The One Week Marker

Today Shirley said "Alison, it's your birthday" because today i've been here 1 week, although it feels like i've been here longer. I've definitely just fit into life and am learning the rhythm of everyday life here.

This week I taught in the primary school. Mon and wed I teach 6th, 5th adn 3rd gradea dn tuesday adn thursday I teach 4th, 2nd and 1st grade. The kids are great, they're eager to learn and pick everythign up fast. Since the education system here is very structured and based on memorization, they are really used to a very structured way of learning, which i have to say, makes my job easier, but i try to mix it up a little. On wed. a teacher didnt' come to the secondary school, so i taught there for a little while.

Now that I'm teaching English I realize what a crazy language ti is. It's too bad that such a complicated language is so prevalent. It really amkes no sense at all, and I feel bad for everyone who has to learn it. There are so many exceptions to the rules. Everytime I explain something I have to say "Except when...." and tell them the exception.

Also, there are two girls my age who every afternoon we speak English and they teach me Creole. Everyone here has given me three weeks to learn creole, so I better get on it.

My creole is definitely improving and I can definitely hold my own in one-on-one conversation, but as soon as multiple people start talking i'm completely lost. Or in church, when then read lessons and preach, i have now idea whats going on. Like last night at church they had a conversation about the death penalty, and a lot of different peopel spoke at church, and it seemed like a very interesting conversation, but I have no idea what was going on, except that some people agree, and some don't. Also I was very tired, and when I'm tired i just don't even try to understand.

But what I really like about Creole, it that it's all about getting your message across. You don't have to mince your words or say anything extra. You just say exactly what you want.
Today we had a meeting with the acolytes and I learned how to do everything. Hopefully I won't mess up too bad tomorrow.

Also tomorrow we go to one of Noe's other churches in Grandrivier du Nord, so it will be exciting to see another one of his churches.
I hope that everyone back home is doing wel!
Love
Alison