The end is coming, for real! I have only 2 full weeks left at work. TWO WEEKS. I keep repeating myself, but this is just insane, how on earth I have been here over 2 months already? Every time I have lived abroad, time has gone fast. But never this fast, and its breaking my heart. Getting emotional every time I think about the fact that I have to leave this place soon.Haven’t really had much of inspiration (read: I’ve been feeling lazy) to post anything, but now I’ll share some updates from work. So this time no photos or stories about beaches and sea, but about school and teachers!
Work has been great. I have facilitated 4 workshops so far, and I have 2 more to go. I have been working on the development report for the school, and been planning my thesis interview. I reeeaaally should start conducting them asap, but somehow I struggle with finalizing the interview questions. Soon, soon..
Few weeks ago I organized refreshment day for the teachers. It wasn’t all fun and games since I made teachers to work a bit in a form of a workshop and two brainstorming sessions, but tbh most of the day was about having fun and relaxing. This was the first time when these teachers spent time with each other outside the school context, or even the first time they ever had this kind of refreshment day. I was quite nervous - first of all, I organized this day on their holiday, so it was not compulsory for teachers to attend. So I wasn’t sure if anyone was actually coming. Or if anyone was going to be in time for the pre-organized bus transportation, I mean this is Ghana anyway and nobody seems to follow any kind of pre-set schedules. Secondly, I had no idea how teachers would feel to be together outside the school premises, and what they would think about the games and activities I had planned for them.
Turns out, I was worried for nothing. Only 2 teachers couldn’t attend, and everybody was on time. And teachers were on such a great mood, they were all taking part in the activities and they seemed to love the games we played. The day was filled with laughter and the atmosphere was just incredibly relaxed. It was amazing to watch teachers to do teamwork together, to relax at each other’s company and to have so much fun. This day made me so happy, and the best part is that teachers liked it, gave me good feedback and the school headmaster came to tell me he was very pleased of how well this thing was organized AND from now on he wants to start organizing days like this. So, hopefully, I have started a new, lovely tradition at this school. Yay!
Another nice thing that has happened was a visit to public school. I’m working at private school, which is totally different environment compared to a public school here in Ghana. I have heard so many stories about public schools in Ghana: crazy big class sizes (there may be even 80 students in one class), no books, no other teaching or learning materials and overall no money for anything ”extra.
The public school I got to visit was only few minutes drive from my workplace, but the difference was remarkable. No whiteboards, not even windows or doors in the classrooms. I can imagine it makes teaching quite challenging, when there’s no modern teaching and learning materials at all. Teaching ICTmust be one of the trickiest ones - try to teach how to use a computer or other digital devices from a book, to students who may have never used a computer in their life.Anyway, the visit was short but interesting. Naturally, people at the school were hoping that we would bring money or equipment with us, I sometimes feel that since I’m obroni, people see me here just as a bag of money or other resources. If they’d check my bank account they’d change their mind! 😅
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