Setting Up and Running a School Library
10 Steps to run an effective library:
1. Organize a library committee and decide on: Library rules, opening times, staffing, and the amount of time you need from library monitors.
2. Decide on the method of lending books and how to classify information (non-fictional) books
3. Prepare the library room, and make the bookshelves and organize equipment and stationary.
4. Check that the library is secure.
5. Get to know the different types of library stock and the parts of a book. If you already have a library you may want to remove damaged or inappropriate stock.
6. Make an ‘accession register’ to record the books that the library receives. Glue the school nameplate and depending on your lending method, a return date label in all the books.
7. Divide books into fiction and information (non-fiction). Divide information books into subject areas according to your chosen method of classification. Give each book a spine label.
8. Make a library catalogues. This will include a shelf list and title catalogue.
9. Put books onto shelves. Arrange information books by subject. Arrange fiction books in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
10. Make shelf guides so that books can be found easily and check that your lending system is fully operational. Put up a subject index and posters on the walls to make the library more attractive and to remind students of any rules about using or borrowing books.
Library Activities:
— The book tour: identify parts of a book and the proper way to care for a book.
— “Get to know the library tour:” explain how the library works and how students can use it.
— Library/book clubs: a club for students who want to discuss books or a club for students who want to help manage the library.
— Making and using bookmarks: helps to not ruin books as easily.
— Using the noticeboard: fill board up each month with new ideas and decorations.
— My world newspaper: create a school library newspaper.
— A read-a-thon: a fun reading competition. How many books can the students read in a week?
— Story hour: sit comfortably and read to children
— Current events: read a passage from the news and then have a discussion.
— Display student’s work: make child feel special and part of the library.
Storytelling Ideas:
— Read alouds: traditional or interactive are great in a corner of a library.
— Student book reviews: students write short reviews and have it there for other children to read.
— Start a story: ask a student to summarize the first chapter of a book and have the rest of the children guess how the story ends.
— Top 10: students can vote on their favorite book.
— Make your own book: encourage students to be creative and improve literacy.
— Must have resource: Baird, Nicola. Setting up and running a school library. VSO London 1994.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
FREEHOP
FREEHOP: talking with + getting to know people
or
FREEHOP = Informal conversation happening all the time. Just do it. You won’t know how good it gets until you really know the people in your community.
Family:
· Some families are very traditional. Family breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mom stays at home and has a hard job. Meals are eaten at home.
· Some families are more modern. Both parents work. However, the mother still has to do all the cooking and cleaning etc.
· Some families have children from different fathers.
· The oldest daughters are put in charge of mothers duties if the mother works.
· Boys have to do chores, but no cleaning or cooking. The boys work with the animals usually.
· The children have chores and responsibilities.
· Children are respectful.
· Children are not outwardly praised sometimes mocking. Public corrections.
· Some marriages are arranged marriages.
· The Mayan tradition is to have large families/ lots of children. Sometimes ten to twelve children in a family. However, my neighbors and my family only have three to four children. (I believe they are realizing how difficult it is to have so many children).
· The mom has to do all the cooking, cleaning, ironing, washing, etc.
· Both the father and mother do the disciplining.
· Children get lashings for being disobedient.
· Children are very polite to everyone including parents.
· Families speak to each other in numerous languages.
· Big families often disperse all over Belize, but stay family oriented. Sisters and brothers visit one another and stay for days or weeks. They depend on one another.
· Maya families are big and come from down south.
· Maya Mopan is a newer community. They come from all different areas.
· Relationships sometimes may be abusive.
· Men’s drinking is a problem in the community.
Religion
· There are many religions in the Maya Mopan village.
· There are tons of Christian religions. So many churches even for a small community.
· K’ekchi Catholic, Catholic Church, Protestant, Methodist, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Baptist, and Jehovah Witness etc.
· The community is very active in their church.
· Churches are loud and workshop in the night.
· There are many bible studies. (Jehovah’s preach in the community).
