I am currently in training in Makeni, Sierra Leone. We have 10 weeks of training and then it is off to our villages to move in and begin teaching. We just completed week 4 of training and found out where we will be going to teach. I am going to a village called Fadugu which is right off the highway about 1 1/2 to 2 hours northeast of Makeni and 30 mins south of Kabala. It is in northern Sierra Leone so it is mountainous and should be a bit cooler there (although the heat actually hasn't been a major issue surprisingly enough). I am told that the villagers grow vegetables up there. I am certainly looking forward to fresh vegetables. It is a town of about 8,000 and another Volunteer will actually be in the town with me (although teaching in t he government run school) which is very exciting! Three other volunteers will be in Kabala. I am going to be teaching in a Muslim Junior secondary school so things will be pretty different. The school was built by the community, has about 325 students and I might be the only female teacher. There is no school on Friday as that is the Muslim day of worship. Instead we start our week on Sunday. I must wear dresses or skirts with hems below my knees to work everyday. Pants are not allowed. The local language is Limba (sp?) so I now have to start learning a new language (we had been learning Krio).
On Friday and Saturday, July 8 & 9 the supervisor of our schools come to Makeni to meet the volunteers. On Sunday, July 10 we travel to our villages to see our schools and new homes. The following Wednesday we must find our own way back to Makeni!
I am very excited to start teaching. So far I have really enjoyed the practice teaching sessions we have had and am looking forward to summer school to start! During summer school we teach actual students for 3 weeks. Teaching will be a huge challenge though especially as a math teacher. Students here tend to be very behind in math and most volunteers seem to say they spend a majority of the time catching students up on old material rather than teaching new material. Also, even though I will be teaching what would be middle school level, I will most likely have several students that are my age or older.
A little about my host family.. I am actually living with the Homestay Coordinator for Peace Corps (i.e. the man who found all the families for people to stay with and is staff of Peace Corps) so I lucked into a pretty good family. There are about 8 of us living in the house (6 rooms total) but I get a room to myself which is nice (and also a Peace Corps rule so no I am not spoiled or lucky in this regard haha). But the 8 people include Benjamin (Homestay coordinator/ my dad), Mamusu (mom), Simeon aka Obama (my 3-yr old brother that everyone calls Obama), Mabintey (sister/aunt - technically my aunt since she is Benjamin's sister but she is 23 so more of a sister/friend figure), Mbalu (sister/aunt - same deal as Mabintey), Aminata (girl that works for the family, approximately 13 yrs old, it is fairly common for people to have someone living with them to help with the chores), and then two brothers of Benjamin named Abdul and Pastor that I think live in the same house but you never can be too sure here.. Families are big and confusing here so it sometimes hard to tell who is actually related and who is being called broda "brother" in more of a friendly way. But mi fambul dem (my family) is pretty cool overall so I've been happy living there so far.
Overall, things are going better. I feel like my last post may have been a bit of a downer but now that I am somewhat adjusted to life here I really am enjoying it. I honestly can't imagine doing anything else with my life right now and although being in a post-conflict African Country means I have to do without a lot of the amenities I am accustomed to, it really is exciting to be here as the country rebuilds and it will definitely be a learning/growing experience for me to do without so many things over the next 2 years. In 2009, Sierra Leone was ranked the poorest country in the world. Today, Sierra Leone ranks 2nd or 3rd from the bottom. While I am getting used to things like not having an indoor toilet or lights after 7:30 p.m., it is definitely still crazy when I wake up in the morning and have to go out to the well and get water before I can bathe or look around the market and see dozens of women walking past with big containers of vegetables or bread on top of their head. It is definitely a surreal experience but one that will last with me forever and one that I am very glad I have been able to take part in. So to everyone considering doing something like this (I know a few of you are in the process of applying to the Peace Corps) I whole-heartedly recommend you give it a go if you are committed. Despite the ups and downs I really am loving it and do think it is an incredible opportunity.
I ran yesterday for the first time since I arrived. It felt very good. There are not many places to run to here so I ran to the soccer field. People stopped and stared and yelled out as I ran by. When I got to the soccer field I did some stretching exercises. Little children copied my movements. It was funny to watch.
That being said I do miss you all tons and want to stay in touch. It is difficult to get to an Internet cafe so keeping in touch via email is hard. I would really appreciate hearing from you by letter - what you are doing, how you are doing, general news. My address is: Sara Metzler, Peace Corps Volunteer; Peace Corps; Post Office Box 905; Freetown, Sierra Leone. It takes a while for mail to reach me, but it does reach me.
Love, Sara
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