has both inclusion and Special Needs schools available. For students with diagnosed learning disabilities who perform lower in academic subjects remain in public school where there are resource teachers who work with them throughout the week, possible for the duration of their time in school. There are also aids available to groups of those students during class time. Students who's disabilities severely affect their IQ and social skills attend special schools for students with exceptional needs. However, there are few of these school and there are long waiting lists. The special schools focus on life skills.
There are so many more interesting things to say about being in class and being with students but I think those are a few stand-out differences between what I see in America and what I see in Singapore. Here are a few pictures of my school campus. It's a bright and colorful place, run by the most genuinely caring group of teachers. Thank you for stopping by! More adventures to come.
I feel so very excited and blessed that my teaching adventures have taken me to Singapore. For those who didn't hear, my credential program through UCSB is piloting an exchange program with three countries. For the month of January 11 UCSB credential candidates are studying in Denmark, Switzerland, and Singapore. I am here with four lovely ladies (see my home page) who are just as much fun as they are studious. We landed in Singapore one week ago and have had that week to get our bearings, settle in to our dorm, and explore all this beautiful island has to offer. Monday will be our first day in the classrooms. We're been hearing so much about the Singapore education system, but I will save all of that for a future blog about our teaching adventures.
Our first week has taken us all over Singapore and since picture can spare me typing thousands of words, let me take you on a tour of our week:
Day 1: My 28th birthday!
We took the train down to the river, where we had dinner.
Then we rode the Singapore Flyer, a 47-story tall ferris wheel with awesome views of the city. Day 2: New Year Eve! We went to a party our on this resort island called Sentosa Beach. We enjoyed the views, made some new friends, and celebrated the beginning of 2014. Day 3: not super exciting. I caught up on sleep and let myself settle and watched frozen. Didn't really need to document that but it's a great movie :)
Day 4: We got to meet the amazing staff hosting us at the National Institute of Education (NIE). They are so thoughtful and excited to have us here. From that meeting we left for Little India where we had a delicious lunch, enjoyed the sights, and got our eyebrows threaded!
Day 5: A few members of the NIE staff took us to lunch at this INCREDIBLE organic restaurant called Bollywood Veggie. The food was amazing, the people there were so much fun, and they had a spectacular garden that we got a personal tour of. Day 6: We headed out early to a little island called Pulau Ubin. It's a lovely wetland preserve. We rented kayaks and cruised the Indian Ocean. Then we rode bikes out the explore the wetlands. On the way we saw a horrifying spider (but I didn't scream) and a wild boar! There were mud skippers and crabs and some great plants down by the water. But the highlight was the group of monkeys that were playing by the road. So adorable. Thus far it has been a delightful trip. I'm excited and nervous for what's in store at school tomorrow but I know it's going to be a great journey. Stay tuned for adventures in education!
This is my least favorite thing: sitting here trying to figure out how to start a new post :p Our trip is coming up so fast! In just two weeks we'll be leaving on a red-eye out of LAX with a carry-on full of clothes and two 50-lb suitcases a piece. I'm not going to be able to sleep at all! I'm going to be so excited! Let's do some highlights: - My support is almost fully raised! Only about $200 to go. Thank you all so much. I'm so humbled. - I got into my first-choice teaching program!!!! I start at UCSB this summer. I could not be more excited. - I had an awesome BBQ with my friends, many of whom were patient enough to hang out late in order to see my slideshow about Haiti. I felt so encouraged that I have such awesome people to spend time with, who also want to listen to what I have to say! - Our final Haiti training: Last Saturday was our final training with our team before we leave. We spent the morning packing suitcases full of food, soap, diapers, balls, tupperware, and medicine. After lunch we spent time talking and thinking about what it means to be a team and what it takes to function well. It's great to be on a team that wants to be changed by their experience in Haiti.
These last few months have been so much about waiting. I wait every day to get called for work, I wait to leave for Haiti, I wait for grad school to start. Now that I only have two weeks till Haiti, I wonder how well I am waiting. Waiting isn't a passive thing, it's part of transition. It moves you on to new things. What do I do with these last two weeks? What should I read, write, pray, share? I have time and I pray I'm learning to use it well.