· There are masses or meetings throughout the week and weekends.
· The women make meals for the sisters or brothers in their church.
· They form bonds with their church members.
· The people of the community go very well dressed to church.
· Men are mainly the church leaders and preachers.
· Women usually always wear dresses or skirts.
Education
· There is one public government school in Maya Mopan. It goes up to standard II (this is its third year).
· The schools are fastly growing with the number of children in the Maya Mopan community. The Maya Mopan school increases by 100 students every year.
· Lots of kids in the community did not go to school because Belmopan would not accept them. Therefore, they started a school in Maya Mopan.
· Some families don’t encourage going to school. They keep their children home to do chores in the field.
· Not many high school aged attend school (more boys than girls go to school).
· Most parents in Maya Mopan do not have a university education.
· Some families do encourage education.
· The standard language in schools is English. However, they also speak bilingually for the children that do not speak English (sometimes in Spanish, K’ekchi, Mayan, Kriol, or Garifina)
· The mandatory school age is 5-14 years-old.
· Sometimes when the child turns 14-years-old the child stops coming to school and starts working.
· Some teachers are trained and some are not. Here in Maya Mopan all teachers are trained except for two.
· Many of the parents do not speak English. Therefore, it is difficult to have parent involvement.
· Corporal punishment is allowed and legal in schools.
· There are about 30 to 35 children in one classroom for one teacher. In Maya Mopan there are about twenty children to one teacher.
· The teacher often has to translate English in Spanish and K’ekchi.
· There is only a primary school in Maya Mopan. It stops at Standard II.
· Homework is usually too easy or too difficult.
· There used to be a bus that took children to school in Belmopan for one shilling, but that stopped with the new government.
· There is a manager for schools.
· TFAB
· NaRCIE
· CCETT
Economics
· There is little understanding of economic principles in the community.
· Don’t understand how credit cards work.
· No purchases are plan. They buy food every day, instead of weekly. They hardly buy in bulk.
· Loans are hard to get. No understanding how to get loans (assets, savings, credit, debit, payment plans, and exchange rates).
· The Chinese people get loans through private loans out of the country.
· There is a huge discrepancy between wages.
· Some people rely on outside help.
· Some children are sponsored by one or two sponsors in the States.
· We have been propositioned several times to be sponsors.
· Sometimes there is one income in home.
· Sometimes both parents work.
· There are not as many jobs for the population/community.
· Lots of families live at poverty level.
· There is a huge economic gap within Maya Mopan. There are big differences in income.
· Some children get allowances.
· Some families have thatch houses that do not have electricity or running water. However, some have nice house with internet.
· There are lots of little shops in the Maya Mopan community. Several “grass roots” businesses (small shops on corners, selling paletas or chocolate bananas)
· There are three corn mills.
· There are a couple boutiques.
· People do barter cash.
· They don’t usually accept credit in Maya Mopan.
· There are many monopolies.
Health
· There is no preventive health care.
· Rarely soap in bathroom or latrine.
· They don’t understand basics concept of basic disease transmission.
· They do cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze.
· Weather and temperature change seems to be the huge cause of sickness.
· HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Belize.
· Health care is another problem. For example, in the community there was a little girl who had a nail in her eye. It was a life threatening problem. There was a chance she could die.
· In Maya Mopan there are both traditional and modern medicine practices.
· Some people’s source of water is just a hose outside or well water.
· The diet consists of lots of carbohydrates.
· Most doctors are from Cuba and are over here training. Belize gets cheap doctors and Cuba sends their doctors for training. As a result there are no experienced doctors. However, there are in the private sector.
· Can get any medicine without a prescription.
· Sometimes the patient is treated only by the nurse.
· The patients are often treated with injections.
· There is a strong belief in “tulank” which is the black magic/witch doctor/curses.
· My host mom burns plastic bottles, which create toxins. They burn everything.
· The kids are responsible for fanning the kitchen fire.
