Friday, February 22, 2013

Baseball in Africa


Today in my basic Informatica class I decided to play a review game since we are having our first test next week. I found a Baseball review game online and decided to try it out since all you needed was a chalkboard and chalk (which is all I had). Going into the class I thought that my students would know how the game of baseball was played-I was wrong. After drawing a baseball diamond on the board and trying to explain the concept of bases and 3 strikes then you’re out (in Portuguese) we started playing the game. Each of the 4 corners of the classroom represented home plate and the 3 bases. Each time a student got the answer correct they moved to the next base-after the first round they started understanding it a little more. 

My 8th graders really got into the game and started cheering and shouting when they got on a base. Which at first was few and far between since they had not done any studying. We may have gotten a little too rowdy because the teacher next door came over and stared in the classroom during our game. Oops! At least they were having fun and learning at the same time. I was really proud of myself because normally my 90 minute basic Informatica class is something I dread each week. I feel like I can’t talk for 90 minutes in Portuguese about the history of computers and how to use them when they have no computers to use for practice. Today I had class for the full 90 minutes and they were all participating and finally getting the answers right. I’d call that a success-yes it’s a small success but I’ll take anything right now.

I’m so happy it’s Friday! This week has been long since I’ve been sick since Monday…I swear Africa is bringing out the weird illnesses in me more so than in America. I never used to get rashes in America…maybe when I was a baby but never after that. Yet while I’ve been in Mozambique I’ve had a bad rash for over 4 weeks now—that can’t be normal. Thankfully Peace Corps provides each PVC with a medical kit with practically a whole pharmacy full of medicines for almost any problem. I’m going to run out soon if my body doesn’t start to get better quick though!

This weekend I’m hoping to write my tests for next week, go food shopping in Nacala (for Chicken burgers!), help some of my students with English tomorrow and finally weed my garden. It’s starting to look like a jungle out there and I can’t tell what’s weed and what are the actual plants….oh boy.  

National Peace Corps Week starts this coming Sunday! Each day has a different slogan…here they are:
Sunday—“Grow Your Peace Corps Family Tree”
Monday—“Inspire Global Learning”
Tuesday—“Make Peace Personal”
Wednesday—“Invite the World to Your Table”
Thursday—“Foster Global Citizenship”
Friday—“Champion RPCVs as Global Professionals”
Saturday—“Act Locally to Influence Globally”

I better think of something so I can participate in Peace Corps week here in Nacuxa!
Missing home and snow during this crazy snowstorm back in Nebraska and KC! Hope everyone stays safe and warm—I’ll try and send some of my African temperatures to melt the snow :)

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