First Full Day at School

I had my first full day at Bichan Gurascha School today. I observed Genet's classes and met her students. I also met with one of the English teachers and learned about the English curriculum and had an opportunity to speak with some of the other teachers during a break between classes. My fellow teacher traveler, Stacy Carter, has been kind enough to share her pictures and computer with me so I can finally share pictures of Bichan Guracha and the faculty and students I am spending time with during my two weeks. These photos are from our first day (Monday). 

Students greeting us at the gate

Students and a teacher at Bichan Guracha

Students in front of a mural.

                                        

Second Visit to Bishan Guracha School

Today I went to Bishan Guracha school and met with my teaching partner, Genet. She shared a wonderful plan for my time over the next two weeks. I also met the school principal and was re-introduced to the assistant principal and teachers of science, civics, English, Oromo, and math. I went to each of the classes in session and was welcomed by the students and introduced myself. The faculty and students were once again kind and generous in their welcome.

I am looking forward to the plan that Genet has proposed, as I will get to experience a number of classrooms and interact with students. Next week I will even have the opportunity to teach an English lesson.

The Plan:

• Observation of the teaching and learning process in Genet's classroom and those of her colleagues
• Observation of student group discussions
• Observation of continuous assessment
• Arrangement of the class
• Activities of students in different clubs (departments)
• Student engagement in culture (clothing, food, language, etc)
• Meeting with the teachers
• Teaching an English class
• Sharing a video created by my fellow Vermont teacher traveler Elaine Pentalari.

I have two additional items for my time at Bichan Guracha:

•  Share photos of the Walden Project and explain the program to the teachers
• Generate ideas through observation and participation about school culture and teaching practices I can bring back to the U.S.

In Awassa

We have arrived in Ethiopia after 36 hours of traveling (leave Ferrisburgh at 3:30, fly from Burlington to New York to Dubai to Addis Ababa then drive 4 hours to Awassa). I have so much to share but I am having some serious technology issues, so many of my detailed posts with pictures might have to be put up after I return in 10 days. We were met at the airport by Kidist, the director of AYCC. She is wonderful and is doing amazing work with AYCC and creating amazing opporunities for youth in Awassa. Dag, the financial officer of AYCC has also helped us navigate our first couple of days in Ethiopia.

Today we went to two schools, Neget Kocheb and Bichan Guracha. These are both elementary/middle schools and while the resources available to students and teachers are scarce, the teachers are enthusiastic, welcoming, and dedicated to their vocation. We were greeted with tremendous warmth and I am excited for the next two weeks. The students were curious about the "ferengi" or foreigners in Amharic and loved to greet us and introduce themselves to us.

I will write more when I can

What I Will Bring

Over the past month I have been getting items together for the trip. I got the requisite shots (yellow fever, typhoid, hep A, polio, etc), prescriptions for an anti-malarial, anti-biotic and picked up a bunch of over-the-counter meds (pepto, imodium, tums, sudafed, ibuprofen, etc), and hopefully found some clothes that will be conservative enough for Ethiopian Orthodox culture but not be too hot (we'll see). Also included in my bags: mosquito net, bug spray, sunscreen, and toilet paper).

In addition to my personal items, I am also carrying a number of items that have been donated to the traveling teachers to bring to Awassa. I have a number of gorgeous books that Elaine Pentaleri arranged with Flying Pig Books as donations for the schools we will be working with. The books were specially selected to be relevant for the students in Awassa. You can find plenty of donation horror stories online (Harlequin romance novels for school children, seriously) and we did not want to perpetuate that ridiculousness.

A selection from the beautiful books we are bringing with us to Awassa.

I am also bringing several pairs of shoes with me, donated by the Outdoor Gear Exchange consignment department. These shoes will go to Action for Youth and Community Change, who have a system for making sure donated items are distributed to those most in need.

The donated shoes.

Based on conversations I have had with my teaching partner, Genet, I am also bringing books that I have found useful in my own teaching practice to share with her and Bishan Guracha Primary School. Most of the books are about formative assessment and English instruction to second language learners. I hope these resources are useful to her and her colleagues, I will share more as these conversations unfold during my visit.

Only two more days!

Vermont to Ethiopia: a teacher exchange

Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of going to the horn of Africa. I can't explain exactly why I have this dream or where it came from: perhaps it was bedtime stories of adventures that instilled a desire and love of travel or maybe the beautiful photographs of people, places, and animals in National Geographic that we got every month. Wherever this dream came from, I am able to realize it in one week. I am part of a group of five teachers from northern Addison County, Vermont, USA who are headed to Awassa, Ethiopia as part of a teaching and cultural exchange.

Awassa is in south-central Ethiopia. Image from: Waterman

This blog will be one way I document the experience and share my travels. We are working with two wonderful non-profits, the Willowell Foundation in Monkton, Vermont and Action for Youth and Community Change in Awassa, Ethiopia. I am partnered with Ms. Genet Gebregiorgis at Bishan Guracha Primary School, a social studies and geography teacher for grades 5-9. I am excited for my journey and looking forward to learning about education in Ethiopia and reflecting on my own practice as an educator.