I made it through the first week of school! It was rough in the beginning because we didn't know what we were supposed to be doing, but it was much better by the end. I even got to teach some private lessons on Thursday and Friday! I taught a clarinet lesson on Thursday because the teacher wanted to work on paperwork; I taught a flute lesson Friday morning so the teacher could watch me teach. It was also his last day because he was filling in for the COST coordinator/music teacher who has been on leave. One marimba lesson I got to help with teaching scales and arpeggios, and the other marimba lesson I got to teach all on my own! The marimba lessons are just like they would be in the states, not like the marimba video I posted Thursday. 

We just finished our fourth day of school at VG. Things are going a little bit smoother now that everyone is used to us being there. We are still observing classes, but Wellyna gets to teach tomorrow! I've entertained some classes, but have yet to teach a full lesson. The COST coordinator for the school comes back Monday, so I'm sure she'll sort things out and lay them in stone for us, as to which teacher will be our cooperating teacher and the like. After classes every day are co-curriculars which are basically the sports, music ensembles, other physical activity classes (yoga, aerobics), and tutoring. Each teacher is required to help with 3 hours of co-curriculars a week. I get to help with their orchestra, a marimba ensemble (they have 5!), and yoga! I will also help with English tutoring whenever they need me, and I'd really like to be a part of the aerobics class (it would at least be some physical exercise :P) I really like that they are called co-curriculars because it means that the school views them as just as important as the academics. 

Yesterday Wellyna and I got to have coffee with Libby (a math teacher from VG who moved here from Oregon!) and walk ar. She told us more about Grahamstown, VG, and her transition here. She has lived here for about three years. She got her teaching certificate through Rhodes University here in town and hasn't left since then! She did her student teaching in a township school near Grahamstown and said it really opened her eyes up to the corruption in the country. The principal of her township school had a C class Mercedes and the 60 students in the classroom were sharing 13 textbooks. The government says they are making the country a better place, but are really just manipulating the numbers for test scores and only choosing the most positive outcomes to showcase. It is really upsetting. Even though VG is one of the best schools around, in order to pass some classes students only need to get a 30%, and that is about all that some girls can get. They do have a 100% graduation rate, however, and have had that for the last 15 years. Considering some of the girls are graduating with passing scores of 30%, it is still better than one of the township schools Libby mentioned where none of the students graduated one year because none of them passed. It really is a sad cycle, but it is better than it was during the apartheid, so the teachers here view any improvements as positive, regardless of the level. 

After 26 hours of traveling, I finally made it to Grahamstown! Traveling took quite a bit out of me, but I'm not as tired today as I thought I'd be. Wellyna and I were up at 9 am to get ready to go to our school and meet some of the teachers. The teachers are really relaxed with each other, but once they are in the classroom it is all strict and orderly. The girls aren't allowed to sit down until they have greeted the teacher and the teacher allows them to sit. Maybe this is how all private schools are, but it is definitely different than what I am used to. 

In case some of you don't know, I am at an all girls private boarding school. It turns out that only about 30% of the girls attending the school are living in the hostels. The other 70% come to school every day and leave at the end of the day. The school day starts at 7:30 in the morning and is over at 1:45, but co-curriculars start at 2:30. 25-30% of the school is also involved in music. They have two nationally ranked choirs, 5 marimba bands, and an orchestra, which is a group of anybody who can play any instrument. A little different than at home! 

I’ve attached a few pictures of where I’m staying. I couldn’t get any good pictures from the airplane of Johannesburg (Joburg) because it was kind of cloudy. The first picture is of the backyard where I’m staying. It is very pretty! It has been raining on and off all day here and I hear that that is very common, for the weather to change through all four seasons in just one day. The other pictures are of my garden cottage. It is just an addition to Dr. Baxen’s house, but is completely separate. Wellyna and I are sharing a bedroom and from there we walk into the kitchen, and through there is the bathroom.

We went to the grocery store today and I tried to look for non-American brands of shampoo and soap and was surprised to find that that was a difficult task! Most of the brands of non-food supplies were brands I’d seen at home! I was able to find a soap I’d never heard of and a kind of shampoo that I’ve seen the brand of, but not this particular kind. It also turns out that Friday afternoons are not the right time to go to the grocery store. I mean, that seems common sense and I probably wouldn’t even do that at home and we didn’t have a choice today, but I probably won’t do that again. 

Okay. I am going to start working on my assignments for student teaching. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions! 

:)
-Anna

With everything packed, I am ready to begin my travels. Today I fly to Chicago to spend the night with my friend Molly, and tomorrow I fly Chicago to Atlanta to Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth! Fingers crossed that all goes as planned.

My goal for this trip is to not be afraid. I want to try new things, go on some (safe) adventures, and make the most of this once in a lifetime experience.

I will keep this updated as often as I can so that everyone who reads it knows what I'm up to. I will post some pictures in the blog, but if you want to see more, just ask :)

It was difficult saying goodbye to my parents and brother this morning, but it will be so great to come back to them with stories galore!

I will keep you all posted and let you know when I am safely in Grahamstown.

:)
--Anna