Week 23 - Bossing That Teacher Life
- Apr 11, 2018
- 6 min read
So, I’m now pretty much at the half-way mark of my time here in Sri Lanka. Whilst I’m so excited for what is to come in the remainder of my time, I’m also feeling very nostalgic about the past 5 and a half months. I’ve said it, and I’ll keep saying it, but my time here in Sri Lanka, and Jaffna especially is one that has been abundantly full of blessings. I doubt I’ll ever have the same feelings towards a place, a group of people and a community. I was saying to a friend earlier this week that sometimes I can imagine staying here forever, but then I remember what I have back at home. It’s a catch 22 situation; I love Jaffna, and I love the UK. Does anyone know how to relocate a portion of the UK and attach it to the north of Sri Lanka? Let’s face it; the weather here is MUCH nicer than the UK, it’s cheaper and the people are more friendly. Who wouldn’t want to trade Hertfordshire for rural Irupalai?
On a more sensible note, life here is great, I’m still happy, still working hard, and still thankful for each day I get to spend here with the people who are now a second family to me.
This last week has been mightily successful, with the end of my first full term teaching, ending with Parent-Teacher meetings (which, might I add: I TRIUMPHED), ice cream celebrations, church, reading with Esther and I cannot forget, my first experience on a motorbike (sorry Mum and Grandma!).
Unlike schools in the UK, where within the last two weeks of term, each lesson is filled with movie-streaming, or pointless exercises, students in Sri Lanka are expected to work right up until the very last moment of the school term. Luckily, most of my students, and the remainder of the senior school had met and completed their targets. Previously, for example the old ‘head’ of the senior school would have made them begin their next books, however, I believe hard work should be rewarded! Having not been a student myself all that long ago, I remember the excitement and happiness of being told that we were being rewarded for working so hard. Plotting a couple of days beforehand, I had decided to add a bit of a Girl Guiding/Scouts edge to the games, as well as the EXTRA incentive of merits to spend at the merit shop.
Students were split into 5 teams, given a list of objects they had to find, thus beginning the scavenger hunt of the century! As an English-Medium school, our students during school time are only permitted to speak in English: to each other, teachers and anyone who enters the school grounds. Watching them attempt to explain to the local elderly ladies and men what they were looking for, in English was hugely enjoyable, especially when the penny dropped for the non-English speakers of what the students were after. We had a huge mix of charades, a scavenger hunt, and students tied at the hip. Several rules followed the list, including team-mates should not be more than one pace away from each other at any one time, clear boundaries of where they were and weren’t allowed, as well as forfeits if I caught them breaking any of the rules.
Up for grabs were 500 merits, per team mate to spend at the merit shop at the end of the day. Boy, was it exciting and it certainly added a new sense of competition to the end of term! Some of the items were very obscure, including a butterfly, a piece of treasure (which I had actually buried), an English and Tamil bible (mixed together) and a watch (which very few people actually own in Sri Lanka). I was surprised at how resourceful my students were, as well as playing the game very well.
At the end of the day, I set out merit shop and allowed each student to select their prize for completing their goals and work accordingly at school for the whole term. Some of the gifts are absolutely great, including light-up bouncy balls, cuddly toys, books, hair clips and bands as well as toy cars and planes! Let’s be honest, if I’d had this incentive at school, I’d have been even more of a swat than I already was!
On the last day of term, we were faced with the dreaded Parent-Teacher meeting, only this time I was sat on the other side of the desk. Instead of being the shivering student, dreading what would be said about me, I was the teacher, with the power able to advise the parents on their child’s behaviour and attitude at school. The only thing that stood in my way was the language barrier! All the students at our school come from particularly low socio-economic backgrounds, with their fathers working as day labours and their mothers being housewives or working as a home-help for richer families. Thankfully I had a translator, so crisis averted. If anything I’m an honest teacher, and I am comfortable telling parents or guardians the issues I have with their children, or in reverse how great the students are. The culture in Sri Lanka is to be submissive to elders, and with the majority of the teachers being younger than the parents and guardians of the students, they are unable to be honest about the students. For me, being English, this is one cultural expectation I cannot adhere to: if there’s an issue, I’ll say it, and as a result, I was actually congratulated and thanked by many of the parents for being so honest!
By 2pm, all the meetings had finished, and it was time to break-down the school for the 3 and half week April break, which meant a lot of furniture moving, organising and burning of old PACEs. We were at school until 5pm, in the April heat, which being honest, was NOT fun, AT ALL! We were all dripping with sweat, ready to sleep and then we discovered a whole new pile of books and resources to organise. A mutual agreement was come to, whereby we shoved them into a cupboard, locked it, and decided to deal with it at the start of next term. Sometimes you’ve just got to relax and forget about these things.
The weekend held for me a great chance to relax and begin to enjoy my school break, and I did indeed! I headed into Jaffna with Sweette and Angel, helping with odd jobs and bits and pieces around town with them, enjoying food at a sweet smelling bakery, and then enjoyed an afternoon at Aiya’s house eating and playing with Reena and Roshani. We then all headed to a café, which we had attempted to visit earlier in the week which was shut, and enjoyed some more sweet, spicy Jaffna grub. I even got treated to a watermelon juice, perfect for a hot, April day!
Sunday was full of adventure for me; the usual morning at church and then reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Esther. After church I did the fun task of clothes washing, and then headed to Rio’s Ice Cream with Jane. A rather exciting part of this was the fact I experienced my FIRST EVER motorbike experience. Like on an ACTUAL motorbike. ON THE ROAD. It was FANTASTIC, and as this is Sri Lanka, it was a ‘side saddle’ experience. After Rio’s, we headed to the waterfront, walked along the promenade and chilled out, her mum and brother even came to join us, which was really nice. Jane is one of my ESL students, and since working with her, her English is coming on very well – specifically her spoken. She has the knowledge; it’s just getting her to speak it!
Komatha and Balayia both returned from their holiday this week, meaning my security team left the house (pictured above), and so my first few days of the school holidays have been helping around the house, making sure it is clean and sorting out a lot of things for them. It’s almost as though I am in training to be a Sri Lankan housewife; sweeping, mopping, cooking. As well as all the household chores, I have managed to find some time to relax, The Big Bang Theory seems to be my go-to currently, and myself and Miss Reena are enjoying finding time to watch comedy movies.
I have been getting myself prepped and prepared for my upcoming trip to Singapore with Tharshini on Friday night. I’m really looking forward to this trip, and I’m so excited to be able to share it with Tharshini; it will be her first time out of Sri Lanka, travelling a city, and properly exploring a new place and culture. The Instagram worthy spots are written down, and we’re ready to plot our route of exploring the city!
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