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on John and Dinah with VSO in Namibia (Namibia), 29/Nov/2007 14:26, 34 days ago
Himarwa exam hullabaloo!Another classic Himarwa mini-crisis. Last Tues. a learner came to our house and asked if I could help him revise for the exam on Wed. I spent a couple of hours and went over some hand written questions that he produced. After the exam I agreed to mark the papers as the regular teacher was still away. I then realised that these were the self-same questions! Meanwhile an anonymous note came through the staff room window from a learner who wanted to report that one of the teachers had given questions to her brother (a learner). The student I'd helped was this brother! Talk about brazen! I imagine he'd simply assumed I wouldn't be marking the exam. Even more extraordinary is that our principal was talking about this not being the best way to study for the next grade. I said he should certainly not be in the next grade (he didn't do better than average despite this so what would have happened if he hadn't cheated?). Here they have to achieve a certain standard or they don't move on to the next grade. I thought he should be expelled. We will see what happens to the teacher (who is in tolerably warmish water I think.) You never know what people will get away with.On Sat. we went to the grand opening of Matthew's new hut. The party was organised by Nico and Margaret the dutch couple we stay with in Rundu who, with their friends, have provided enormous help with this project. It was such a lovely occasion with balloons, paper chains, a red ribbon to cut and lots of food. The highlights for me were the dancing and the giving out of soft toys. These were 2nd hand but looked new and had been sent from Holland where people had donated about 75 of them. The children were told to get one from uncle Nico and they each got at least one! It was a great delight to see them playing with the dolls. One child had a Winnie the Pooh (no doubt no idea who that is) and it was love at first sight. Another was dancing with his dog and speaking to it in Rakwangali but every now and then saying 'dog' as the dog obviously must know its name in English! They were also given party whistles (the one that kind of stick their tongue out at you) and these were real novelties to them and gave enormous pleasure. It was incredible to think of all the toys our kids get at home and hard to think even the most wonderful would give any more joy than this.This Sat. we are having a Christmas lunch and it really feels impossible. I'm assuming that by the time the decorations are up etc. it will generate some sort of Xmas atmosphere. In any event it will be fun. I was going to make a pudding but gave up when I realised that half the ingredients would be impossible (suet, candied peel, mixed spice..........) and also that they're selling proper Xmas cakes at the Forget-me-Not cafe ready made and doubtless very good. That will be our contribution. Help! Have now discovered these have to be ordered in advance so got to bake tomorrow!We have had a couple of visitors at Mpungu which has been exciting. Firstly Linda a volunteer who specialised in inclusion (ie. disabled people) came our way with a couple of local teachers who she's trained as teachers of the blind. They start work in Jan. and were travelling the region trying to locate blind learners. Often people with disabilities are kept home and not known about. Families are ashamed of disabled members and we've even heard of people being found chained to their beds or at least imprisoned at home. They asked teachers and learners here to pass on news of their work and hope that many will come out of the woodwork.Our second visitor is another VSO who is not having a happy time in Rundu. She is very keen to work and is frustrated by her principal who seems to expect her to sit in the staff room doing nothing. I've not been able to find her much to do here as we are short of work ourselves at this stage, but she has marked a grade 9 exam and looked around and met new people and says it's been a happier time. We take her back to Rundu on Thursday when John has a VSO English teachers jamboree/workshop. We are getting the car serviced while there and getting it ready for the long holiday. Everything here is moving that way now with everyone discussing their plans for the holiday.We got 3 Christmas cards today so many thanks to Jean, Mum and A. Ivy! We aren't sending cards this year so merry christmas everyone in case I forget!No photos this week as I lent my camera to a teacher at the school who was getting her daughter christened!Love to all.The views expressed in this weblog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO.