Signing off work for a bit
on Kate in Guyana (Guyana), 23/Dec/2009 18:30, 34 days ago
This is my last day at work until Monday, I have two half days for "shopping" which I will be taking tomorrow. I am looking forward to having a bit of a break, just to empty the mind a bit. Yesterday we had a visit to a special school which is some way up country. It is called a centre for the disabled, so perhaps that is the best description in that it is not really trying to be a school. However there was a desire for training of the two teachers from someone on the management committee, so I feel it would be worthwhile trying to do something there. The children are either Deaf, or have learning difficulties. My new VSO colleague works in deaf education, so I am going to have a go at researching a framework for skills and ways of tracking progress. I think if it is simple enough then the teachers will find it encouraging rather than a threat. That is my story anyway! There are four special schools which are quite similar, so I think I need to visit and try to get an overview of what they are doing at the moment, and what skills areas they want to work in. Then I can research some ideas, present them and see what they think. My very practical attitude seems to work quite well here, as mostly teachers are on the defensive if they think someone is from the Ministry of Education. I am attempting to turn that around. I remember so well having staff development sessions myself where I felt overwhelmed by grand new ideas, and the cry went up that it would just increase the burden of paperwork. At least this project idea is one where I feel I know what I am doing, as I like to work with making complex systems into something workable in the everyday classroom - pragmatism I suppose.On home matters, I am very pleased to say that my house purchase is going ahead with completion at the end of December. I am hoping that the estate agent will be able to rent it out until I get back to the UK in summer 2010.I am still feeling that I want to limit my time here to one year. I feel I can get my work done for the blind in that time, and the other work that I am doing does not require my particular skills. Every week I am trying to maintain my positivity about my work through some inspiration - this week I am trying to maintain a reasonable, holy and lively attitude (quote from the end of the church service). I think lively is the hardest of those three, as I feel I can maintain the brain power OK, and I am finding that I am able to walk in the light of my faith, but feeling full of life and enthusiasm in the face of all the barriers and negatives is a minute by minute challenge.By the side of the roads here there are cold drinks sellers, who have slogans on their carts - frequently BLESS UP. This seems pretty useful advice to us all.Have a blessed ChristmasKate