· Parents do many “bathroom surgeries” poking to remove pus bot flies, with little regard to infection.
Organizations
· NGO’s
· Peace Corps
· Care Belize
· NaRCIE
· YES
· 4H
· Doctors without boarders
· JOCA (Japanese volunteers)
· Missionaries
· Church Groups
· Bible studies
· Church groups from U.S. and Belize
· GLOW
· Village council
· Belmopan City Council
· The men play volley ball and foot ball regularly out in the field.
· The chairman wants to build a basketball court for the men and children in the community.
Politics
· UDP
· PUP
· Chairman is the head of the village.
· Cabinet members are men.
· Change happens really fast
· Elections every five years
· There is a huge rivalry between UDP and PUP.
· 13 in the senate. 31 in the congress.
· Many people blame the government.
· All classrooms have the cabinet posted on the wall
· Switch parties every election except one.
· There are politically sponsored newspapers.
· Caribbean court of justice which want to make the court appeals.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
or
FREEHOP = Informal conversation happening all the time. Just do it. You won’t know how good it gets until you really know the people in your community.
Family:
· Some families are very traditional. Family breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mom stays at home and has a hard job. Meals are eaten at home.
· Some families are more modern. Both parents work. However, the mother still has to do all the cooking and cleaning etc.
· Some families have children from different fathers.
· The oldest daughters are put in charge of mothers duties if the mother works.
· Boys have to do chores, but no cleaning or cooking. The boys work with the animals usually.
· The children have chores and responsibilities.
· Children are respectful.
· Children are not outwardly praised sometimes mocking. Public corrections.
· Some marriages are arranged marriages.
· The Mayan tradition is to have large families/ lots of children. Sometimes ten to twelve children in a family. However, my neighbors and my family only have three to four children. (I believe they are realizing how difficult it is to have so many children).
· The mom has to do all the cooking, cleaning, ironing, washing, etc.
· Both the father and mother do the disciplining.
· Children get lashings for being disobedient.
· Children are very polite to everyone including parents.
· Families speak to each other in numerous languages.
· Big families often disperse all over Belize, but stay family oriented. Sisters and brothers visit one another and stay for days or weeks. They depend on one another.
· Maya families are big and come from down south.
· Maya Mopan is a newer community. They come from all different areas.
· Relationships sometimes may be abusive.
· Men’s drinking is a problem in the community.
Religion
· There are many religions in the Maya Mopan village.
· There are tons of Christian religions. So many churches even for a small community.
· K’ekchi Catholic, Catholic Church, Protestant, Methodist, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Baptist, and Jehovah Witness etc.
· The community is very active in their church.
· Churches are loud and workshop in the night.
· There are many bible studies. (Jehovah’s preach in the community).
· There are masses or meetings throughout the week and weekends.
· The women make meals for the sisters or brothers in their church.
· They form bonds with their church members.
· The people of the community go very well dressed to church.
· Men are mainly the church leaders and preachers.
· Women usually always wear dresses or skirts.
Education
· There is one public government school in Maya Mopan. It goes up to standard II (this is its third year).
· The schools are fastly growing with the number of children in the Maya Mopan community. The Maya Mopan school increases by 100 students every year.
· Lots of kids in the community did not go to school because Belmopan would not accept them. Therefore, they started a school in Maya Mopan.
· Some families don’t encourage going to school. They keep their children home to do chores in the field.
· Not many high school aged attend school (more boys than girls go to school).
· Most parents in Maya Mopan do not have a university education.
· Some families do encourage education.
· The standard language in schools is English. However, they also speak bilingually for the children that do not speak English (sometimes in Spanish, K’ekchi, Mayan, Kriol, or Garifina)
· The mandatory school age is 5-14 years-old.
· Sometimes when the child turns 14-years-old the child stops coming to school and starts working.
· Some teachers are trained and some are not. Here in Maya Mopan all teachers are trained except for two.
