A Lot Happens in a Week

It's been a full week since my last post, the longest amount of time between posts thus far. I apologize if anyone was dreadfully concerned, due to hurricane Isaac. Our internet provider, AccessHaiti, one of the largest internet providers in the area, only just come back online in the last 24 hours. The smart thing to have done would have been to write during the storm and post once the internet came back up (like Ashley did). What was I thinking?!

Today marks my first week as a teacher. It's pretty heady stuff. Ashley and I have been reflecting on the fact that Haiti teaches you lessons swiftly and with little remorse. Like ripping off a band-aid, the consequences of our ignorance (or inexperience, if you're feeling kind) strike us in one concentrated shot of "Ouch!". I kind of like it that way. Call me a glutton for punishment, but it's a cleaner and more succinct way of getting the point across. My experience at school has been much the same.

We were discussing the definition of culture shock, the other day, and wondering if we'd really sustained any, as of yet. I think the biggest adjustment has been in regards to the pace of change. The ball is slow to get rolling here, and never gathers much speed. Bucking the system is a sure-fire way to get what you want and doesn't seem to incur much wrath or resentment. Turns out it's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm getting left behind for fear of creating waves.

I did say that I was looking forward to going back to the basics, finding out how lean I could live. I didn't think of how that might affect my classroom or teaching style. I've finally received shelves for my classroom library, although i'll need more. I don't have a white board. Or an extension cord for my projector. All of these things seem trivial until they are missing. My tool box is incomplete and i'm using a screwdriver, where I need a hammer. The silver lining here is that I am being forced to discover just how creative I can be. How do I mask what feels make-shift to me? My job as a teacher is to fill the gaps with meaningful, authentic, and enduring learning opportunities. Do I need a whiteboard to make that happen is the question. Right now it feels like I do, but I'm hoping that in a little while I will have filled my tool box with alternative, practical, effective solutions.

I'm starting to feel as though I'm creating a routine. 5:30 wake-up, breakfast and coffee at 6:15, out the door and at my desk by 6:50. Miraculous silence until 7:30 when I go down to the school yard to greet my grade 7s. Homeroom. Periods 1, 2, lunch, 3, 4. A solid hour and a half of work, again at my desk in blissful peace. Home, or Geant, our local grocery store -unless it's tuesday (my favourite day of the week), in which case ULTIMATE! Once home, my productivity takes a bit of a dive. Invariably there's a glass of wine involved and dinner, before I get back to lesson planning. Bed by 9:30 (if we're being realistic, it's more like 10:15). I'm starving for more physical activity but the logistics are hard to iron out. Eventually, the routine will expand and solidify but for right now, it's nice to have some sort of consistency to which to cling.

The comforting thought to which I also cling is that daily life in Haiti will never be this hard to figure out again.