It is eight months to the day since I left Haiti. Coming up on the horizon is my week long return trip trip and I'm honestly scared I won't want to come back to the states. But I will. Since it had been eight months I will recap my experience and my return home in four questions you might want to ask.
- What did you take away from your experience in Haiti? My most tangible take-away is that I discovered that I love teaching! I cannot wait to go back to school and study how to be a better teacher. I am especially interested in second language learners and the challenge that face them in an education system. I also left deeply convinced for God's love for me. My heart felt very hard as I was leaving for Haiti and in my nine months there God showed me over and over how he loves me and gently softened my heart to beat more in line with His. I also began to learn what it felt like to live in each moment I was given. I spent a lot of time waiting for things to be over so I could move on to the next thing. I began to see that the most time I spent investing in each moment the more precious and beautiful they became.
- What do you miss? The kids in my class; Coke with real sugar for less than a dollar; the Caribbean ocean; holding a child on my lap in church; my tan; puzzles; the simplicity of being able to live with or without electricity; studying Ester with the ladies I was serving with; chilling with my "little brother" Luke.
-What has the transition back been like? At first I thought it was easy because I didn't feel burdened by the affluence of American culture. Two different places, two different circumstance; it is very easy for me to compartmentalize that. But about six month after I got home I just broke down. The thing that was hardest for me coming back was the return of my expectations for myself. Being back in the states I felt like I had specific roles to play and I had to perform all of them perfectly. I had to be a perfect daughter, perfect sister, perfect sister-in-law (yeah, that's happening in July :) ), perfect new friend, perfect old friend, perfect Bible study leader, children's ministry leader, applicant for work and school, church member, adventure seeker, and learner. I had to be perfectly independent, thoughtful, helpful, cheerful, organized. In Haiti I had one job, to teach, and when that was done I lived in a tiny village with maybe a dozen friends that spoke my language and no immediate means of transportation. Life was slow and life was simple. I love my life here but it had exhausted me. I'd forgotten what I was first and foremost: adored by the God of the universe and no amount of near perfection or failure was changing that. I had lost sight of the fact that I was already declared complete and worthy and I was viewing my life wrong. All those things were not expectations, they were things I could offer up to God as gifts. And I don't perform them all at once. Moment by moment He guides me in what I should do and each moment is a gift to Him.
- What have you been up to? Well, when I first got home I took a temp job as a receptionist at a law firm. Although this was not the most stimulating job it gave me time to study for the three test that I had to take to get into grad school and that was well worth it. I left that job in November and in January I started substitute teaching. It has been so much fun being back in school and working with kids. I work nearly every and and I like the adventure of being in a new class with new students every day. I just finished my final grad school application and will find out in a few months where I will be getting my Elementary Teaching Credential and Masters in Education.
As I've been writing this and reliving old memories my heart begins to ache to be back in Haiti. I know that we never recreate the same moments twice but I look forward to what God has for my brief visit there. I look forward to laughing with my friends, to holding the children I lived with for nine months, and helping to improve their circumstances.
(You can find links above for more details about our trip and donating.)
I treasure my alone time and was settling into a quiet Sunday. Most people had left the Mission after lunch and I was looking forward to being still and seeking God in a quiet moment. But that’s not where He wanted to meet me today. As I sat in my room thinking about how hot it was I heard the children downstairs making all kinds of noise. My first thought was, “Of course it would be now, when it was so close to being quiet. There really never is a quiet moment here.” But I decided to make the best of it and opened my Bible. But I began to notice, this wasn’t a passing chaotic noise; there was drumming and clapping and I started picking out the works of Creole praise songs. I peaked over my balcony and saw all the kids packed into their tiny hallway singing and dancing with everything they had. I didn’t want to break up the moment by interrupting so I thanked God for it and want back in my room only to be drawn out again, this time by louder drumming, singing, and praise. The sound had moved under the chacoun, where we eat. As I walked over to sneak another peak I found myself tearing up as I heard the familiar worship songs and the shouts of Alleluia! I looked down and looked on a scene that stole my heart (if it wasn’t already completely gone). All of the children, aged two to seventeen were sitting at our tables facing our little platform where Ansen (one of the neighbor kids who helps us at the Mission) was preaching up a storm, complete with “Alleluia’s” and “Amen’s”! They caught me peeking and invited me down for the rest of the church service. There was preaching, three of our girls sang to us, Adelson closed us all in prayer and we all shook hands as we left. This will definitely be one of sweetest and most memorable moments of my time here.