· Many of the parents do not speak English. Therefore, it is difficult to have parent involvement.
· Corporal punishment is allowed and legal in schools.
· There are about 30 to 35 children in one classroom for one teacher. In Maya Mopan there are about twenty children to one teacher.
· The teacher often has to translate English in Spanish and K’ekchi.
· There is only a primary school in Maya Mopan. It stops at Standard II.
· Homework is usually too easy or too difficult.
· There used to be a bus that took children to school in Belmopan for one shilling, but that stopped with the new government.
· There is a manager for schools.
· TFAB
· NaRCIE
· CCETT
Economics
· There is little understanding of economic principles in the community.
· Don’t understand how credit cards work.
· No purchases are plan. They buy food every day, instead of weekly. They hardly buy in bulk.
· Loans are hard to get. No understanding how to get loans (assets, savings, credit, debit, payment plans, and exchange rates).
· The Chinese people get loans through private loans out of the country.
· There is a huge discrepancy between wages.
· Some people rely on outside help.
· Some children are sponsored by one or two sponsors in the States.
· We have been propositioned several times to be sponsors.
· Sometimes there is one income in home.
· Sometimes both parents work.
· There are not as many jobs for the population/community.
· Lots of families live at poverty level.
· There is a huge economic gap within Maya Mopan. There are big differences in income.
· Some children get allowances.
· Some families have thatch houses that do not have electricity or running water. However, some have nice house with internet.
· There are lots of little shops in the Maya Mopan community. Several “grass roots” businesses (small shops on corners, selling paletas or chocolate bananas)
· There are three corn mills.
· There are a couple boutiques.
· People do barter cash.
· They don’t usually accept credit in Maya Mopan.
· There are many monopolies.
Health
· There is no preventive health care.
· Rarely soap in bathroom or latrine.
· They don’t understand basics concept of basic disease transmission.
· They do cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze.
· Weather and temperature change seems to be the huge cause of sickness.
· HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Belize.
· Health care is another problem. For example, in the community there was a little girl who had a nail in her eye. It was a life threatening problem. There was a chance she could die.
· In Maya Mopan there are both traditional and modern medicine practices.
· Some people’s source of water is just a hose outside or well water.
· The diet consists of lots of carbohydrates.
· Most doctors are from Cuba and are over here training. Belize gets cheap doctors and Cuba sends their doctors for training. As a result there are no experienced doctors. However, there are in the private sector.
· Can get any medicine without a prescription.
· Sometimes the patient is treated only by the nurse.
· The patients are often treated with injections.
· There is a strong belief in “tulank” which is the black magic/witch doctor/curses.
· My host mom burns plastic bottles, which create toxins. They burn everything.
· The kids are responsible for fanning the kitchen fire.
· Parents do many “bathroom surgeries” poking to remove pus bot flies, with little regard to infection.
Organizations
· NGO’s
· Peace Corps
· Care Belize
· NaRCIE
· YES
· 4H
· Doctors without boarders
· JOCA (Japanese volunteers)
· Missionaries
· Church Groups
· Bible studies
· Church groups from U.S. and Belize
· GLOW
· Village council
· Belmopan City Council
· The men play volley ball and foot ball regularly out in the field.
· The chairman wants to build a basketball court for the men and children in the community.
Politics
· UDP
· PUP
· Chairman is the head of the village.
· Cabinet members are men.
· Change happens really fast
· Elections every five years
· There is a huge rivalry between UDP and PUP.
· 13 in the senate. 31 in the congress.
· Many people blame the government.
· All classrooms have the cabinet posted on the wall
· Switch parties every election except one.
· There are politically sponsored newspapers.
· Caribbean court of justice which want to make the court appeals.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Leaving my first host family’s house so sad… and then finding out where I am going to spend the next 2 years!!!
Friday October 2, 2009
Amy and I left our host family’s at 8am. However, the taxi took forever to pick us up. So we did not get to Garden City hotel until 9am.
