May 5, 2010
So today was FANTASTIC for 2 reasons: 1 I was able to teach today and 2 my luggage was finally cleared through customs!!! (if you hadn’t heard, they wouldn’t let my equipment bag through customs when I arrived on Sunday. It wouldn’t have been that bad other than for the fact I had put a TON of my own personal items in it: runners, rice, fruit bars, lotions, sun screen, etc). Needless to say, I was EXTASTIC to come home to find that bag in my room.
Today was my first day teaching. Pam and I were able to follow Shelby’s lead for most of the morning and took more control as the day progressed. We were introduced to the entire school during morning assembly. I told them my name was “Ms Howell...like a TOWEL with a ‘H’ sound”. They all laughed at that and have since pronounced my name Ms HOWell – it’s pretty cute.
I wont lie, its pretty hard not to have favourites. There is this little girl in grade two and her name is Tanisha. She is so cute and complains whenever she has to run because her braids on top of her head have clips and they hit her whenever she moves fast. It’s a lame excuse but cute none-the-less. I keep encouraging her to try and do her best.
Our PE specialist was also in today. She is amazing! Compared to home, it still needs improvement, but compared to other schools on the island, she is incredible! Last year, the students had never experienced PE before the “Champions for Health Promotion” program (this is the program I am part of here) came to their school. I mean NEVER had PE. Now they have a trained teacher in PE who comes twice a week to teach them. It’s great! She mostly taught and we assisted. It was good to learn from her how she interacts with the students, when she gives them drink and bathroom breaks.
I want to make sure that I take in as much from her as possible. I also don’t want to offend her by thinking our “canadain” ways are better than hers. So much of what we are doing here is to create a sustainable program – a way of thinking that will encourage teachers to make PE more of a priority. I am learning why it is so important too, as obesity is becoming a problem in many of the schools.
One of the most shocking things I saw today was the Candy Stands that were set up during their break time. Different people from the community start making their way onto school property before the breaks begin and set up tables FULL of JUNK. Candy, chips, pop, etc. garbage that they don’t need to fill their bodies with. They sell the food to these kids and they practically inhale it. Why the candy is so bad, is that for many of them, that is all they are eating. They don’t get proper meals at home and apparently it is cheaper for them to eat this candy and crap than to pick out healthier options. It’s really sad because there is NOTHING I can do about it. All I can do is stress the importance of eating healthy and having lots of exercise. So that is what I will continue to do.