I’m reminded of Jesus words, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17) How wonderful that these kids have spent so much time with God and in God’s church that it flows into their play. They are so familiar with the family of God that they worship for fun. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then they are starting off with admirable role models. These children have had the opportunity to come to God and it’s with the same innocence and I would say the same sense of playing that we are to come to God; not that we should be pretending but that we should be participating because it’s something we want to do. You don’t play things that aren’t fun. Lord, grant us the innocence to come before you and worship before you joyfully, with all the enthusiasm of your youngest children at play.
Before ever going to one, clinic was this vague idea in my mind where all these medical professionals that we ship in got together to give people check-ups. It was probably indoors somewhere official like a churches “fellowship hall” or some other kids of community building (clearly I had not traveled in the developing world). This past week I had the privilege of joining some particularly awesome medical professionals on a trek into the mountains to dispense some medical knowledge and Christ-like compassion. I’ll do my best to take you there with me.
Bright and early we loaded two gigantic duffle bags and a sweet, early-90’s hound’s-tooth suitcase, each loaded down with medicine, vitamins, and a variety of wound care supplies into the back of our white pick-up and left Montrouis for the mountain village of Sachwonn (sounds like szechwan, the Chinese food). Our crew consisted of our fearless driver, Dago, two translators, two EMT’s, a PA, a doctor, and two extra sets of hands (that’s where I fit in). After a 30 minutes drive we turned off the main highway and onto the gravel road that would take us to the top of the mountain. Haiti’s coastline is always stunning but the views that opened below us as we climbed above the villages and foothills were absolutely breathtaking. Haiti is very mountainous with only a few miles between the foothills and the beach. As we rose valleys spread out below, the air became chilled, and ocean rhythmically shimmered in the sunlight. But there are also sharp contrasts across the landscape. Some areas shone bright green , looking lush and healthy but large dry plains separated the growth giving much on the area the feel on California in August when everything is dry and golden. We climbed the mountain for half an hour and then stopped on the side of the road to unload. Sechwon is a small collection of rock and clay buildings scattered on the side of the mountain. Before we got started we walked over to the one room schoolhouse. The students gathered at the door and sang us a welcome song in both English and Creole. When they headed back to their seats we got a clear view of the school. The one large school room holds three classes, each facing a different wall with 15-20 students per class. Each group was studying a chalkboard with the days lesson written in French. Amazingly, the room was completely silent, even as we walked through and took pictures. As a teacher this was amazing to me because if visitors walked through my classroom my students would be filled with questions for them.
After our sweet welcome we walked over to the location of our clinic for the day. That day we were working out of one of the few concrete homes in the village. There was a porch out front, about 4’ by 10’ with a table and two chairs. The table became our dispensary where we set up an array of antibiotics, allergy meds, painkillers and vitamins. We posted the EMT’s in front of the porch to take vitals while the PA and doctor waited on the porch to see patients. After we prayed over the time we would spend there we began to see patients. Many of the people we saw were mothers who wanted to make sure they and their children were healthy. Many of the children had scabies which we unfortunately did not have any treatment for. We let Pastor Remi (our Haitian host) know that we were expecting to get some treatments soon and we would return to the village to distribute them. One of the local school teacher was gracious enough to put together a list of everyone that wanted to be seen and he kept a steady stream of people checking in with the EMT’s. Thankfully our little pharmacy was right next to our doctors so rather than having to discipher their writing they could just call out to us what they needed and we would bag it up and hand it out. As we worked the house was surrounded by a crowed that ebbed and flowed but stay around 75 people. After school was over the local children came to watch us work. There were fevers, aches and pains, and itches that were easily treatable by our standards but difficult when you remember that there is no CVS down the hill. The worst cases that came through were infections that were causing swelling and oozing pus. We were able to clean things up but for real healing the people would have to come down the mountain. In about five hours we saw around 150 people.
