A l'ecole

While my principal duty in Cameroon is to work with small enterprise development the beauty of Peace Corps is that we're not only encouraged, but required to work on secondary projects. One of the fastest and easiest ways for us to get involved is to volunteer at a local school. Thanks to the Commandant de Gendarme I was working out a timetable with St. Augustine by week two. To say the education system in Cameroon is nothing like the US would be an understatement. From the facilities, to the resources, the teaching style, the teacher's objectives, right down to the uniforms, it's all different. Nevertheless, I feel extremely fortunate to have been placed in such a different environment. Everyday is a learning experience for me “the teacher”. Working at St. Augustine has caused me to seriously reflect on our school system in the US and my own personal education as well. I hope to describe to you as best I can what I’ve been observing. If in reading this you begin to think “wow she must really hate her job”- Don't! The four boys in my 4eme absorb everything I say like sponges and the coy smiles I get from them each and every day absolutely light up my world. I have to struggle with my Form 2’s derangement, but when I yell at them and then threaten not to come back, I have them begging for me not to leave. They're also the class that just the other day asked questions like “What's a hot dog?” "Do people eat couscous in America?” “Is it true there aren't any blacks in America?” That last one led into big discussion on the terms minority and majority. I even threw in a mention of 2050. While I only have the Form 4 section for 50 minutes a week, but they're quite the eager beavers! They actually get excited when I give them an assignment (?) and they love correcting mistakes together in class. Probably the best part about working thus far is just that, I'm finally working. It feels so good to have purpose and responsibility, like I'm finally doing something effective. The situation at my bank has been rather unusual and I'm still stumbling through my “business French”. Therefore, while the microfinance work moves slowly I'm thankful to have been blessed with another opportunity. So without further adieu A l'école.....
From the Maternelle (preschool) on up whatever the teacher says, the students regurgitate; whatever the teacher writes, the students copy; and whatever the teacher says, is right. By all accounts I treat my classroom as my classroom and push critical thinking. Sure they can “repeat after me” and pronunciation is at about a 70% level, but when asked questions concerning what, why, or how, they're just stumped. Case in point, the other day while working on pronunciation with my Form 2's (ages 10-13). I asked which word sounds different: Fan, Van, Far. They were able to identify far. Yet, when I asked then what’s a f-f-fan, I got 18 blank stairs. So I asked what's a v-v-van. Again 18 blank stares. Five students raised their hand to give me a definition for far. They have all of the above items in Cameroon, the students can identify the different sounding word, but they have no idea what the words they're repeating back to me are!
I think what makes up for the majority of the education deficit is the lack of books. The students are required to buy their own books every year, but when families have just enough money to pay for tuition & uniforms there goes all the money left for books. St. Augustine is such a new school that my classes of 4, 18, and 20 students are a far cry from the normal 60-90 person classrooms. In my class of 4 we have one book, my class of 18 has three books, and in my class with 20 students I've never even seen a book. While the teacher takes the time to write out everything on the board the children twiddle their thumbs or talk with their neighbor. The most frustrating aspect is having those students who I know would research material at home/study on the weekends, yet their without the resources to do so. One or two exercises in their notebook doesn't cut it. Once I've gathered a better assessment of the students needs and figured out the logistics (all the while abiding by the donation regulations I'm under by PC), I will start a book drive. Most likely sometime early next year, so stay tuned!School at St. Augustine runs from 7:30am-3:30pm. On the other hand, most lycee's have a more university-esque schedule. Depending on the day a student may finish anywhere from 12pm onward. I don't arrive to St. Augustine until 10am, but from the very first parent-teacher meeting it was apparent tardiness is a huge problem. Nothing unexpected; my morning run is around that time and even by 8:30am I see kids en route to school or some still working the fields. While the majority of children will walk every morning, St. Augustine is fortunate enough to have one bus. Yet operating with one small bus means some kids should be standing at the side of the road around 5am, others around 7am. After the principal was scolding the parents for their children's tardiness, the parents rightfully shot back: Nobody knows what time their children are to be picked up! Hopefully for everyone's sake, the system will be worked out soon.
Discipline is #1 on the agenda. Thus far I've seen several kids hit on the forearm with a tube, some having to sit on their knees in the gravel for the entire period, others having to march on their knees in the gravel, and just the other day the new teacher walked in right after my class period and hit a female student across the face. There's no standing in a corner here. Recently I received an email from a good college friend who teaches at a not-so-nice inner city school in the States. Much to my surprise she seems to be having the same problem, except this time it was the parents, not the teachers, who barged into classrooms. Tension in the home life permitted to carry over to school grounds!? As teachers we're forced to accept it. It's a part of the culture, “the way things are done around here”. Still, it will continue to be hard to accept.
While the work ethic has been quite an adjustment for a fast-paced American, the staff thus far has been absolutely fabulous. I've been adopted into the Petchup family (both husband and wife teach), invited to several functions en ville, and I can no longer stroll through town without running into a staff member. For the time being the highlight of most bank days is leaving the bank and passing George the bus driver, who every time gives me a double-honk and this huge wave. When you're no longer a stranger to everyone in your community it really makes a place feel that much more like home.After my first encounter with our principal I walked away thinking “this is going to be a problem”, but in fact he has turned out to be hands down one of my favorite people. Everyday I get asked where my “crash helmet” is (PC requires we wear a helmet when we take a moto), he always harping on me about how I should be taking more breaks, and his bone dry sense of humor keeps me laughing everyday. Unlike Michigan, Cameroon has two seasons: Rainy and Dry. We're currently in dry season which means plenty of weddings and plenty of funerals. Yesterday I got asked if it’s true we have “professional mourners”. Quoi!? He said he heard it was true, that we actually hire people to mourn at a funeral. “No” I said, “The feeling are actually genuine”. Peace Corps Goal #2, check.
My students in Form 4 will be writing for their national exam soon. We'll be covering the proper format of an essay shortly, but first we have to work on SPELLING! It's scary how bad they are. With the Form 2's Miss Cook has had to revisit all those things like the present perfect, past progressive, and simple past tense she thought she'd abandoned in the 6th grade. Who knew they'd come back to haunt me!? However what I'd much rather be doing is holding spelling bee, after spelling bee, after spelling bee. You won't ever be a good writer if you can't spell correctly, and spell check isn't an option. Du Courage hey!
A quick excerpt about Obama to finish this post. Happy Turkey Day Everyone! I'm jealous of the turkey, and stuffing, and Green Bean Casserole (yuuum), and pumpkin pie. There's a huge cultural fete in a town nearby that only comes every two years, so Thanksgiving will be at Chez Moi. We're planning to eat on Friday and seeing the sites Saturday/Sunday. Hope to invite as many of my Cameroonian friends as possible. Peace Corps goal #2, check encore!


Obama: Il a gagne!!! While only American citizens went to the polls on Tuesday the 4th, rest assured the world was watching. Ever since arriving in Cameroon I've been hearing all about and having to answer questions about Obama. Why? He's their brother of course! At my teacher's meeting that Wednesday yours truly brought a white cake (special thank Wendy). One guy had the great idea that every time someone took their slice they had to say “Long live Obama”. 32 slices of cake= 32 “Long live Obamas!” While I'll never know what it was like to experience the reaction in States, it certainly was neat seeing it half-way around the world. Being able to explain our election process with people who go to the “polls” every seven years yet have had the same President since 1982, was bittersweet. Godspeed to him over these next four years....…