So this week is teacher orientation for our school. Since we have teachers that speak the local language and foreign English teachers, we have to have everything translated. This means that our meetings take twice as long.
So our principal began the day with an ice breaker. We had to partner up (English were not allowed to partner with English) and answer 3 questions about our ourselves to our partner. We had to learn each other's name, our position at the school, and two facts we didn't know about the each other. Then we had to introduce each other to everyone else. Let's just say this was interesting. With a teacher that only speaks the local language and one that only speaks English, there was lots of interpreting. So the foreign English teachers are sitting there while the local teachers are introducing each other in their language, and then they all start laughing and we are left there just staring and wondering what's so funny. Then the interpretation is given and it's just not as funny when you are laughing the second time, because everyone else has already laughed.
During a break during orientation, I felt like we had a breakthrough. We had a chance to hang out with some of the local teachers. We were talking about things we liked to do and where we live. It was very relaxed and laid back and very simple. I have been trying to simplify my sentences so that they can be easily understood. (Not as easy as I would have thought). But notheless we did just fine! By the end of the break we were all joking with each other and ended up taking a picture on my computer.
These are all the teachers (local and foreign) at our school!!! Teacher Bonding
Later, we had to meet with our co-homeroom teacher to decide how to decorate our classrooms. There is one local teacher and one foreign teacher in each homeroom. So we have to collaborate on how to decorate our classrooms. Most of our local teachers speak very little English and I speak none of the local language. So this was difficult. Very difficult! Neither of us could explain what we wanted to do. The locals are trying to speak English, but they aren't getting across what they want. And then there is me, I speak none of the language and so I feel helpless. Towards the end our other English teacher, David, came to our rescue. He actually learned some of the language and is proficient in our eyes (if you ask him he would say he is a novice) in our books. He began to translate what they wanted and we were finally getting somewhere. But then it turned into a conversation that Jen and I were not apart of. They laughed, they asked questions, and Jen and I just sat there with no clue as to what was going on.
This has been one of the most frustrating things about this job. Being totally lost in conversations. I just wish I knew the language so that I could understand and communicate. Having someone else translate for you is helpful when trying to get things done, but makes you feel left out during conversations.
So after our meeting about homeroom decorations the foreign teachers had a meeting about curriculum. However by this point in the day I was done with meetings. I felt like my head couldn't handle anything else, but yet we needed to get curriculum stuff done. So we are asking questions to each other and I am pretty sure we could have been nicer about it, but instead it came out snippy. But I think we all understand that it is a stressful situation and we can have grace with one another.
In all of this I can totally see God's hands on this school. The moment during our break where we all got in a picture together (there are people missing but these were the people in the room) that I could feel God had great plans for this school. Working together we all bring different things to the school that are important and I am praying God uses us foreign teachers as a light and conduit for his love. As we are all working together (locals and foreigners) I can see God using his people to bring about His transformation for this city! This is going to be an amazing first year!
