Monthly Archives: April 2013
“Tie your tie, or your tie will tie you” – Inspection
Every Monday morning, after singing the national anthem and the school song, it is time for inspection. This means that the teacher on duty, the discipline master, or sometimes the secondmaster, inspects students along with other prefects. The inspection focuses … Continue reading
The Form I students
I realized last Friday, after some particularly successful classes with my Form I students, that I have only four weeks left of normal class with them. This was a very sad moment for me, because of everything I have done … Continue reading
Streaming Students
The teaching I do in Tanzania is one of the most rewarding elements of my experience here, but since my arrival I have been frustrated with the wide range of abilities in my classes. This is especially problematic in class … Continue reading
Memories
An old black woman sits on a pew in the front of a church. She is alone. Her colorful fabrics stand out in the dim lighting. Everything is covered in a layer of dust. The church is empty, save for … Continue reading
Porters
I consider myself an able backpacker, comfortable in the woods for a few days at time, and a reasonably strong hiker, so when my guide for climbing Mount Karisimbi (~4500 meters) in Rwanda recommended both Emily and I take a … Continue reading
When the salesman comes to school
It is quite a regular occurrence for salesman of one type or another to come visit my school. They come selling books, household wares, and even fish. And almost always, their visits are met with great excitement by the teachers. … Continue reading