Jamie gave us a treat today… and let us come in at 10:30 instead of 8am! So nice
The first session will start at 10:30am on Friday! We have to take all things on the bus/taxi to Garden City Hotel.
The session will include:
· site locator forms and whereabouts policy and SSC
· We get our 2 week visit site assignments I AM GOING TO LAGUANA
· Counterpart workshop information (when I meet my principal!)
· Time to meet with the PMs and Erin can sign up in the AM if want to meet one on one.
· Atlantic Bank Forms and Photos
· Logistics
Garden City Hotel for the night! It was lots of fun hanging out with people my own age. We had a fun party on the upper level of the hotel!!!
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Amy and I left our host family’s at 8am. However, the taxi took forever to pick us up. So we did not get to Garden City hotel until 9am.
Jamie gave us a treat today… and let us come in at 10:30 instead of 8am! So nice
The first session will start at 10:30am on Friday! We have to take all things on the bus/taxi to Garden City Hotel.
The session will include:
· site locator forms and whereabouts policy and SSC
· We get our 2 week visit site assignments I AM GOING TO LAGUANA
· Counterpart workshop information (when I meet my principal!)
· Time to meet with the PMs and Erin can sign up in the AM if want to meet one on one.
· Atlantic Bank Forms and Photos
· Logistics
Garden City Hotel for the night! It was lots of fun hanging out with people my own age. We had a fun party on the upper level of the hotel!!!
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Last day of training and being at my host family's house
Thursday October 1, 2009
8:00 am Meet in Maya Mopan and travel to Georgeville9-10:00 am Daily Chat: Discuss Workshop
10-11:00am FREEHOP and SWOT (we did this to learn more about our communities)
11:00-12:00 Tech Training Wrap Up ( I can’t believe training is coming to an end!)
Group Lunch in San Ignacio! I really wouldn’t want to live in San Ignacio. It is too busy and city like. (Plus the last time I was here I was deathly sick… bad memories).
1:30-3pm Work on Presentations
3pm Maya Mopan return to site
3:30-5 Language and Culture Wrap up (Game review)
Greg and Kevinas host mom has dengue so they had to leave their house to go to the Garden City Hotel. They don’t want them to get sick too.
I enjoyed my last night with my host family. We played cards, told stories, and reminisced. Mrs. Kus made pumpkin stew… it was such a treat! We also had picary meat, sauce and tortillas, as well as marsh mellows and chips.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
8:00 am Meet in Maya Mopan and travel to Georgeville9-10:00 am Daily Chat: Discuss Workshop
10-11:00am FREEHOP and SWOT (we did this to learn more about our communities)
11:00-12:00 Tech Training Wrap Up ( I can’t believe training is coming to an end!)
Group Lunch in San Ignacio! I really wouldn’t want to live in San Ignacio. It is too busy and city like. (Plus the last time I was here I was deathly sick… bad memories).
1:30-3pm Work on Presentations
3pm Maya Mopan return to site
3:30-5 Language and Culture Wrap up (Game review)
Greg and Kevinas host mom has dengue so they had to leave their house to go to the Garden City Hotel. They don’t want them to get sick too.
I enjoyed my last night with my host family. We played cards, told stories, and reminisced. Mrs. Kus made pumpkin stew… it was such a treat! We also had picary meat, sauce and tortillas, as well as marsh mellows and chips.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Teacher Workshop in Belize City
Wednesday September 30, 2009
Today I got up and started packing L My least favorite thing to do in the whole entire world. I hate packing!!!!
At 8am Ginnie picked us up to go to Belmopan. Kevina and Greg were having an awful morning. All their electronics (ipod, computer, camera, hard drive, flash drive etc) had a virus on it. (That means my computer might have a virus on it too… bc they transferred pictures on it last night). Also, Greg’s glasses broke this morning… and I didn’t bring my computer to Belmopan L Not good…
I did get a chance to check my email and write back to a few people! After we left Belmopan Head Quarters at 8:30am we traveled to Belize City for our workshop. We went to St. Luke’s school first. It was great to see a Kriol school. It is so different than a Mayan school. The Kriol schools are much loader! Lol… I belong there! J/K
For lunch we went to Ginnie and Anthony’s CBT host family for lunch. It was delicious. We had chicken, rice and beans, potato salad, green salad, and bread pudding.
