Surprises in Nacucha

Life in Nacucha is always full of surprises. For example, I usually find out about meetings a few days after the fact. I’m sure the other professors must wonder why I don’t come to half the meetings…oops. I need to figure out how to be more in the loop with meetings and my school administration. I’m not sure how I’ll do that but I better figure it out soon.

I went over to the primary school again this week to talk with my friend Cristina, one of the 3^rd grade teachers. While I was waiting for her I found Irma Rita and was talking to her about the English classes. She asked if I would be interested in helping out—I of course said yes. So starting this week I’ll be teaching English to the 6^th and 7^th grade classes Mondays-Wednesday for an hour each day. I’m so excited to be teaching at a primary school again—and I don’t have to give any tests so it’ll be a fun hour of English classes each week :) I’m hoping the students understand my Portuguese and don’t speak just Makua. I guess we’ll see how it goes on Monday afternoon.

Friday we had no classes because the amendoim (peanuts) were ready to be picked out of the farms. Of course farming comes first at the agriculture school so even though we only have a week left to get grades down we didn’t have class on Friday. I think Irma Tassy wanted me to go to the farm with the students and pick peanuts. I ended up doing work and didn’t get out to the machamba. I did get a lot done on Friday though! I planned almost all my lessons for next week, organized my binders with all the students’ tests and worked on my application for the community library project. I still have a lot to do for the application that’s due Friday but I’ve made quite a bit of progress talking to people getting the information I need. And I think I made a nice Mozambican friend at site finally so I’m happy about that :)

 This week I’ll be busy doing my application, grading all the tests for the end of the semester, teaching at the primary school, having a REDES meeting and dreaming about being home in August! It’s almost in the single digits—so, so excited for my Kristina’s wedding and to see everyone!