Before we left we were invited into Pastor Remi’s house where he had prepared a delicious lunch of beans, rice, and chicken. His home was a simple rock and clay structure, 8’ by 20’ divided into two rooms. A year and a half ago he lost his wife to cholera leaving him to raise their five children in there small home. Knowing his story made it even more humbling to receive such a blessing from this man and his family. In a village crowded with malnourished children we were eating like kings.
More than anything I pray that our visit brought hope to people that have so many reasons to feel forgotten. The medicine we dispensed will run out and new illnesses will arise but I hope that our presence and clinics that we are able to run in the future reminds people that they are not alone and forgotten. I pray our compassion reminds people that there is a good God that sees them and knows them and will lovingly walk with them through the trials and victories of life.
To God be the glory.
I encountered this poem by Sir Francis Drake and wanted to share it. In this season of my life I can feel the Lord leading me away from the shore in pursuit of the stars.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the water of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
This we ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus Christ.
- Sir Francis Drake, 1577
Being back in Haiti has been exciting and exhausting. But today was a sweet reminder of why I love being here. I was up to see a warm, red sunrise tint the mountains. A psalm that has been close to me this past week (Ps. 46) says, “Be still and know that I am God” and that’s exactly what I got to do this morning; just sit in quietness and stillness before the day began. Thanks to the encouragement of my friends I was able to make lesson plans for my whole week by Monday so it was restful coming to school with nothing to create, find, copy, or rush through. I had several gracious helpers come through my classroom today and it was a pleasure to work with them and to have my kids get more individual attention. My class spent the afternoon creating sparkly, glittery fabulously chaotic picture frames and I loved to see them dive into the project and create their own beautiful cacophony of color. I’m so excited to display their frames in our class for the week. Riding home on top of the bus finished the workday off perfectly.
As we pulled in to drop off the Reeves family at their house I hear small voices yelling out, “Miss Elise! Miss Elise!” from inside the bus. I climbed to the back and saw the bright, smiling faces of Judah and Josie-Kate and they stretched out their hands to me. They didn’t have any agenda or questions, they just wanted to say hi and I couldn’t help but smile but my joy wasn’t over. As we watched everyone leave the bus from our vantage point on the roof my newest student, Havana (who had just finished her second day) spotted me and gave me a huge wave and a smile, “Bye Miss Elise! Love you!” But to really make my heart melt completely Josie and Judah joined her with a second chorus of “Love you, Miss Elise!” I felt so loved and so humbled to receive such a spontaneous outpouring of affection. I still smile now thinking about their contagious joy. I am so thankful and beyond blessed to share life not only with the team here but also with the children, who bring no end of laughter and happiness to my days here.
I was a lacks blogger towards the end of part one of my trip and then I got to go home for a month and no one need to read a blog about the cold that I fought over that month. So we’ll skip over that to some reflections about my first three months.. I will bullet point my “take-away’s” (those things that have changed me) from my first few months.
Take-away #1: I love teaching! This is such a huge blessing and excitement. Ever since graduating from college without an “Mrs degree” (bad Christian college joke) I have struggled to figure out what exactly it is I’m supposed to me doing with myself that is not only impactful but fun and engaging. It’s been a rough three year process but finding such joy in teaching is so wonderful. I even want to go back to school for my credential so there are new things on the horizon.
Take-Away #2: Poverty is not just a lack of finances but a powerful world-view. Being raised in extreme poverty defines the way you see the world, what it has to offer you and what you have to offer it. Not only does it consume how you spend your time but it shapes the way you think. And as with any so-far unsolved problem there is not one perfect solution.
Take-Away #3: Living in community is hard! Sharing very close quarters with people, no matter how delightful, becomes difficult. We learn very hard things about ourselves and our own hearts when we get so close to others that not only can we get hurt but we can hurt other people. You begin to see your own selfishness brought to light and it feels bad but in the end it produces so much good as you learn to grow and change.
I love me classroom and all the bright, fun colors. One of the first things I got was a bright yellow tissue box cover from Joy and it sits on the corner of my desk. While there aren’t many runny noses, tissues are great for cleaning dry erase boards or sweaty faces after recess so I pass them out often. One day during class as we were cleaning up Vardy raised his hand and asked, “Miss, can I have a… a… a smiley face paper!” I took me a second but I couldn’t help smile at his resourcefulness when the word “tissue” escaped him.
|
RSS Feed