After we meet with the principal at Ginnie site school (Trinity Methodist school). We saw the library that Ginnie set up. We got a tour of the library and computer room. From 2-2:30 we set up for the workshop. From 2:30-4 it was the teacher training workshop diagnostic assessments.
Then I returned to site at 6pm for dinner and homework.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Today I got up and started packing L My least favorite thing to do in the whole entire world. I hate packing!!!!
At 8am Ginnie picked us up to go to Belmopan. Kevina and Greg were having an awful morning. All their electronics (ipod, computer, camera, hard drive, flash drive etc) had a virus on it. (That means my computer might have a virus on it too… bc they transferred pictures on it last night). Also, Greg’s glasses broke this morning… and I didn’t bring my computer to Belmopan L Not good…
I did get a chance to check my email and write back to a few people! After we left Belmopan Head Quarters at 8:30am we traveled to Belize City for our workshop. We went to St. Luke’s school first. It was great to see a Kriol school. It is so different than a Mayan school. The Kriol schools are much loader! Lol… I belong there! J/K
For lunch we went to Ginnie and Anthony’s CBT host family for lunch. It was delicious. We had chicken, rice and beans, potato salad, green salad, and bread pudding.
After we meet with the principal at Ginnie site school (Trinity Methodist school). We saw the library that Ginnie set up. We got a tour of the library and computer room. From 2-2:30 we set up for the workshop. From 2:30-4 it was the teacher training workshop diagnostic assessments.
Then I returned to site at 6pm for dinner and homework.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Training (Language Classes, Tech Classes, and Assessments)
Tuesday September 29, 2009
This morning we had language class on renting houses (again) in Belize. We were supposed to watch a video on hurricane Iris; however, we could not get a vcr to watch it on.
After language we had lunch. Celestino and I were the only ones home because everyone else was at the hospital because the flu is going around and everyone is getting sick. They are sending any kid home that coughs…
From 1-3 Anthony did a session on our Project Indicator Outcomes. It is getting exciting talking about our future primary and secondary projects. We then discussed what motivates us and what motivates others.
Next, we had our self assessment interviews with Ginnie. I felt that I was being coincident because I feel that I did very well during PST (pre service training). The training was for 7 weeks and now we go to our official sites now that training is almost over. I am ready to be a volunteer on October 22, 2009!
I talked to Ginnie about how I really hope to have host siblings again (I love the kids in my host family). I want to get a good host family again. I also talked about getting a uniform for when I will be in schools. In Belize the teachers, principal, and students all wear uniforms, even in public, private, catholic, and Methodist schools.
After that we did our final preparations for our workshop tomorrow (on diagnostic reading tests). We also made a slide show for our CBT (Community Based Training Site Maya Mopan) presentations. We scrapped and collaged our pictures… Kevina, Greg, Amy and I. After that I practiced my workshop 30 minutes presentation. The rest of the family went to bed at 7pm because Mrs. Kus was fasting and told everyone to go to bed. She wasn’t feeling well and needed xrays in the morning. It was funny everyone got up at 8pm… bc they could not sleep. Therefore, they listened to me practice my presentation. Also Lorenzo (2year old) first was playing with my hair and then Mrs. Kus gave me a very nice French braid… and then off to bed.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
This morning we had language class on renting houses (again) in Belize. We were supposed to watch a video on hurricane Iris; however, we could not get a vcr to watch it on.
