Week 10 - Miss Charlotte’s Back
- Jan 10, 2018
- 5 min read
It is almost a year ago, when I spent three weeks here in Jaffna teaching at the school. This week, the infamous, strict, but fair teacher was back. The look on some of the kids faces were priceless, especially that they had no idea I would be staying for longer than Christmas, or indeed until October.
Whilst there was the shock from the children to contend with, I had no idea that when I would walk into the classroom I would be met with a very similar shock. Arriving in my classroom, I was met by walls that had completely disintegrated, holes in doors and rusty chairs. Currently the classes at my end of the school (the school is currently split across two sites), are housed in what used to be the church run by Paalam. This church building was falling apart, and so the Sunday services had to be moved into the incomplete community centre close by. The church was deemed ‘unsafe’ and ‘unsuitable’ for Sunday services, but for everyday use, and studying, this is where over half of the school is taken to. The problem with this, is there are no real ‘classrooms’, just a large open sided hall split into three sections. This makes the learning environment particularly difficult to keep, as if one class is being taught, and the other two classes are working silently, the distractions are particularly high.
The Dust Project are working on finding funds to complete a hall within the Community Centre, which will be ample space, offer a decent amount of privacy and house a great learning environment, which in time will house the whole school. This will definitely help with the organisation of the school, with resources being available from one place, rather than having to be split across ends of a village. Students will be able to go straight into learning after assembly, rather than having a 10-minute walk to their classroom.
I realise this will take time, and realistically will not be in use whilst I am teaching in this school. But I do feel excited about the progress and the importance which is being put on this amazing facility so heavily supported by The Dust Project. Over half the children in this school in Jaffna receive sponsorship from Dust Project supporters, and it is truly amazing to see how this monthly money is being used to improve the school and help bring on new and highly qualified staff, whilst also offering training to long-term teachers.
For me, the biggest shock walking into the classroom was the state of the building and the lack of organisation. Children work from PACE books, which have to be photocopied and given to them to work in. On the first day of term, having only just arrived at the school, and been assured all of this term’s PACE books had been ordered, there were no learning resources for any of my class. Thankfully, with a clear head and a vision to see organisation bought to my class, a few late nights in school, and many searches of the storeroom, by the beginning of this week we now have enough books to begin working from.
Disorganisation is one of the few things I cannot stand – it makes me feel uncomfortable and stressed. All it takes for something to be organised is giving a few extra minutes to double check, cross reference and have a procedure in place. Having been in the school not even a week yet, I have my procedures sorted, and a plan for the rest of the term. It’s all about trial and error, and I cannot wait to use my skills (I hope) to help bring this school into a new season of organisation and smooth-running.
This weekend gone has been a fun one – a morning wandering around Jaffna, shopping for essentials and being tempted by KFC! Cards seem to be a staple part of a weekend for me now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s something special about being able to spend time with people, who cannot speak your language, and you cannot speak theirs, but the bond and relationship can still be made, all through the playing of games, relaxing together and having fun. Who needs to speak when you have tea, cards and biscuits?
Sundays have become an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with Esther, the girl I sponsor in Sri Lanka through The Dust Project. After church we are able to hang out together, talk about things other than school, and practice her spoken English. As Esther attends Paalam International School, she is taught in English and therefore are very few problems with communication between the two of us. Aged 10, she is a ray of sunshine, always happy and a total joy to be around, having the opportunity to spend some more quality time with her, and encourage her in stepping into her dreams for the future, I honestly hope I will be around, and able to witness her finishing school, graduating university and getting married. She’s a sister; not by blood, but by love.
As my weeks here are going on, I am beginning to feel at home – Kormatha, Balayia and Reena are great housemates and wonderful people to live with. Kormatha in particular has become a lady I love to be around – she is trying so hard to pick up English words, and hold a conversation with me, and we are even able to joke around together. Within the last week, she has come to know I am a ‘jumpy’ person, and so enjoys playing on this. I can guarantee each day when I come home from school, she will be hiding somewhere; I never know where, but I’m always expecting it, and then just JUMP out at me!
The family I am living with, were gifted a home by MW Fitness in Bishop’s Stortford, aided by The Dust Project to bring this house into being. I was lucky enough to be on the trip in September to begin building it, and having been able to live with the family is just another experience I cannot wait to tell family and friends. For me, I will definitely have mixed emotions when they finally move into their home, which they have been waiting so long for. I will be sad to see them go, and for me to lose my ‘second family’ here in Jaffna, but I know the joy and the excitement they all have to be in THEIR OWN house, with THEIR OWN garden and THEIR OWN well and toilet, is just an amazing thing. Each time I mention their house to them, their faces light up, and it seems they are counting down the days until the next Dust Project team comes out in February/March to paint their home!
My ESL lessons are beginning to take shape, and I have begun to experience what it truly feels like to be a teacher. Boy, it is hard! For me, my schedule seems jam-packed, and I am so excited to be able to teach my mother-tongue, and favourite subject to those who are eager to learn. Since starting at school, I have been asked by different parents each day if I will tutor their children – as much as I would love to tutor all the children, I know the English education they receive in Paalam International School is a higher standard than many of the other schools in the local area. As requested by the directors of Paalam, I am focussing on teaching English to those who are less fortunate, and attend schools where there are next to no teachers able to teach English. I’m positive about this tuition, so I guess the only thing I can do is see how I get on!
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