A few observations....

Rather than a long story, I thought I'd share a few observations of our time here so far:

I started teaching my Grade R class -- five year olds are pretty much the same anywhere.  I'm sure I've had this experience so many times before--  a little kid put his hand up his nose right before we're all supposed to make a circle together. "Why don't you go wash your hands first," I suggest.

These little guys love all my goofy songs!  And sing along at any moment.

They do not have manila folders here.  At all.  Who would have thought that would be the one thing Hans and I are missing the most?

The other thing that is sorely lacking in my class is books!  It is a new school, but there really is a lack of any children's books.  So many of my favorite lessons center around a fun book like, Bootsie Barker Bites or Pete the Cat.  I'm going to have to do some re-thinking....

I did find "Pete the Cat" on the web and played it for my class.  So great to see them enjoying the same songs as my FUMCN! "I'm rocking...in my school shoes!" (I did have to explain rocking' to them).

As I teach grammar to my class, I learned that the period at the end of the sentence is a "full stop."  Said with a slightly British accent, of course. When singing "The Wheels on the Bus," it's not a horn that goes "beep beep beep" but a hooter!!

Hans and I have been been navigating around in our "new" car.  Mostly shopping for things to furnish our apartment.  Hans found a great deal - except it has no passenger seat....for now....Rather awkward when I offered a co-worker a ride home.  She took one look at the the front, with only a driver's seat and for some reason, chose to take Uber....go figure.

I am driving!! One the wrong-side of the road, with a stick shift (on my left hand) and even the turn signals are on the "wrong" side -- Hans and I always hit the windshield wipers when trying to turn left.  But I feel very proud of myself.  I just keep repeating -- stay on the left, stay on the left.

Finally, there was an issue with a couple of girls on my hall.  A parent emailed and I had to respond, but in French (the one girl is from Senegal).  Some things never change, even in a different language.

That's all for now!  Hans is crafting a longer story for next week.

I thought I was a hard worker....

Hans and I have finished a busy week of Professional Development for both schools -- African Leadership Academy (both of us, Hans as Head of Science and me as Hall Mistress) and Nova Pioneer (where I'll be teaching kindergarten, or Grade R, as it's called here).  The take-away from the week, as Hans put it so well when we had a moment to catch our breath, is that we used to feel like we were hard workers -- until we got to ALA.  The expectation for the staff are incredible, as is the work ethic and talent of everyone here.  I think I am a part of at least 5 (if not more) WhatsApp message groups, not to mention email contact too.  It is exhausting, but inspiring, to a part of such a dedicated group.

The students are just starting to arrive.  They are Y2s (year 2 - of 2 years at ALA) right now. The Y1s (of which Nate is a part of) will come on Monday.  It's exciting to see the life and energy of the students after having been preparing on a pretty quiet campus.  They are very self-assured and polite and will stop and introduce themselves to you with their name and where they're from -- all over the continent!  Nate  will officially join tomorrow, though he has been hanging out with friends that had come early for language training.

I began at Nova Pioneer this week.  This is another dedicated group of educators, with a vision to grow innovators and leaders.  They only began a few years ago so there are still some tweaks to be ironed out.   I work at the Northriding campus, being one of a staff of seven.  It's a nice group so far.  I will be co-teaching Grade R with another teacher and the students arrive Tuesday.  I am busy getting the room ready and learning the curriculum.

Our biggest news is that we bought a car --  a '94 Toyota Conquest.  More about that!