After language we had lunch. Celestino and I were the only ones home because everyone else was at the hospital because the flu is going around and everyone is getting sick. They are sending any kid home that coughs…
From 1-3 Anthony did a session on our Project Indicator Outcomes. It is getting exciting talking about our future primary and secondary projects. We then discussed what motivates us and what motivates others.
Next, we had our self assessment interviews with Ginnie. I felt that I was being coincident because I feel that I did very well during PST (pre service training). The training was for 7 weeks and now we go to our official sites now that training is almost over. I am ready to be a volunteer on October 22, 2009!
I talked to Ginnie about how I really hope to have host siblings again (I love the kids in my host family). I want to get a good host family again. I also talked about getting a uniform for when I will be in schools. In Belize the teachers, principal, and students all wear uniforms, even in public, private, catholic, and Methodist schools.
After that we did our final preparations for our workshop tomorrow (on diagnostic reading tests). We also made a slide show for our CBT (Community Based Training Site Maya Mopan) presentations. We scrapped and collaged our pictures… Kevina, Greg, Amy and I. After that I practiced my workshop 30 minutes presentation. The rest of the family went to bed at 7pm because Mrs. Kus was fasting and told everyone to go to bed. She wasn’t feeling well and needed xrays in the morning. It was funny everyone got up at 8pm… bc they could not sleep. Therefore, they listened to me practice my presentation. Also Lorenzo (2year old) first was playing with my hair and then Mrs. Kus gave me a very nice French braid… and then off to bed.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Another GREAT day... p.s. shush
Monday September 28, 2009
Today I got up and did a workout! It was a great way to start the day. Then I and Celestino did all the cooking this morning (my host mom and host sister were shocked how well we did)! Then I got a text from my LCF Ms. Carmelina saying that class would not start until 9 am! So I got to help do all the dishes by hand. It takes a lot of time. First we do a pre-rinse to get all the food and grease off the plates. Then we wash it fully and then rinse fully. We take our time and carefully clean each piece. It took over an hour. Then I showered… in the rain again. I put my towel in a plastic bag and then take it out when my bucket bath is over.
Next, we had language class about house hold items from 9-12pm. When I came home Sister Garcia and her husband were at my host family’s house (they are from the Jehovah Witness congregations). They came over to cook us soup because Mrs. Kus has been sick all week with the flu (maybe dengue?) and horrible back pain. When I came home I reviewed more K’ekchi words with the whole family… lots of learning happens during training!
After lunch then Ginnie taught us a session on extracurricular activities, such as setting up libraries and computer classes. Then we worked on our FreeHop and finished our Safety and Security Packet.
After that I went home and bonded with the family for the rest of the night and then went to bed.
P.S. Gossip is called “SHUSH” here in Belize. The latest shush is that the teachers are on strike because they did not get paid on Friday.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
Today I got up and did a workout! It was a great way to start the day. Then I and Celestino did all the cooking this morning (my host mom and host sister were shocked how well we did)! Then I got a text from my LCF Ms. Carmelina saying that class would not start until 9 am! So I got to help do all the dishes by hand. It takes a lot of time. First we do a pre-rinse to get all the food and grease off the plates. Then we wash it fully and then rinse fully. We take our time and carefully clean each piece. It took over an hour. Then I showered… in the rain again. I put my towel in a plastic bag and then take it out when my bucket bath is over.
Next, we had language class about house hold items from 9-12pm. When I came home Sister Garcia and her husband were at my host family’s house (they are from the Jehovah Witness congregations). They came over to cook us soup because Mrs. Kus has been sick all week with the flu (maybe dengue?) and horrible back pain. When I came home I reviewed more K’ekchi words with the whole family… lots of learning happens during training!
After lunch then Ginnie taught us a session on extracurricular activities, such as setting up libraries and computer classes. Then we worked on our FreeHop and finished our Safety and Security Packet.
After that I went home and bonded with the family for the rest of the night and then went to bed.
P.S. Gossip is called “SHUSH” here in Belize. The latest shush is that the teachers are on strike because they did not get paid on Friday.
Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.
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