Backyard Som Tam

Here you see our papaya tree is growing up! The fruits are not yet ripe, but green papaya is the main ingredient in Som Tam, a delicious Thai recipe. I harvested a papaya from the courtyard outside my room, grated it all up, then added other vegetables, peanuts, and a sauce. For the sauce I used basil and red peppers, from outside our front door! I also used limes that a student gave me from her family's tree. I enjoyed gathering and using so many ingredients by stepping outside. Backyard Som Tam



POTS!

The field trip we took last week was designed for me. Pottery is not a big thing in Tanzania, but it just so happens that 3rd grade at HOPAC go to a mineral supply company to learn about making pottery.

It links perfectly with Ancient Greek history, which we will study next term, and States of Matter, which we are studying now. I had lots of fun telling the kids about my parents' pottery business and showing their OPB Art Beat footage. We talked about how Ancient Greek history is preserved in part through the vessels found in archeological digs, including the drawings of daily life the Greeks painted on their pottery. We talked about the solids, liquids, and temperatures involved in ceramics.

 

 On the field trip kids got to hand build and experience throwing their own pottery. I felt at home, a little home-sick, surrounded by all the smells and sights of a workshop.

Beyond My Wildest Mango Dreams

It was Teacher Appreciation Week last week. My students showed that they really know me; They gave art and mangos! THIS is a mango pie. Wow is all you can say.

I felt encouraged and my tummy was happy. And, look at those flowers our house helper picked from our front yard!

We also started Mango Math last week. That really means math learning centers, where they work on skills in small groups. For us, their groups are mangos and they travel to the different branches instead of centers. It has been a blessing because they love it, and help each other learn.

Strange... but good

A student finds, captures, and releases a baby lizard from my classroom. Strange... but cute. We celebrated Peach Day, as all students have finished reading  James and the Giant Peach. One family sent mango pie instead, because MANGOS are cheaper than peaches. Strange... but delicious. Parents come in to conference about their daughter's progress and behavior. The dad asks if he can pray for her, the class, and the teacher in closing. Strange... but good.

Mbudya Island

Well, I don't think any of you are feeling particularly sorry for me... but in case you were, because of the heat or humidity or centipedes or kids who don't listen to me, or something, pity no more! Here are some photos of where I woke up last Saturday morning.

We had a five day weekend for mid-term break. (Which by the way means the year is more than half over. Wow!) Some friends and I went to Mbudya Island for the day. A few of us hiked around the whole island. I was excited, because the tide has been too far in the other two times I've been to the island. We found coral caves, pictured below, with holes to the sky, on the back side of Mbudya.

After a day of hiking, swimming, and eating fresh fish, most of the friends went home. Jen and I, however, had a fire built for us and donned sweatshirts for the first time in months as we cozied up for the night. It was actually too cold! However that was a blessing because I woke up about every two hours and enjoyed the traveling stars and full moon, walked a bit on the beach, stoked the fire, and fell back asleep. There I am in my louge-bed, right where I slept, not more than a few feet from the Indian Ocean!

Truly International

My  final parent-teacher consultation took the cake for international medlies... The parent's mother tounge is Korean, she speaks Swahili, and has some words in English. My mother tounge is English, I speak Spanish, and have some words in Swahili. So, we started the consultation off in my few words of Swahili, until I was in over my head. Then my brain automatically switched to Spanish, which was not very useful to her. Next I switched to English, which meant we had to switch to using my student, her 9 year old son, to translate English to Korean and back again... as we talked about his progres and his behavior! She finished the consultation with some beautifully spoken words of thanks in English.
Funny. Chistoso. Kuchekesha. 재미있은.

Graffiti, Timed-Tests, and Donuts

Hello There! Here's an update from the world of Grade 3.

On your right you can see a stack of homework notebooks. If you look closely you will see graffiti... "I love God" and "I *heart* God" among the nefarious messages. I had never seen that in my teaching experience!

To your bottom right we have a timed test session. Four zippy mathematicians have already passed all the tests, like Chema whose standing in this picture. Those four now get to check other kids' tests! It's a coveted position.

Below you see two happy boys at lunch break. The boy on the left has a HOPAC donut, very popular along with the brownies. And they still seem healthy... probably because a game of football always follows the donut consumption.